Why Did New Girl Skip 3 Years? The Real Reason Behind the Time Jump
The popular sitcom New Girl took a significant leap forward in time, skipping three years between the season 6 finale and the season 7 premiere. The primary reason for this three-year time jump was to facilitate a satisfying and expedited conclusion to the series. According to creator Elizabeth Meriwether, the jump allowed the show to quickly advance the characters’ storylines and demonstrate how their lives had progressed, providing closure and avoiding a protracted and potentially less impactful final season. This strategic decision condensed the narrative, showcasing the natural evolution of relationships and personal growth while also acknowledging the passage of time in a realistic manner.
Delving Deeper into the Time Jump
The decision to implement a time jump wasn’t taken lightly. The writers recognized the need to deliver a meaningful and conclusive ending for beloved characters like Jess, Nick, Schmidt, Cece, and Winston. By skipping ahead three years, they could bypass the slow burn of relationship developments, career advancements, and other life milestones. Instead, viewers were immediately presented with a snapshot of a more mature and evolved version of the loft gang.
This approach had several advantages. It allowed the writers to showcase the long-term effects of the characters’ choices and experiences. For instance, we see Nick as a published author on a book tour with Jess, which accelerates a storyline hinted at throughout previous seasons. Similarly, Schmidt and Cece are already established as parents, providing a glimpse into their family life without dedicating an entire season to the early stages of parenthood. This expedited storytelling ensured that every episode of the shortened final season contributed significantly to the overall narrative arc.
Moreover, the time jump created a sense of anticipation and intrigue. Viewers were instantly curious about what had transpired in the characters’ lives during the intervening years. This fostered immediate engagement and allowed the final season to feel fresh and dynamic, despite its limited number of episodes. The element of “catching up” with the characters added a layer of excitement and emotional resonance to the storytelling. This approach avoided the risk of stretching out storylines or introducing unnecessary drama, ensuring a focused and impactful conclusion to the series.
The time jump also offered an opportunity to recalibrate the dynamics within the group. By showing the characters at a later stage in their lives, the writers could explore how their relationships had evolved and matured. We see the stability of Winston and Ally’s relationship, the challenges and joys of Schmidt and Cece’s parenthood, and the complexities of Jess and Nick’s long-term commitment. This allowed the writers to explore new facets of these relationships and provide viewers with a more nuanced understanding of the characters’ growth.
Ultimately, the decision to skip three years was a calculated move to ensure that New Girl concluded on a high note. It allowed the writers to deliver a satisfying and conclusive ending that honored the characters, their relationships, and the overall spirit of the show.
New Girl: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Why was New Girl season 7 so short?
Season 7 was granted to give the series a proper ending. Therefore, it had only eight episodes. This allowed for a focused narrative and a quicker resolution for all the main characters. The brevity ensured that each episode packed a punch, contributing directly to the satisfying conclusion.
2. Why did Zooey Deschanel leave New Girl temporarily?
Zooey Deschanel had to temporarily leave New Girl in season 5 because she was heavily pregnant and needed to go on maternity leave. Megan Fox’s character, Reagan, was a welcome addition to the show and brought enough drama to keep the series going in Jess’s absence.
3. Why did Schmidt move out in New Girl season 3?
In the third season, Schmidt is seeking personal space as he begins to face the issues that make him so “douchey,” so he moves his belongings, including the Douchebag Jar, into the empty apartment across the hall.
4. What was the original reason for Damon Wayans Jr. (Coach) leaving New Girl after the pilot?
Damon Wayans Jr.’s departure from New Girl was due to his commitment to the show Happy Endings. He’d only taken on Coach’s role initially because he expected Happy Endings to be canceled.
5. Why did Ryan (Jess’s boyfriend) leave New Girl?
In Ryan’s final episode, “The Crawl”, he asked Jess about moving in together, after which she panicked, further proving that their relationship was moving too fast. He then revealed that he had been offered a job as headmaster of a school in England.
6. When did New Girl start declining in quality?
Many fans and even the show’s producers agree that New Girl lost its way in Season 3. Creative direction and character development faltered. Elizabeth Meriwether acknowledged these struggles, indicating a shift in focus or writing quality during that period.
7. What disorder does Schmidt have in New Girl?
Schmidt is portrayed as having obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). His character is known for being vain, oversexed, and having tendencies toward cleanliness and organization.
8. Why did Jake Johnson (Nick) lose weight for New Girl?
Jake Johnson agreed to lose 15 pounds to play Nick. This was at the request of the show’s creators.
9. What were the major issues with season 6 of New Girl?
Season six’s biggest issue is its pacing. It just felt slow and drawn out. This season sees Winston and Ally build on their relationship, and Cece and Schmidt navigate house-hunting and life as newlyweds.
10. Why did Jess leave New Girl during Season 5?
Jess’s absence was due to Zooey Deschanel’s maternity leave. Instead of putting the show on hiatus, they introduced Megan Fox’s character Reagan to fill the void.
11. What happened to the actor in the first episode of New Girl who played Coach?
Wayans Jr. initially left New Girl after filming the pilot because he was contractually obligated to star as Brad Williams on the ABC sitcom Happy Endings.
12. How old was Jess when New Girl started?
Jessica Day is 29 years old when first moving into the loft. She turned 30 in season 1, as her birthday is listed as February 13, 1982.
13. Which New Girl season is considered the best?
Season 2 is often regarded as the best season, with top-rated episodes. The development of Jess/Nick is also one of the main reasons why this season is so popular.
14. Who does Coach end up with?
At the end of season 4, Coach moves to New York with his girlfriend May.
15. Did the cast of New Girl get along in real life?
While the cast had excellent on-screen chemistry, they weren’t always hanging out together outside of filming. This is not uncommon in the industry, as actors often have separate lives and commitments outside of work.
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