Is Jess Autistic? Watching New Girl

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[@velvetletterscinemaco]

I hated how a lot of KZbin video essays and online discourse have boxed Jess (and most of Zooey Deschanel’s characters) into the “manic pixie dream girl” and “I’m not like other girls” stereotypes. She’s a fully fleshed out and developed character who exists for more than fulfilling a male fantasy and she’s relatable to a lot of neurodivergent people!

[@nonbin-nonbe]

so real! omg

[@courtneycross-tm5lz]

Also tho like, frankly, I feel like some “manic pixie dream girls” are like exaggerated autistic girls…bc before I knew - I related to the manic pixie dream girl, even tho they are supposed to be not “real” characters. 😂

[@thestorybooktheater9506]

@@courtneycross-tm5lz This is the EXACT reason behind the whole "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" stereotype! NT people will see Autistic women being authentically themselves and project this image of a "magical creature who sees the world differently than I do," and they attach themselves to these women in an unhealthy way and leave so much damage in their wake. Oftentimes, these Autistic women they attach themselves to end up getting hurt, either emotionally, mentally, or (gods forbid) physically. I've experienced this firsthand throughout my whole life. I've had these sad, depressed, and honestly, really pathetic men try to attach themselves to me and get to know me so that they can use me to better their own lives and it's a crushing thing to find out that they didn't like you for who you are, they liked you because they thought you could fix them. This is part of the reason why I'm making a movie about the "Manic Pixie Dream Girl" stereotype based on my experiences with this phenomenon. It's about a woman who's struggling through life as someone who doesn't know she's Autistic and the many ways in which people take advantage of her naivete and "innocent" (for lack of a better word) views of the world! This specific phenomenon that's projected onto Autistic women and girls has been a special interest of mine for years ever since I figured out the correlation of the two and I'm dedicated all I can to researching it and making it as accurate as possible, while simultaneously keeping it to my own personal experiences.

[@Mia-iu2by]

​@@courtneycross-tm5lzreal... I even had a girl say I was a real life manic pixie dream girl (he said it as a compliment)

[@misskelevra]

That is so true! Manic pixie dream girls are autistic girls twisted into some male fantasy... Specifically men who don't live up to the "real man" expectation.

[@angeljordan619]

The amount of times ive gone home and reanalyzed a situation and found i completely missed the entire point is really frustrating and somewhat embarrassing.

[@sophiekay705]

“I don’t know what Schmidt has, but I feel like he’s a Virgo” made me cackle 😅 loved this video

[@thethoughtspot222]

HAHAHAH omg

[@LambChopPanda]

As an AuDHD virgo... im like 😅

[@MariaJoseRangelUwU]

My ex is a virgo and he is exactly like this so i can see it

[@SurvivingTheGame5575]

It's an affliction all by itself. Just for the males though 😂

[@joannamgarciajmg]

He’s DEF a Virgo lol

[@양지해-g6m]

It’s cool because Jess’s sister in real life is the show “Bones” is autistic coded.

[@flyygurl18]

Love bones and the books!

[@V1sual3y3z]

it's my other comfort show, too.

[@Aprilgolightly]

I need to watch this!! I had no idea.

[@TheVivaciousNerd]

Yeah and its kind of a different presentation too, cool to see these two very different characters navigate autism in such different ways

[@stevendorries]

@@Aprilgolightlythere’s a lot of good in Bones, but also some really bad

[@ambrosia_fragments]

Wait ... im normally so good at clocking autism coded characters but Jess is SO similar to me that it never even crossed my mind. Wow

[@selisny]

Oh my god same. I was thinking she is the most similar character to me among all the series that i've seen, so it never crossed my mind too.

[@jsim26787]

Schmidt is actually canonly diagnosed with OCD and Anxiety. OCD is name dropped multiple times, he is on medication for anxiety, and at a point he has a conversation with his father where he (his father) explains that he has OCD and that it runs in the family, Schmidt responds by acknowledging that he also has a lot of OCD traits. I really enjoy his presentation, especially him constantly checking in with people and their thoughts on if what he’s doing is right (not necessarily morally, but if it looks right, if he’s presenting himself right, just that constant questioning and striving for things to finally be just right). There’s a point where he has a complete spiral around if he is a good person after doing something bad, there was just a lot of thought put into how OCD affects this character in every aspect of his life, not just one area which I feel a lot of OCD presentations on tv fall into. I personally have Nick as ADHD, Jess as Autistic, and Winston as AuDHD in my headcanon. On a separate note, I think Winston would be a Leo rising, but a Cancer moon or sun for sure, at the least Cancer Venus, I recognize too much of myself in that man for him to not have some strong water placements.

[@blue_boulevard4429]

As an autistic person, this show has always been one of my favourite comfort shows

[@PrincessPixieBell]

It’s so frustrating that nobody got out the car to help her at first.

[@emilysragz]

I was frustrated with that, too, but I think the point of that was to let her do everything herself to find her power.

[@BeehiveBoy]

I love the whole part of jess where she literally can't say no to people. Like she clearly hates the fact that shes driving spencer and rochelle to the airport, she is visibly miserable, and then when it cuts to the next scene you can see shes absolutely been crying by herself in the car. Which is so ME. Like i will say yes to everyone even if i literally hate the person (toxic people pleasing anyone?) and then be so miserable when im doing it, wait until i get a second alone, and then immediately cry

[@snakesonaframe2668]

I do something similar, but thankfully it’s at least only for people that I like. But it’s a problem because I say yes to everything and feel bad for saying no. Even if I’m legitimately sick, I avoid canceling because I don’t want them to be mad or think I don’t want to help, which ends in a worse result because I can’t actually help if I’m sick, or if I have other plans that I can’t change, but didn’t know about til after agreeing to help (like work stuff sometimes comes up), and I end up procrastinating telling them. Which makes it worse. I’m glad I recognized it, and I’m trying to stop doing it, but man it’s hard.

[@ronanmchugh2253]

Jess getting riled up to get her stuff back after punching the pillow is so me when I get an instantaneous uplift of motivation and if I don’t go for it straight away it’ll fizzle out and I’ll overthink it

[@erri4433]

Oh yes. Intertia. Autistic inertia problems. An old foe of mine.

[@salmasyed640]

I just got diagnosed with ADHD in my 20s, and I just rewatched New Girl. I strongly believe that Nick has ADHD! I related to him so much. People don’t talk about this enough!

[@jclyntoledo]

I've always related to Nick especially his issues with completing stuff and all his anxiety and rejection and abandonment issues

[@whitewave09]

Yes he absolutely has ADHD, there is a point in the first few episodes where they just started pulling things out of the diagnostic criteria

[@meeeeepmooooop]

omg i loved new girl...and i didn't understand why they gave her the ball, i thought they invited her to play, till you explained it!!!

[@thethoughtspot222]

It’s okay I missed it too the first 19 times I watched it

[@TheHappyPianoTeacher]

Haha me too

[@lindseyb1980]

OK, but they were playing before that. It's totally normal to assume that they were inviting her to do the thing they were doing

[@LBCTexas]

@@lindseyb1980Agreed. I think Jess is an ADHD coded girly. She’s impulsive, easily distracted, highly empathetic, multifaceted, and scattered. A lot of the times she’s missing social cues because she’s just not listening 😂. Look how easily they were able to get her to play ball - “squirrel”.

[@sarahburgess7306]

You pointed out several things Jess missed that I also missed until you explained it! 😂

[@StephanieDineley]

This show has been a top 3 for me and is likely #1 since I can rewatch it at any time and fall in love with it all over again. As a middle school teacher, my proudest moments in life were the 2 occassions a student told me I reminded them of Jess from New Girl 😂 I gave both students a free homework pass and felt like a goddess for the week.

[@thethoughtspot222]

that honestly is the best compliment you could ever receive!

[@greenmagewellness]

I never had any interest in watching it because I had no idea what it was about, but your video about Jess and autism made me start watching and I love it!

[@saininj]

Rewatching as I got older, it definitely made sense why I loved this show.

[@cheery_hobi8465]

Please do more of these!! I’ve always seen Jess as autistic and i think that’s why i always felt really connected to her!! Also, i found new girls only in like 2019 i think but i think i’ve rewatched it at least 7-8 times now!

[@sarahburgess7306]

My dynamic with my dad and brother is a lot like Jess's with her roommates. They help me stand up for myself and I think I help them be more caring. Nothing more satisfying than when you suggest something like Curly Sue knowing they might not want to watch it and then they love it.

[@AJ_Rene]

i’ve loved this show since i was in 7th grade im 21 now😭i always identified with jess so much please make more new girl vids!!!

[@justlisten9435]

I love your explanations; wish I had a narrator to help me figure out why certain stories appeal so much!

[@stephaniealexandra5142]

I literally started watching New Girl for the first time a couple of weeks ago and am halfway through season one. I think it's just brilliant 😂

[@lucia4836]

7:03. I think my primary love language is gift giving. I noticed I tried making up for my other flaws by sending my friends flowers or cake or a present in general when they’re sad or when they achieved something. I know I suck ar the more regular things so I use that to make up for it.

[@ilyar-k.114]

can u please do more episodes of this... new girl is also one of my autistic comfort shows im realizing-- and i feel like looking at autistic traits through a show i love so intimately would help come to terms with my own autistic traits

[@tdy7896]

(7:20ish) you say 'who isn't going to like breakfast', and this voice on the back of my head reflexively pops up with one of my life mantras, "food makes friends".

[@phantomalex]

I really really like these New Girl videos because it's like getting to watch one of my comfort shows with someone else who also appreciates all the little things about it, the people in my life can get really fed up of how often I rewatch shows, so this was a fun new way to engage with a comfort show for me, thank you!

[@anjazagoricnik6578]

I relate so much with that... I wish I had a friend like Cece that lives near me... I miss her everyday, and the funny thing is that she can have similar issues as Jess but understands the social situations for me just because shes not in them.

[@jayw9619]

I’m new here but it’s crazy because I gave up on new girl as a show because I liked Jess but I never understood why she and the other characters all seemed to be on different wavelengths and then you breaking down all the social cues I’ve been missing … I’ve been missing so much and it makes a lot more sense right now … I wish I could have you walk through the whole series explaining it to me HAHAHA

[@nonbin-nonbe]

The music thing is so real. I make so many playlists because of this because I have to have the right music on to help me in whatever situation I'm in. My go to when I need to shut my brain down is orchestra waltz songs because it soothes both my adhd and autism in a way that lets me turn my brain off. Think stuff like vivaldi's winter and stuff like that.

[@Adrian-555]

new girl is also one of my comfort shows 💜

[@liabstrait8306]

I felt so sad when it ended, i followed it since it aired on tv... Now I wanna rewatch again !!!

[@clown104]

1:28 omg I do that too! I’ve never heard someone else talk about that. Jess got me through a lot of social situations

[@Aubreywilson-r4r]

11:44 NAH BC I MISSED IT TOO UNTIL YOU SAID THAT LOL, I THOUGHT SHMIT WAS TRYING TO CHEER HER UP BAHAHAHAHHA

[@TheRawChuck]

I agree, the cast of New Girl was very talented and charming.

[@its.Lora.]

I've been called rude ditsy obtuse weird all kinds of words and I'm left clueless bc I don't understand why the person is mad or verbally insulting me. Bc I don't get passive social cues and silent rules. I've definitely tried to be nice and kind (like Jess example with breakfast for Winston) but to find out I'm told I'm rude. It's confusing and exhausting.

[@oli_kate]

This was really lovely to watch the show with this lens

[@catarinaldi]

Ohh please do more videos about new girl, I absolutely love this series and I love Jess and all the main characters

[@vickyjaenicke5426]

Girl, can I just sit down with you and watch new girl? Such a vibe !

[@tjskeyblade]

I really like your Thoughts points phrases And your cometary

[@DMviewerguy]

It really speaks to me how you would use this show as vehicle to learn social dynamics and script. That is something I would really subconsciously desire doing myself all the time throughout my life, especially adolescence, but always felt very discouraged or shunned from ever allowing myself to properly practice and adopt. Is there any room for this as an advisable course of action for neurodiverse people? There are definitely very clear limits for where to draw the line of what one should learn and adapt from media as far as what's realistic or healthy human behavior, but at the same time there are nuggets of great real world wisdom and colorful, exemplary characters/portrayed social interactions that could only ever be expressed so wonderfully human if they were grounded in authors real world examples. Even being very media literate and having a really well trained eye to spot the differences now as an adult, I still find it so hard to truly know.

[@sacredbloomalchemy]

Nick reminds me of my fiance - he has ADHD and he does not care how people think about him he just say's what he thinks. It means he is very direct with me at times which can be hard to hear/helpful depends how I choose to receive it at the time. Essentially I'd rather he is direct. I'm definitely the Jess that needs his directness to navigate life sometimes whereas he needs me to be a bit more considerate of others because I'm always trying so hard to consider what others need/want. It helps him learn how to do this

[@lunakat__]

this is one of my comfort shows too! i very much identify with Jess. she's very autistic-coded. but i think she had a very supportive home growing up, and i love getting to see that. i also agree with you that nick is adhd-coded. i think Schmidt has some OCD traits and Winston has many AuDHD traits. i was so excited when you made the post about this video! this was so fun, thank you!

[@jclyntoledo]

🤯

[@Nopadope]

This channel is everything I never knew I always wanted. You’re so insightful…as a 41 year old Autistic I would have loved to be half as self aware as you are at your age. Love this, love you❤️

[@V1sual3y3z]

New Girl is my #1 comfort show, coincidentally followed closely by Bones. I'm taking a little break from it but I usually watch all seasons at least once per year. Oh, and I started watching it pretty close to when it first aired so I have watched it many times through.

[@V1sual3y3z]

I think my comfort shows are all pretty good on the neurodivergent rep. Like, Bones, New Girl, Schitt's Creek, Abbott Elementary...

[@clau_sing_]

I had forgotten about this show, an old friend introduced it to me. Thanks for reminding me of it :) I didn't remember it being this good

[@urenbye1f]

I started new girl back in quarantine (2021) when I was a junior in highschool. I always had chronic loneliness episodes and one of the worst ones happened that year, I felt like i was in one sided friendships and I was going crazy about it. I remember I started new girl and i remember vividly the end of the second episode I felt so warm and happy. I thought I had a good show on my hands. I have the worst record of friendships which hurts me deeply cause I always valued friendships greater than life the reason being my relationship with my "family" has been broken since I could remember. I instantly fell in love w NG cause I could live through they're dynamic. I loved Jess and always defended her watching the show cause she was so me coded lol. Winston would probably be my favorate character and I see a lot of neurodivergent traits in him as well. I think people headcannoning my favorite characters as autistic and neurodivergent is so heartwarming and validating to see. I don't have a diagnosis for autism but I find a lot of clarity and validation through them.

[@sportibri84]

I love New Girl and always could relate to Jess. Thank you for doing videos of New Girl. I love how you explain everything.

[@oc4029]

I've never watched new girl but I've watched three of your videos on new girl and now I want to watch it lol

[@lil.ikuraa]

I would love to see more of these kinds of videos from you! 😊

[@PrincessPixieBell]

This show is such a masterpiece

[@greytheguppy9222]

There’s a show called “Normal People” that I believe both characters are obviously autistic but it’s not really talked about at all. I heard someone recently mention that characters that aren’t written to be autistic tend to be the most realistic. You should check it out if you haven’t! It is emotionally very heavy, just a warning.

[@chinita2463]

I love New Girl so much. Jess and Nick are goals

[@StylingWithSamantha]

I literally feel this misinterpretation thing! In a past relationship I was going to meet my partner at the time's friends for the first time, they were chatting about some crazy stuff that happened in their childhood. And I simply said "oh wow I didn't even know that was possible in 6th grade I guess I didn't hang with that crowd." And they then told my partner at the time that I was acting like a b*tch and was judging them for their childhood. I was so upset I came across like that because I really thought we were all getting along... I was just in shock from their story and couldn't really relate. But he didn't stand up for me and my intentions either - he wanted me to make it right - but I just felt uncomfortable with these people from here on out because how do I fix that? I guess that's why we are ex's now. Lol

[@justKara]

idk how many times i've rewatched but i've been watching since i was in college and i graduated 10 years ago lol but thanks to you i'm gonna rewatch again

[@qmonk5108]

I'm autistic and I've rewatched New Girl countless times

[@jenn_and_juice]

yo your skin is glowing! can you drop a routine? (if you dont have one already)

[@mellarius188]

I’ve never watched a single episode of New Girl. But, I love how much you enjoy analysing the show, and it’s obvious how much to love the characters and the dynamics between them.

[@Nightshade1312]

26:31 I've never heard someone else verbalize this before, I feel this so much as an autistic person. I've always felt guilty because I feel like it's not nice to expect other people to do things for other people the way that I do. But it feels very affirming to hear it coming from another autistic person

[@yohesaurusrex7766]

11:50 I didnt even realize that until you said it. I genuinely thought they were trying to involve her in a little game or something omggg

[@donnellallan]

I loved this! I would welcome all the New Girl coverage you want to make. I am ADHD, but new to the idea that I might also be autistic. and I learned a lot from what you shared here. Thank you! 💜

[@TravelForTreasure]

i never watch it but now i think i want to watch it

[@MatthewMuhammad]

New Girl is one of my shows too. I discovered it in June of 2020, during the height of the pandemic. I had just quit kratom and was having terrible mental withdrawals, and that show (among others) was a lifeline for me.

[@headiedreamer]

loved this, and love new girl!!

[@Aprilgolightly]

Love that you’re doing these videos. New Girl is one of my comfort shows too and have watch it probably 30+ times all the way through. It’s part of my dna at this point. I am just learning about my neurodivergence so I never thought about it from this perspective. I love all the complexities of the characters.

[@AnthonyWade7]

Yep, would love more of this, it’s good.

[@jessicamarisol4940]

I loveeeeeee new girl😭 i discovered it in middle school (im 23 now) and ive rewatched it probably 5 or 7 times. Not that many but im just afraid ill exhaust it if i rewatch it too much but you gave it more life for me 😭😭💗

[@consuelonavarrohidalgo5334]

I can't believe that I see this TV show in such a different way after so many years...

[@amandamarinovich6164]

Weird timing - I started a rewatch last week. I haven't rewatched since it was on. I'm really interested in this discussion! Great video

[@nerdalysis]

You made me go “that’s why they did that??” multiple times in this video. Thank you. And also, glad it wasn’t just me who missed it.

[@robertbobert777]

rewatched like 6 times atp i see so much autistic joy in jess its so healing ✨

[@BrittanySimon]

I love this show! One of my favorite endings for a show ever ❤️

[@Christina_Hira]

Now I know why I LOVED that show so much!!!

[@bellaluce7088]

LOVE New Girl and found your explanations about why certain things match autism so insightful and helpful. Would love to see more like this! 😃❤

[@codycat6]

i've been watching you over a year i think and saw this video when it came out. i came back to say i started watching new girl and have absolutely fallen in love!! thank you for sharing your perspective on it. i relate so much to nick and jess (and they both feel very audhd coded haha)

[@kurarieshiiunanaliakaira1985]

heyyy i watched your julia and jess video and i came to see more new girl. i love your videos please do some more!

[@keirapendragon5486]

I think I saw part of an episode once. This was years ago and idk when or how or why, much less why I only saw that little bit. Now that you've reintroduced me I definitely Need to go watch more though.

[@ank6675]

Hahaha your astrology pics for them are on point

[@lnar]

Don't know if you know this anime but could you do this with Haikyuu?? I've always thought the main character (Hinata) to be ADHD and his rival (Kageyama, my favorite) to be autistic. That's one of the many things that make their relationship interesting to me

[@livingwithsquirtle6179]

yessss. honestly the end of season 1 when kageyama is trying hard to learn how to smile and give compliments to his teammates always felt like autism to me. nd his bluntness in general. also good idea considering that since the movie has been released it's now kind of popular again

[@DevilDears]

New Girl is the funniest show! 😂 I’m with you there

[@harpodeano]

This video was like a warm bowl of soup, thank you ❤

[@pheebsszz]

As an audhd I love new girl! I’ve rewatched at least 6 times and every time I get something new out of it. Hoping to get a new girl reunion one day🖤

[@goshdarnsilly]

this is exactly the type of content I’ve been wanting to

[@artemis199]

My 3 main comfort shows are: Elementary, NCIS, and Gilmore Girls….. weirdly Elementary makes me feel safe, especially when they’re in the brownstone

[@tabbysak]

i love love love this show and rewatch it at least annually, huge comfort show for sure!!

[@SquidneySketches]

I've watched a few of your watch alongs and it got me to sit down and start watching it in full! I only ever saw random episodes now and then when I was a teen but watching it now feels so nice and warm ☺ I'ce been crocheting while watching and its been so comforting seeing the friends all have their diffrences but stil lcare and look out for each other Also as a virgo I agree Schmidt is a Virgo or hear me out...Cancer? 👀

[@AlextheAlchemist]

I always rewatch New Girl when I miss my home besties. My partner and I are very much Schmidt and Cece and our friends are very Nick and Jess, so this just reminds me of our friend group a lot.

[@JS-tx9jy]

I'd like more videos where you watch episoded! I really enjoyed this!

[@LelaBria]

I super relate to Nick! I think he’s audhd ! 🤔🤣 and the gifted kid lol

[@YutabengthaKahan]

Please do more of these! Love your insights into the characters. Used to watch this exclusively for years 😍😍

[@annas5752]

I watched New Girl in 2015 when in college, going to stay my ratch now that I've finished your video!

[@DioShiver]

Also THE HAIR THING. I once took a quiz for autism and one of the questions was something like "do you pay a lot of attension to the hair of a person you like?" And I was like.... is that a thing? Because I stare at the hair of the people I like a LOT and if their hair is beautiful that always was a huge deal for me. I asked some of my friends about it and a lot of them were confused that's how I learned it's not a common thing and in this episode for Jess to pay so much attension to Spencer's hair seems to be at least some neurodivergency coded

[@nikeithmason5759]

Ive watched it a few times and I love it every time

[@ariri.anna19]

Im a AUDHD Pisces with bangs who related to Jess and genuinely got upset when I found out people hated her. I also listen to video essays in the gym because music stresses me out sometimes… I feel safe here, thank you 😭

[@tracik1277]

Now I want to rewatch these properly.

[@flyygurl18]

I actually never thought of Jess as autistic.. enjoyed this! Hope you are healing well Irene 💛

[@wintergreen1784]

Pleeeeease omg I loved this so much. Heart healing 🩷🩷🩷

[@Martina_E]

I love new girl - now I got to rewatch it and the Mindy project too!

[@TheHopefulFae]

I love this video it’s really helpful to me about understanding myself too 🤍

[@happiknits]

Never watched New Girl. Looking forward to beginning ssn 1! Thanks!

[@pepperminterica]

I rewatch every year! I never even thought to think of Jess as autistic but hearing you explain her mannerisms I could totally see it! I'm so tired of seeing people learn about new girl and just writing Jess off as cringy-quirky, or manic pixie dream girl, like she's a full fledged character with flaws and heart and I love to see it!

[@kalpic11]

I’ve watched New Girl maybe 2 1/2 times. Nick definitely has PDA! In this episode Winston seems like a Leo, but definitely not in the latter episode’s imo. I really like your New Girl analysis videos. they’re insightful. I’m also a Pisces 🥰