Fox’s hit comedyNew Girlresonates with viewers for its honest look at struggling roommates in Los Angeles and its improvisational comedic timing. The show follows elementary school teacher Jess Day (played by Zooey Deschanel) as she finds herself moving into a loft with male roommates after she catches her boyfriend cheating on her. The roommates,Winston Bishop (played by Lamorne Morris), Schmidt (played by Max Greenfield), and Nick Miller (played by Jake Johnson) each have their own unique history with one another from their childhood and college years, which comes into play as they forge their paths into adulthood.

The show offers aromantic slow burn between Jess and Nick, even amid their vastly different personalities. While the show’s central couple have excellent chemistry, sometimes their differences get the best of them, driving them apart. On the contrary, Schmidt and Jess' best friend Cececonsistently push each other to grow and improve as people, making them the best love story on the show.

Schmidt Nick Cece Jess and Winston stare at the camera in New Girl

Cece and Schmidt Push Each Other To Confront Their Issues

What Starts As A Casual Relationship Becomes Profoundly Important

Cece and Schmidt initially begin their relationship as a casual secret, given Schmidt’s egotistical nature. Cece is first ashamed that she likes him after hearing about some of his most cringe-worthy behaviors from her best friend Jess. He is known for being a womanizer, and Nick even has a “douchebag jar” just for him to drop change into when he does anything worthy of the title. However, the pair quickly open up to one another emotionally, withCece especially holding Schmidt accountable for his shortcomings.

Schmidt’s biggest insecurity inNew Girllies in body image, as he was overweight for most of his life until he moved to Los Angeles after college. While he did have a college girlfriend named Elizabeth during his college years (played by Merritt Wever), he struggles to maintain meaningful relationships after his weight loss, and even tells Cece that he struggles to understand why women even like him. This is in direct contrast to the hypermasculine ego-driven personality he displays to most people, and Cece’swillingness to understand him and help him unlearn his toxicways is why their relationship feels so profound.

Cece and Schmidt taking a photo together in New Girl

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Cece is the most self-conscious about dropping out of high school to pursue her modeling career after her father’s death drove a wedge between her and her mother. While she does find success in booking campaigns in Los Angeles, inspiring Jess to move to the city, she often feels like something is missing. Her status as a model frequently has men (and at first, Schmidt included) underestimate her intelligence. This results in Cece quitting modeling and working as a bartender while she pursues her GED. Through this difficult decision, Schmidt offers his support, andhelps Cece study for her exam without judgment.

A composite image of Jess looking up from her computer in front of Jess being hugged by the cast of New Girl

Cece And Schmidt Are Unapologetically Themselves Around One Another

At the beginning of their relationship, before they build their strong emotional bond, Cece and Schmidt are still unapologetically themselves around one another, as they felt they initially had nothing to lose. Eventually,despite seeing the darkest parts of one another, they still fall in love and manage to build a successful relationship.

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Outside their deepest insecurities, both characters have their own idiosyncrasies. In Schmidt’s case, this is often his lengthy grooming routine and overall particular and hyper-organized lifestyle. Cece shares an apartment with models that she has little in common with, and Jess is her only close friend until she befriends the other loft roommates.She never sugarcoats the modeling industry to Schmidt, and her later departure from her job feels all the more natural because of it.

Nick angrily holding his fingers up while Jess is shocked with two fingers on her forehead during the second season True American game in New Girl

Schmidt Comes To Important Realizations Much Quicker Than Nick Miller

While Schmidt Immediately Pushes Himself To Improve For Cece, Nick Takes Longer To Do So For Jess

Part of the magic of a slow burn on television is that it allows the characters to truly get to know one another. In Jess and Nick’s case, this starts as a close friendship that blossoms into something more – only that when it does, they are uncomfortable being themselves around one another, andJess discovers how Nick is stuck in his immature ways.

A major aspect of Nick and Jess' first breakup lies in Nick’s immaturity and lack of life skills (he keeps his money in a cardboard box, he is a law school dropout and career bartender). Nick is incredibly adamant in his ways, so much that he is initially not willing to change them for Jess, despite how much he loves her.

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Schmidt, however, is constantly evolving over the course of his relationship with Cece, becoming more open-minded and committed to their relationship. He additionally puts in the effort to understand her Indian heritage and respect her family’s cultural practices. Their relationship only works the second time because Cece holds him accountable for his infidelity and previous ways, and Schmidt is more than willing to change them for the betterment of their relationship.Because of their willingness to work on themselves, Cece and Schmidt are actually the best love story inNew Girl.

New Girl

Cast

New Girl is a television series that debuted in 2011, centering on Jessica Day, an eccentric young woman. Following a breakup, she moves in with three single men, navigating her quirky personality and forming unexpected friendships in her new living situation.