"One thing about me: I love TV. Have I seen (insert literally any semi-viral TV show from the past five years here)? The answer is always yes. I’ll watch any genre: Bravo reality TV, plot-twist thrillers, devastating dramas, you name it. But as a prolific watcher, I’ve noticed it’s getting harder and harder to find one specific niche: feel-good TV.
panic packing? I don't know her.
Don’t get me wrong—I love intense, mind-bending shows. But right now, despite the endless streaming options, it feels like the only choices are a thriller about a murder, a docuseries about a murder, or something else designed to spike my heart rate right before bed. So, when I saw that Netflix was releasing a Ted Lasso-esque sports comedy with a touch of Nobody Wants This romance co-created by Mindy Kaling and starring Kate Hudson, I knew I had to watch it the second it dropped.
Running Point follows former party girl Isla Gordon, who is unexpectedly appointed president of her family’s basketball team, the Los Angeles Waves, when her brother checks into rehab. As a longtime basketball fan overlooked by her late father, she’s eager to prove herself in the notoriously male-dominated industry. The show is packed with twists, turns, romance, and plenty of family drama. I’m telling everyone I know to run to Netflix to watch it immediately. Here’s why.
My review of Running Point
The cast is iconic
It’s nearly impossible to have a bad show when you cast rom-com legend Kate Hudson, Disney Channel darling Brenda Song, New Girl’s Schmidt (Max Greenfield), and Justin Theroux together. Even without knowing the plot, the cast alone was enough to make me hit play, and they all exceeded my expectations.
The ensemble’s fast-paced dynamic is reminiscent of sitcoms like New Girl and Modern Family, where it’s almost impossible to have a favorite character because they’re all so good. The chemistry between the characters is undeniable, and while my brothers and I don’t have the same struggles (or tax bracket) as Isla, Sandy, and Ness, the classic loving sibling banter felt so real. I swear some lines during the siblings’ arguments could be transcripts from our bickering. With so many hilarious characters, there was never a wasted moment, and every scene kept me hooked. I mean, there was even a Law Roach cameo. I couldn’t have dreamed up a better cast if I tried.
It has Mindy Kaling’s signature comforting, feel-good energy
Mindy Kaling nailed the awkwardness of high school self-discovery in Never Have I Ever and the chaotic bond of college roommates in The Sex Lives of College Girls. Now, with Running Point, she tackles the laugh-out-loud dysfunction of an office comedy.
It almost feels like we grew up with Kaling’s shows—we graduated high school and college together, and now we’re navigating the working world (well, at least the top one percent’s version of it). Running Point is essentially Kaling’s campy, far less serious take on Succession with a billionaire family and their over-the-top drama—but with a basketball team instead of a media empire.
Watching this show after work feels like eating the ultimate childhood comfort meal: nostalgic, satisfying, and easy to devour in one sitting. Sure, there are a few plot holes and underdeveloped side characters, but it still delivers the entertainment level you crave from a comedy. Despite its flaws, Running Point captures the feeling that us TV purveyors are always chasing that keeps you glued to the screen.
It’s fast-paced
As much as I love a classic sitcom, with endless shows at our fingertips, 22-episode seasons can feel overwhelming. Especially when, like everyone else, my attention span has been whittled down by 60-second TikToks. Running Point keeps you focused with short, punchy, completely addictive episodes.
“Watching this show after work feels like eating the ultimate childhood comfort meal: nostalgic, satisfying, and easy to devour in one sitting.”
Multiple plotlines burn bright and fast in just one season, keeping you invested until the final cliffhanger. This pacing kept me hooked, but its fast nature also meant some characters didn’t get as much screen time as I wanted (I wish there was way more Brenda Song). A few storylines wrapped up a little too conveniently just a few minutes after the show introduced them, but if the show gets renewed, I have full faith we’ll dive deeper into them.
It has the perfect balance of sports and romance
Let me preface this by saying I’m not a huge sports fan. I’ll watch when my teams are playing, but I don’t follow every stat or stream every game. So, for a casual viewer like me, Running Point struck the perfect balance between sports and love.
If you’re expecting an intense basketball drama, that’s not what you’re getting. You’ll meet the players, get a peek behind the scenes (the show is loosely based on L.A. Lakers president Jeanie Buss), and experience some edge-of-your-seat moments at the games, but, like Ted Lasso, it’s more about the characters and their lives than the actual sport itself.
It also delivers adorable sports romance moments that even Taylor and Travis can’t top. Kate Hudson reaffirms her status as the reigning rom-com queen with a classic love triangle that has me struggling to pick a side. The show reminded me a lot of Nobody Wants This, but while that series is full-on romance, Running Point keeps it as a subplot—just enough to ground the show in real emotions as Isla figures out her life and who can handle her and her siblings’ chaotic version of “normal.”
Should you watch Running Point?
If you’ve been searching for your next show, consider the quest officially over. Running Point was the perfect lighthearted palette cleanser between my weekly Severance and The White Lotus viewings, and I binged the entire thing in two days. Now, I’m desperately hoping it gets renewed.
The foundation is set for characters I know I’ll grow to love even more, and the fact that I don’t have another ten episodes in my hands right now is painful. So, clear your schedule and plan a night to binge Running Point—you won’t regret it.
Lauren Blue, Assistant Editor
As an Assistant Editor for The Everygirl, Lauren ideates and writes content for every facet of our readers’ lives. Her articles span the topics of must-read books, movies, home tours, travel itineraries—and everything in between. When she isn’t testing the latest TikTok trend, she can be found scouring Goodreads for new releases to feature on the site.