Ranking All Of The Couples On "New Girl" From "Nothing Special" To "Absolute Perfection"

I wonder if anyone else thinks Jess and Nick are overrated...

After rewatching New Girl for the billionth time, I had this urge to share my honest opinions of ALL the couples from the show and decided to rank them! So, please join me as I walk down memory lane of my favorite loft roommates (and their romantic partners) and see where they landed in the rankings.

**WARNING** For those who’ve been missing out on this gem of a show or have just started, there will be major *spoilers ahead*!!!

25. Nick and Caroline

FOX

From the small snippets that we saw, this was clearly not a healthy relationship. While I wish the show explained what happened after the Season 1 finale, I’m glad we didn't spend too much time with this couple. See ya, Caroline.

24. Schmidt and Fawn

FOX

This couple was so off-putting, and I absolutely despised Fawn. She critiqued everything about Schmidt and was undoubtedly a garbage partner when she made him the scapegoat for her panty gate scandal. Also, Fawn wasn’t a really unique character either. In the first two seasons, we already saw Schmidt have similar dynamics with his boss, Kim, and the VP of his company, Emma (an amazing guest appearance by Carla Gugino, BTW). I’m glad Schmidt recognized his worth and ended it with her.

23. Winston and Bertie

FOX

I’m not sure if they count as a couple. If anything it was more of a quick fling. Since we saw so little of them together, I didn’t pay much attention to them. Overall, unmemorable, and the show definitely didn’t need this pairing.

22. Jess and Robby

FOX

This definitely was a couple that came out of nowhere. Robby was a traditional, dorky, good guy with a heart of gold, so I guess it made sense to put him with Jess. BUT from the beginning, Jess didn’t feel a spark with Robby. This couple felt so forced that Yoda could not even. I honestly think the writers only put them together so Jess could be distracted from her love for Nick. This couple really did not need to be in the story period.

21. Jess and Russell

FOX

Wasn’t a big fan of this couple. I didn’t really understand why they got together. When they first meet, Russell is pretty standoffish and rude toward Jess, but all it took was one kind gesture and Jess was swooning for him. Their relationship was pretty boring, and I guess I couldn’t get behind Russell’s rich, successful, cocky man vibes. Definitely a hard pass.

Side note: I honestly raised my hands like the Jackie Chan meme and yelled “Whyyyy!?” when they decided to bring him back in the final season. That plotline was so unnecessary, and he would have been my last choice of Jess’s exes to bring back.

20. Winston and Shelby

FOX

I actually forgot this couple existed. We got to see some cute moments between them, but Shelby kind of disappeared. She resurfaced only for them to break up. There was nothing exciting about them, and the lack of passion between them showed.

19. Cece and Robby

FOX

Even though they were together for half of Season 2, we didn’t really see much of them. I know Robby being with Cece was groundbreaking since she typically dates “bad” guys, but they had no chemistry at all. In the very few scenes we saw of them, it was obvious that there was nothing there. Sadly, a big snooze.

18. Nick and Kai

FOX

As much as this couple made sense on paper, they didn’t really work for me. Other than her being Tran’s granddaughter, which was a fun connection for Nick, I didn’t really get romantic vibes from these two together. Also, Kai wasn’t supportive of our old man Nick’s growth! Overall, a very forgettable pairing.

17. Schmidt and Abby

FOX

This couple was not bad, but not good either. I liked Abby as a character, but she definitely was someone who just took advantage of Schmidt’s insecurities. They did have a really amusing and kinky dynamic, but that was it. In the end, Abby left without a trace and was never heard of again.

16. Cece and Shivrang

FOX

Since this couple was arranged for a traditional Indian marriage, there were no genuine feelings involved. Despite that, I felt like Shivrang was a pretty thoughtful partner to Cece. Also, the proposal that Shivrang made to Cece was pretty sweet.

15. Winston and KC

FOX

A couple that really only got highlighted in one episode. They had such a charming first meeting, and KC seemed like a great girl for Winston! Unfortunately, the show decided to make her a cheater, and in the end, poor Winston was a bachelor again.

14. Cece and Buster

FOX

Buster seemed like a nice kid and had some chemistry with Cece. But that was the problem: he was a kid! The fact that he was barely 21 when they got together made it hard for me to support them fully. We also didn’t see much of them together either. This couple was a bit of a bust.

13. Winston and Daisy

FOX

I did like how this relationship boosted Winston’s confidence in a way, and they had a certain witty rapport with one another. However, beyond the episode when they meet, we didn’t see a lot of Daisy except for the sporadic hookups. And then Daisy turned out to be a cheating snake! This relationship did introduce Ferguson, so their relationship did bring something to the show.

12. Winston and Rhonda

FOX

I mean, this couple was definitely entertaining! Rhonda brought a certain energy to the show and was hysterical. She was 100% wild with her extreme pranks, but it matched Winston’s equally wacky personality, so this pairing worked for me, and I wanted to see a bit more of it.

11. Schmidt and Elizabeth

FOX

This couple was cute and gave us a glimpse of what Schmidt was like before the douchebag persona came to be. I especially loved their iconic random offbeat dancing. However, as much as I liked them, we all knew Schmidt was still in love with Cece. Poor Elizabeth deserved better, and it really took me a while to forgive Schmidt for what he did to her.

10. Jess and Ryan

FOX

As much as I loved Ryan and the cheeky pronunciation of his last name, there was a lot to be desired from this couple. Out of all of Jess’s suitors, Ryan was the closest thing to a fairy-tale prince. But that was the issue. Ryan was too “perfect.” They had a lot of swoony moments, but their relationship lacked a certain spark that the higher-ranking couples had. Even with Julian Morris’s undeniable charm, (Any Pretty Little Liars fans out here?) this particular pairing didn't feel real to me.

9. Nick and Angie

FOX

I wish the show gave more time to these two. I thought they were a dynamic duo, and Angie was overall a cool, spontaneous character! I really wanted her character to have more of an impact given her unique backstory, but the show decided to have Angie leave Nick instead of exploring the potential of their relationship. This couple probably could’ve ranked higher for me if we got to see more of them.

8. Jess and Genzlinger aka Paul

FOX

I enjoyed this couple! Out of all of Jess’s partners, Paul was the most compatible in terms of interests, and he was equally, if not more, quirky. They were very sweet together, and the reason they broke up was also pretty realistic. I was really bummed that they reintroduced Paul as this pathetic, anxious sap in his later appearances. If anything, I wish they brought back Paul as a worthy returning suitor for Jess instead of Russell, which, as I mentioned earlier, was not my favorite choice. #JusticeforGenzlinger.

7. Nick and Julia

FOX

The show didn’t really explain how these two got together. Julia kind of just showed up one day, and their relationship just started from there. But despite their missing backstory, I actually like this couple! They were complete opposites in terms of where they were in life, but I thought Julia understood and accepted Nick’s humor and personality the best out of all of his partners. This was another couple that would've benefited from more screen time.

6. Jess and Nick

FOX

Ah yes, the main couple. I know this will probably be an extremely unpopular opinion, but I honestly can’t rank this couple higher. I mean, no one can deny that Jess and Nick had this unbeatable chemistry when they were together. Their first kiss still makes me swoon! But, here’s the thing, they always had problems. From the beginning, Jess kept looking for issues in their relationship and constantly pointed out Nick’s shortcomings. I felt that if both of them went through significant character growth, then I would’ve been all in, but in the end, it was only Nick who really changed and Jess just got what she always wanted. Them being together at the end was a given, but they didn't hit all the right notes for me.

5. Coach and May

FOX

These two probably had the most healthy and sensible relationship in the entire series. I loved their straight-out romantic comedy initial meeting and thought a lot of the struggles in their relationship were relatable. I appreciated how they were evidently different people who happened to like each other anyways and felt strongly enough about each other to make it work. I'm all for it!

4. Nick and Reagan

FOX

I really liked them! The show spent a good amount of time showing us that Reagan and Nick had a lot of fire with a real connection. Both were hard-headed and guarded, but it was beautiful to see those walls slowly start coming down when they realized their feelings for each other. Reagan also challenged Nick in a way that none of his other partners, including Jess, did. As a result of their relationship, we saw a lot of growth coming from our old man Nick. Despite their blip of a breakup, this couple was a good time, and I would’ve been happy with them being together at the end.

Side note: I want to quickly acknowledge that Nick really had some of the most attractive partners throughout the series. Seriously, Go Nicholas Miller!

3. Jess and Dr. Sam

FOX

As much as I love Nick, Jess and Dr. Sam were a couple that gave me butterflies. Don’t get me wrong, the way their relationship started was not great, but the moment Dr. Sam realized he wanted to be with Jess and showed his devotion to her, I was onboard. Also, we got to see Jess, who was a goody two-shoes, be more spontaneous and take risks. I was so happy the show brought him back and had high hopes that they would be together in the long run. But of course, the show wanted Nick and Jess to be endgame, so they had to break up…again. I'm still upset that they didn't end up together.

Side note: I do want to briefly share that I was not a fan of how their relationship ended the second time around. It made no sense at ALL! Dr. Sam’s decision to be with Diane even though he literally stated in the episode right before that he chose Jess was bizarre. Like, why even have that scene with Jess and give me false hope?!

2. Winston and Aly

FOX

This couple was really a match made in cat heaven. What I loved most about them was how unexpected it was and the natural build-up of their relationship. They started off as partners in the police force who were complete opposites and eventually became so close that they knew almost everything about each other. I mean, this couple straight up had a super corny love song and a hanging-up-the-phone song! Also, let’s not forget Winston’s wild 21-phase marriage proposal plan for Aly. I seriously love this couple with my whole heart.

1. Schmidt and Cece

FOX

Y'all, these two were BY FAR the number one couple and the one true pairing (OTP) of the series. Of course, when they first got together they both had a lot of growing up to do, but when they finally realized they were meant to be together, I couldn't stop obsessing over their relationship. The impromptu, but romantic, marriage proposal, Schmidt calling Cece’s mother every day before the wedding to make her come, their beautiful intimate wedding at the loft that makes me cry every time, Schmidt buying all the flowers possible when he finds out Cece’s pregnant – the list of swoony moments between the two goes on and on. From being the most misogynistic douchebag ever, Schmidt managed to become the most thoughtful, supportive, and romantic partner for Cece. In conclusion, I would die for this couple and would protect bb Ruth with my life.

Honorable Mentions

Pairings that didn’t quite come into fruition or don’t necessarily fit the stereotypical mold of a couple, but are noteworthy nonetheless!

Schmidt and Nadia

FOX

They had one date and gnarly night together that led to Schmidt’s infamous weenie accident. I know they only went on that date because Schmidt and Cece were too stubborn to acknowledge their feelings, but it would’ve been interesting to see more if it ever came to be.

Jess and Bearclaw

FOX

I kind of wanted them to get together! I think it was unfair of the show to assume that Bearclaw wouldn’t be a suitable partner for Jess. Josh Gad is a terrific actor, and it would've been a silly and unexpected pairing.

Cece and Coach

FOX

We only got to see one awkward date that resulted in a pretty passionate makeout sesh. I was surprised the show decided not to entertain the idea of them being together officially. They had the potential to be a couple that would've shaken up the Cece and Schmidt dynamic. But overall I’m happy that they decided to make Cece and Coach friends who went on silly side adventures together.

Nick and the Sauce

FOX

Oh man, never get between a man and his sauce! Out of all of his romantic partners, I never saw Nick treat anyone with as much care and love as he did with the special Miller Sauce. The pure TLC he gives his sauce is what every person would want from their partner.

Winston and Ferguson

FOX

The amazing iconic duo that we had the honor to watch. Ferguson was the most consistent partner who always stuck with Winston. The way Winston would always put Ferguson first and went out of his way to make sure Ferguson was happy is so unbelievably endearing. I can’t get over the fact that he prioritized Ferguson's needs so much that he completely ignored the clear signs that someone was into him. All he wanted was his Ferguson to get some good ol’ cat lovin! Anyone would be lucky to be in a relationship like Winston and Ferguson.

Again, these are just my personal rankings and opinions, so let me know in the comments which couples were your favorite in the series!

This post is an entry in BuzzFeed’s 2nd Annual Community Summer Writers’ Challenge, where you can earn $$$ for creating your own lists and quizzes published through September 15, 2022! Check out alllll the details here. 👀