Thanksgiving episodes of New Girl

It's almost Thanksgiving and while movies are in short supply, there are plenty of festive TV episodes to choose from. New Girl features a Thanksgiving-themed installment during almost every season of its run. Which is best? I'm about to fill you in with a ranking of the New Girl Thanksgiving episodes from worst to best. Spoilers ahead...

Season Six -- Last Thanksgiving: Unfortunately, the final turkey day episode of New Girl's run is the weakest of the bunch. Most of the episode is taken over by guest stars, Peter Gallagher as Schmidt's dad provides compelling drama as they explore uncharted father-son territory. Nelson Franklin as Robby, however, ruins the episode for me. I love Robby's guest appearances in season two but his friendship/romance with Jess in season six is such a drag because these two have no chemistry whatsoever. Given that this episode ends with Jess deciding she has romantic feelings for Robby... it's a no for me.

Season Three -- Thanksgiving III: Nick and Jess are together, but the cracks in their relationship are already showing, when Nick decides to reclaim his manliness (after a chat with Coach) and convinces the loft members to go camping for the holiday. When they arrive at the campsite, Jess is furious to find that Nick's food plan is to let the forest provide for them. Moments between Schmidt/Coach and Winston/Cece work the best, while the Jess and Nick conflict is beyond predictable. Everything ends in the hospital with a cute vending machine feast.

Season One -- Thanksgiving: The first Thanksgiving marks the turning point when New Girl started moving from average to greatness, with the help of guest star Justin Long as Paul Genzlinger. Paul balances out the overwhelming quirkiness of Jess that subsides after these initial episodes and introduces a fun new loft dynamic, and Cece and Schmidt begin to explore a more flirtatious side of their relationship.

Season Two -- Parents: Season two's Thanksgiving installment features Jess embarking on a parent trap mission to reunite her mom (Jamie Lee Curtis) and dad (Rob Reiner). It's the first appearance of her perfectly cast parents and we get to see Nick bonding with each one (in different ways) in a parent trap mission that goes hilariously awry. Meanwhile, Schmidt and his cousin battle it out to be named the one true Schmidt, after Cece and Winston decide to have some fun with them.

Season Four -- Thanksgiving IV: The best of them all! Thanksgiving turns romantic when the loft members decide to set each other up for blind dates on the holiday. Coach sets Jess up with her work crush. Schmidt's date for CeCe (almost) doesn't show, much to Cece's delight. Jess sets Winston up with a lunch lady. Nick picks himself and decides to bring his friend Tran. Winston sets Coach up with a police officer. Cece sets Schmidt up with someone Nick dated years ago. What could go wrong? This episode is packed with my favorite elements of New Girl, balancing quirk with sincerity, some top-notch loft meetings on the roof and stellar Nick/Jess and Schmidt/Cece scenes.