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"Menzies" is a definitive episode because it balances the "high-concept" comedy of a silent man in a pool with the "low-concept" reality of being broke and bloated. It solidified the chemistry of the loft mates and signaled that New Girl was willing to push past standard sitcom boundaries. By the end of the episode, Jess secures a job as a creative writing teacher for adults, and Nick finds a semblance of peace. It’s an episode that argues that life is messy, emotions are loud, and sometimes, the only way to get through it is to let a stranger hold you in a swimming pool.

The emotional core of "Menzies" is Jess’s struggle with unemployment. Having been laid off from her teaching job earlier in the season, Jess is at her most vulnerable. Her identity is tied to her career as an educator, and without it, she is adrift. This vulnerability is exacerbated by the onset of her period—a plot point the show handles with a refreshing, if heightened, lack of taboo. New_girl_2x07

The Art of the Messy Reunion: An Analysis of New Girl Season 2, Episode 7, "Menzies" "Menzies" is a definitive episode because it balances