As a self-proclaimed television expert (or addict, depending on who you’re talking to), I consume an insane amount of television. I’m not really picky when it comes to genre, network, target demographic or anything else. If something piques my interest, I’ll binge watch it. So, over winter break, when I had basically nothing to do for three weeks, I began my hunt for a new show. And there it was, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. Full disclosure, I love musicals AND CW shows, so I pretty much knew I was going to be obsessed with this show anyway. A quick Google search told me that Rachel Bloom (titular crazy ex and showrunner) had won the Golden Globe for Best Leading Actress in a TV Comedy or Musical last year, so with some critical validation, I was ready to begin. And after essentially a week and a half and 18 episodes, I can easily say that I am OBSESSED, and you should be too. Here’s why:
- A nuanced, not stereotypical/problematic portrayal of mental illness: Rebecca, our crazy ex-girlfriend, struggles with anxiety and depression. They do not glamorize this in any way, or suggest that she’s completely insane and unable to take care of herself. Yeah, she’s spiraling out and is a little bit delusional in the pilot, but overall she’s extremely well-rounded, relatable, and has a KILLER singing voice to boot.
- Diversity: Okay, so Rebecca is white (she is Jewish though), but her leading man is a Filipino-American frat-bro named Josh Chan. It’s extremely rare to see an Asian character who is 1) the lead and 2) not a stereotypical nerd. Josh is a dumb jock, which is refreshing. In fact, there’s another character White Josh, who is basically the same person as Asian Josh, but in this day and age it’s still nice to see that it’s Josh and White Josh, not the other way around. Also, another important actor is Heather, Rebecca’s neighbor, another person of color. It’s a little bit lacking, but still a huge deal for the CW, and network television in general.
- Bisexual Representation: A main character on the show throughout the first season comes to terms with their bisexuality, comes out to their friends, and begins a same-sex relationship (which is honestly the healthiest relationship on the show in general). In an amazing song called Gettin’ Bi, one of my personal favorites, the character dispels many common misconceptions about bisexuality. Television still doesn’t have a great track record with bisexual people (see Buffy the Vampire Slayer, The 100), and the show nails it. (This gif basically spoils who it is that is bi, but it’s really not that big of a spoiler and this song is just delightful so I need to include it).
- Realistic Depiction of Alcoholism: Again, it’s not a really a spoiler because this character is basically binge drinking all the time, but Greg’s admission of his problem, and his road to recovery is a really important thing to address on television, and the show doesn’t suddenly turn Greg into an enlightened know-it-all when he’s getting sober. He’s still the same sarcastic guy, who is just trying to be a little more self-aware and attempting to work through his issues. The show doesn’t downplay his drinking or how hard this process is going to be, and I really have loved watching his arc throughout the past season and a half.
- The Amazing Songs: I really can’t express how DOPE these songs are. I’m listening to the soundtrack as I write this article. The show at this point has done an homage or parody of almost every genre of music, and they’re all hilarious. If you want to listen to some of the greats before you start, I would suggest: West Covina, I Give Good Parent, The Sexy Getting Ready Song, Settle For Me, and I Gave You A UTI (really). Oh, and did I mention that one of the main characters is Prince Hans from Frozen? Basically, his voice is magical and Santino Fontana should be in every single musical from now until forever.
GUYS, I PROMISE, THIS SHOW IS WONDERFUL AND A GODDAMN DELIGHT. Season 2 has 2 episodes left, and it’s been renewed for a third. It’s legit all you could want from a comedy AND a musical show and I really want it to go on forever so watch it please I’m begging you!!!!! It’s on Fridays on the CW at 8 PM central time.