For seven years, a somewhat divisive fashion. On the whole, viewers are satisfied with the seventh season, but there's a general feeling that it doesn't live up to everything that came before.
This is not an uncommon reaction, as many shows struggle to remain consistent throughout their entire run. Every series naturally changes over the years as showrunners want to avoid getting stale. And New Girl's last season is definitely different from its first, but is it really worse? It's easy to look at the original season through rose-colored glasses because of the nostalgia it brings. Yet, by ignoring the sentimental value of the first year, it's clear to see that it does some things better than the seventh, but certainly not everything.
First Season: Longer
One of the main problems people have with the final season is its length. At only eight episodes, it is by far the sitcom's shortest season. By comparison, the first season has 24 episodes.
More episodes aren't necessarily a good thing, but it is in this case. Season seven flies by too quickly without letting fans truly savor it. People could argue that season one had too much filler. However, what's wrong with that? New Girl isn't all about long-running storytelling, so having episodes that simply entertain without moving any major plotlines forward isn't a bad thing.
Final Season: Group Dynamic
It feels odd to go back and watch the first season because of how differently the gang acts around each other. Cece is virtually a stranger to everyone but Jess - and later Schmidt. Nick doesn't show much care for any of his loft mates. And the gang is always frustrated with Jess's antics.
In season seven, on the other hand, they're more akin to family than a friendship group as they're all so close. This is despite each of them having their own lives.
First Season: Use Of Loft
By season seven, Nick and Jess are the only ones left living in the iconic loft. The Schmidt family have their own house, and Winston is living with Aly.
Because of this, the loft isn't seen as much as usual. And it's hard not to miss it because most of the show's best moments happen in apartment 4D. At least it got some much-needed attention in the series finale.
Final Season: Inclusion Of Ruth
Adding children into a sitcom part-way through isn't always a recipe for success. Their presence can sometimes change the dynamic of the show and its characters. Yet, Ruth is an excellent addition.
From her very first episode, she provides a constant stream of humorous moments, especially when paired up with Nick. What's more, having a child doesn't change Cece and Schmidt too much personality-wise. So they get to remain their quirky selves while being good parents.
First Season: Nick
There's no doubt that Nick Miller is one of the show's funniest characters throughout all seven seasons. However, his personality alters a lot over time. By season seven, he's a lot more dim-witted and even a little cartoonish. There are some good aspects to the new Miller, but he doesn't always feel like a real person.
Nick from the first season is a lot more grounded. And while he could be nicer to the people around him, he's still a more interesting character than his season seven counterpart.
Final Season: Schmidt and Cece's Relationship
In season seven, Schmidt and Cece are arguably the best couple in the entire series. They're married, they have a cute kid, and they share a great rapport. Their romance doesn't have the best beginnings, though.
During the first season, Schmidt heavily lusts after the model to a somewhat creepy extent, while Cece looks down her nose at him. Even when they get together, they have to do it in secret because Cece is ashamed of having feelings for him. Their dynamic in the final year is far more wholesome and healthy.
First Season: Drama
While New Girl is primarily a comedy, it does have its fair share of drama too. And those moments are perfectly executed in season one, from Nick's cancer scare to Jess's breakup with Russell.
Season seven's drama is pretty weak. For starters, there's not a lot of it as most of the characters are settled in their careers and have happy home lives. And the times when the drama does pick up, it often feels too contrived, like when Russell tries to get back with Jess.
Final Season: Winston
Winston changes heavily throughout the seasons. In the first year, he's just a normal guy that occasionally says some funny things. By the end, though, he's a much better person and a lot more entertaining to boot.
The bad aspects of his personality, like his arrogance and manipulative side, disappear. And those traits are replaced with insane pranks, colorful shirts, and general wackiness. Like Nick, he can get a little cartoony, but it works for Winston and makes him stand out a lot more than he does in his initial appearances.
First Season: More Memorable Finale
The finale of season one is a classic New Girl episode. Nick is intent on moving out but gets scared at the last second, which leads to him, Schmidt, and Winston getting stuck in the desert. Jess and Cece then them, and they spend a nice, humor-filled night in the middle of nowhere.
Unfortunately, the series finale of the entire show isn't as memorable. It's not a horrible episode as the group spends some quality time saying goodbye to the loft. But it's not as feel good as it should be.
Final Season: True Ensemble
New Girl is supposed to be an ensemble comedy that follows the lives of multiple different characters, and for the most part, it sticks to that. Although there are plenty of times in the first season where Jess seems to be positioned as more important than everyone else.
Her storylines are usually the main focus, and she tends to get involved in other big arcs too. For instance, she plays a large role in the Schmidt and Cece relationship, from its inception to its end. In season seven, everything feels a lot more even. And Nick, Schmidt, Cece, and Winston are just as much main characters as Jess.