by Clio McConnell
via wetpaint.com
They’re back! That’s right, it seems that the writers of “New Girl” have been listening to the one complaint I’ve been making—namely, that there aren’t enough roommate bonding moments anymore. So, this week’s episode, “Bully” is chock-full of our favorite foursome.
We kick off the episode with an intimate scene between Schmidt and Cece—their behavior is definitely the reason for the “sexual situations” warning Fox provided this week. No sooner has Schmidt thanked Cece for her presence (and what comment could be sexier than his appreciative “L’chaim!”?) than the girl in question asks him to sneak her out of the apartment without anyone noticing.
Apparently, this is just the latest—and, according to Cece, the last—in a series of booty calls between the two. To add to the general hilarity that results of this coupling, when Schmidt is forced to run interference while Cece slinks out of the loft, we get a nice surprise: the obscenely short kimono from week five is back!
Despite Schmidt’s best efforts, all three of his roommates can tell that he’s had a girl over, and they proceed to make jokes at him about it all through breakfast. Winston says he wants to meet the mystery chick, so that he can do his best “Schmidt’s-lover” impression, and Nick theorizes as to just how repulsive this woman must be if the usually boastful Schmidt is hiding her.
Jess takes the gimmick a little too further, and must defend herself from their accusatory looks: “I want to banter with you guys in the morning… I just panicked and made a Hitler joke. I’m sorry!” Three cheers for the return of the roomies’ witty repartee!
In “Bully,” we also get to see Jess in action at work, as she deals with a bullying problem in her classroom. Not surprisingly, Zooey Deschanel is a whole lot cuter than some of her students, and so we feel for her when the girl who’s been tormenting a classmate decides to turn on her teacher, instead.
Meanwhile, Nick is freaking out because his girlfriend Julia—who is on a business trip of some sort—has sent him a cactus. In typical fashion, Nick overthinks the gesture, and proceeds to leave a string of increasingly drunk voicemails on her phone, much to her chagrin.
Though the most satisfying aspect of “Bully” is the re-focus on the roommates’ interpersonal relationships, Schmidt’s seduction techniques take a close second in the happy-making department, and Winston gets a few great one-liners as well. All in all, I think it’s safe to say that “New Girl” has reaffirmed itself, and I couldn’t be happier.
Clio McConnell is the theater/books editor. Email her at cmcconnell@nyunews.com.
