Why Nick And Jess Shouldn't Say "I Love You" (Just Yet)

We can tough it out.

Television shows are not required to be 100% accurate. In fact, it's usually irritating when fans obsess about a factual error that in no way affects the plot of the show. The writers made a boo boo, and you're smarter than they are: we get it. But there is a line. There is a point where writers have to realize that they are misrepresenting and that can be irresponsible. Perhaps one of the more egregious instances in recent memory is in Judd Apatow's This Is 40 where the allegedly strapped for cash leads take a swanky weekend vacation to a hotel with room service. Come on Judd, is that really what you think people hit by the recession (aka not you) are like? Sadly, it probably is, so we'll give Judd a pass and a request form for a reality check.

There is a difference between an intentional divorce from reality for humor's sake, and one that is actually meant to represent reality. See: Nick MIller's panic moonwalk, Schmidt's driving moccasins, or quirks for the sake of comedy in general. The writers of New Girl are generally very adept at making it clear to the viewer which moments need to be taken seriously, and which should be laughed at. Tomorrow New Girl returns for another week, and the internet chatter among fans has been nonstop. Really ever since Nick and Jess became Ness, the questions began, with one in particular being zeroed in on.

When will they say the magic words? The "I love you" debate is an important one, and can shape where the show will go from here. So far the writers have handled Nick and Jess's relationship well, but there is rocky territory ahead. The problem with having Nick and Jess say the three words too early is that they inevitably lead to the next conversation. Just as in real life, when our favorite couple exchange those words, we will wonder when they will be exchanging vows. In our religiously saturated culture it's an entirely normal response. But should Nick and Jess even get married? I don't believe that Nick and Jess getting married would be an accurate representation of where their relationship would go.

Television writers succumb to this all the time. Just recently Dr. Temperance Brennan tied the knot with Seeley Booth. If you've ever watched the early seasons of Bones (I have very recently) you will immediately realize that her marrying Booth is out of character. She says that marriage is an "unnecessary and antiquated ritual." That doesn't mean that Brennan doesn't love Booth. I firmly believe she does, just as I believe Nick loves Jess and vice versa. The problem is this: why do TV relationships always have to end in marriage? It doesn't make statistical sense. Many modern couples (especially ones who meet later in their 30's or later) never feel the need to get married. Marriage isn't the only indicator of love, on screen or otherwise.

Which makes the "I love you" debate more important. I would argue that those three words are what TV fanatics like to call 'the endgame" for many modern couples. So if that's the case for Nick and Jess—if "I love you" is the endgame for their relationship, do we really want it to happen so soon? They haven't been dating that long. I think we can tough it out for a bit longer. It would make much more sense for Schmidt and Cece to get married anyway. We already know that marriage is important to Cece's family. Besides, who wants another unrealistically elaborate television wedding that two characters who are "poor" could never afford in the first place? (Maybe Judd Apatow is hired out to write marriage episodes.)

New Girl fans: all I ask for is some patience, and maybe a little outside of the box thinking.