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The Best Episodes of New Girl

Every episode of New Girl ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of New Girl!

Jessica Day is an offbeat and adorable girl in her late 20s who, after a bad breakup, moves in with three single guys. Goofy, positive,...
Genre:Comedy
Network:FOX

Best Episodes Summary

"Cooler" is the best rated episode of "New Girl". It scored 9.1/10 based on 2766 votes. Directed by Max Winkler and written by Rebecca Addelman, it aired on 1/29/2013. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "Five Stars for Beezus".

  • Cooler
    9.1/102,766 votes
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    #1 - Cooler

    Season 2 Episode 15 - Aired 1/29/2013

    Nick and Schmidt go out on a "bro's night," but quickly become infatuated with, and highly competitive over, a beautiful woman attracted to sadness. Meanwhile, Winston falls for a girl with absolutely no interest in him, which only makes him more attracted to her. Then, Jess' decision to have a night alone in the loft doesn't go as planned and involves another round of the drinking game "True American," and a surprising development in her relationship with one of the loft mates.

    Director: Max Winkler

    Writer: Rebecca Addelman

  • Five Stars for Beezus
    9.1/101,679 votes
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    #2 - Five Stars for Beezus

    Season 6 Episode 22 - Aired 4/4/2017

    Jess is ready to tell Nick of her true feelings for him. Meanwhile, Nick takes a meeting with a book publisher, as Aly helps Winston reconnect with an important person. Then, Cece and Schmidt receive big news.

    Director: Erin O'Malley

    Writer: Elizabeth Meriwether

  • Clean Break
    9.0/101,943 votes
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    #3 - Clean Break

    Season 4 Episode 22 - Aired 5/5/2015

    As Coach prepares to move out of the loft, Schmidt also decides to get rid of his non-essentials and in the process discovers what is truly important to him; Jess and Nick reminisce about their “sex mug” and wonder if they still have feelings for each other.

    Director: Trent O'Donnell

    Writer: N/A

  • Landing Gear
    8.8/101,357 votes
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    #4 - Landing Gear

    Season 5 Episode 22 - Aired 5/10/2016

    Schmidt makes a last ditch effort to convince Cece's mom to come to their wedding, but in doing so, he might miss the special day himself.

    Director: Erin O'Malley

    Writer: Luvh Rakhe

  • Background Check
    8.7/101,841 votes
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    #5 - Background Check

    Season 4 Episode 6 - Aired 11/4/2014

    As part of Winston's police academy training, the loft must pass a home visit and background check, which shouldn't be a problem until Jess admits she might be hiding illegal substances in her closet.

    Director: Lorene Scafaria

    Writer: Rebecca Addelman

  • Elaine's Big Day
    8.6/101,767 votes
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    #6 - Elaine's Big Day

    Season 2 Episode 25 - Aired 5/14/2013

    Cece's wedding day finds Jess and Nick making a decision about their relationship. Meanwhile, Schmidt schemes with a typically overenthusiastic Winston to sabotage the nuptials, although a shocking announcement may be bigger than anything he plans.

    Director: Jake Kasdan

    Writer: Christian Magalhaes, Robert Snow

  • Prince
    8.6/101,982 votes
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    #7 - Prince

    Season 3 Episode 14 - Aired 2/2/2014

    Jess is ready to paint the town purple when a chance encounter finds her and best friend Cece invited to a once-in-a-lifetime mansion party thrown by music legend Prince. Not wanting to miss out on the fun, Nick, Schmidt, Winston and Coach are determined to crash the festivities, building toward an Unforgettable ending.

    Director: Fred Goss

    Writer: Rob Rosell, David Feeney

  • Quick Hardening Caulk
    8.4/101,708 votes
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    #8 - Quick Hardening Caulk

    Season 2 Episode 19 - Aired 3/19/2013

    Jess comes to a conclusion about her romantic feelings for Nick and she struggles to tell him - until she's hopped up on pain medication. But after admitting her feelings, she finds out he may have been keeping something from her. Meanwhile, Schmidt becomes obsessed with buying a fish, which Winston sees as a metaphor for Schmidt's unresolved feelings toward Cece and Nick plans a bar promotion to impress the bar owner (guest star Odette Annable).

    Director: Lorene Scafaria

    Writer: N/A

  • Virgins
    8.4/101,784 votes
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    #9 - Virgins

    Season 2 Episode 23 - Aired 4/30/2013

    In a series of flashbacks, Jess, Nick, Schmidt, Winston and Cece tell one another how they each lost their virginity. Not surprisingly, when they realize the stories directly affect their present day sex lives, one relationship will change forever.

    Director: Alec Berg

    Writer: Elizabeth Meriwether

  • Birthday
    8.3/101,414 votes
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    #10 - Birthday

    Season 3 Episode 13 - Aired 1/21/2014

    Nick struggles to throw Jess the perfect birthday party, while Schmidt works overtime to help out Cece in her new job as bartender and Winston and Coach engage in a bake-off.

    Director: Richie Keen

    Writer: Kim Rosenstock

  • Engram Pattersky
    8.3/101,253 votes
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    #11 - Engram Pattersky

    Season 7 Episode 8 - Aired 5/15/2018

    The gang takes a tour down memory lane, which includes a final round of "True American."

    Director: Erin O'Malley

    Writer: N/A

  • Spiderhunt
    8.2/101,194 votes
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    #12 - Spiderhunt

    Season 4 Episode 17 - Aired 2/24/2015

    It’s a lockdown in the loft when Schmidt’s arachnophobia forces the group go on a spider hunt. In the midst of this chaos, Winston inadvertently makes Jess think that Cece is in love with Nick.

    Director: Steve Welch

    Writer: Berkley Johnson

  • Secrets
    8.1/101,658 votes
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    #13 - Secrets

    Season 1 Episode 19 - Aired 4/3/2012

    While training for a marathon, Jess discovers that Cece has been keeping a secret from her, and their friendship is put to the test. Meanwhile, Winston can't handle being the only one who knows about Cece and Schmidt, and Nick reluctantly asks for Schmidt's help as he tries to juggle dating two women at once.

    Director: David Wain

    Writer: Josh Malmuth

  • Santa
    8.1/101,516 votes
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    #14 - Santa

    Season 2 Episode 11 - Aired 12/11/2012

    When the gang attempts to juggle multiple holiday parties in one night, Jess tries to avoid a remorseful Sam, Nick tries to keep up with a sexually adventurous Angie and Winston panics when he gets a cranberry stuck in his ear.

    Director: Craig Zisk

    Writer: Luvh Rakhe

  • Parking Spot
    8.1/101,460 votes
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    #15 - Parking Spot

    Season 2 Episode 17 - Aired 2/19/2013

    When Schmidt discovers a previously unknown, yet highly-coveted parking spot, Jess and the roommates battle it out to see who will get to use it. Meanwhile, Winston has a hard time finding a condom when he gets an impromptu invitation from Daisy.

    Director: Fred Goss

    Writer: Rebecca Addelman

  • Goldmine
    8.1/101,207 votes
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    #16 - Goldmine

    Season 4 Episode 7 - Aired 11/11/2014

    Nick pretends to be gay to make his status as Jess' "ex" less of an issue to her new beau. To Coach's annoyance, Winston works his "Long Game" on their attractive neighbors, Michelle and Viv. Meanwhile, Schmidt panics when Cece considers having a breast reduction

    Director: Russ T. Alsobrook

    Writer: Berkley Johnson

  • Thanksgiving IV
    8.1/101,136 votes
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    #17 - Thanksgiving IV

    Season 4 Episode 9 - Aired 11/25/2014

    With winter coming and everyone still single, Schmidt initiates a "Bangs-giving"-themed Thanksgiving dinner party, to which everyone must bring someone compatible for someone else.

    Director: Fred Goss

    Writer: David Feeney

  • A Chill Day In
    8.1/101,051 votes
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    #18 - A Chill Day In

    Season 5 Episode 18 - Aired 4/26/2016

    Refusing to accept that their crazy days are behind them, Jess and Cece abandon their low-key bachelorette party plans and seek a night out to top all others.

    Director: Erin O'Malley

    Writer: Sarah Tapscott

  • Wedding Eve
    8.1/10995 votes
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    #19 - Wedding Eve

    Season 5 Episode 21 - Aired 5/10/2016

    On the night before the wedding, Nick and Winston try to help Schmidt re-write his vows and Jess, thinking that Sam is going to propose to her, rallies the gang into playing True American to avoid giving him an answer.

    Director: Trent O'Donnell

    Writer: Kim Rosenstock, Nina Pedrad

  • San Diego
    8.1/10864 votes
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    #20 - San Diego

    Season 6 Episode 21 - Aired 3/28/2017

    As Jess continues to stay with her dad in Portland, they unexpectedly help one another with their love lives. Meanwhile, Nick turns to a reluctant Aly for help with his relationship with Reagan, and Schmidt contemplates using his first name.

    Director: Trent O'Donnell

    Writer: Rob Rosell, David Feeney

  • The Landlord
    8.0/101,869 votes
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    #21 - The Landlord

    Season 1 Episode 12 - Aired 2/7/2012

    Against Nick's wishes, Jess makes it her mission to get the loft's cantankerous landlord to like her. In doing so, she inadvertently jeopardizes their living situation and the guys are forced to admit they've made some "unofficial" changes to the apartment. Meanwhile Schmidt tries to decipher what he thinks are mixed signals from his boss Kim.

    Director: Peyton Reed

    Writer: N/A

  • Table 34
    8.0/101,468 votes
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    #22 - Table 34

    Season 2 Episode 16 - Aired 2/5/2013

    The gang attends a dating convention, where Cece hopes to find a prospective husband - even as Schmidt hopes to win her back. Meanwhile, Winston's mojo returns, and Jess and Nick get put in a compromising position in front of Dr. Sam.

    Director: Tristram Shapeero

    Writer: David Iserson

  • Winston's Birthday
    8.0/101,383 votes
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    #23 - Winston's Birthday

    Season 2 Episode 24 - Aired 5/7/2013

    Jess' dad chooses the worst day to pay the loft an unexpected visit, forcing a nervous Nick to spend the day alone with him. Jess finds herself with huge opportunity for a new job on the day before Cece's wedding. Schmidt must take a look in the mirror and confront his real feelings about Elizabeth. Meanwhile, Winston psyches himself up for his huge surprise birthday celebration, which no one seemed to remember to throw for him.

    Director: Max Winkler

    Writer: Dave Finkel, Brett Baer

  • Naked
    7.9/102,110 votes
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    #24 - Naked

    Season 1 Episode 4 - Aired 11/1/2011

    Jess accidentally walks in on Nick naked, sending his self-confidence to an all-time low - just after an attractive co-worker agrees to go out on a date with him. Meanwhile, Winston becomes obsessed with learning pop-culture references online.

    Director: Jake Kasdan

    Writer: J. J. Philbin

  • Fancyman (2)
    7.9/101,567 votes
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    #25 - Fancyman (2)

    Season 1 Episode 18 - Aired 3/27/2012

    Jess' sophisticated date with Russell doesn't go as planned. Meanwhile, Nick's college friend visits and brings out Nick's inner frat boy to help him get over his break-up with Julia. Also, Winston panics when Shelby goes on a "girls" vacation and Schmidt and Cece try to keep their relationship under the covers, but one of the friends finds out their secret.

    Director: Matt Shakman

    Writer: Berkley Johnson, Kim Rosenstock