Relationship Recap: Pitch, The Mindy Project, The Flash 

The fall season started two seconds ago, but I’m already having fun watching various TV relationships develop, progress or crumble. Okay, the crumble part may be more heartbreaking than fun to experience, but that’s all part of the game when you’re emotionally invested.

There are a few “will they or won’t they” options out there. There are some really great sibling connections I’m enjoying. I’ve chosen to recap a relationship involving a pairing that has to deal with reality and alternate realities. One’s a triangle that quickly went bust. And one isn’t of the romantic variety…at least not yet. Actually, I am not sure they’ll ever be.

Relationship Recap #1: Ginny Baker (Kylie Bunbury) and Mike Lawson (Mark-Paul Gosselaar), FOX’s Pitch

Ginny and Mike play for the San Diego Padres.

He’s near the end of his career. He’s bearded, a bit gruff, likes himself a lot, and has bad knees. He’s the catcher of the team so the fact he has bad knees doesn’t exactly come as a surprise.

She’s at the beginning of her career. She’s the first woman to play ball at the Major League level. She’s a pitcher with the slowest fastball in baseball — her words. As an aside, I wonder if we’re ever going to see her step up to the plate and bat at some point. After all, she’s in the National League, where there is no DH (designated hitter).

But I digress. Baker and Lawson have this mentor / mentee thing going on. They started off hella shaky in the pilot but after watching last week’s excellent episode (“The Interim”), I’ve fallen in love with their dynamic. I’m torn as to whether they should become something more. Right now, it’s cool to see their bond forming. He’s someone who will tell it like it is, but not in a condescending way (unless he wants it to come off as condescending). He’s someone who can make her transition a little easier. Case in point: his recent locker room rant. And, I’m sorry, but my favorite scene of all last week had to be when he tried to keep up with her in the gym. Here’s an excerpt:

I don’t know how it happened so quickly, but I’m truly attached to Baker and Lawson as teammates and friends. They’re making Pitch immensely watchable for me. Kylie Bunbury and Mark-Paul Gosselaar are wonderful as Ginny and Mike so far.

Pitch airs Thursdays on FOX at 9/8c. By the way, if you’re not watching yet, please start tuning in sooner rather than later. I don’t want this show to go away.

Relationship Recap #2: Mindy (Mindy Kaling) and Danny (Chris Messina) and Jody (Garret Dillahunt), The Mindy Project

I’m a bit conflicted about what went down during the Season 5 premiere of Hulu’s The Mindy Project. First of all, let me say, I adore this show. I love watching Mindy live her best dating life. In the past, I’ve fallen in worship with the guys who have fallen in love with her. And, in turn, my heart breaks when they inevitably leave.

My favorite has always been Danny, although after last season’s drama, I didn’t mind that the two split. I still see them as end game, for whenever the series concludes (may that be a long time from now). But I was okay that Mindy was back on the market. Enter Jody. I confess I initially didn’t get the need to put these two into each other’s orbit. But by the end of the season, I was on board.

Danny and Mindy “reconnecting” in the elevator didn’t change my mind. It actually fueled my fire to want to see Mindy with someone else. You see, Danny was engaged and he hadn’t told Mindy yet he went for it anyway. I know the two share mad chemistry, but I am not ready for these two to fall back into their old ways. Mindy, of course, ended up finding the invite to Danny’s impending wedding. I’m actually happy they didn’t get back together. They’re not ready. Neither of them wants to compromise for the other (for the record, I think Danny needs to do more compromising than Mindy #TeamMindyLahiri).

I know I should be happy Mindy ultimately decided to choose herself and be alone for a while. She made a very grown up, yay-to-girl-power decision. But, man, I wanted to see what life would be like with Jody, who stupidly did one of those grand gesture things and bought her the apartment above her place so she’d have more room for her baby and her considerable wardrobe. Normally, I’d say these two could have a chance down the road. I’m no longer sure. 1) Mindy said she didn’t feel any sort of spark for Jody. And B) Jody handled the rejection very, very badly. Like super badly. Can Jody come back from his sore loser reaction? I don’t know.

Well, at least Mindy experienced being the center of a bonafide love triangle for a little bit. It’s something she clearly was into. And I was into it for her. Unfortunately, this phase of her existence didn’t last long.

Now I wonder if Mindy will truly be able to go it alone. I hope so. But not for too long. I love falling in love with her boyfriends.

New episodes of The Mindy Project drop on Hulu every Tuesday.

Relationship Recap #3: Barry Allen (Grant Gustin) and Iris West (Candice Patton), The Flash

Okay, I’m going to attempt to write about The Flash and Flashpoint and not make my head hurt. It was cool to witness this alternate reality where Barry and Iris barely know each other, both his parents are alive, Cisco is the richest man in the world, Caitlin is a pediatric ophthalmologist, Wally is the Kid Flash, and Detective Joe West is a drunk mess who’s thisclose to losing his job.

Fun Fact: That was Alex Desert playing Police Chief Mendez. Desert played scientist Julio Mendez in the original 1990 version of The Flash that starred John Wesley Shipp as our favorite speedster, Barry Allen.

By the end of the Season 3 premiere, Flashpoint was dunzo. Not sure how I feel about that, but I do want to know what in the world went so drastically wrong. Iris is no longer talking to her dad. I love Joe and Iris! I also want to know what other consequences Barry has unleashed due to his decision to not let his mother die and then to undo said decision.

As for Iris, she and Barry were on fire in this Flashpoint universe. I don’t think Grant Gustin and Candace Patton have ever shown as much chemistry as they did in this episode. And that’s saying a lot because I’ve always seen the light when it comes to Barry and Iris. In this reality, they’re passing acquaintances. When he arranges a meet cute, he brings up the fact they went to elementary school together. She remembers, but she calls him Gary.

Barry was on a mission, however. He pretty much stalked Ms. West for three months (his mother’s words). He finally works up the courage to ask her out and she accepts. Everything they say to each other snaps, crackles and pops chemistry-wise as far as I’m concerned. Even when they simply say “hi” to each other.

Their first attempt at a date ends abruptly, of course, but not before they share an adorable scene where Iris is digging for intel on this guy she all of a sudden can’t stay away from.

Barry: That’s the thing about the right girl. She’s out there. Waiting. You’ve just gotta be lucky enough to find her.
Iris: Where’d you come from Barry?
Barry: Always been here, Iris.

I think my favorite moment was after Barry comes clean with the Flashpoint Iris, Wally and Cisco. Iris actually tells him she believes him.

Iris: I have a good life. I have a good job. I love my brother. But something has been off, something has been missing. And that feeling that something is not right with my life, that went away the moment that I met you. We’re something else to each other where you come from, aren’t we?
Barry: Yes.
Iris: What?
Barry: It’s…it’s escaped definition.
Iris: But it’s love. Because this is what love feels like.
Barry: Since the day that I met you.

Beyond the cuteness, the two make a great team in “Flashpoint.” She’s a reporter and fights crime with her brother. She accepts the fact that he supremely effed up his timeline in order to save his parents. Iris is there for him when he, in essence, says goodbye to his parents. And they share a kiss. I wish this alt reality could have gone on for more than one episode. I’m not ready for this particular status quo to change. I might have had a couple of the Barry/Iris highlights on repeat.

All I can hope is that they don’t make us wait too long for something to happen now that Barry let Reverse Flash restore things to “normal” by allowing him to kill his mother once again. Based on the ending, I don’t have a good feeling about it. Is Joe the only one Iris isn’t talking to? I’m a bit scared to find out the repercussions of Barry’s selfish decisions. All in all, this venture into Flashpoint provided some great Barry/Iris moments. I won’t go into this whole Rival business. I’ll reserve judgment until I see more.

The Flash airs Tuesdays on the CW at 8/7c.