Ep 8. The Decision

When New Girl season 5 episode 8 "The Decision" begins, Jess is ultimately fed up with living with single guys. She insists on moving out to live with her female friends (one of whom is played by special guest Megan Fox) but finds she still doesn't feel at home. Meanwhile, Nick makes a decision about his relationship with Reagan, and Winston and Cece decide they want to remodel the loft to make it more palatable for Jess.

Throughout the episode, Jess grapples with her identity outside the context of her relationships. She struggles to connect with her new roommates who, despite sharing interests like their shared vegetarianism, do not feel like they understand her. She finds herself feeling strangely nostalgic for her old roommates: as she says, "I miss having guys around who are bad at things." Despite her insistence that she needs a living space without any men, Jess seems unable to connect with her female roommates in the same way that she connected with her former male roommates.

Meanwhile, Nick goes on a classic Nick Miller quest to find out how he feels about financially merging his life with Reagan's. He consults with Cece and Winston, but finds he's still not sure what the right decision is. Ultimately, he takes a risk and makes a decision about their relationship that has been brewing for a while.

Winston and Cece, for their part, are trying to make the loft more palatable for Jess in order to get her to move back in. They have some hilarious and ill-fated attempts at interior decorating, including a neon green ottoman and a deeply unfortunate wall mural. But despite their less than savvy efforts, they are committed to trying to make the space feel more like home for Jess.

Overall, New Girl season 5 episode 8 "The Decision" is about grappling with change and trying to figure out what's most important in life. Jess is trying to decide what kind of living situation will make her happiest, while Nick is trying to figure out how to navigate his relationship with Reagan. Meanwhile, Winston and Cece are attempting to maintain some control over their lives by taking on a DIY project. The episode manages to balance humor and heart, touching on some of the core themes that have made New Girl a fan favorite.