Review: 'New Girl' - 'Menzies': I get knocked down, but I get back up again
It's that time of the month for Jess, while Carla Gugino seduces Schmidt
On "New Girl," Nick (Jake Johnson) tries to help Jess (Zooey Deschanel) through a tough time.
A review of tonight's "New Girl" coming up just as soon as I feel like I want to murder someone and also I want soft pretzels...
PMS and other period-related humor is a really dicey subject, and one that often leads to lazy humor of the "Women be crazy, amiright fellas?" variety. But "Menzies" worked in part because Jess' PMS-driven behavior was tied in with the shame spiral she's been in all season. She's been in a dark place already, and this is just making it worse. On top of that, the various jokes — and the way the roommates reacted to her situation (Nick losing his temporary cool, for instance, when Jess said "it feels like a fat man sitting on my uterus") — felt very specific to these characters, rather than the usual hackiness sitcoms tend to apply to this subject. Winston faking sympathy PMS as a way to mask his post-breakup depression was goofy, but falls into the increasingly broad category of things the show does because Lamorne Morris will make it funny.
Speaking of which, the episode's highlight, unsurprisingly, was Nick opening up to silent Tran on the park bench. Put Jake Johnson in a situation and let him riff, and laughter will virtually always come. The only disappointment with that subplot was that Tran was still there at the pool when Nick brought Jess and Winston to the place, since at a certain point he would have just asked the old man to do the baby cradling thing since Nick himself was so inept at it.
As a Carla Gugino fan of long standing, I'm pleased to have her on this show for a little while, though this episode mainly felt like set-up for whatever kinky things these two will do together now that Schmidt is trying to move on from Cece. Still, what little we heard of the sex non-disclosure agreement (including "possible exposure to lead paint" and "guaranteed mercury poisoning") was amusing as a starter.
And much like "Black Betty" will always work as dramatic entrance or exit music, "Jump Around" will always work for any scene of characters who really like each other celebrating something like getting the gas turned back on, winning your high school baseball championship, etc.
What did everybody else think?
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Login or create a HitFix account Login SignupCaroline
November 13, 2012 at 11:06PM EST Reply to CommentLaughed a LOT during this episode, particularly at all Jake Johnson and Silent Tran interactions. But I found Jess' breakdown in the interview to be ridiculous, and almost offensive (offensive to all women who behave like rational human beings when on their period). No woman would jeopardize an interview because of their PMS. Her breakdown only furthers that stereotype.
gadgetguy03 I almost fell out of my chair at Jake Johnson's face when it cut to him first in the pool in Tran's arms....
November 13, 2012 at 11:13PM ESTCasey Reply to comment...
November 13, 2012 at 11:34PM ESTCasey Sorry about the blank post. I knew someone was going to say they were offended. It's time for everyone to relax, it's a comedy. I thought it was hilarious. Did Winston really have PMS? It's called a joke. And a funny one at that.
November 13, 2012 at 11:38PM ESTgco211 They explicitly noted that it was not the PMS that caused Jess to break down, it was her self-doubt and repeated self-destruction that have had her hold herself back ever since she was fired.
November 14, 2012 at 2:21AM ESTSnowie Believe it or not, I was one of the interviewers at a job interview that went down pretty much exactly like this. The candidate broke down over a seemingly innocuous question and had to be escorted from the room. (She did eventually pull herself together enough to answer the remaining questions, but everyone knew there was no way we would ever hire her after something like that.) Watching this scene took me right back to that moment, which was not amusing at all in real life!
November 14, 2012 at 10:02AM ESTLiz I don't know how they could have made it any clearer that it wasn't PMS that caused her breakdown.
November 14, 2012 at 11:07AM ESTKikishua Like Snowie, I too have been interviewing someone for a job when they broke down crying at a standard question (in my case it was a variant on "why did you leave your last job"). It's happened to me twice (the next time it was in relation to "tell us about a difficult situation you've resolved in your current job"). I'm just glad to know it isn't only me!
November 15, 2012 at 1:38PM ESTsvetlana I thought the interview part was hilarious. I have the same exact reaction to dogs when I have pms so to me it rang true. Is there really a need for everything to be politically correct? It must be exhausting to always be offended by nothing.
November 16, 2012 at 7:14AM ESTrexmism
November 13, 2012 at 11:14PM EST Reply to CommentAnyone else happen to experience something really weird with this episode? I had to switch the audio to SAP because some guy on voice over kept describing everything, like some sort of audio for blind people. Really bizarre, I've never heard anything like it before. So glad SAP worked or it would have completely ruined the episode.
Jenn OMG it was so annoying WHY did they narrate everything?!? Not a fan!
November 13, 2012 at 11:34PM ESTJohn Didn't happen to me for any of the Fox comedies, but did for Happy Endings and Apt 23. At first I thought it was some joke on Happy Endings, but I when it continued, I realized otherwise.
November 13, 2012 at 11:49PM ESTrexmism Seriously, what's going on?? Well if it happens to any of you, try switching to SAP, it should fix it.
November 14, 2012 at 12:03AM ESTChris L Audio Description. I have to go *to* SAP to hear it, so something may be a little wonky with your ABC affiliate (or your cable box's Audio setting).
November 14, 2012 at 11:08AM ESTJohn I was watching everything on DVR, and given that it didn't happen on FOX and the shows were on at the same time, I'll chalk it up to local affiliate.
November 14, 2012 at 11:36AM ESTrexmism My affiliate is Cleveland. Anyone else experience this, and what's your affiliate?
November 14, 2012 at 1:23PM ESToliver I'm in Boston, and while my Fox affiliate had no problem with this, my ABC affiliate did. All the ABC comedies on Tuesday and Wednesday night had similar narration.
November 15, 2012 at 11:04AM ESTDuncan
November 14, 2012 at 1:59AM EST Reply to CommentThe scene where Winston admits to Schmidt he may have PMS and then Nick showing up all "un angry" had me rolling. I loved everything in that scene including Jess calling Schmidt "Theodore P. Gasbag." Hardest I've laughed all season.
The PMS angle is tired but for some reason I was laughing at puppy in a cup. Maybe just how over the top it was. Really good episode, but the whole Cece/Robbie/Schmidt thing needs to go. Time to move on.
janlew Reply to comment...
November 14, 2012 at 9:29AM ESTjanlew Yes, I was rolling during that very same scene where Winston admits to Schmidt that he may have PMS, and Schmidt had just had the gas shut off. Funny stuff, and excellent work by all four.
November 14, 2012 at 9:32AM ESTCol Bat Guano Schmidt trying not to laugh during Winston's confession was the highlight for me.
November 14, 2012 at 11:53AM ESTArwinLannistark
November 14, 2012 at 8:35AM EST Reply to CommentI just wish Tran would become an actual recurring character.
Sana
November 14, 2012 at 8:51AM EST Reply to CommentOne of my favourite episodes. Jake Johnson has gone from strength to strength, Nick has become my favourite on New Girl. I also wouldn't mind seeing more of Silent Tran in the future, he does have a beautiful face..
bryan-a
November 14, 2012 at 11:50AM EST Reply to CommentA very funny episode, again. Nick is on fire.
Tran is at the pool because a laughing Tran in his nondescript hat just makes you feel good.
B
November 14, 2012 at 9:06PM EST Reply to CommentLOVED this episode. I've watched it twice, and haven't laughed so much over a sitcom in a long time. Nick's progression to happiness, including his increasingly almost-crazed expressions, cemented him as my favorite character. The interactions with Tran were also hilarious.
Jess bursting into tears when she can't figure out how the puppy got into the cup had me rolling, as did all her interactions with the guys.
While I wasn't wildly crazy about Schmidt's subplot, I liked how natural he and CeCe are together. Winston's sympathy-PMS just enhanced the hilarity. Overall, a fantastically funny episode.
Marcus
November 15, 2012 at 11:18AM EST Reply to CommentLove Carla Gugino but what happened to Schmidt's hot supervisor/boss at work who bossed him around in a similar way? (The woman from "Sons & Daughters" and a million other parts.)
vandusan
November 15, 2012 at 11:56AM EST Reply to CommentDid anyone else think that the Schmidt/boss thing was very "Fifty Shades of Grey"? The sex contract was right out of the book as was the older powerful person dominating the younger subordinate. The poorly executed binding suggested to me that she is one of the millions of women who read the book and now is trying to live out her SM fantasy.
atj99 well that's the point right? it's supposed to be this dom / sub "50 shades" style encounter but it turns out she's all talk and has never done it before :-)
November 15, 2012 at 1:26PM ESTFabian
November 15, 2012 at 12:21PM EST Reply to CommentJump Around also works for birthday parties hosted by Daniel Hillard.
Ben
November 20, 2012 at 9:44PM EST Reply to CommentThis episode was hilarious. I loved Schmidt being over the top at the pool trying to bond with Tran and the girl.