FOX's New Girl - Episode 3.23 "Cruise"
Jess and Nick invite the gang along with them on a cruise they booked while still together as a couple. Coach tries to suppress his fear of boating, Schmidt attempts to win back Cece and Winston tries to mend Jess and Nick's fractured relationship.
Season three of New Girl has been a very up and down year. "Prince" and "Mars Landing" were some of the best episodes the show has done. But the fall episodes were really uncertain with how to handle the newest development of Nick and Jess being in an actual relationship. They were kept in this weird holding pattern where they look cute together and have a ton of sex but the relationship wasn't evolving. It also felt like the show didn't know what to do with the rest of the cast either. They became committed to having Crazy Winston be his sole characteristic. But that didn't lead to any kind of meaningful arc. Schmidt was a terrible character at the start of this season and the show desperately needed to remember what was so funny about him to start with. Cece had a job change but her plot developments would pop up sporadically and for no real reason. And the show even added yet another character to the mix this year in Damon Wayans, Jr.'s returning Coach. The show has tried to use him but not to the extent where he's inherently interesting or funny.But with all those problems, New Girl did turn things around during the second half of this season. Were all those problems solved? No. The show introduces Cece going after her GED in one episode only for it to be completely resolved the next time it's brought up - which was the finale. Winston decided to become a police officer and there really hasn't been any kind of follow through with that in a couple episodes. Pleasantly though, Coach got a job at Jess' school and now they have an interesting friendship.
But the biggest development has been Jess and Nick deciding to break up. They are both trying to navigating the return to friend status while still living together. It's awkward and weird. That's ultimately what the finale boils down to. This collection of characters are weird and awkward but they work best as friends who can be weird and awkward together. Just because two of them have been sexual partners in the past doesn't mean things suddenly have to change. Things can be openly awkward as a group. They get locked in a room together to have a return to the group dynamic. Sure, the show can be very rewarding watching different aspects simultaneously happening. But it's much stronger when it has this group of characters just in the same room bouncing off one another.
The show took a turn for the emotional reality of a romantic relationship this year. It didn't always work. But it was mostly charming throughout. It's both surprising and a welcome development that no grand moment happens in this finale. It's about the group staying a group. The show's not out to change it's core dynamic now - which hopeful proves fruitful for Season 4.
Some more thoughts:
- "Cruise" was written by Luvh Rakhe & Rob Rosell and directed by Elizabeth Meriwether.
- Both Kerri Kenney and Oscar Nunez had their moments as the finale's "big" guest stars. But the show rightfully focused most of its time on its main characters and their awkward interactions.
- I also respect Schmidt and Cece for realize both of their faults when it comes to their past romantic relationships. A reunion of them wasn't necessary here - even though I got a big laugh out of Winston tickling Schmidt as he drops the ring.
- Coach's fear of boats and the ocean was a strange characterization that was just thrown out there - but it did lead to some funny physical comedy.
- Jess: "We're going on a cruise and you're all coming with us." Nick: "And none of you have a choice."
- Coach: "I take dumps standing up. I'm a man!"
- Schmidt: "And let us taste your jams." Nick: "Listen to yourself for once in your life."
