Running Point Creators Reveal Season 2 Twists, Season 3 Conflict Teased

Note: This story contains spoilers from Running Point Season 2, Episode 10.

Following the freshman season of the basketball comedy Running Point, creators Mindy Kaling, Ike Barinholtz, and David Stassen aimed to escalate the conflict for Kate Hudson’s character, Isla, in Season 2. They achieved this by increasing screen time for Justin Theroux’s Cam—who returned from rehab not fully sober—and reshaping Isla’s love life after Season 1’s unresolved love triangle.

Before tackling Isla’s romantic entanglements, the team resolved the lingering storyline with Max Greenfield’s Lev. Despite Lev calling off his engagement to Isla in the Season 1 finale, Season 2 sees the pair rekindle their relationship and eventually reach their long-delayed wedding weekend—a moment Kaling hoped to capture.

“The characters had sort of comedically been engaged for so many years that we did want to see the wedding, or almost wedding, and a rehearsal dinner. And because I’m a loser I wanted to see Kate Hudson in a wedding dress … I just think that’s something that some people want to see … some women want to see that — and gay men.”

Kate Hudson as Isla Gordon and Brenda Song as Ali in Running Point Season 2. (Netflix)

The closest viewers got to seeing Isla in a wedding dress was her rehearsal dinner outfit. She called off the wedding the night before, joking that at least she didn’t wait until the day-of. The creators admitted they considered having Isla leave Lev at the altar but ultimately decided against it.

“I think that joke is very true … it is more palatable to leave someone the day before than to leave them at the actual wedding.”

While Isla parted ways with Lev, the creators hinted at Greenfield’s potential return in future seasons. Barinholtz emphasized their fondness for the character, stating,

“there’s no way we can’t bring him back, we love him so much.”

Kaling added,

“We all met on The Mindy Project, and what was so fun about that show was all the funny characters that my character got to date, and I think that’ll be really fun going into hopefully the next season is to see Kate Hudson, one of the great movie stars of all time, dating on screen.”

One potential love interest is Jay Brown (Jay Ellis), who ended Season 2 as the new head coach and part owner of the L.A. Industry—a team recently acquired by Cam and Al (Ken Marino).

Kaling, Barinholtz, and Stassen reflect on Season 2’s biggest moments and tease what’s next below. This interview has been edited for length and clarity.