"Engram Pattersky" is the eighth episode of the seventh season, and the series finale of New Girl.
A month after their wedding, Jess and Nick are preparing to move out of the loft. Jess invites Schmidt, Cece, and Winston to reminisce about their experiences in their old home.
Tropes:
- Actually Pretty Funny: Downplayed; Jess is a bit more receptive to the humor Winston's prank (see below) than the others, but they quickly shut her down.
- All for Nothing: It turns out the eviction notice was an elaborate prank by Winston who completely made up the new management company "Engram Pattersky", meaning there was no need for Jess and Nick to move out. However, by the time they've found out they are already setting off for their new apartment.
- Babies Ever After: The flash-forward briefly shows this, with Jess and Nick having a son, Schmidt and Cece having a second child (a son), and Winston and Aly having numerous children, all of them playing True American.
- Bowdlerise: In-Universe; the version of True American that the gang plays with their children in the flash-forward obviously lacks the element of alcohol.
- Continuity Cameo: A few past characters who didn't get to appear earlier in the season make cameos here, including Principal Foster, Lorenzo, and Fawn Moscato.
- Corrupt Politician: A minor example with Fawn, who agrees to go along with Winston's prank but makes him pay her $1,000 in return.
- Platonic Declaration of Love: Nick finally brings himself to give one of these to Schmidt, though the long-running Homoerotic Subtext between the two gives it a bit of a wrinkle.
- Recap Episode: Defied. Jess brings the roommates together at the apartment one last time for the express purpose of reminiscing about their time together here, but the others don't care to indulge her because they've made their peace or don't share the same level of sentimentality. Additionally, the items Jess lays out to trigger stories are ones that don't evoke fond memories, such as the cast for Schmidt's broken penis. While there is still plenty of reminiscing and Call Backs to be had, the majority of the episode's focus is on the characters moving into their future.
