Air Date: Tuesday, May 1, 2012, 9/8c on Fox
RATING:
“Am I self-sabotaging?” – Jess
The two lovebirds are finally making it official! YAY!!
Things were beginning to feel too familiar with New Girl and I like the change “Backslide” brings. While Jess (Zooey Deschanel) continues to remain aloof, I sense a bit of growth in her character. She isn’t the sweet, innocent and naïve woman we were first introduced to at the beginning of the season. When she realizes she’s done something wrong, she goes about setting it right. Yeah, she doesn’t always see what’s right in front of her face without help, but you can’t hold it against her.
Observations and thoughts:
So after last week’s episode, I truly thought Nick (Jake Johnson) and Jess would explore their ‘connection.’ Not so. Nick gets back with Caroline (Mary Elizabeth Ellis) and makes plans to move in with her, despite the pleas of his roommates. I don’t understand his logic, nor do I think it’s a good idea, but maybe it’s what Nick needs. If Caroline breaks his heart again, maybe he’ll finally realize he should either be alone or with Jess. I vote for the latter. As an aside, the homeless caveman look he sports in his break-up video does nothing to convince me of his depression over losing Caroline last year. He looks like an idiot and the fake beard is so obvious it’s not even funny. Nice try wardrobe department. Nice try…
Paul is one ugly crier.
“You are exactly what she needs.” It takes Cece (Hannah Simone) overhearing her grandmother (Madhur Jeffrey) talking to Schmidt (Max Greenfield) to get her to realize her true feelings for him. And because it’s Schmidt, his reaction is priceless. “I care about you so much,” he mutters before passing out from excruciating pain. I’m not sure what the writers are trying to say about men, but Schmidt having a serious problem is coming through loud and clear. “Does emotional intimacy turn you on?” Apparently anything turns him on, Cece. And I do mean anything.
Was anyone as surprised as I was to see Paul (Justin Long) in Jess’ bed? Talk about backsliding. It was a very nice surprise because I wasn’t expecting to see Long again and I laughed my ass off watching the montage of his character’s “ugly” crying. That has to be one of the funniest thing I’ve ever seen. I’d love to know who came up with the idea for the crazy ass facial expressions. Long does an amazing job creating what looks to Jess like “he’s a slow motion sneeze.” What a perfect description!
When will these two see what's right in front of them?
Winston (Lamorne Morris) gets his ear pierced and it turns into a running gag throughout the entire half hour. I’m not sure it was necessary, but I loved it. There are so many jokes for his ridiculous look that I didn’t think I could handle seeing Winston with yet another type of earring. He goes from a diamond stud, to a huge Mr. Clean gold loop, to a hoop and feather monstrosity, which warrants Schmidt calling Winston “Captain Black Sparrow.”
Funny lines:
Schmidt to Jess: “I have a broken penis. Don’t pretend to know my pain.”
**
Winston: “What’s this song called?”
Jess: “River. You like it.”
Winston: “Yeah, yeah I liked it when you played it for the first time at 10:00 last night. I liked it a little bit less at 2 a.m. and now I’m kind of hoping that the sun comes up, thaws that river, and that woman drowns.”
**
Schmidt once Jess turns off the River song: “Come on, 80 more times! I get it now, it’s a river!”
**
Jess about Cece’s outfit: “Why is she dressed like a women’s studies major?”
Schmidt: “It’s precautionary. Just until my junk heals.”
**
Schmidt to Cece about visiting a nursing home: “Old people freak me out. With their hands, and their legs, just… they’re like the human version of pleated pants.”
**
Jess to Paul as he cries: “You are literally the ugliest crier I have ever seen. You cry smile.”
**
Schmidt: “I’m gonna miss you, Winston.”
Winston: “What do you mean?”
Schmidt: “I’m gonna miss you when your caravan moves on.”
**
Jess to Winston: “Take it easy, black George Michael.”
**
Nick reading an old poem he wrote about Caroline: “Shall I compare thee to a summer’s day? No. A summer’s day is not a bitch.”
**
I loved “Backslide.” It is engaging, witty, and refreshing. Nick and Caroline’s made up dance to Jess’ I’m-depressed-let-me-wallow-in-self-pity song is surprisingly hilarious. I almost felt like we’d ventured back in time—this episode embodies the newness of New Girl in a way that is most welcome.
Tune in to New Girl, Tuesdays at 9/8c on Fox. For more on the show, visit http://www.fox.com/new-girl/.
Like New Girl on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/NewGirlonFOX
Follow New Girl on Twitter: @NewGirlonFOX Hastag #NewGirl https://twitter.com/#!/NEWGIRLonFOX
Photo credit: Isabella Vosmikova/FOX © 2012 Fox Broadcasting, LLC. All rights reserved.
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