Meanwhile, Winston needs a new job. After he unceremoniously quit his job last episode – getting “pretty racial, and sexual” in the process – he’s looking for a new career. Schmidt offers to have Winston shadow him for the day, to show him round the office and what the actual process of marketing entails, but this plan is derailed by the arrival of Ed. Taken on as a security measure to protect Schmidt’s firm from accusations of ageism after firing a woman for being 45, he is old. As in, old. He still talks about “the Jewish part of town” and, in what will prove to be his eventual undoing, is completely unable to use computers.
He steals Schmidt’s idea and plays dirty to get ahead, which Schmidt, as wannabe King of the Jungle, responds to with respect and admiration. So much so that he didn’t even really want to get revenge on Ed, until Winston – in a fit of honesty and with an overriding sense of justice – persuades him otherwise. The Ed story, combined with Winston helping Schmidt out in his time of need, comes together to form a perfect b-story t0 Jess and Coach’s nascent relationship by complementing the theme of redefinition that the first story does so well.
Schmidt’s idea was his chance to redefine himself to the company, as an ideas man. Ed stealing that idea, and subsequently being outsmarted by Schmidt (until eventually faking a heart attack to get out of the situation – part of the old person dividend that allows anyone to escape any awkward situation) after inspiration from Winston allows Schmidt to change his position in the company after all, and afterwards giving Winston the impetus to maybe become a cop. Cece suggests it, and Schmidt agrees that he has the requisite weird people skills and fondness of moustaches to do the job, so Winston seems set on that path, for now at least. “Winston as a cop” definitely has legs, though.
It wasn’t just Jess & Coach and Winston & Schmidt redefining their respective relationships this week, either. In the midst of the Jess/Coach situation sat Nick, the poor victim of this game. Jess’ insistence on wearing the Piston’s shirt to bed, and his refusal to go near her, ends up in him abstaining from sex with her until she stops wearing it. The problem is that Nick is very easily led, and Jess (in her own words) “needs her vitamin D”, so it’s a huge challenge for the both of them. What starts out as standard sitcom territory becomes something more interesting when it ends with them both realising that there are things more important than a stupid sport, or a stupid disagreement, or a stupid pretending-to-like-a-sport-to-make-friends-with-your-boyfriend’s-friend thing. They realise that what really matters is their love for each other, and whether or not it’s just the lack of sex talking, it’s really sweet. The man holding off on sex and the woman really wanting it was a nice reversal to the usual format as well, as was one of Jess’ harebrained schemes coming together in her favour. Good job, guys.
Random Robservations:
- “Boob, boob, vagina, butt cheek, butt cheek.” That’s not in order, but it’d be weird to put it in order.
- Big shout out to Bob Gunton for being great as Ed.
- Coach is finally part of the team!
See you next week for more New Girl!