In many ways, Jess can be considered a *supporting protagonist* . While she has her moments of growth, she comes into the lives of other people and enforces growth in the other characters. She influences those around her and the show is about how she changes their lives. She’s the “New Girl” because brings new opportunities and new perspectives for the main guys. In the wrong hands this could have completely misogynistic, but instead it’s very endearing.
I completely agree! Jess acts as the catalyst for change in the other characters. She doesn't really change much over the course of the show, but her quirky personality helps to bring out their own zany sides, and to think outside the box.
In writing this is called a "static character", one who doesn't go through a character arc but rather is already self possessed and changes the world around them instead (this is how superman stories should be done)
@@clambo7786 it is not a matter of money, just because your giving someone money that does not mean you have the right to treat them as inhumane. it kinda shows that in order to rise in the industry as a women they have to sell their humanity and become a character.
I think it’s also interesting that while Jess wasn’t the main character in the end seasons, when she went off to jury duty I was desperately waiting for her to come back. Somehow her presence grounds the show and makes the other characters come alive more. I think the absence we felt when she was gone is proof that she was vital to the show dynamic
Looking at the entire show, I never really saw her as the protagonist, it always felt like the whole friends group is the focus because they were luckily allowed to have character development and screen-time
Kind of like rachel being the entry point into friends but stories being about everyone. although all 6 characters grew, and have aged quite controversially despite how much audiences love them.
Yeah. I feel like the initial public pitch for the show focused on Zooey as more of an advertising/marketing ploy than what the actual show was. What value is there in advertising an ensemble where only one name can be considered “big”?
Jess is what's called a "static character", instead of the world changing her she changes the world and characters around her, like Superman (when those stories are written well), Leslie Knope or Elle Woods. The characters around her are "dynamic characters" undergoing growth. Usually this is reversed and the dynamic character is the main character with a side character being the static, like Harry Potter (dynamic) and Hermione (static), which is why Jess may feel like she's not the "protagonist." It's a different way of structuring story that's not nearly as common but can be just as effective, and I think it's really cool to see it. There's a fantastic movie called "The Trotsky" that uses this extremely well and I highly recommend it, the protagonist is highly politically idealistic but his school is completely apathetic and the movie is about him trying to get them to care and fight the power. It's incredibly funny and relevant now more than ever. Legally Blonde also does this incredibly well, Elle improves everyone's lives just by being herself, and I'm assuming everyone has seen it but if you haven't, seriously, watch Legally Blonde🙏.
Great comment, I would argue though, that Hermione is not completely static, she also developes thoughout the 7 Harry Potter Books, of course, not in like Harry, but still...😉
@@trinaq and I'm not surprised the regular viewer didn't like Jess, but whole articles written about being unable to stand her and the mockery of Zoey as a person? (I had only seen the Zoey SNL skit where she's actually in it playing someone else) Again, wow!
I know Jess isn’t perfect and a lot of people were tired with her quirky personality but I truly believe the show wouldn’t have worked without her. The rest of the assemble need someone stable and supportive in order to allow themselves to grow and at points be there to teach them how to do basic life stuff and Jess was that person for them. She’s the inciting incident which triggered the guys’ growth. I think there’s a smart name for those kind of protagonists/characters, which escapes me, who don’t have a character arc but make everyone’s life better and Jess fits into that. Also it’s kinda comforting seeing an adult character being constantly comfortable with themselves and actually capable. It means that there’s an end to the growth struggle and at some point you’ll just get enjoy the ups and downs of life without constantly feeling shit about yourself. And while I enjoyed those 6 episodes I remember missing Jess and thinking when she’ll be back. So yeah this was my long winded way of saying that I love her and needed her on the show just as much as I love and need Cece, Schmidt, Winston, Nick and Coach therefore everyone else can take their criticism and eye rolling about the quirky “shtick” and suck it.
YES! I love your comment so much and I agree 100%!!!! To quote Gus and Shawn, everyone who hates Jess's quirkiness can "suck iiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttt".
I've always loved Jess's character. What stood out to me about her was the fact that she owned her apparent weirdness. You could tell from the very first episode that she may be quirky but is sensible too. Moreover, I appreciated a character who was actually very mature about things that really matter. Sure she might be a little ditzy and fumbly in her generic behavior, but she was mature beyond any of the other characters present on the show, and for once, it was pleasing to watch someone play such a part. Often, shows have 30 year olds going through things like teenagers would, and this was a fresh change.
Thank you!! I agree. I actually identify strongly with the "adorkable" girl. I am that person, and when people shit on Zoey/any character she's played it makes me feel like garbage. I guess I'm annoying.
@@ihuomaotika2656 I think some people dislike overly positive people. Like it annoys them that this person always tend to look so happy. Plus the fact that Jess is a know-it-all, her pogo.
It’s called New Girl because Jess is the center of growth for everyone but I totally disagree that the show was better without her. Regan’s appearance was so teenager cliché that literally regressed Nick’s character back to season 1.
I love Jess, too. I think they brought in Reagan to prove to nick that he needs to learn to communicate and communicating is an important part of a relationship. Once he learned he does need and want communication in a relationship, he would be more “ready” for Jess. I think nick and jess’s problems were about timing and Reagan made their timing get more on track.
i mean, breaking up nick and jess in season 3 is this show's biggest fault, i love season 4, 5 and 6 but all the relationships Nick and Jess had felt like a filler before they came back to each other and also Nick and Reagan were such an uninspired couple (they pretty much had the same banter as Nick and Jess did in season 2), their relationship dragged on for so long and it actually ruined Jess's character a bit. Like she was always this sweet girl who was eager to help but she also always knew when to put her foot down and stop, so the fact that she would help the man she loved get with another woman for an entire season was just frustrating !! Nobody does that it's so masochistic. Anyway i feel like Nick could have worked on himself and still been with Jess or that their break-up could have been written as an explicit wake up call for him to do better instead it just happened kind of randomly.
I love jess and hate people who think she's annoying. I love how they subverted the quirky manic pixie dream girl trope and made jess an actual real woman, the same with megan fox they took the cool girl trope and made her a real human being. This is probably because the creator of new girl is a woman lol
I disagree with a lot of the points made in this video, Jess is a great protagonist in that she’s a different type than we had seen previously. She wasn’t a self absorbed narcissist who constantly had to learn the error of her ways and how her actions negatively affected others. It’s refreshing to see a protagonist or main cast member who’s main traits involve thinking of others first and it made her fit in with the other cast members really well. Also with the number of characters in the cast the show seemed poised from episode one to be an ensemble comedy with every character having their own arcs and a large part of what made New Girl so great was the innovative take on sitcoms or comedy tv shows in general.
Yes I agree! I don't get why this analysis places Jess vs the other characters. I think they are all great and worked together well as an ensemble. Without Jess, the show wouldn't be as enjoyable.
although i really like how they said she was already a mature person who did not need a large character arc and ended up shaping other people's lives. it could have easily been reduced to she had no flaws and thus they made a boring/ though quirky character
Although Jess is quirky, weird, and childish at times, she is the most mature character in main 5. Her character has so much more depth than people give her credit for. She isn't the "main protagonist" because although the show is called New Girl, it focuses on the group as a whole. I will never stop defending Jess! ❤️
I always saw New Girl as the millennial version of Friends. So while Jess (like Rachel) moves into the apartment to start off the show, the point was to have a strong cast of equally important characters.
The relationships and topics covered in New Girl are way healthier and more mature than Friends. When I've come across episodes of Friends as an adult it's all shallow, selfish, and toxic. I can see the main setting you're comparing though.
I loved this show. Literally always. I love Zooey and as a “quirky” women I’ve loved that in her career she actually doesn’t ALWAYS play the same character as they like to pretend she does. In this show I always seen her as the groups fairy godmother in a sense. Jess has her own life, she’s a self assured, super willing to admit when she isn’t sure, but an AMAZING FRIEND . I loved that. I loved that she wasn’t sweet and kind but self centered like most main characters are. It’s a beautiful show about friendship.
I loved Jess and New Girl. Honestly, as a Jess-like person myself, it was nice to see someone so familiar on-screen. Funny how all the criticisms against her are the same that I get in my daily life haha... Annoying, positive, quirky.
Good for you, Beverly, and people around you too! I absolutely love Jess and people like her although I am not like that at all. I, actually, find those people annoying who find Jess-like personalities annoying.
I see myself so much in Jess I've always loved that they made her femininity and quirks into strenghs and not into something she had to grow out of. It helped me love myself more. Really something that I love about this show
People hated Jess' character? I loved that we finally got a break from the "cool girl"/"not like other girls", and it was so refreshing seeing someone embracing their feminity... I grew up with a very misogynistic view of girls. Liking girly things was lame, showing feelings was "being a burden". Seeing someone knitting, wearing dresses, and being feminine whilst also having guy friends, was so nice!
I started hating Jess' character in S5. In episodes 13 and 14 she gets intrusive, reckless and outright creepy. And all of it gets played off because *she's so cute and unintimidating*. Sam getting back with her after she STALKED him despite a restraining order is the most disservice they could have done her character. She should've been put in her place and learned from it, but no... she gets away with it. She's being rewarded for overstepping clearly defined boundaries. That's an incredibly toxic message to an impressionable audience.
The haters have to remember that being quirky is ACTUALLY a personality. People are genuinely just quirky and weird. They can't help it. Just like Jess, that's her personality. And NOBODY should try and change that.
It's ironic how people loved Phoebe from friends for her quirkiness but found it hard to accept Jess. I can understand in cases where it's clearly used as a fake identity to get others to like them but for Phoebe, Jess and many wonderful people out there that is just who they are and I think it's inspiring to see them own it and love themselves for who they are. It's something to admire and takes emotion maturity to gain.
I don't think she stopped being a protagonist at all.. The show just organically developed the other characters to allow them to be protagonists as well. I love Jess!! Because of all the reasons mentioned, mainly that she knew herself and navigated herself through all sorts of situations, trying to be the best she could be. Quirkiness or not, she was a good person, trying to be good and confident is who she wanted to be. Lots of people will criticise others for being "weird" and non-conforming. I am glad they didn't change her "quirks" and I kinda think it was very cool to have a character that didn't need to grow and go through a complete arc (I have seen it fail many times, but I think it really worked here). The fact that people hated on her so much and the actress as well seems quite misogynistic. It's a very strange thing to hate on. I honestly think the people who hated on her were people who were not comfortable in femininity and despised people who were.
YES!! i absolutely love jess’s personality and i’m so glad she embraced it. literally exactly what you said, i truly think peoples issue with her is rooted in misogyny. i’m currently rewatching the show rn and im having the time of my life. wow it’s so incredible. like my god is every character so wonderful and funny and likable-especially jess☺️
It almost feels like it was done on purpose. It can't be a coincidence that a show with so many well written characters and great character arcs will neglect the "protagonist." The name of the show clearly defines her as an the outsider. It's not the Jess show, but a show about what happens when "the new girl" is introduced into the fold. Jess has been called a manic pixie dream girl, but I disagree. Yes, she is always helping others, she's quirky, and has what some will consider that MPDG aesthetic. What sets her apart is her intentions and her own complexity as a character. She's not there as a plot device to propel her roommates' character arcs forward. Jess has her own dreams and desires and goes for them, but at the same time, her kindness, selflessness, resilience and maturity naturally influence those around her. She is the glue that holds the show together and clearly the heart of the show.
What you where saying about how the media conflated Zoey with her type cast, reminds me of what happened or rather what the media did to Megan Fox, in the opposite direction. The sexism that the media showed to both those women just always left a bitter taste. Idk if I'm alone in thinking this but I just thought it was worth sharing.
Idk about Zoey but to me Megan fox was never that great of an actress in my opinion she doesn't have much range so she played up what she had which is not a bad thing I'm just saying
it’s funny because zooey and megan seem like opposite ends of the spectrum (from cool “all my friends are guys” girl to femme twee girl) but both were mocked and said to be annoying or flawed. their opinions being: megan is too sexy, zooey is too childish; megan is unrealistically cool, zooey is unrealistically awkward; both were described as different types of male fantasies of the feminine, but clearly at its core their femininity was somehow the issue and something that people said should be tossed aside. these contradictions prove that it’s not the fault of these women but of sexism itself. because according to the public, no matter how a woman carries out her life it is somehow annoying or wrong. an opinion which, oddly enough, often comes from feminists trying to use criticism of these characters/celebrities to break stereotypes of femininity. but it accidentally leads to a perpetual criticism of all women - claiming these women are either “prey to” sexism or intentionally “playing into” male fantasies. these criticisms contrast everything women do against the perceived sexist “norm” or against male expectations, leading to (ironically) women never having agency or claim over their own personalities and constantly being defined by men and social commentary. TLDR let women be, because not everything women do has to be a statement of something bigger. sometimes it’s just them.
As someone who could relate to Regan more, I had so much respect for Jess shamelessly expressing herself (the teeth at the wedding where she faked being nicks girlfriend in season 1) and her outward femininity. It was hard to watch her be quirky and it was embarrassing at times, but it taught me to embrace myself and my own embarrassing traits more. I don’t like that Jess got the hate she did. Her authenticity is something we all have to embrace if we want fulfilling and close relationships
I hate when people hate on other people's voices. And I say this as someone who loves accents and privately imitates them because of their beauty. Sure sometimes I don't like the way people sound, but I get over it cuz they're human beings and this is their voice they're literal God damn voice it's how they interact with the world be f****** respectful of it Jesus Christ!
yes! thanks for this. same with appearances, people should just accept other's different looks rather than childishly point it out. it just goes to show how ignorant they are of the world and it's full diversity.
Yep, for me is peak rudeness criticize something the person literally is born with and have no control over... like who do you think you are to put others down like this? Critics should be made to help improve something or someone, not to spread negativity over a factor that simply can't be changed on command.
The fact that Jess is allowed to like girly things, and she embraces the things that are often judged, feels like a big deal to me... I really appreciate that she was comfortable in herself, it's nice to see that kind of character on screen...
I always thought Jess' crafty nature help to show that she was a responsible and passionate teacher. I always envisioned her as the grown-up in the show, even from the beginning. But hey she's the grown up amongst a peer group of children
I like Jess ‘ character. She is unapologetic about who she is, which i have learned to incorporate this into my own life. She also tries to be kind to every one she meets which is something I TRY to live by (I have a bit of a temper) I don’t know what private, rubbish things someone may be going through.
being a main character that is more of a supporting character for the ensemble is so much better than being the “most main character” like in the handmaids tale where everyone is sacrificed for June’s storyline
Especially now that I’m older I’m blown away by how Jess can stand up for herself without being mean or hostile. I’ve been put down for my girliness too but I’m definitely not as kind or composed as Jess and I want to work towards that goal. Usually when people push me my gut reaction is to push back harder. And for the most part all it did was make things worse. I want to be assertive without being aggressive just like Jess
Itz just ignorant to assume "being cutesy and pixie" is fake and played out. I knew many people like that. Itz a common personality trope of many East-Asian girls. Just because she is not a typical American girl doesnt mean she has to be. She is portrayed as a unique girl anw
honestly my favorite thing about jess as a main character was that even after 7 seasons, the writers never made her do horrible things to multiple people just so she could realize it later as some sort of final character growth moment. other shows do this A LOT and end up ruin their protagonist by doing so and it doesn’t make any sense because no one would wanna support them anymore. (this actually happens to schmidt at the beginning of s3 and it took me a lotta time to completely forgive him again)
New girls is that show where I can always go back and feel happy in a safe place. Both, this series and 500 days of summer made, me a big fan of Zooey, I'm surprised about all the hate since I didn't even know about it.
"...and that doesn't mean I'm not smart and tough and strong." 🙌 I can't stand when people hate on feminine and/or "quirky" things. 😡 Jess is "Simply Adorkable" which is "Simply Wonderful". ❤️❤️❤️
I didn't watch the video yet but I find it interesting that she was considered to be annoying and was hated. I saw this dislike on some reddit forms too. I adored her from the very beginning and I think their dislike of her is kind of misogynistic. The same way one of Nick's girlfriend's disliked her for being girly because she hates how if she behaved in the same feminine way as Jess in her circle of lawyers she wouldn't be taken seriously... I have more to say but I'm tired. I'll leave it another day.
I always admired and aspired to maintain the same strength she has in being strong in herself! What I’ve always tried to find and protect in myself. They way that she is never afraid to stick up for herself or make a hard decision because she knows it’s right for her while genuinely and passionately caring about those around her. We could all stand to learn how to love ourselves like she does!
I THOROUGHLY appreciate this take. This is my most favorite show and I’ve always felt like I relate to Jess the most for all of these reasons. I started watching this as it aired and it was nice to finally find a character to relate to and it helped me to not be afraid to be myself. Tooting my own horn, helping people comes first for me and seeing you put this together solidified all of my thoughts over the last 10 years. Thanks, The Take!
If anything, you proved why Jess IS the protagonist. There are 4 basic character attributes: Flat vs. Round; Static vs. Dynamic. Jess is a rounded static character. Though her character is fleshed out with complexities (rounded), she has no need to grow or change (static). Jess is the ONLY character in the show who pretty much stays the same throughout. Everyone around her is lost and trying to figure themselves out. Her resolute self-awareness is what grounds the other characters and pushes them to grow. Basically, they are only dynamic because Jess is static, which makes her the central character and driving force of the show-- the protagonist. Other examples of static protagonists include: Cinderella, Peter Pan, Forrest Gump, Disney's Pocahontas, Indiana Jones, and Captain America (MCU).
Jessica Day is a great character. I love that she self assured and feminine. Also its seems like the people who dislike this Character are people who hate to see happy people which is weird. I enjoyed the show and feel like people just like to complain.
Jess teaches us to love ourselves and to love each other. She teaches all the other characters that. She’s a teacher. She’s the main character because the show is about loving yourself and she is the epitome of that. New Girl after a while to me, refers to her offering a new perspective that isn’t even new just one we don’t normally operate in.
I LOVE JESS! her girly quirkiness helped me accept myself as one. the society often forgets the high pressure women are under - you can’t like pink, the ya novels suck, its not ‘cool’ to be a girly girl, etc. looking back, there were times i was ashamed of myself for not fitting the standards and i thought i had to change / grow up. jess is different, she didn’t outgrow her quirkiness or all the things people disliked and i love her for that.
This goes back to the fight between the millenials and gen z's, which it shouldn't because what we are wearing they are wearjng now. The manic pixie twee girl is not going away anytime soon if not at all. It is sexist, because of the image/thought of what a man want us women to be, but so is the "cool girl" or the "femme fatale" and many other tropes men want in a women for themselves. I think that giving Zoey Descanel and her character Jess between a rock and a hard is going out of proportion and the people who find her annoying probably don't have the confidence to live their lives to the fullesr like Jess. Plus, I love New Girl and Jess, she represents and speaks the whole of me.
It's hard to find video essays about New Girl. This was wonderful!!!! One of the most interesting things about this show for me is how Winston started off as this semi-stereotypical black side character(super into sports, played basketball, etc.) and turned into a quirky fan favorite. It seems like in S1 and S2 they didn't really know what to do with him. But after he got Ferguson he changed for the better. His weirdness was so unique and hilarious! Having 2 black guys on one show maybe forced the writers to make them more obviously different from one another.
I see a lot of myself in Jess honestly. Most people would not believe that I'm a real person if I write my life story down on a piece of paper... My life has been manic pixie in some ways, including a parent who was in prison for most of my high school life, graduating college early, volunteering in a small African country most people have never heard of, writing multiple novels, visiting 10 different countries, learning 2 other languages, never drinking alcohol, currently literally being a never-been-kissed virgin at age 26 (despite being a hopeless romantic who would really really love to get married), almost exclusively wearing dresses or jumpsuits in my day to day, usually preferring to spend time with kids than most adults, bursting into song pretty often for no reason... yet I know myself well and love who I am. Life is always about learning and growing as a person, but I also don't feel like I need to go through a major character arc either.
For me, it was that she stood her ground and fully accepted who she was. She wasn't going to be bullied by others to hide who she truly was. I suppose that's why she was secretly hated or liked by many of the characters - they too admired her self-assurance or were repulsed by it because they were insecure of themselves.
hell yeah! I loved her standing up for herself AND turning around and walking the wrong way. She showed that just because she's quirky and kind of weird and feminine, doesn't mean that she's not a strong person. I loved that scene so much
Wow, what great editing. Almost like an editing god edited this masterpiece! Or maybe just a peasant, but a diligent, adaptable, and persistent one that makes godlike cuts...
Bro I literally enjoyed every episode of this show. I watched it for the first time last year as a 20 year old, so I had none of the societal context to be annoyed with the quirkiness. I enjoyed the world of this show so I didn’t have to always be interested in jess’s character growth. I just wanted to be in their group. It’s comfort food. And I respect that.
Thank you! I could not agree more with this character analysis! For a long time, I couldn’t understand why I had grown so irritated by Jess’s presence on the show and you totally nailed it, especially in the ways you contextualized the early 2010 trends about quirkiness. Those trends have faded, and are now viewed as ironic with the new generation of young ppl watching. This is why Nick/ Schmitt/Winston and eventually Cece become much more enjoyable to watch.
Just finished the show for the first time and loved this video! I did went into the show thinking that Jess is the protagonist and it was so refreshing that the show surprised me. Yes, on the surface the quirky and adorkable do stand as the defining traits of Jess but it really isn't the whole picture as the show progresses, I think that's really the takeaway. You're allowed to escape the image that you created for yourself.
I would love a video on Reagan (please correct me if they have already done it). Jess was a commentary on the manic pixie dream girl trope, because she had some of the characterisitcs of one, but then it showed that she was more than that. Reagan is, I think, a commentary on the cool girl trope. At the beginning, she seems like the ultimate male fantasy. Nick wants to be with her so bad. But I think New Girl showed very wonderfully how being in an actual relationship with a cool girl doesn't get you very far. Because relationships aren't about being 'cool', because you actually have to communicate and show your vulnerability for a successful relationship
Jess is the best character. And her bond with nick and others, especially with nick, gives the show life. Its refreshing to see such a strong unconditional bond. It portrays love that never ends, even if two people are apart... and how they make their way back to each other after learning from their hurts. Nick wouldn't have been better with anyone else, not julia, not reagan because jess and nick were meant to be since they met. There's this feeling of home and warmth in their camaraderie that is unmatched, not reached by cece-schmidt either.
I fell in love with New Girl, especially because of Jess. I saw myself in her: someone being called naive, lives life passionately, definitely adorkable and I doesn't even try. When she was defending herself against Nick's gf, I almost cried cus she said what I always say: "I didn't know I was doing a thing" Down the line, the show just got better & showed Jess continuing to win all her battles by being HERSELF (she mettled too much for my liking but other than that 🤷🏾♀️) and that was hella inspirational. Why change when you'll still win 💜💜💜
Love the new girl videos! This show is my absolute comfort show. It makes me laugh, it's wholesome and has emotional moments as well. While many other comedy shows have aged badly, I keep returning to new girl
YES IVE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS! I agree with everything you said here, and even in the bridesmaids series! Thanks for coherently saying the message of what shows like New Girl and movies like Bridesmaids are trying to tell us. I think because we live in a heavily patriarchal society, we tend to misread female-led media like New Girl/Legally Blonde/Bridesmaids etc. and maybe lead ourselves to believe that characters like Elle Woods/Jess Day/Annie from Bridesmaids are just one-dimensional characters--but theyre not! I've always thought this but couldnt properly say it and im so glad you did. I am loving the content on this channel cos they delve deeper into the context of shows that may appear "girly" but actually speak alot more than what they're lead to believe. It shows that women really aren't ‘The Quirky Girl’ or the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ or ‘Not Like Other Girls’ but they can have those traits but also be so much more. Thanks so much for making this video!
Honestly I find Jessica’s personality extremely wholesome it’s a refreshing perspective in a cynical world Being Quirky isn’t a bad thing Those people are just toxic towards wholesome innocence
S1 is a bit awkward at worst but rewatching there really are some fantastic episodes in there. S6 is really the only season of the show that I think is not too great.
@@Ray03595 that's fair. I felt like some of the first season was built around finding an excuse to put zooey deschanel in a silly cute costume and not much more than that. That being said it evolved into a really awesome show
@@maggierobertson2962 Yeah, they tried to really drive home the "adorkable" thing too much sometimes in the first season. Jess is much better in every other season. I think Nick's character actually carries a ton of the weight in S1, and every other season it's way more spread out. For why I don't like S6, I think writing took a bit of a dip, and Robbie was forced into the show for really no reason and was basically too similar of a character to Paul.
First I’ve heard about Zooey being hated on. I’ve always loved her and Jess is my fave character she’s done. I’m glad they let the other characters develop too, as they were all funny and deserved their time.
I straight up still can't watch this show because I was traumatized by so many toxic friendships with girls who thought they were the protagonist. Nothing could be about anyone or anything else. The most important thing in every conversation was circling back to them being cuter and quirkier than anyone else in the room. It was a bad time.
i know a lot of gen z who see new girl as a comfort show, myself included. i think some gen z see through a lot of the misogyny that made people hate women like megan fox and zooey deschanel
I love Jess’ quirkiness, it’s endearing and I love that she embraced herself and staying true ti herself and those traits make her more empowered. What’s didn’t like about Jess’ character is how she was seen as innocent and really like she could do no wrong, but when someone else did the same, they were demonized. She shamed Cece for embracing her sexuality and she was having as much sex, just because she came off like an innocent cute girl didn’t mean she wasn’t as active sexually. She blamed Nick for kissing her when she clearly kissed him back and wouldn’t take responsibility for her cheating on that Dr.
Without watching the vid, I’m gunna say the main character is nick. Jess was the “New girl” in his life that got him to embrace his sensitive side and take himself more seriously.
I think one thing that's really being missed is that she had to learn to put herself and her feelings first. Each relationship had her learning to do that a little more until the end when she finally decides to tell Nick how she feels even if it wasn't great timing.
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In many ways, Jess can be considered a *supporting protagonist* .
While she has her moments of growth, she comes into the lives of other people and enforces growth in the other characters. She influences those around her and the show is about how she changes their lives. She’s the “New Girl” because brings new opportunities and new perspectives for the main guys.
In the wrong hands this could have completely misogynistic, but instead it’s very endearing.
I completely agree! Jess acts as the catalyst for change in the other characters. She doesn't really change much over the course of the show, but her quirky personality helps to bring out their own zany sides, and to think outside the box.
In writing this is called a "static character", one who doesn't go through a character arc but rather is already self possessed and changes the world around them instead (this is how superman stories should be done)
This channel has like the smartest audience ever. its a far cry from the political commentary channels I often find myself in
@@hootsifer-darling I wouldn't say she doesn't have an arc
@@hootsifer-darling A perfect example of this is Steve Rogers from the MCU.
I’m sad for how strongly both Zoey Deschanel and Megan Fox were associated with tropes while starting their careers.
i am sure there wallet does mean that much
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My dream: Have more subs than my 2 girlfriends
Your name: ms
And it's cool that you see them grow out of their tropes in New Girl AND get along with each other despite being opposites
@@clambo7786 it is not a matter of money, just because your giving someone money that does not mean you have the right to treat them as inhumane. it kinda shows that in order to rise in the industry as a women they have to sell their humanity and become a character.
@@clambo7786 megan Fox was 15, her parents were in charge. She had no say. What’s wrong with you?
I think it’s also interesting that while Jess wasn’t the main character in the end seasons, when she went off to jury duty I was desperately waiting for her to come back. Somehow her presence grounds the show and makes the other characters come alive more. I think the absence we felt when she was gone is proof that she was vital to the show dynamic
She is the linchpin
Same but she was pregnant lol
The show did fine without her I liked Regan more than Jess tbh
I really dislike those episodes without her. It didn't feel like New Girl, it felt like a different show
She IS the show
Looking at the entire show, I never really saw her as the protagonist, it always felt like the whole friends group is the focus because they were luckily allowed to have character development and screen-time
Kinda like Piper with Orange is the New Black
I always tell people that the loft is the main character
Kind of like rachel being the entry point into friends but stories being about everyone. although all 6 characters grew, and have aged quite controversially despite how much audiences love them.
Yeah. I feel like the initial public pitch for the show focused on Zooey as more of an advertising/marketing ploy than what the actual show was. What value is there in advertising an ensemble where only one name can be considered “big”?
@@tatehildyard5332.
Jess is what's called a "static character", instead of the world changing her she changes the world and characters around her, like Superman (when those stories are written well), Leslie Knope or Elle Woods. The characters around her are "dynamic characters" undergoing growth. Usually this is reversed and the dynamic character is the main character with a side character being the static, like Harry Potter (dynamic) and Hermione (static), which is why Jess may feel like she's not the "protagonist." It's a different way of structuring story that's not nearly as common but can be just as effective, and I think it's really cool to see it.
There's a fantastic movie called "The Trotsky" that uses this extremely well and I highly recommend it, the protagonist is highly politically idealistic but his school is completely apathetic and the movie is about him trying to get them to care and fight the power. It's incredibly funny and relevant now more than ever.
Legally Blonde also does this incredibly well, Elle improves everyone's lives just by being herself, and I'm assuming everyone has seen it but if you haven't, seriously, watch Legally Blonde🙏.
I've watched The Trotsky)
Great comment, I would argue though, that Hermione is not completely static, she also developes thoughout the 7 Harry Potter Books, of course, not in like Harry, but still...😉
Like luffy from one piece
anne with an e would be another example i think
This! 🔥
Wow, I had no idea back then people were hating on Jess and consequentially on Zoey. That's wild!
Me neither. You can hate on the character all you like, even if you find them hugely annoying. But you should still respect the actor behind them.
@@trinaq and I'm not surprised the regular viewer didn't like Jess, but whole articles written about being unable to stand her and the mockery of Zoey as a person? (I had only seen the Zoey SNL skit where she's actually in it playing someone else) Again, wow!
I can see why people would dislike the character early on, but I just don't get the mindset where you'd carry that over to the actress.
we sure do love to prop up and then tear down our "It Girls" in his society. Zoey is great and always will be.
This channel doesn't know what it's talking about... lol
This show was great, Winston really shined in the later seasons.
Which Winston?
True
Both Winstons
I know, Winston Churchill was the true icon ❤
@@MariaJArce-bl3jm not Winston Churchill lovely, Winston Bishop and Winston Saint-Marie Schmidt.
I know Jess isn’t perfect and a lot of people were tired with her quirky personality but I truly believe the show wouldn’t have worked without her. The rest of the assemble need someone stable and supportive in order to allow themselves to grow and at points be there to teach them how to do basic life stuff and Jess was that person for them. She’s the inciting incident which triggered the guys’ growth. I think there’s a smart name for those kind of protagonists/characters, which escapes me, who don’t have a character arc but make everyone’s life better and Jess fits into that. Also it’s kinda comforting seeing an adult character being constantly comfortable with themselves and actually capable. It means that there’s an end to the growth struggle and at some point you’ll just get enjoy the ups and downs of life without constantly feeling shit about yourself. And while I enjoyed those 6 episodes I remember missing Jess and thinking when she’ll be back. So yeah this was my long winded way of saying that I love her and needed her on the show just as much as I love and need Cece, Schmidt, Winston, Nick and Coach therefore everyone else can take their criticism and eye rolling about the quirky “shtick” and suck it.
It's called a "static character" if i don't mistaken. There's a amazing video about writing main characters without arcs
YES! I love your comment so much and I agree 100%!!!! To quote Gus and Shawn, everyone who hates Jess's quirkiness can "suck iiiiiiiiiiiiiiittttttttttttttttt".
Like Paddington!
I’m not bother with jess’s quirkiness, for me it was the fact that very often she acted like she was always right and that annoyed me to the bone.
100% completely agree!!
I've always loved Jess's character. What stood out to me about her was the fact that she owned her apparent weirdness. You could tell from the very first episode that she may be quirky but is sensible too. Moreover, I appreciated a character who was actually very mature about things that really matter. Sure she might be a little ditzy and fumbly in her generic behavior, but she was mature beyond any of the other characters present on the show, and for once, it was pleasing to watch someone play such a part. Often, shows have 30 year olds going through things like teenagers would, and this was a fresh change.
Thank you!! I agree. I actually identify strongly with the "adorkable" girl. I am that person, and when people shit on Zoey/any character she's played it makes me feel like garbage. I guess I'm annoying.
@@kyndramb7050 like, I don't know why anyone would dislike her character.
@@ihuomaotika2656 I think some people dislike overly positive people. Like it annoys them that this person always tend to look so happy. Plus the fact that Jess is a know-it-all, her pogo.
@@jgmorcilla I feel sad for them then.
Overly positive people make me want to be around them a lot
@@jgmorcilla was she really a know it all though?
She was always just trying to help
It’s called New Girl because Jess is the center of growth for everyone but I totally disagree that the show was better without her. Regan’s appearance was so teenager cliché that literally regressed Nick’s character back to season 1.
I love Jess, too. I think they brought in Reagan to prove to nick that he needs to learn to communicate and communicating is an important part of a relationship. Once he learned he does need and want communication in a relationship, he would be more “ready” for Jess. I think nick and jess’s problems were about timing and Reagan made their timing get more on track.
@@marrinaraso3889 Big emphasis on this. Jess is not my favorite character but articles about her not being missed in the show is a total bull.
@@kape7306 agree! I thought the show felt weird without her!
@@marrinaraso3889 they all suffered without her lol
i mean, breaking up nick and jess in season 3 is this show's biggest fault, i love season 4, 5 and 6 but all the relationships Nick and Jess had felt like a filler before they came back to each other and also Nick and Reagan were such an uninspired couple (they pretty much had the same banter as Nick and Jess did in season 2), their relationship dragged on for so long and it actually ruined Jess's character a bit. Like she was always this sweet girl who was eager to help but she also always knew when to put her foot down and stop, so the fact that she would help the man she loved get with another woman for an entire season was just frustrating !! Nobody does that it's so masochistic. Anyway i feel like Nick could have worked on himself and still been with Jess or that their break-up could have been written as an explicit wake up call for him to do better instead it just happened kind of randomly.
I love jess and hate people who think she's annoying. I love how they subverted the quirky manic pixie dream girl trope and made jess an actual real woman, the same with megan fox they took the cool girl trope and made her a real human being. This is probably because the creator of new girl is a woman lol
Lol you hate people because they are annoyed by her?
@@kionnakelly2918 yes
@@dyoknowwhatimean yikes....
@@kionnakelly2918 ok??? I just love jess i was obviously joking its not that deep
@@kionnakelly2918 she hates that they don't get what Jess is all about.
I disagree with a lot of the points made in this video, Jess is a great protagonist in that she’s a different type than we had seen previously. She wasn’t a self absorbed narcissist who constantly had to learn the error of her ways and how her actions negatively affected others. It’s refreshing to see a protagonist or main cast member who’s main traits involve thinking of others first and it made her fit in with the other cast members really well. Also with the number of characters in the cast the show seemed poised from episode one to be an ensemble comedy with every character having their own arcs and a large part of what made New Girl so great was the innovative take on sitcoms or comedy tv shows in general.
Agreeee
Yes I agree! I don't get why this analysis places Jess vs the other characters. I think they are all great and worked together well as an ensemble. Without Jess, the show wouldn't be as enjoyable.
💯💯💯💯
Right
although i really like how they said she was already a mature person who did not need a large character arc and ended up shaping other people's lives. it could have easily been reduced to she had no flaws and thus they made a boring/ though quirky character
Although Jess is quirky, weird, and childish at times, she is the most mature character in main 5. Her character has so much more depth than people give her credit for. She isn't the "main protagonist" because although the show is called New Girl, it focuses on the group as a whole. I will never stop defending Jess! ❤️
Totally agree 👍🏻💛
Idem
I always saw New Girl as the millennial version of Friends. So while Jess (like Rachel) moves into the apartment to start off the show, the point was to have a strong cast of equally important characters.
The relationships and topics covered in New Girl are way healthier and more mature than Friends. When I've come across episodes of Friends as an adult it's all shallow, selfish, and toxic. I can see the main setting you're comparing though.
I once described New Girl exactly that way. A California updated friends.
I loved this show. Literally always. I love Zooey and as a “quirky” women I’ve loved that in her career she actually doesn’t ALWAYS play the same character as they like to pretend she does. In this show I always seen her as the groups fairy godmother in a sense. Jess has her own life, she’s a self assured, super willing to admit when she isn’t sure, but an AMAZING FRIEND . I loved that. I loved that she wasn’t sweet and kind but self centered like most main characters are. It’s a beautiful show about friendship.
I loved Jess and New Girl. Honestly, as a Jess-like person myself, it was nice to see someone so familiar on-screen. Funny how all the criticisms against her are the same that I get in my daily life haha... Annoying, positive, quirky.
the world needs more people like jess and like you!
Good for you, Beverly, and people around you too! I absolutely love Jess and people like her although I am not like that at all. I, actually, find those people annoying who find Jess-like personalities annoying.
I see myself so much in Jess I've always loved that they made her femininity and quirks into strenghs and not into something she had to grow out of. It helped me love myself more. Really something that I love about this show
agree!!!! i love her so much
Me too! :)
Same!
same! but she had other flaws that I wish they had worked on
OMG SO QURIKY!!!
People hated Jess' character? I loved that we finally got a break from the "cool girl"/"not like other girls", and it was so refreshing seeing someone embracing their feminity... I grew up with a very misogynistic view of girls. Liking girly things was lame, showing feelings was "being a burden". Seeing someone knitting, wearing dresses, and being feminine whilst also having guy friends, was so nice!
I started hating Jess' character in S5. In episodes 13 and 14 she gets intrusive, reckless and outright creepy. And all of it gets played off because *she's so cute and unintimidating*. Sam getting back with her after she STALKED him despite a restraining order is the most disservice they could have done her character. She should've been put in her place and learned from it, but no... she gets away with it. She's being rewarded for overstepping clearly defined boundaries. That's an incredibly toxic message to an impressionable audience.
The haters have to remember that being quirky is ACTUALLY a personality. People are genuinely just quirky and weird. They can't help it. Just like Jess, that's her personality. And NOBODY should try and change that.
Thank you
It's ironic how people loved Phoebe from friends for her quirkiness but found it hard to accept Jess. I can understand in cases where it's clearly used as a fake identity to get others to like them but for Phoebe, Jess and many wonderful people out there that is just who they are and I think it's inspiring to see them own it and love themselves for who they are. It's something to admire and takes emotion maturity to gain.
@@GemR38 YES!
I don't think she stopped being a protagonist at all.. The show just organically developed the other characters to allow them to be protagonists as well.
I love Jess!! Because of all the reasons mentioned, mainly that she knew herself and navigated herself through all sorts of situations, trying to be the best she could be. Quirkiness or not, she was a good person, trying to be good and confident is who she wanted to be. Lots of people will criticise others for being "weird" and non-conforming. I am glad they didn't change her "quirks" and I kinda think it was very cool to have a character that didn't need to grow and go through a complete arc (I have seen it fail many times, but I think it really worked here).
The fact that people hated on her so much and the actress as well seems quite misogynistic. It's a very strange thing to hate on. I honestly think the people who hated on her were people who were not comfortable in femininity and despised people who were.
YES!! i absolutely love jess’s personality and i’m so glad she embraced it. literally exactly what you said, i truly think peoples issue with her is rooted in misogyny. i’m currently rewatching the show rn and im having the time of my life. wow it’s so incredible. like my god is every character so wonderful and funny and likable-especially jess☺️
It almost feels like it was done on purpose. It can't be a coincidence that a show with so many well written characters and great character arcs will neglect the "protagonist." The name of the show clearly defines her as an the outsider. It's not the Jess show, but a show about what happens when "the new girl" is introduced into the fold. Jess has been called a manic pixie dream girl, but I disagree. Yes, she is always helping others, she's quirky, and has what some will consider that MPDG aesthetic. What sets her apart is her intentions and her own complexity as a character. She's not there as a plot device to propel her roommates' character arcs forward. Jess has her own dreams and desires and goes for them, but at the same time, her kindness, selflessness, resilience and maturity naturally influence those around her. She is the glue that holds the show together and clearly the heart of the show.
What you where saying about how the media conflated Zoey with her type cast, reminds me of what happened or rather what the media did to Megan Fox, in the opposite direction. The sexism that the media showed to both those women just always left a bitter taste.
Idk if I'm alone in thinking this but I just thought it was worth sharing.
Idk about Zoey but to me Megan fox was never that great of an actress in my opinion she doesn't have much range so she played up what she had which is not a bad thing I'm just saying
it’s funny because zooey and megan seem like opposite ends of the spectrum (from cool “all my friends are guys” girl to femme twee girl) but both were mocked and said to be annoying or flawed. their opinions being: megan is too sexy, zooey is too childish; megan is unrealistically cool, zooey is unrealistically awkward; both were described as different types of male fantasies of the feminine, but clearly at its core their femininity was somehow the issue and something that people said should be tossed aside.
these contradictions prove that it’s not the fault of these women but of sexism itself. because according to the public, no matter how a woman carries out her life it is somehow annoying or wrong. an opinion which, oddly enough, often comes from feminists trying to use criticism of these characters/celebrities to break stereotypes of femininity. but it accidentally leads to a perpetual criticism of all women - claiming these women are either “prey to” sexism or intentionally “playing into” male fantasies. these criticisms contrast everything women do against the perceived sexist “norm” or against male expectations, leading to (ironically) women never having agency or claim over their own personalities and constantly being defined by men and social commentary.
TLDR let women be, because not everything women do has to be a statement of something bigger. sometimes it’s just them.
@@sarahbearbabygirl 100% agree
I loved Jess. First to last episode.
Yes!
Me too, except that episode where she was basically chasing Sam. She was unbearable then, but I still loved her
@@maiaracarvalho6573 She just wanted to make it up to Sam, after she messed so badly.
As someone who could relate to Regan more, I had so much respect for Jess shamelessly expressing herself (the teeth at the wedding where she faked being nicks girlfriend in season 1) and her outward femininity. It was hard to watch her be quirky and it was embarrassing at times, but it taught me to embrace myself and my own embarrassing traits more. I don’t like that Jess got the hate she did. Her authenticity is something we all have to embrace if we want fulfilling and close relationships
People who naturally hate friendly, kind-hearted, quirky, awkward, feminine people like Jess need therapy. Jess and Winston are my favorite!
It's not that serious relax
@@nottodayimbusy7146 you're the one commenting on several people's defense on Jess though haha, so maybe take your own advice
@@Nerdl0g omg I'm commenting in the comment section what am I thinking please shut up cause you sound dumb rn bro
That’s because they want to be like them. Someone with a good childhood
I hate when people hate on other people's voices. And I say this as someone who loves accents and privately imitates them because of their beauty. Sure sometimes I don't like the way people sound, but I get over it cuz they're human beings and this is their voice they're literal God damn voice it's how they interact with the world be f****** respectful of it Jesus Christ!
yes! thanks for this. same with appearances, people should just accept other's different looks rather than childishly point it out. it just goes to show how ignorant they are of the world and it's full diversity.
Yep, for me is peak rudeness criticize something the person literally is born with and have no control over... like who do you think you are to put others down like this? Critics should be made to help improve something or someone, not to spread negativity over a factor that simply can't be changed on command.
Let's be honest, Jess isn't that annoying but the reason she was sidelined is because of the awesome bromancr of Nick and the magnificent Schmidt
Winston and Furguson were my favorite duo
Furguson :(
Rest in peace to that amazing cat.
Gotta agree with you the friendship between the guys was my favorite part of the show I didn't dislike jess just didn't like her that much either
@@nottodayimbusy7146 Those two represent order and chaos in the form of towel
The fact that Jess is allowed to like girly things, and she embraces the things that are often judged, feels like a big deal to me... I really appreciate that she was comfortable in herself, it's nice to see that kind of character on screen...
One of my favorite shows ever where I literally can't pick a favorite character. I love them all!
I always thought Jess' crafty nature help to show that she was a responsible and passionate teacher. I always envisioned her as the grown-up in the show, even from the beginning. But hey she's the grown up amongst a peer group of children
I like Jess ‘ character. She is unapologetic about who she is, which i have learned to incorporate this into my own life. She also tries to be kind to every one she meets which is something I TRY to live by (I have a bit of a temper) I don’t know what private, rubbish things someone may be going through.
being a main character that is more of a supporting character for the ensemble is so much better than being the “most main character” like in the handmaids tale where everyone is sacrificed for June’s storyline
Especially now that I’m older I’m blown away by how Jess can stand up for herself without being mean or hostile. I’ve been put down for my girliness too but I’m definitely not as kind or composed as Jess and I want to work towards that goal. Usually when people push me my gut reaction is to push back harder. And for the most part all it did was make things worse. I want to be assertive without being aggressive just like Jess
Itz just ignorant to assume "being cutesy and pixie" is fake and played out. I knew many people like that. Itz a common personality trope of many East-Asian girls. Just because she is not a typical American girl doesnt mean she has to be. She is portrayed as a unique girl anw
While I agree with what You say, Itz is an awful word play.
@@namejsliepins2577 sr my habit 😅
honestly my favorite thing about jess as a main character was that even after 7 seasons, the writers never made her do horrible things to multiple people just so she could realize it later as some sort of final character growth moment. other shows do this A LOT and end up ruin their protagonist by doing so and it doesn’t make any sense because no one would wanna support them anymore.
(this actually happens to schmidt at the beginning of s3 and it took me a lotta time to completely forgive him again)
Jess was my least favorite character but I wish I had a friend like her.
Zooey is gorgeous, inside and out.
Agree.
New girls is that show where I can always go back and feel happy in a safe place. Both, this series and 500 days of summer made, me a big fan of Zooey, I'm surprised about all the hate since I didn't even know about it.
Same
Idk. I like The Take but I have other opinion. Jess may not be the lead(#1) character but I love her personality❤️💜
"...and that doesn't mean I'm not smart and tough and strong." 🙌 I can't stand when people hate on feminine and/or "quirky" things. 😡 Jess is "Simply Adorkable" which is "Simply Wonderful". ❤️❤️❤️
I didn't watch the video yet but I find it interesting that she was considered to be annoying and was hated. I saw this dislike on some reddit forms too. I adored her from the very beginning and I think their dislike of her is kind of misogynistic. The same way one of Nick's girlfriend's disliked her for being girly because she hates how if she behaved in the same feminine way as Jess in her circle of lawyers she wouldn't be taken seriously... I have more to say but I'm tired. I'll leave it another day.
Right like how would hating on Jess fix her situation.Jess never created it
@@poptartious509 Exactly 💯
I always admired and aspired to maintain the same strength she has in being strong in herself! What I’ve always tried to find and protect in myself. They way that she is never afraid to stick up for herself or make a hard decision because she knows it’s right for her while genuinely and passionately caring about those around her. We could all stand to learn how to love ourselves like she does!
I THOROUGHLY appreciate this take. This is my most favorite show and I’ve always felt like I relate to Jess the most for all of these reasons. I started watching this as it aired and it was nice to finally find a character to relate to and it helped me to not be afraid to be myself. Tooting my own horn, helping people comes first for me and seeing you put this together solidified all of my thoughts over the last 10 years. Thanks, The Take!
If anything, you proved why Jess IS the protagonist. There are 4 basic character attributes: Flat vs. Round; Static vs. Dynamic. Jess is a rounded static character. Though her character is fleshed out with complexities (rounded), she has no need to grow or change (static). Jess is the ONLY character in the show who pretty much stays the same throughout. Everyone around her is lost and trying to figure themselves out. Her resolute self-awareness is what grounds the other characters and pushes them to grow. Basically, they are only dynamic because Jess is static, which makes her the central character and driving force of the show-- the protagonist. Other examples of static protagonists include: Cinderella, Peter Pan, Forrest Gump, Disney's Pocahontas, Indiana Jones, and Captain America (MCU).
Jessica Day is a great character. I love that she self assured and feminine. Also its seems like the people who dislike this Character are people who hate to see happy people which is weird. I enjoyed the show and feel like people just like to complain.
The Take included an Erik Singer clip. This is the crossover I never knew I needed, but I do.
Love Erik! Hope he’s got a new video coming out soon, we’re about due for it.
How is a show that takes place in LA doesn't have Latino characters?
Holy shit I'm latina and never noticed this, there isn't a single character not even side character thats wild
Yo 😭
@@MaejorArray
He really wasn’t a character he didn’t really say or do anything. There is a different between a character and caricature
Good point. Still New Girl deserves credit for breaking the usual sitcom rules of white ppl + one minority character.
Jess teaches us to love ourselves and to love each other. She teaches all the other characters that. She’s a teacher. She’s the main character because the show is about loving yourself and she is the epitome of that. New Girl after a while to me, refers to her offering a new perspective that isn’t even new just one we don’t normally operate in.
*laughs nervously as someone who has a cutesy art business and enjoys glitter and being weird...*
I LOVE JESS! her girly quirkiness helped me accept myself as one. the society often forgets the high pressure women are under - you can’t like pink, the ya novels suck, its not ‘cool’ to be a girly girl, etc. looking back, there were times i was ashamed of myself for not fitting the standards and i thought i had to change / grow up. jess is different, she didn’t outgrow her quirkiness or all the things people disliked and i love her for that.
This goes back to the fight between the millenials and gen z's, which it shouldn't because what we are wearing they are wearjng now. The manic pixie twee girl is not going away anytime soon if not at all. It is sexist, because of the image/thought of what a man want us women to be, but so is the "cool girl" or the "femme fatale" and many other tropes men want in a women for themselves. I think that giving Zoey Descanel and her character Jess between a rock and a hard is going out of proportion and the people who find her annoying probably don't have the confidence to live their lives to the fullesr like Jess. Plus, I love New Girl and Jess, she represents and speaks the whole of me.
The whole of me too🙋🏾♀️
It's hard to find video essays about New Girl. This was wonderful!!!! One of the most interesting things about this show for me is how Winston started off as this semi-stereotypical black side character(super into sports, played basketball, etc.) and turned into a quirky fan favorite. It seems like in S1 and S2 they didn't really know what to do with him. But after he got Ferguson he changed for the better. His weirdness was so unique and hilarious! Having 2 black guys on one show maybe forced the writers to make them more obviously different from one another.
I see a lot of myself in Jess honestly. Most people would not believe that I'm a real person if I write my life story down on a piece of paper... My life has been manic pixie in some ways, including a parent who was in prison for most of my high school life, graduating college early, volunteering in a small African country most people have never heard of, writing multiple novels, visiting 10 different countries, learning 2 other languages, never drinking alcohol, currently literally being a never-been-kissed virgin at age 26 (despite being a hopeless romantic who would really really love to get married), almost exclusively wearing dresses or jumpsuits in my day to day, usually preferring to spend time with kids than most adults, bursting into song pretty often for no reason... yet I know myself well and love who I am. Life is always about learning and growing as a person, but I also don't feel like I need to go through a major character arc either.
For me, it was that she stood her ground and fully accepted who she was. She wasn't going to be bullied by others to hide who she truly was. I suppose that's why she was secretly hated or liked by many of the characters - they too admired her self-assurance or were repulsed by it because they were insecure of themselves.
"and my checks have baby farm animals on them, Bitch", is one of my all time favorite pro-femme quotes
my favorite was “i made billy my baby. i made that little bitch a bottle, right guys?”
hell yeah! I loved her standing up for herself AND turning around and walking the wrong way. She showed that just because she's quirky and kind of weird and feminine, doesn't mean that she's not a strong person. I loved that scene so much
What? Better without Jess? I missed her so much 🤧 Loved the whole group together
Wow, what great editing. Almost like an editing god edited this masterpiece! Or maybe just a peasant, but a diligent, adaptable, and persistent one that makes godlike cuts...
Literally love how you said Ted from himym "supposedly" grew
I love that you used that Erik Singer's clip about vocal fry. Love it.
Bro I literally enjoyed every episode of this show. I watched it for the first time last year as a 20 year old, so I had none of the societal context to be annoyed with the quirkiness. I enjoyed the world of this show so I didn’t have to always be interested in jess’s character growth. I just wanted to be in their group. It’s comfort food. And I respect that.
She is the center of the show. She is holding everything together. She is the main character just not one we are used to see
Thank you! I could not agree more with this character analysis! For a long time, I couldn’t understand why I had grown so irritated by Jess’s presence on the show and you totally nailed it, especially in the ways you contextualized the early 2010 trends about quirkiness. Those trends have faded, and are now viewed as ironic with the new generation of young ppl watching. This is why Nick/ Schmitt/Winston and eventually Cece become much more enjoyable to watch.
Just gonna put this out here again, the take doing a podcast would be pretty great!
It would!
its soo rewatchable
Thank you The Take for consistently reminding me how much of a philosophical masterpiece New Girl is
But I still love Jess' quirkiness!
I never had a problem with her and I loved the show, especially the first couple seasons.
Unfortunately at work so I cant watch just yet but I swear I've always felt like this was the case when i watched this show originally.
YAAAASSS! I watched that dialect coach video a while ago and was like WOW misogyny is SO deeply CONDITIONED and ENGRAINED into us all!!
The world needs more Jessica days imo she is a pure soul who should be protected
Just finished the show for the first time and loved this video! I did went into the show thinking that Jess is the protagonist and it was so refreshing that the show surprised me. Yes, on the surface the quirky and adorkable do stand as the defining traits of Jess but it really isn't the whole picture as the show progresses, I think that's really the takeaway. You're allowed to escape the image that you created for yourself.
Winston went from the roommate the writers didn't know what to do with to the most realized.
I would love a video on Reagan (please correct me if they have already done it). Jess was a commentary on the manic pixie dream girl trope, because she had some of the characterisitcs of one, but then it showed that she was more than that. Reagan is, I think, a commentary on the cool girl trope. At the beginning, she seems like the ultimate male fantasy. Nick wants to be with her so bad. But I think New Girl showed very wonderfully how being in an actual relationship with a cool girl doesn't get you very far. Because relationships aren't about being 'cool', because you actually have to communicate and show your vulnerability for a successful relationship
The Take trying to start some fights today
I really enjoyed Jess and Nick challenging each other
Jess is the best character. And her bond with nick and others, especially with nick, gives the show life. Its refreshing to see such a strong unconditional bond. It portrays love that never ends, even if two people are apart... and how they make their way back to each other after learning from their hurts. Nick wouldn't have been better with anyone else, not julia, not reagan because jess and nick were meant to be since they met. There's this feeling of home and warmth in their camaraderie that is unmatched, not reached by cece-schmidt either.
I fell in love with New Girl, especially because of Jess. I saw myself in her: someone being called naive, lives life passionately, definitely adorkable and I doesn't even try. When she was defending herself against Nick's gf, I almost cried cus she said what I always say: "I didn't know I was doing a thing"
Down the line, the show just got better & showed Jess continuing to win all her battles by being HERSELF (she mettled too much for my liking but other than that 🤷🏾♀️) and that was hella inspirational. Why change when you'll still win 💜💜💜
Y’all just brought sense to my enjoyment of the show. I relate to Jess so much
Love the new girl videos! This show is my absolute comfort show. It makes me laugh, it's wholesome and has emotional moments as well. While many other comedy shows have aged badly, I keep returning to new girl
YESSSS! I HAVE BEEN WAITING FOR THIS ANALYSIS!
YES IVE ALWAYS THOUGHT ABOUT THIS! I agree with everything you said here, and even in the bridesmaids series! Thanks for coherently saying the message of what shows like New Girl and movies like Bridesmaids are trying to tell us. I think because we live in a heavily patriarchal society, we tend to misread female-led media like New Girl/Legally Blonde/Bridesmaids etc. and maybe lead ourselves to believe that characters like Elle Woods/Jess Day/Annie from Bridesmaids are just one-dimensional characters--but theyre not! I've always thought this but couldnt properly say it and im so glad you did. I am loving the content on this channel cos they delve deeper into the context of shows that may appear "girly" but actually speak alot more than what they're lead to believe. It shows that women really aren't ‘The Quirky Girl’ or the ‘Manic Pixie Dream Girl’ or ‘Not Like Other Girls’ but they can have those traits but also be so much more. Thanks so much for making this video!
Honestly I find Jessica’s personality extremely wholesome it’s a refreshing perspective in a cynical world
Being Quirky isn’t a bad thing
Those people are just toxic towards wholesome innocence
I love this show, and I love jess. As someone similar to her I really appreciate seeing a character like that on screen.
Ive never seen New Girl and this essay makes me wanna watch it. I feel like Id like Jess.
It's so worth watching!
When I recommend this show I usually have to warn people to stick it out through the first couple seasons. They are not the strongest.
Rlly I feel the opposite I feel like the last few are where things start to go downhill
S1 is a bit awkward at worst but rewatching there really are some fantastic episodes in there. S6 is really the only season of the show that I think is not too great.
@@Ray03595 that's fair. I felt like some of the first season was built around finding an excuse to put zooey deschanel in a silly cute costume and not much more than that. That being said it evolved into a really awesome show
@@maggierobertson2962 Yeah, they tried to really drive home the "adorkable" thing too much sometimes in the first season. Jess is much better in every other season. I think Nick's character actually carries a ton of the weight in S1, and every other season it's way more spread out. For why I don't like S6, I think writing took a bit of a dip, and Robbie was forced into the show for really no reason and was basically too similar of a character to Paul.
Jess always has and always will be my favourite character on New Girl! I think the show would have flopped without her
This was fascinating. I knew New Girl had its critics, but I didn't realize how deep it ran.
I also learned what Twee means. Finally!
First I’ve heard about Zooey being hated on. I’ve always loved her and Jess is my fave character she’s done. I’m glad they let the other characters develop too, as they were all funny and deserved their time.
I straight up still can't watch this show because I was traumatized by so many toxic friendships with girls who thought they were the protagonist. Nothing could be about anyone or anything else. The most important thing in every conversation was circling back to them being cuter and quirkier than anyone else in the room. It was a bad time.
Guess "quirky" not bad after all. Just "quirky lady" bad, aparently.
i know a lot of gen z who see new girl as a comfort show, myself included. i think some gen z see through a lot of the misogyny that made people hate women like megan fox and zooey deschanel
I love Jess’ quirkiness, it’s endearing and I love that she embraced herself and staying true ti herself and those traits make her more empowered.
What’s didn’t like about Jess’ character is how she was seen as innocent and really like she could do no wrong, but when someone else did the same, they were demonized. She shamed Cece for embracing her sexuality and she was having as much sex, just because she came off like an innocent cute girl didn’t mean she wasn’t as active sexually. She blamed Nick for kissing her when she clearly kissed him back and wouldn’t take responsibility for her cheating on that Dr.
You ladies are amazing!
I didn’t like Jess until she left for a few episodes and I realized she is the show
Without watching the vid, I’m gunna say the main character is nick. Jess was the “New girl” in his life that got him to embrace his sensitive side and take himself more seriously.
I think one thing that's really being missed is that she had to learn to put herself and her feelings first. Each relationship had her learning to do that a little more until the end when she finally decides to tell Nick how she feels even if it wasn't great timing.
Omg the scenes of Schmidt in here are top tier
I'm doing a rewatch, on Season 5 now. May I suggest "The Take on Schmit"?
They have one about Schmidt, I believe it's something about the "power of being uncool"? Something like that.
@@kesharii1160 Thanks for the info
Talking about ukuleles, showing her with a guitar.