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I started watching “New Girl” a few weeks back. I was a little skeptical at first. It has “girl” in the title, so naturally, I thought it was a show aimed at girls. Call me sexist. Whatever. After a few episodes, I quickly found out that it’s a show for anyone and everyone who is trying to navigate the murky waters of young adulthood. Zooey Deschanel is irresistibly quirky and cute. I hate myself for using those words, but I can’t find any other way to describe her character. The show lands with awesome characters and jokes that seem to be impeccably aimed at anyone who grew up in the ’80s and ’90s.
It’s a more cerebral version of “Workaholics,” with a little bit of “Friends” mixed in. Just a group of friends trying to make it in LA, but good news! None of them are trying to be actors, musicians or agents. They’re normal people. Teachers, corporate drones, bartenders and often unemployed.
So, put some money in the Douchebag Jar and put your game of True American on hold. Here’s what you need to know:
Recommended binge partner: Your roommate(s)
Where you can get it: Netflix, Vudu ($1.99/episode), Hulu Plus
Seasons: 4 (Netflix only has seasons 1-3)
Awards: None (Several Emmy and Golden Globe nominations, though)
Ranking the Characters
1. Schmidt
2. Jess
3. Nick
4. Winston
5. Coach
6. Cece
“Can’t Miss” Episodes
According to IMDB’s rankings
“Cooler” (Season 2)
“Elaine’s Big Day” (Season 2)
“Background Check” (Season 4)
“Virgins” (Season 2)
“Quickly Hardening Caulk” (Season 2)
“Prince” (Season 3)
“Birthday” (Season 3)
“Secrets” (Season 1)
“Santa” (Season 2)
“Parking Spot” (Season 2)
How Many Episodes You Can Watch In One Sitting
I’m torn. When I first got into the show, I would watch one or two at a time. After a week or so, it was four or five episodes at a time. The show draws you in with lovable, relatable characters and you’ll find yourself craving a good binge within a few days of acclimating yourself. Last Sunday, I knocked out roughly half of a season. Since each episode is only 23 minutes long, it’s pretty easy to monitor your binging. It’s just that good. I felt like a gigantic piece of shit afterwards, yes, but the show is just so good that you can’t stay away for long. Recommended binge: 5-7 episodes at a time.
Recommended Food
Anything that a self-loathing, mess of a human being would eat. So, Chinese food or any sort of overpriced takeout.
Ranking the Seasons
1. Season 2
2. Season 3
3. Season 4
4. Season 1
Start-to-Finish
Three full seasons with 23 episodes each that come in under a half hour. You can get caught up in just a couple of weeks. It’s not “The West Wing” or “The Sopranos.” It’s a fun, easy-on-the-brain, comedy. You’ll probably want a change of pace at some point, because the quirkiness of Zooey Deschanel can be a bit much at times. Fire up HBOGo and watch “The Wire” for a couple of hours. You’ll find yourself wanting to come back in no time. It shouldn’t take you more than a month to get all caught up..
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Brian McGannon
What do I love? I love happy hour, a good golf tan, and getting moderately drunk during dinner.
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“This is a terrible neighborhood. There are youths everywhere.”
LLS
Nick needs to be above Jess in your character rankings.
Putting Nick that high in the rankings is like saying Deb was your favorite character in Dexter. Just awful. Schmidt deserves to be in a tier of his own as well.
Zooey Deschanel is terrible. Just terrible.
So true. I put off watching the show so long just because she’s the lead. I swear she must have a clause in every contract that stipulates she has to sign at some point, I can’t think of any other reason why someone with such a mediocre voice should be showcased as often as she it. I can’t help but think how great the show would’ve been if they replaced her with Rashida Jones or someone who’s not completely insufferable