New Girl Review: Mountain Man

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What is the meaning of manhood in our modern society? Is it difficult to hold on to your masculinity while you're in a relationship?

And is it ever okay to eat a rotted fish that you just found floating around?

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Surprisingly, New Girl Season 3 Episode 10 took a stab at answering all of these questions.

And even if the show only really came to any conclusions on the whole "eating rotted fish" issue, the other questions hinted at an interesting way forward for a show that's been stuck ever since its major conflict was decided (i.e. Nick and Jess, sitting in a tree, F-A-C-E-S-U-C-K-I-N-G 4 EVAH)

Though this episode was a partial return to form (after a serious two-episode dry spell), with the best New Girl quotes I've heard in weeks, it was still far from perfect.

The tension was fairly manufactured, the stakes low, and man, I am still just not sold on Coach. I think the writers have yet to find his place in the Lofterian dynamic and the recent strategy of using him to produce new conflict has been a pretty weak substitute for the real thing.

But this episode did provide a tantalizing look at a new kind of conflict the show could examine, rather than sticking to the tried and true "Ross and Rachel" sitcom breakup/ makeup cycle.

As we also saw in New Girl Season 2 Episode 4, the show does a great job examining Millennial issues and problems in a very specific - and very funny - way. By focusing on some broader issues (while still having the plots play out among a group of very self-absorbed people), the series might have found a path to keeping things sparky, without resorting to forced relationship drama.

I mean, I'm not saying it's the only way. But wouldn't it be kind of an interesting turn? Almost a kind of adult comedy Degrassi? Couldn't an examination of the unique sociological perils of modern young-ish adulthood be as exciting as cheating and thwarted love and stuff? If anyone could pull it off and make it absorbing, it's this tight ensemble cast. 

Or the show could just go back to having some actually interesting relationship drama. I mean, when the hell are Cece and Schmidt getting back together? Stop playing me, New Girl.

Will Cece end up with Coach? Will Schmidt end up alone? Is there anyone you for whom you would eat a rotted fish?

Thanksgiving III Review

Editor Rating: 4.0 / 5.0
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Rating: 3.3 / 5.0 (46 Votes)
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New Girl Season 3 Episode 10 Quotes

Guys, we've gone soft! With our antibiotics and our sports creams!

Nick

Schmidt: Camping?
Winston: Like we're animals?!