Go Crazy for “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”

We all know the story. Boy meets girl. Girl falls in love with boy. Boy breaks up with girl. Girl has mental breakdown and moves across the country to be with boy 10 years later. Ok, so maybe we don’t know that exact story, but you will after watching award-winning TV show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend.”

The show follows Rebecca (Rachel Bloom), a young lawyer that leaves her job and moves across the country to pursue her ex-boyfriend Josh (Vincent Rodriguez III). Although that is the basis for the show, over the last two seasons it has grown to be much more complex. It’s made up of a wonderful combination of satire, truth, and whimsy, not to mention the hilarious original songs and parodies. Although it’s a comedy, it also explores feminism, mental health issues, and problems in modern society.

Rebecca, the desperate and neurotic anti-hero, is equal parts hilarious, pitiful, and annoying. Despite her many flaws and obvious mistakes, you still find yourself rooting for her. Like Rebecca, the show often tries too hard to be ‘quirky.’ Outrageous subplots sometimes overshadow the more relevant and interesting storylines, which can be frustrating for viewers.

Because it was the first episode of the season, exposition and recap took up a good portion of the time. Fortunately, “Crazy-Ex-Girlfriend”’s version of a recap involves a group musical number set in feudal Europe.

Although the first episode was spotty and spent too much time on exposition and minor characters, there’s still hope for the third season. The first two seasons were focused on Rebecca’s pursuit and idealization of a relationship with Josh. This season, there’s a shift to a focus on revenge as a solution for all of her problems. As Rebecca continues her misguided search for happiness, this time with a different goal, there are many opportunities for improvement.

“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a unique show, and because of that, it’s not for everyone. However, it’s worth a try. Although the show varies in quality, there’s something redeeming about each episode. Deep down, the show tackles difficult and taboo issues using humor and music, and it’s something special that should be supported.

The CW’s hit TV show “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”  airs on Fridays at 8 p.m.