I can’t overstate how much I love Lizzy Caplan’s character (Julia) on New Girl.

Honestly, I only watch New Girl because it comes on after Glee, and I’m too lazy to turn off the TV. For the longest time, I was put off by Jess (Deschanel) and her cutesy quirkiness and her “cupcakes and braking for birds.” It’s troublesome to watch a whole show where the female protagonist constantly acts infantile and precious, and we’re just supposed to just buy that Jess is the MPDG who win people over with the power of her aggressive quirkiness. Reality check: Braking for birds is not quirky, it’s dangerous. (All this is not to mention her appropriation of nerdiness - right, like I’m supposed to buy that she’s nerdy because she knows how to throw references to Lord of the Rings randomly into her sentences, as if LOTR wasn’t actually a huge cultural phenomenon. I’m sorry, but popping a pair of glasses on does not a nerd make.)

And then there’s Julia, who’s this badass sarcastic lawyer who doesn’t buy into Jess’s specialness. She’s understandably annoyed when, after taking time off work to help Jess fight a ticket in traffic court, Jess stands up and blurts a guilty plea because she’s just so ~adorkable~ she can’t stand up to the big bad judge. In response, Jess calls her a bitch. (At this point, you could palpably feel the waves of empathy rolling off me for Julia.)

Jess argues that liking cute things doesn’t make her any less tough, or strong. And I agree. At the same time, though, what does makes her less tough or strong is the fact that she is so adorably ~awkward~ that she practically cannot function as an adult woman. In one episode, Jess tries on high heels, falls over, and actually forgets what to do after that. (Answer: “Stand up.”) 

If New Girl is supposed to be pioneering a new way of looking at women, with the core theme being that there’s no wrong way to be a girl, then I’m all for it. Which is why I was so glad to see Julia, who is warm, funny, smart, and capable - but not without her own flaws. This week’s episode, “Jess & Julia,” was all about the tension between the two women. I was wary that the show was going into this territory, however, because I knew exactly what the aftermath would be like: fans would be outraged by Julia, label her a “bitch” just as Jess had, and eventually, Julia would be won over by Jess’s sparkly crocheting and welcomed into the fold of the Cult of Jess. Which was pretty much how the episode ended. 

Despite that, I’m hopeful for the introduction of Julia into the show. If New Girl really wants to send the message that there is no wrong way to be a girl, then I really hope that characters like Julia are just as celebrated as characters like Jess.  And I’m gonna hold out hope that smart, witty, prickly women everywhere keep rooting for new girls like Julia.