I had heard of the show Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and how great it was. But for the longest time I never thought to actually watch it— that is until last week when I was looking for a show to binge-watch (as you do) and my friend recommended it to me. After watching it, truth be told, it is probably one of the most inventive comedy-dramas out there.
To quickly summarize, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is about a lawyer, Rebecca, (played by Rachel Bloom) who, unsatisfied with her life, drops everything and moves cross country from New York to California to be near her ex boyfriend from ten years ago, Josh. A wacky premise, yes. But the show rolls with it at full speed, and creates hilarious situations that the characters get into— all without becoming too gimmicky.
Also, while the story is funny in it’s own right, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend also incorporates musical numbers to enhance the comedy of the episodes. My favorites are such gems as “I’m So Good at Yoga,” “I Have Friends” and “Sexy French Depression.” And while the songs themselves are clever, they have a lot of truth behind them. These songs represent Rebecca’s inner emotion, and show us what she’s going through— like the trials of her relationship with her parents, her unrequited love for Josh, and her fluctuating feelings for a bartender she meets when she arrives in town— Greg, played by Santino Fontana (aka Hans from Frozen) And while these songs are undeniably humorous, many are given a lot of sincerity, with the words being sung ringing true to the audience.
That’s what makes Crazy Ex-Girlfriend so great. While it’s a comedy first hand, the dilemmas Rebecca goes through— having unrequited love, being heavily confused about relationships, making bad decisions, and being depressed and anxious, are all things that cater to a more dramatic standpoint, and viewers can definitely feel for the character in that way. However, what Crazy-Ex Girlfriend does so brilliantly, is that with the songs and sharp writing, it is not a downer of a show. Rachel Bloom spins these dramatic aspects of the show into things the viewer can laugh at, but at the same time be emotionally invested in what’s going to happen.
So if you’re like me and are looking for a good show to binge watch, check out Crazy Ex-Girlfriend— a truly witty, creative, and heartfelt show. Go watch it now! It’s on Netflix!