New Girl

New Girl is an American series that started in 2011 and was aired in the UK in 2012. The series took a break in the UK for a few months recently but now it’s back on our screens and its new series starts in America this September. This television programme was also named as one of the eight "most exciting new series" of 2011 by the Critics' Choice Television Awards. 

Zooey Deschanel plays the ‘adorkable’ character of Jess, a bubbly vibrant teacher, who randomly bursts into song and dance at any moment. When Jess finds out her boyfriend of six years is cheating on her, she moves in with three guys, despite reservations from her best friend Cece. The series follows the developing friendship between Jess and her new flat mates, as well as exploring her new found single status and the world of dating. Whether it’s creating strange new games to play in the flat or destroying a child’s science project, this programme is full of laughs and has something different every week.

Characters

 

Jess (Zooey Deschanel)

Miss Deschanel has given life and humour to a character which could have been like any other female in an American sitcom, but with the character of Jess she is beautiful as well as a bit clumsy and a loveable dork. She is more relatable to the viewer than many women on television at the moment and her references to ‘Lord of the Rings’ in the first episode shows that she isn’t just a pretty girl but also has a geeky side to her too. As a teacher she feels a sense of responsibility to the children and often transfers this behaviour to the flat when she becomes mother hen speaking to the guys like she does her school kids, but this is balanced with her immaturity and fun loving side that means she isn’t always the responsible adult in the flat.

Nick (Jake M Johnson)

A law school drop out that now works in a bar, Nick is a character that many 30 year old men can probably relate to. He doesn’t like to face any problems and fixes his life in a way that is similar to his DIY skills, he believes putting a plastic bottle and a bit of sticky tape in to fix the toilet will be a good solution, although in reality this is a temporary fix. This character also shares a similar emotive state to Jess at the beginning of the series, they are both recovering from long term relationships that have ended and it shows how similar men and women really can be.

Schmidt  (Max Greenfield)

A business man and a womanizer, Schmidt is the character which comes out with some of the funniest lines. He believes he knows all about women and seems to want to prove this to everyone. His metaphors and comparisons not only have you confused but in fits of laughter at how ridiculous they can be. His need to prove himself also extends to work, where he is the only male so is constantly in competition with the females around him.  

Winston (Lamorne Morris)

Although he isn’t in the first episode as a roommate, by the second episode we find out that Winston lived there before ‘Coach’ (the tenant in the first episode). He used to play basketball in Latvia but is now back in the US struggling to find job and catch up with American life. He is the reason behind the madness in this flat and while he is the least humorous, he brings normality to the show.

Cece (Hannah Simone)

Jess’ best friend and model encourages and guides her through her new experience of being single and getting back on the dating scene. What you don’t anticipate is who else she might get close to. At first she may seem like a model who sleeps around but further into the series you get to see more and more of her and just how big a heart she has. Although at first she seems like a sub-character, she becomes more involved in the group is an important part of the dynamic later on in the series.

Best Episode

Episode 24 is the last episode of the series and it is a great conclusion to a hilarious series. It brings the group together in unusual circumstances, and there’s plenty of singing and dancing. When Nick has to make a decision about moving out of the flat he freaks out and the group end up in a desert, setting up camp over night they have to survive coyotes, Winston’s fear of the dark and Schmidt carrying out ‘White Fang’. This episode sums up the series as a whole, realising that people make good and bad decisions but it’s having good friends around you that gets you through everything, however cheesy that sounds. The only thing I believe this episode lacks is any cliff hangers to encourage the viewer to come back next series, but despite this I think that series two will be highly anticipated, both here and in the US.

Series Evaluation

The key theme throughout the series is relationships and friendship. The Nick/Jess chemistry pushes the ‘will they won’t they’ question throughout this series and into the next one. Even on her first week in the flat, Jess is shown friendship from the guys when they rescue her from a date, missing a big night out. All of the flat tenants end up going through some relationship drama, including Nick and his ex, Jess and multiple men and even Schmidt has a secret girlfriend. Although they are all dealing with their own individual relationships outside the flat, they always have time for each other and it’s these adventures every episode that keep you coming back for more.

Favourite Quote

Schmidt: “I'll take you through the whole thing. I'll be like your guide.”
Jess: “Like Gandalf through Middle Earth?”
Schmidt: “Probably not like... Okay, first of all, let's take the Lord of the Rings references and put them in a deep, dark cave, where no one's gonna find them. Ever.”
Jess: “Except Sméagol. He lives in a cave.”