Season 2, Episode 20: Chicago

I feel like my reviews have gotten too "stream of consciousness" lately without offering enough real criticism. So before I begin the episode I would like to recap my important feelings on the direction of New Girl and where I perceive it going.

 A good comedy, for me and perhaps generally, depends on a good ensemble of characters who are both distinct and funny in different ways but they must also have enough depth for the audience to relate to them as real people. When New Girl launched I felt that the characters were too shallow, Jess was too weird, Schmidt too much of a jackass bro. Nick was too average and normal. It wasn't believable that any of the characters would have anything to do with each other. Why would Nick have spent the last ten years living with Schmidt when he was so annoying that I wanted to hit him with my car? Why is nerdy pixie dream girl best friends with a fashion model?
Since the pilot however they have done a good job bringing each of the characters to a good level where they are both funny and believable as friends. Jess has stopped her most annoying traits, Schmidt's behavior is tempered by his insecurities enough to be endearing, Nick has been revealed as the slovenly curmudgeon (Winston still has no character, poor Winston).  They found a good balance so that the show would be tolerable. The question then becomes how do they move forward?

Initially I thought that creating romantic tension between Nick and Jess was a bad idea. Where Cece is basically a secondary character to the show so her relationship with Schmidt was actually a good plot arc, having two of the main roommate characters become romantically involved seemed like a bad idea to me. It changes the dynamic of their group of friends. Nobody wants the Nick and Jess show, especially not at this point. I feel that for an ensemble show to introduce a romantic relationship between two of their existing major characters all the characters need to have strong plot lines so the show doesn't just become a show about their relationship. Jim and Pam didn't get together for several seasons, neither did Chandler and Monica. I felt like New Girl was jumping the gun. However given how they have handled Nick and Jess over the course of the past five episodes I have to commend them. What you fear when major characters hook up is the incessant awkwardness of "will they or wont they" and New Girl has responded by making that awkwardness ridiculous and exaggerated. By making it as weird as possible New Girl has actually prevented the relationship being the only thing the show is about.

Now on to the episode:

Maybe I'm a child but helium voice cracks me up. That was a really cheap setup but the payoff was pretty funny.
I don't really want a very special episode of this show, especially on this particular subject. We'll see how much I write on this one.

Hey look its Nick Kroll and Bill Burr, things are looking up. Kroll is doing like a modified Bobby Bottle Service or something, I hope it gets either more or less ridiculous because right now its a little painful.

Hey its Margo Martindale too, she was so good on Justified. "Winny and Fat Schmidt" killed me.

"Do it college" guest stars are doing good work. I hope they bring back Kroll in a less emotional episode later on. Nick's goombah brother comes to visit would be a good episode.

Schmidt has a good writer for his one liners "Look at all these buttons Winston, I look like a remote control." is such a good throwaway line. Im a little tired of Schmidt freakouts though.

"Long Island son" also was pretty good. Nick getting drunk was pretty much expected, I kind of assume he gets drunk and everybody else is drunk too.

I'm glad Winston gets a little scene here, he doesn't get enough to do on this show.

Oh no.

Im mad at them for doing this Elvis bit. That's a step beyond reality. I have never heard this elvis song. I have heard Too $hort's classic, maybe its a cover.

This was the natural end to this show, pretty obvious. Jake Johnson is doing a pretty solid dramatic scene. I feel like comedy actors do a better job moving to drama than the other way around.

Oh good, we will get to come back to Chicago for Kroll's wedding. The punch to the gut was good too.

Pretty good episode, although its too bad Dennis Farina wont be coming back again.

Season 2 Episode 19: Quick Hardening Caulk

Surprisingly a new episode this week. I don't know if I can get on board with a "caulk" joke. Oh FOX you are so edgy. I have to say having a couple week break from writing these was refreshing. I brought back my joy in being ambivalent about this show. 

Hey Schmidt shut up, I loved the Hobbit. I almost bought it at the store yesterday even though I know there will be an extended edition that I will buy instantly.

As much as I don't think a romance between Jess and Nick will be good for the show, the quick cut to the bathroom scene with Cece was pretty funny.

Its nice to see Odette Annable in something, I thought she was okay on House. I watch Chicago fire and its so weird seeing Jesse Spencer doing and American accent, he isn't very good at it. I also always thought Odette Annable last name was "Annabell" I wonder how its actually pronounced?

Do you really have to go to business school to manage a bar? That would make me sad if I had gone to business school.

Why cant Schmidt live alone? I don't think its financial, although LA is expensive. He has a good amount of money.

California Lion Fish are pretty sweet looking.

The Home Depot segment was pretty funny. I don't know if women find comically indicating ones genitals that arousing, maybe one of you single types can try it out and let me know.

This Schmidt plot is dumb.

I have been on a variety of pain meds over the years as a clumsy rugby player with kidney stones, not a single one of them has made me feel drunk like Jess is. Dilaudid might have been a little close, but still mostly just sleepy. They are really going for the comical injuries now. Nobody serves soup so hot that you need a bandage if you stick your hand in it.

I'm pretty sure Lion Fish are also venomous. 

I don't like this scene at the bar at all. 

The scene between Winston and Cece was pretty good though, sappy, but pretty good.

Well this scene will be awkward, but it does make me want to go upstairs and want ice cream. This episode has a real scenes and not as much zany. I feel like they are even shot a little differently.

Oh no, this is terrible.

I'd like to say that I called the aquarium breaking, but it was pretty obvious.

I feel like completely ending the Schmidt Cece relationship will really take Cece out of the show, at least for a while.

A relatively momentous episode, but ultimately unsatisfying.