This past Tuesday saw the season finale of the Freshman comedy New Girl starring Zooey Deschanel as Jess. Along with her three roommates, she lives life one day at a time and picks at the little foibles of life. It is not an original idea, but one that could be a good starter for the show's attempt to make everything about it "adorkable" simply because of Deschanel's quirky legacy. Almost immediately from the pilot, I was willing to give this show a chance. Of the new shows that have come and gone since September 2011, this is up there besides Key & Peele and the even shorter lived Free Agents.
Looking back on TV, there hasn't been too much worth adding to my regular viewing besides these shows. After 2 Broke Girls turned out to be a complete waste, Ringer to not be Sarah Michelle Gellar's big return, I was ready to just scratch any hopes of finding a new show, let alone a comedy from FOX, a network that doesn't provide much for my interest. Then New Girl came out, and because I kind of like Deschanel, I was willing to give it a chance. From the pilot's references to Dirty Dancing and Lord of the Rings, I felt like I finally found a show worth sticking with.
I stuck with it through the best and worst episodes. However, the bigger issue that kept it from being greater was that it was packaged between X-Factor results shows and baseball games. I would tune in a lot of Tuesday nights, only to be left disappointed. There was even a whole month without a new episode, and that was almost the death knell that kept me from even remember when the show was on.
But I am glad that FOX managed to fix everything out because this really is a solid show. I don't feel that the comedy is as hard hitting as Community or Parks and Recreation, but I don't need that. In fact, most of the plots are basic blueprints and this has a very traditional sitcom feel (minus the three camera technique) where the situation rises, the gang gets into mischief, and everyone figures it out with laughter. That's the plot of every show and depending on what tropes (ranging from bad sex and seeing someone naked to pleasing landlords and older gentlemen) they were tackling, it resulted in solid laughs.
These characters are essentially inoffensive roommates who get on each other's nerves. While the series started off focusing mostly on Jess' problems and relationship with her awkward boyfriend (Justin Long), it evolved in ways that make me respect it more. They managed to bring Nick (Jake M. Johnson), Schmidt (Max Greenfield), Winston (Lamorne Morris) to more prominent roles. Sometimes they were only accompaniment to Jess' adventures, but slowly the characters developed and gave the show a sense of family dynamic.
This show is not going to break new ground. All it will do is provide 30 minutes of fun per episode. If you find jokes about bath towels and losing virginity with old timey accents, then this is the show for you. There is a certain endearment that each character had, and it often substitutes for the show's flaws. Even the weaker elements, like Jess' best friend Cece (Hannah Simone) weren't the most grating thing that you could put to film.
There is one way that I am thankful for this show. In comparison to 2 Broke Girls, this show has very basic characters. However, they manage to not be rooted in broad, racist stereotypes. They work as a community and have fun likewise. They communicate and we usually get an understanding of what the motives are. When things get hairy and a driver pulls out a gun over a parking spot, there is a sense of awkward urgency that drives this show.
There was even the addition of Lizzy Caplan to the cast briefly. I have liked her since the days of Mean Girls, and it was nice to see her hang with the gang. Like Justin Long, she is a character that I kind of wish could have been on more, but in the linear story, would have been a foolish move. This is a small universe right now and I am thinking that maybe it's best left that way. It is best if the world expands when the situation calls for it. This show knows what it's going for, and succeeds as a result.
So by the end when Nick and Jess are getting close, the only way to shake up an apartment comedy is to send Nick away. Those moments in the final episode "See Ya" reflect just how close-knit the characters have become as they dance to OMC and yell at coyotes to run away. The fact that Nick doesn't go anywhere, and instead greets the guests at the end with AC/DC is nothing new or shocking. However, because of the relationship that has been developed, it results in a sweet little moment that this show has been improving on week to week.
This show even has inspired quick cutaways. It seemed for awhile like 30 Rock would be the only show to have good cutaways. Numerous gags don't necessarily work, but it only helps to build the atmosphere of why these characters are offbeat. Since they are sparingly used, it's more of the shock of use than anything else that makes them work.
This may be my favorite show from the Fall 2011 premieres. While it is no Undeclared, I am glad to know that there is a good comedy on FOX again. It manages to be very lighthearted while having memorable moments. It may be knee deep in tropes, but the characters are slowly rising above them and placing the show into that one feel good show that it so wants to be. I have doubt that any proceeding season will make me really hate this show, as I have become invested in the characters too much. Here is the dynamic that I feel justifies my statements.
Overall rating: 3 out of 5
Favorite episode: The Landlord
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