TV REVIEW: The end of ‘Ness’ in New Girl’s “Mars Landing”

By Nicole Bozzani

What begins as an innocent game of True American creates a next day hangover full of fighting, drunk texts, and broken dream vases.

Jess and co bring back a New Girl staple this week: True American. The rules are still entirely unclear, but viewers learn a little bit more about it each time it reappears. The next day, on the other hand, everyone has a horrible hangover. Jess and Nick must attend the first birthday party for her godson. Only one problem: they haven’t put together the gift yet. While preparing, they begin discussing their ideas for the future and children. But it quickly becomes evident that it’s a very complicated future in which neither of them can agree on what’s best. Meanwhile, Coach, Schmidt, and Winston try to impress their hot new lady neighbors and Cece must try to recover from some very embarrassing texts to her new boyfriend, Buster.

“Mars Landing” really got to the core of Nick and Jess’ relationship. Season three has witnessed so many ups and downs for this couple, but now it’s finally time to see them as they truly are.

Fighting over their different futures was possibly one of the most relatable situations Jess and Nick have been put into throughout the course of the season. Granted their ideas for the future certainly aren’t. Nick really took the reins this episode and it was a joy to watch. He was assertive and, despite wanting to live on the American capital of Mars, Mars Landing, he really makes the wisest decision. Jess has consistently attempted to change Nick over the course of this season of New Girl. But Nick Miller is a gem in the rough. Let him be and he’ll shine though. (If only Jess could have gotten that memo sooner.)

Nick and Jess have differing views on their futures each which fit their personality perfectly. Jess wants to live by a lake and own a horse while Nick wants to be an intergalactic truck driver. Fighting over a fictional child while putting together a child’s toy was a little like watching ones parents fight while putting together toys on Christmas morning.

One comical stand out moment, other than Nick’s entire future life, was what he planned to name his first child: Reginald. Not only does he have to name his child Reginald because he lost a bet to Schmidt, but he lost a best to Schmidt over flipping a giant pancake. Classic Nick Miller for you.

As for the other story lines, predictably Coach, Winston, and Schmidt try to gain the attention of their new female neighbors by showing their manly prowess and helping the women move things into their new apartment. It instantly becomes a competition because why wouldn’t it? It’s old and tired and quite honestly, even Schmidt and his witty retorts couldn’t save it. It’s unfortunate for the show they continue to bring up these somewhat dumb competitions as if there’s nothing else worth trying. The last storyline of the episode involved Cece and her new “child bride” Buster. Again, this was one of those instances where it felt tossed in to remind viewers of Cece’s existence and that she did, in fact, hit on an Australian a few weeks back. Frankly, Cece is going to have to pull some more weight in the coming weeks after that final shocking turn of events with Jess.

FOX promoted the heck out of “Mars Landing” by teasing that Nick would do something shocking, and they did not disappoint. In the end, Nick and Jess decided it was time to go back to being just friends. The core of the issue? This couple may love each other but they argue far too much. They want each other to change, but it just doesn’t work. At first glance, it was an upsetting turn of events. Viewers have shipped the pair pretty much since Nick ran into the restaurant and began singing “(I’ve Had) The Time of My Life.” But digging a little deeper, it could be said that the breakup doesn’t necessarily mean the end of Ness or that the show can’t return to its quirky and hilarious past self. My guess? This probably won’t be the last of Ness. Not by a long shot. But it will create an interesting dynamic for future episodes.

How can Nick and Jess simply stay friends when they have to share a bedroom? What does this break mean for them? Will Nick actually name his first child Reginald? And why haven’t we seen Ferguson the cat in while? One thing no one will be wondering in the coming weeks is, why should Nick spend his hard earned intergalactic truck driver money on an Earth house?