(FOX)

This week’s episode, “Annette Castellano Is My Nemesis,” focused on the developing relationship between Mindy and Danny’s mother, Annette (played by Rhea Perlman). And as the title of the episode suggests, it didn’t go so well, at first.

Mindy Meets “Ma”

In the opening scene, Annette unexpectedly bursts into Danny’s apartment to deliver old magazines. She introduces herself to Mindy and immediately takes a liking to her.  She asks if Mindy would consider coming to Staten Island every week and what her rate is (To which, Mindy said: “I think I'm an 8, you know? A 10 in Chicago, then a 4 in Los Angeles"). After Annette leaves, Danny informs Mindy that she thought Mindy was Danny’s cleaning lady the whole time.

Mindy then berates Danny for not introducing her properly and he admits that he never mentioned Mindy to his mother because his mother has hated all of his girlfriends. He had hoped that he’d never have to introduce Mindy, adding that he was waiting for “natural forces” to resolve the situation. Mindy, who was appalled at Danny’s waiting for his mother to die, insists upon meeting Annette, saying that she has a 4-point, "mom catching" plan that wins all moms over.

The next day at work, Danny brings Annette to work and reluctantly introduces her to Mindy. Annette immediately apologizes for the cleaning lady mix-up and Mindy forgives her, noting that a little boy once mistook her for the “Dora the Explorer” balloon on Thanksgiving. Mindy also learns that Annette’s birthday is the next day and that Danny made a brunch reservation during one of Mindy’s appointments.

Mindy, of course, reschedules her appointment and comes to brunch. She immediately puts "mom catching" plan into action by first complimenting Annette. The next step was finding a TV show they have in common. After striking out on shows with “wives” in the title (“Basketball Wives,” “Sister Wives,” “Army Wives,” etc.), Annette admits to watching “Castle,” which Mindy has to look up on her phone. She also brings gifts (coordinating shirts reading: “Here comes trouble,” and “Trouble”) for Annette and her friend. The final step was to agree with everything Annette said at brunch.

After that, Annette was completely sold on her. But, it was short lived.

When Danny gave his mother her birthday gift (a new oven for kitchen), she claims that it’s too much. Going against her better judgment for dealing with moms, Mindy speaks up for Danny and accidently reveals that she knows about Danny paying his mother’s bills. At that, Annette gets so angry that she tells Danny to stop supporting her and storms out of the restaurant, adding to Mindy: “I don’t like you.”

The next day, Mindy tries to fix the situation by going to talk to Annette at the hotel where she has gone back to work as a cleaning lady. When she gets there, Annette is laying on the floor because she popped her hip. She refuses to let Mindy help, resulting in a struggle on the floor as Mindy tries to pop her hip back into place.

She then convinces Annette to let Danny pay her bills again and suggests that she shouldn’t be so hard on Danny. Annette claims she only does it because Danny is tough and can handle it, but Mindy argues that everyone needs to be taken care of at some point, which Annette admits is why Mindy is good for Danny.

The episode ends with Danny and Mindy having a pleasant dinner at Annette’s, during which Annette decides to be less hard on Danny and expresses gratitude for the new oven.

Morgan, Tamra & Peter

While the episode primarily focused on Mindy and Danny’s relationship, as well as Mindy and Annette’s, Morgan and Tamra’s relationship was also tested, mostly because of Peter, who is still reeling from his break up with Lauren.

When Morgan tells Peter that Tamra found out that she is allergic to dogs and is making Morgan get rid of all 40 of his, Peter doesn’t believe that Tamra is really allergic and questions Tamra’s intentions. He says that “all women have a thicker fold in their brain that makes them manipulative by nature.”

While Morgan is sharing an emotional goodbye with one of his dogs, reminiscing about watching “America’s Got Talent,” Peter grabs the dog before Morgan can hand it to the new owner. He finds Tamra and shoves the dog in her face to prove that she isn’t allergic. As it turns out, she is very allergic.

Peter apologizes to Tamra and admits that he has trouble trusting women after Lauren kissed Jeremy behind his back. Tamra forgives him because she too knows about the thicker fold in women’s brains making them manipulative. She also lets Morgan keep his dogs, planning to take medicine and not come to his house anymore, partly because his Grandma’s kisses are “hella wet.”

While reuniting with his dogs, Morgan decides to give one of his female dogs to Peter because he needs a “strong female influence” in his life while he is getting over Lauren.

Catch “The Mindy Project,” Tuesdays at 9:30/8:30c on FOX.

Reach Staff Reporter Alex Reed here.