Jess missing from episodes of New Girl, Season 5

Zooey Deschanel's Jess, the titular "New Girl", is absent from several episodes of season 5.

In-story she has been called for jury duty and remains sequestered. As the main character, is there a real-world explanation?

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Best Answer

From Bustle:

So why exactly did Zooey Deschanel leave New Girl in the first place and completely abandon her Season 5 duties? She pretty much has the best excuse in the world: she was off enjoying the labors of motherhood — quite literally.

Yes, unless you've been living under a rock for the last year, you know that the actress, who announced her pregnancy in early 2015, gave birth to a healthy baby girl in July and has therefore been on maternity leave for the past several months.

If it makes you feel any better, I've clearly been "living under a rock" too.

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Why is Jess not in the first few episodes of season 5?

Zooey Deschanel was on maternity leave for part of New Girl Season 5. As it turns out, the reason Jess was absent from six episodes of "New Girl" Season 5 was that Zooey Deschanel was away on maternity leave, having given birth to her daughter in July 2015.

Why did Jess leave for a few episodes in season 5?

As it turns out, it is Zooey Deschanel who needed a break at the time. Deschanel was heavily pregnant in the first few episodes of New Girl season 5. The show proceeded to production immediately after finishing season 4 in order to maximize her presence before she went on maternity leave.

What episode does Jess come back in season 5?

According to HitFix's interview with creator Liz Meriwether (who will also cameo in the first Megan Fox episode), Deschanel will be gone for six episodes total this season. Two of those have already aired, which leaves four episodes for Reagan, and puts Jess' return at Season 5, Episode 10 on March 8.

New Girl: Nick \u0026 Jess 5x10 #11 (Nick: I've missed you kid/Jess: I've missed you too)

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