'The Mindy Project' Season 2, Episode 19: 'Think Like a Peter' Recap
by Shannon Keirnan
Danny finds Mindy on her floor with sour patch straws. He knows there is drama and tries to get her to talk, but she insists everything is fine. Then she calls Peter in and spills to him. She tells him about her bad coffee date and how she's too nice to end it.
Peter tells her because Danny broke her heart she's afraid to dump Phil, thinking he's the best she can do now. He tells her to date like a Peter - date everyone and cut them loose when things start to go south.
He finds her later, writing a breakup letter to Phil as she gets texts from him, and insists she just go radio silence and drop him. He takes her phone away from her and she chases him, as Phil texts and texts. Finally she grabs it back, and the final text was Phil taking the hint and saying goodbye. She's amazed.
Looking for a knife for his meal, Danny opens the pantry and finds Morgan and Tamra making out. Tamra finds him in the lounge and apologizes. He asks her if she wants to talk about it.
Mindy goes to the bar with Peter, and they analyze men. Peter finds someone and tells her to go talk to him (guest star Max Greenfield) but she insists he is much too attractive. He tells her what to say to him. She goes up and pushes herself between him and the woman he is speaking with, and orders a whiskey and tries to flirt with him, but when she sips her drink she spits it all over him. He asks her what she's doing and she says trying a new aggressive way to hit on someone, but clearly it failed, so she leaves.
She yells across the bar at Peter that it didn't work (as the man, overhearing, laughs), and he insists she go back. She apologizes to him, and tells him her heart was broken and she's not at her best. He offers to buy her a drink.
Danny tries to talk to Tamra, but as he walks her through it, seems to be dealing with his issues with Mindy more than Tamra's problems.
Mindy is having a good time talking with her hot man, and he suggests they go back to his place. Peter, observing, texts her that she needs to play harder to get. She tells the hot guy she has to work, and he goes to leave. Angry, she begins to text Peter back, but her man returns. He tells her to blow off her plans tomorrow, he likes her and wants to hang out. He takes her hand and leads her off.
The next morning, Lee is up before her, and gone. She's discussing it with Morgan when she realizes Lee left his scarf, which she takes to mean he wants to see her again. Morgan, meanwhile, is hurting, as Tamra got back together with her boyfriend based off Danny's suggestions.
Mindy tells Peter what happened, but he doesn't think the scarf means anything. She's determined to prove him wrong and track down Lee.
Morgan goes to see Tamra's boyfriend to confess what happened, but Ray Ron doesn't care - he makes out with other women all the time. He also thanks Danny for convincing Tamra to stay with him, infuriating Morgan.
Mindy tracks down Lee, a teacher. He's horrified to see her, and Peter tries to hustle her out as she desperately explains that his heart wanted him to return to her. Peter hauls her out.
In the hallway, Mindy is crushed. She doesn't feel good enough for anyone. Peter goes back in for Lee and demands an apology. He realizes that he would have done the same thing and that he is a dick. As everyone is arguing Mindy notices a wedding ring on Lee. Peter punches Lee. Peter tells Mindy she is a romantic, and he needs to think more like her.
Mindy goes to Phil and apologizes for blowing him off. Peter asks Mindy if she really does the Cinderella move of leaving earrings at a man's place and she says no.
Danny, unable to find Mindy to talk to, calls up Sally to hang out with. Under his bed are Mindy's earrings.