Plot: What’s it about?
Jess (Zooey Deschanel) is a perky, bubbly young woman, until she walks in on her boyfriend with another woman. She is devastated by the incident, but decides to strike out on her own and start over. She needs a place to live, so she answers an ad for a roommate, only to discover she’d need to share the place with three men. While the situation is a little unusual, Jess moves in and strikes up a quick bond with her new roomies. Winston had a run in professional basketball but is now just another normal guy, while Nick is a college drop out who is jaded and retains his student mindset. The third roommate is Schmidt, who comes off as an arrogant douche, but has some sweetness under the surface. As the roommates go about their own lives, they also have to cope with Jess’ mood swings, eclectic antics, and random singing sessions. Will the situation prove to be too much to handle, or will they actually learn to appreciate each other?
This first season of New Girl proved to be a hit, but is it a good show? I wouldn’t call New Girl great television, but it is harmless and offers solid entertainment. The mood is light, aside from some very brisk drama when it comes to relationships, with an emphasis on charm and quick humor. The stories are mostly ones we’ve seen before in other shows, but they still work thanks to the cast, headed by the always fun to watch Zooey Deschanel. She brings such a breeze like presence to the role, with just the right balance of quirk to be interesting, but not annoying. She is a lot more talented than the normal players in a show of this kind, so the entire New Girl experience is elevated by her presence. The others are solid as well and all of the primary cast members are able to play off each other well, which is crucial to the show. New Girl isn’t going to have a long lasting cultural impact, but it is a brisk, fun show and sometimes that is just what you need.
Video: How does it look?
The episodes are presented in 1.78:1 anamorphic widescreen. The show’s bright and colorful visuals come through well, in clean, clear presentations. The image shows good depth, but of course detail isn’t as sharp as an HD edition would be. But the show still looks quite good, especially in terms of the vibrant colors on showcase. The series uses a lot of vivid hues and they all look great here, while contrast is even and consistent. In other words, a terrific visual effort.
Audio: How does it sound?
A Dolby Digital 5.1 soundtrack is provided, which sounds quite good. The show leans on dialogue above all else, but the surrounds still see some action. The presence comes mainly from the show’s pop music, which adds life to the mix at times. The vocals sound clear and sharp, so no lines are missed whatsoever. Not a lot more to talk about in this department, as the show sounds about as good as you’d expect. This release also includes English, Spanish, and French subtitles.
Supplements: What are the extras?
You can listen to audio comments on two episodes, as well as check out deleted & extended scenes, a gag reel, and several behind the scenes featurettes.
