Review: 'New Girl' - 'A Father's Love': Pint of plain?
Dennis Farina stops by as Nick's con man dad, and Schmidt and Robby team up
Dennis Farina and Zooey Deschanel in "New Girl."
A quick review of last night's "New Girl" coming up just as soon as I pick up calls on a banana...
You can look at "A Father's Love" in one of two ways: 1)As a stealth epilogue to HBO's "Luck," bringing Dennis Farina back to the track under similar (but not identical) circumstances,(*) or 2)As a Nick Miller origin story.
(*) Or maybe it was just an overall David Milch tribute, since the lead Russian gangster was played by Pasha Lychnikoff, who was Blazinov, the telegraph operator on "Deadwood."
Either way, it wasn't the most wildly funny outing of this season, with the biggest laughs — other than Nick' awkward dancing and attempt to pitch another fake diabetic fit in front of the Russians — largely clustered around the arranged marriage between Schmidt and Robby. But it was nice to both see Farina again in this setting, and to get one of the better Nick/Jess scenes of the series to date, in her response to Walt again going back on his word to Nick. For the first time, it seems like Jess truly understands why Nick is this damaged — and perhaps as a result, this was the first scene between the two of them in a long time where I could picture an interesting version of the show in which they attempt to be more than just friends.
Meanwhile, Schmidt and Robby teaming up to prevent Cece from dating an Indian guy was completely and utterly ridiculous, but one of those situations where Max Greenfield and Nelson Franklin were just given great line after great line after great line, to the point where that subplot almost felt (in a good way) like it had borrowed the rhythms of a "Happy Endings" script. I was particularly fond of the tag, where they keep coming up with more and more outlandish plans to win her back, culminating in "We enlist in the Navy, we quickly rise through the ranks, and then we can take her to the Naval Officers Ball."
What did everybody else think?
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January 16, 2013 at 2:09PM EST Reply to CommentI got second hand embarrassment for Schmidt/Robbie storyline. That was ridiculous. I liked Nick/Jess/Pop Pop. Always funny to bring a relative in.
BrettPoker The Schmidt/Robbie storyline was my favorite of the night by far. Especially from a comedy standpoint. I enjoyed how the two suitors played off of each other immensely. I could have watched a whole episode of that. The whole "Pop-pop" storyline was predictable and quickly started to lose me.
January 16, 2013 at 2:13PM ESTheatvisionjackattack Side note: The Indian guy Cece was set up with in this episode is credited as a producer on the show. Pavun Shetty. It was probably just a shout out to him.
January 16, 2013 at 3:50PM ESTCol Bat Guano I loved that they gave Robbie just as ridiculous a personality as Schmidt in those scenes. Normally he would have played the clueless straight man to Schmidt's ever escalating schemes.
January 16, 2013 at 7:58PM ESTGRubi I really like that they didn't make Robbie into this antagonistic guy that Schmidt has to get past. He is extremely likable and I can see why Cece would date him. All his interactions with Schmidt are gold. I almost want him to join the cast.
January 16, 2013 at 9:20PM ESTMonica242
January 16, 2013 at 2:23PM EST Reply to CommentI've gotten to the point where I have no objectivity where this show is concerned. I love these actors in these roles (including the guest stars they bring in, Nelson Franklin is such a treasure) that I feel like I'm going to instantly enjoy anything they do. At least right now, I'm in a good place with whatever they throw on screen.
And while Max Greenfield (rightfully) got the first breakout kudos from this supporting cast, I think it's high time that Jake Johnson get the attention he deserves for his fantastic physical comedy on this show.
joana I agree. I find Jake Johnson's Nick funnier than Schmidt.
January 16, 2013 at 8:03PM ESTghoti I think Nick is the funniest character on TV right now - and has been since the middle of last season. Jake Johnson just crushes it every week. (And he also brings a lot of depth in addition to being hilarious. It's a really good character.)
January 17, 2013 at 4:44AM ESTMonica242
January 16, 2013 at 2:24PM EST Reply to CommentWrite a comment...I've gotten to the point where I have no objectivity where this show is concerned. I love these actors in these roles (including the guest stars they bring in, Nelson Franklin is such a treasure) that I feel like I'm going to instantly enjoy anything they do. At least right now, I'm in a good place with whatever they throw on screen.
And while Max Greenfield (rightfully) got the first breakout kudos from this supporting cast, I think it's high time that Jake Johnson get the attention he deserves for his fantastic physical comedy on this show.
Qbert You can say that again!
January 17, 2013 at 1:11AM ESTtheKoala Reply to comment...
January 17, 2013 at 2:15AM ESTleahblizz
January 16, 2013 at 2:36PM EST Reply to CommentWe get night vision goggles...that's all I've got
Intellectual Ninja
January 16, 2013 at 2:38PM EST Reply to CommentBoys, boys, boys...
... Don't you know the Marine Corps Ball is heads and tails the best of the Military Balls?
Besides... Marine > Squid every, single time.
Ladies love the Dress Blues!!!
Kensington
January 16, 2013 at 2:39PM EST Reply to CommentLove the show, generally, but didn't care for this episode. There's a fine line between characters being silly and characters being stupid, and I felt they crossed the line into stupid far too easily this time. Robby never seemed like an idiot before, but I thought he came across as an idiot, the low point being when he asked Schmidt whether Cece saw him.
And then it's not enough that Nick's dad was emotionally distant or incapable of giving Nick what he needed. No, he's an actual con man, and we've got a plot about a horse con.
I just like when the show is more grounded in recognizably human circumstances.
But that's me.
Espo
January 16, 2013 at 3:08PM EST Reply to CommentJake Johnson was recently on Andy Greenwald's Hollywood Prospectus podcast over at Grantland. Buried in the fantastic interview was Johnson basically calling Dennis Farina a dick--or at the very least, Johnson implied Farina wasn't too fond of the cast's antics.
david Thought he said Kick.
January 16, 2013 at 5:28PM ESTGRubi I listened to a podcast at EW where Johnson spoke about Farina. In that one, he had nothing but nice things to say about him...
January 16, 2013 at 9:22PM ESTRicardo
January 16, 2013 at 3:24PM EST Reply to CommentI didn't like Nick's father, especially in such a cliched storyline.
Otherwise, not the best episode. "New Girl" can do much better.
"My name is Jamil!"
gladly
January 16, 2013 at 3:29PM EST Reply to CommentThere's more to A Father's Love than just semen!
(I died. Died.)
Dezbot
January 16, 2013 at 4:25PM EST Reply to CommentWinston's infatuation with Pop Pop was killing me. So glad they're doing more with him. Schmidt's antics were funny, too.
I liked Dennis Farina as Ol' Man Miller's old man, and was glad they didn't have the obligatory heart-warming reconciliation where Pop Pop actually changes. Poor Nick!
Jennifer
January 16, 2013 at 6:11PM EST Reply to CommentI found it interesting that we learned that all of the guys were basically raised in single parent households by their mothers.
And still giggling over 'I now have empathy for Pakistan' and Nick's anger at Jess believing his name is Jemeel? I can't remember the name.
CB
January 16, 2013 at 8:05PM EST Reply to CommentOverall, I wasn't too excited about this episode, apart from Nick angry-fixing the sink. Also, this little gem:
Schmidt: "Self-immolation."
Robbie: "I feel like we're almost there!"
I died laughing.
olucy
January 16, 2013 at 8:06PM EST Reply to CommentI *love* this show, but this was a dumb episode.
Craig
January 17, 2013 at 1:23PM EST Reply to CommentI just really want a chica go bills hat.
Jaxemer11
January 18, 2013 at 1:37AM EST Reply to CommentThis show is reaching Parks and Rec status for me. Has not been a bad episode all season. They are really hitting their stride.
erika_herzog
January 20, 2013 at 12:14AM EST Reply to CommentThat scene / moment at the end of the episode between Jess and Nick totally gutted me. And came at the end of such wildly silly / grifter strangeness of the rest of the show. Sort of unexpected and lovely moment.
Just wanted to say that....
belinda
January 20, 2013 at 10:19PM EST Reply to CommentI like Nick, but I'm finding this season thus far too largely concentrated on him as a character (or perhaps too largely concentrated on building that bond between Nick and Jess) for some reason. It's not to the point where it's really annoying, but it feels all just a bit contrived at times.