- With winter coming and everyone still single, Schmidt initiates a "Bangs-giving"-themed Thanksgiving dinner party, to which everyone must bring someone compatible for someone else.
- "New Girl" stopped being about just the new girl a couple seasons ago (as the new title sequence with Cece and Coach reflects). Now, it's really a show about the relationships of the core characters, but with, you know, funny stuff.
In that new "New Girl" tradition, the Thanksgiving episode is all about Schmidt's plans for "Bangsgiving," a holiday to get everyone laid. But nobody's really looking for just action anymore, especially Nick, with his recent string of terrible bar girls. And Jess seems to have found the next man she wants to date in Ryan, the hot British teacher that school rules prohibit her from seeing. So tonight is all about everyone getting over their hang-ups and getting past hook-ups. The gravy is incidental.
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Schmidt announces to the group that this year they will be celebrating "Bangsgiving." They draw each other's names out of a hat to determine who they'll be bringing a date for. Jess just wants a nice boy to help her forget about Ryan, the hot teacher she's not allowed to date because she's an administrator. Cece and Schmidt draw each other. Winston announces to whoever has him that he's gotten really into feet lately.
On Thanksgiving, Jess brings Pearl, a coworker from her school, for Winston. Coach is not thrilled that Winston brought Pepper, a woman from the police academy who's cute but has arms bigger than his. "You should have warned me you were setting me up with one of the Guardians of the Galaxy," Coach protests.
Winston is less excited about his date when he learns Pearl is the lunch lady.
Cece invited Lucy, per Schmidt's request. He says her date is a guy named Geoff -- and he "spells it with a 'G' so you know he comes from money."
Schmidt is annoyed to see Nick brought Tran, because he picked his own name.
Coach picked Jess and brought Ryan. "I don't think I can even look at him without getting pregnant, he just oozes sex," Jess complains.
Nick tells Schmidt he can't date Lucy because Nick went out with her for a little while three years ago. They examine the statue of limitations. Nick says he hasn't taken more than 1,000 showers since then, never spent more than $65 on her ("there were a lot of coupons") and never watched her dog (because she had fish and he killed them). "Did you ever get her a gift?" Schmidt asks.
"Every time we had sex," Nick says.
Jess takes Ryan into her bedroom to explain that they can't date. Her speech is undermined when her top dress button pops open.
Schmidt drags the gang to the roof to harangue them for not taking Bangsgiving seriously. Coach is scared of Pepper. "She makes my ding dong and my ping pongs go into my body," he says.
Nick is still annoyed that Schmidt might sleep with Lucy, so they put it to a vote. No one else cares. Cece suggests that Jess sleep with Ryan and "bang one out of her system." The vote is in favor.
Jess texts Ryan to her room and greets him wearing only an apron and oven mitts, which she realizes were a bad idea. When she suggests they bang one out of their system, he says he cares about her and didn't come for that. She tries to go after him, but her half-nakedness prevents prolonged pursuit.
Nick tries to get back at Schmidt by hitting on Cece and saying the $20 he owes her is in his bedroom. Lucy tells Schmidt he's "really sexy for a Jew."
Coach tries to put the moves on Pepper, but she flips him over her shoulder.
In his room, Nick tries to make sexy noises while he "looks for Cece's money." She doesn't buy it for a second and calls him on his ploy to make Schmidt jealous. When Schmidt busts in, they start asking Nick why he didn't bring a date. He admits he's only dated terrible girls since he broke up with Jess. Cece suggests he wants to date someone who doesn't make him feel terrible, but he's afraid of getting hurt.
Winston has warmed up to the lunch lady.
Nick and Jess talk on the roof. When she tells him why Ryan left, he turns Cece's advice around on Jess and suggests she's scared to put herself out there.
Jess shows up at Ryan's door with another speech, this time about wanting to go for it. She suggests they take things slow and turns to leave, but Ryan stops her and kisses her, saying they have to honor the American tradition of Bangsgiving.
Back at the loft, Nick monologues at Tran, saying he's ready to put himself out there and wishing he could just meet a girl with Tran's brains in a woman's body. Then he notices the couple dozen beers silent Tran packed away and asks how he's supposed to get home.
The doorbell rings. It's a hot Asian chick, Tran's granddaughter.
Pepper goes to say good-bye to Coach, sensing he's not into her. He apologizes, explaining he's just not used to dating someone stronger than he is. She asks how he can be sure and suggests they arm wrestle. He can't resist. He wins and over celebrates and then kisses her. "Thank you for letting me win," he says.
Downstairs, Schmidt tells Cece that Lucy went home, she turned out to be a bit of an anti-Semite. Cece isn't surprised that the mythical "Geoff" never arrived and admits she's glad, feeling her old feelings for Schmidt. Schmidt goes to the kitchen to get Cece a beer and the doorbell rings. It's gorgeous Geoff, with creamed spinach. Cece suddenly starts speaking in a foreign language and shoves him out the door to be left alone with Schmidt.
Everyone celebrates Bangsgiving. Coach and Pepper do push-ups in bed together. Nick gets Tran's granddaughter Kai's number. Winston wears Jess' apron in his room with the lunch lady. Schmidt and Cece share some wine and a board game. Pepper cracks walnuts with her bare hands for Coach. Jess and Ryan watch "Ferris Bueller's Day Off" and she sides with Principal Rooney. "This movie should be called 'The Day Rooney Tried to do His Job," she complains.
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