If there was one thing it was his character New Girl have perfected during their run is the ability to escape from learning how to make themselves better. We see this many times throughout “Teachers,” twice literally, and this fact shows how afraid the core cast is to expose their true weaknesses. The only difference here is that they’re forced to overcome this shortcoming here and now.
The episode begins with Jess and Coach going to a teachers convention while the three original male leads are left at home for Guy’s Night. Breaking the roommates into these two groups allows for various subplots to form and character relationships to be fully displayed. This has become a strength early in season four, allowing smaller relationships to draw focus and to great emotional effect. Whether it is Jess & Winston from “Background Check” or Coach and Winston in “Goldmine”, the writers have been able to craft a considerable emotional core for the characters while letting the rest of the crew carry the comedic brunt.
Tonight’s side plot is a honey-hole of humor and not what you might think is important in the grand scheme of the show. Guys Night Out was supposed to revolve around staring at girls doing yoga from Jess’s bedroom window and going to a bar and trying to get lucky with some girls. Instead, it turns into Guys Night In when Nick realizes that Schmidt does not understand how to do laundry and Winston does not understand how to read a ruler. Yes, you read that right, Winston does not understand how to read a ruler. Move. A learning montage follows, some (lots of) sangria is drunk and voila you have the comedy part of the episode. While that may seem to be a lazy solution to a problem, the chemistry between the three characters keeps the storyline irreverent and hilarious. Especially when the night goes further into the fort buildings and the singing of affection songs.
The smaller relationship explored is the mutual fear between Jess and Coach about their work lives. Jess develops a crush on the nice Englishman, Ryan, which will cause professional ethics problems if she considers a move while Coach is disillusioned at the thought of having to teach a Health course. After a copious speech by Brenda Brown of Lisa Bonet to open the conference, the two parted ways. Jess is obviously paired up with Ryan on several occasions for team building drills including blindfolded obstacle course where she catches him from falling and question and answer practice where he finds out she has a “spool of yarn”. In Jess’s eyes, this makes Ryan even more the perfect man for her and continues to suppress his moral resolve. Coach on the other hand heads to the conference bar where he happens to run into some Health gurus (Ned!). Drinks ensue, Coach gets very drunk and decides it is the perfect time to wake up on the roof of the pool cabana. Cue the duo’s emotional conversation that night, in which Jess (and an more and more likable Ryan) try to talk Coach off the rooftop by letting him see that Health is a vital course and that he is the perfect teacher to scare kids into using condom. Coach also has a line of the night where he says the sex, “feels good for a second and then you’re sad.” Very true Coach, very true.
The episode resolution expands the storyline for future episodes when Jess finally kisses Ryan, something every viewer should see. It’s a necessary result for a series that hasn’t had an overarching storyline for this year. Ryan’s inclusion in the group and how their relationship will pan out at work, coupled with the hopeful inclusion of Curtis Armstrong in future episodes, allows the show to push the narrative forward. A bridge episode can every now and then get bogged down by advancing the plot, but “Teachers” manages to make up for it with great chemistry by the two roommate pairs and a few truly memorable laughs.
Grade: B+
