Mindy Kaling’s Running Point – A Hit or Miss? Full Review (Spoilers)
Written by Jhaynane Bastien
Mindy Kaling’s latest TV show, Running Point, just dropped. Is it worth your time? I binged all 10 episodes so you don’t have to, and I’m breaking it down—the good, the bad, and the ugly.
If you’re wondering whether this is your next binge-watch or just another forgettable sitcom, let’s get into it.
What is Running Point About?
Running Point is a comedy series created by Mindy Kaling that follows Isla (played by Kate Hudson), the only daughter in a male-dominated family that owns the LA Waves, a professional basketball team.
Her father never believed a woman should be in charge, so the business has always been run by her three brothers. But when the eldest brother—the team president—checks into rehab, he leaves Isla in charge.
Now, she must prove herself in a world dominated by men while dealing with family drama, workplace politics, and a whole lot of testosterone.
Sounds fun, right? Well… let’s talk about what actually went down.
The Good: A Light and Easy Watch
If you’re looking for something fun, light, and easy to watch, Running Point does the job. It’s perfect background noise for when you’re scrolling through your phone, cooking dinner, or just need something brainless after work.
The humor is quintessential Mindy Kaling—quirky, self-aware, and doesn’t take itself too seriously. It’s giving girlboss energy, where Isla proves the men around her wrong while keeping things light and comedic.
If you enjoyed The Mindy Project or Never Have I Ever, you might vibe with Running Point for its fast-paced dialogue and lighthearted feminism.
But if you’re looking for something deep and meaningful, well… let’s move on.
The Bad: Shallow Characters & Dated Humor
Honestly, this show has as much depth as a kiddie pool. Character development? Nowhere to be found.
The eldest brother? A pill-popping mess who is constantly angry.
The middle brother? A goofy cliché whose wife clearly settled for him.
The youngest brother? His entire personality is being an uptight gay man.
It’s 2015 sitcom humor in a 2025 world, and honestly, it feels outdated.
And then we have Jay Ellis. He plays the LA Waves’ coach, but his character is so underdeveloped that he barely makes an impact. There’s nothing memorable about him, and when he and Isla randomly kiss at the end of the season, it feels forced. No buildup. No chemistry. Just two coworkers awkwardly shoved into a rom-com moment that no one asked for.
The Ugly: Lazy Diversity & White Savior Tropes
This is where Running Point really drops the ball.
Can we please retire the white savior trope, especially from WOC creators?
In the show, Isla discovers she has a long-lost Mexican American brother, Jackie—because, of course, his mother was the family’s maid who had an affair with Isla’s dad.
When Jackie comes looking for connection, the family tries to pay him off, but instead, he chooses family over money (because apparently, that’s what good-hearted poor people do in TV land 🙄). He then becomes Isla’s assistant, and the rest is history.
The whole storyline feels outdated and lazy, and the constant jokes about Jackie being unrefined make it worse. It’s giving Arnold Schwarzenegger’s secret son storyline.
Then there’s Brenda Song’s character, who is one of the only other POC leads in the show. And what do they do with her?
They make her the sassy, aggressive best friend whose only role is to stick up for Isla, the sweet, passive white woman. Instead of the sassy Black friend trope, they just swapped in an Asian girl.
The diversity is performative at best and completely lacks depth.
Final Verdict: Should You Watch Running Point?
So, is Running Point worth watching?
If you’re looking for a mindless, easy-to-watch comedy, this show does what it’s meant to do—deliver light, quirky entertainment without requiring much thought.
But if you want complex characters, strong storytelling, or something that actually pushes the genre forward—this ain’t it.
It’s a 2025 feminist comedy stuck in 2015, and while it has moments of fun, the lack of character development and outdated tropes make it forgettable at best, frustrating at worst.
Will I be watching Season 2? Maybe… if I remember it exists.
⭐ Rating: 2.5/5 stars.
What Do You Think? Let’s Discuss!
Did you watch Running Point? What’s your rating?
And more importantly—what’s a show that completely surprised you (either in a good way or a bad way)? Drop your thoughts below! Let’s talk. 👇
