Did it get any better?
The biggest question mark going into the second episode was the replacement of lead cast member Damon Wayans Jr (Coach) with Lamorne Morris (Winston) after Wayans had to leave the show to return to HAPPY ENDINGS on ABC. I'm actually surprised that the writers chose not to just replace the actor and keep the same character, and instead create a whole new character, especially since Wayans had only been around for one episode. It was gutsy, but I think they pulled it off. Coach's departure did feel a little abrupt and unexplained, but the fact that Winston was introduced as a former roommate of Schmidt and Nick who was moving back in helped ease the transition. That meant he already had chemistry with the other two guys and didn't have to be yet another new roommate after Zooey Deschanel's Jess joined them just a week ago. And at least in their one episode each, I liked Morris' character better, even if I preferred Wayans more as an actor.
So that aside, did the show get any better from its merely sort-of funny pilot? I think so, yes. It was probably just because I hadn't seen every single funny line in rampant advertisements (ala the pilot), but I found it funnier, faster, and more likable. I especially liked the absence of girls-are-icky humor that made me nervous in the first episode. The show still finds humor in the "girly" actions of Jess juxtaposed with her three manly roommates (ie. she can't throw a basketball or move on from a breakup), but at least there was no line about how girls are good at folding things. And the basic fish-out-of-water premise of the "adorkable" Jess living with three single guys is going to result in a lot of guys-versus-girls reactions to things. And to be fair, the guys aren't all shining examples of the male specimen either. There's stereotypes there too, especially in the douchey Schmidt. Thankfully, his douche-factor was turned down this episode, from outright uncomfortable moments to eye-rolling goofiness. There was no mention of the Douchebag Jar and only one occurrence of shirtlessness.
In short, I think this was definitely an improvement on the pilot, even if that's just because it felt fresher without having seen every single punchline of every single joke in advance. Zooey Deschanel is still adorable to watch, Winston is a vast improvement on the awkward anger-management-challenged Coach, and the plot of the roommates all teaming together to help Jess confront her ex was cute (even if they were just doing it to get a new TV). Any show whose climax involves all of its characters wearing silly hats is a winner in my eyes. And who didn't love watching Schmidt give Jess's ex a well-deserved slap in the face?
Verdict:
Much better!
What did you think, Fellow Addicts? Did you think this was an improvement over the pilot? Or did you already love it anyway? Vote in the poll below and then hit the comments!
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