Rebecca is a successful, driven and possibly crazy young woman who impulsively gives up everything - her partnership at a prestigious law firm and her upscale apartment in Manhattan - in a desperate attempt to find love and happiness in that exotic hotbed of romance and adventure: suburban West Covina, California.
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has had a unique journey to the small screen. It started as a half-hour project set up at Showtime. It went to the pilot stage and didn't make the cut. And then, The CW came in and gave the show a series order - expanding it to an hourlong. The foundation of the two premiere episodes were similar. The one that made it to air has some extra scenes. The finished product does somewhat play like the show expanding a 30 minute story to fit in a 45 minute format. It could have used some tightening here and there. But overall, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is one of the most original new comedies this season. Granted, that's not a high bar given the poor slate of new shows this fall. But it's an impressive accomplishment nevertheless.Rebecca is a character who could come across as aggravating, annoying and crazy very easily. It takes a very specific way of telling this story to make her seem less like a stalker and more like someone who is trying to change her life for the better. Her crush on Josh Chan is the reason why she makes this massive change to her life. It's something that she feels safe and happy doing. When they dated for two months at summer camp, it was the happiest she has ever been. Following their breakup, she spiraled in a way where she just followed her mother's plan for her. Her mother has controlled her life since that day. Ten years later, her mom is still obsessing about Rebecca making junior partner at a prestigious law firm in New York. Rebecca has a routine of medicating herself and going to this job.
Rebecca should feel happy when she is given this promotion. Everyone around her is excited for her. For her though, it's a strange feeling that she doesn't know what it is. It's scary for her. She should be happy but she's not. The world then sends her a sign that maybe her life could be happier than it actually is. She is successful. But personally she can't feel it. Her world opens up when she runs into Josh on the street again. That's something that she just latches onto. Josh is a symbol of the happiness she could have in her life. She may be obsessed with finding and reconnecting with him again. But that's how she is able to explain this massive change to her life.
Rebecca tries to convince herself and the people around her that she didn't move to West Covina for Josh. That would be crazy and she does not see herself as crazy. She did this to have a change. Josh put the idea in her head and it helped make the plan feel more real. When she makes this decision, her life becomes more musical and magical. During her time in New York as a lawyer, she never burst into song in wonderment about her world. She was simply going through the motions of what is expected of her. She is taking her life into her own hands - which is then exemplified through song. The musical moments are what helps this show distinguish itself. It is a very weird tone but the songs are catchy and original. They showcase what this show is capable of doing. The song about getting ready for a party takes a familiar concept and has a lot of fun with it. It's really humorous and upbeat. It helps keep the premiere moving quickly.
Of course, Rebecca is the only character with much of a personality or purpose. Everyone else is only defined through their relationship to her. Josh is the ex-boyfriend who exists in order to get Rebecca off on this journey. He appears in the beginning but the rest of the time he is talked about but never seen. Greg is the guy who is actually there with Rebecca. And yet, she just ignores and uses him just in order to look for Josh. She's incapable of seeing the nice guy right in front of her because she only believes this life can be happy for her if she is with Josh. Her new co-worker Paula is the only person who learns Rebecca's whole story. She sees it as brave as opposed to crazy. Some people could easily see Rebecca as a stalker of her ex-boyfriend from ten years ago. Instead Paula wants to be friends with her and help her get Josh back from his current girlfriend. The show probably needs a character like her. Someone who understands Rebecca and is there for her. It's just not abundantly clear in this first episode if the character interactions will make the show feel special. All of the foundational character work is there. Now the show just needs to build on it.
Some more thoughts:
- "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!" was written by Rachel Bloom & Aline Brosh McKenna and directed by Marc Webb.
- The parts with Rebecca's new boss, Darryl, complaining about his personal life falling apart felt especially extraneous and expositional in this premiere. Those are details that can shape Rebecca's life in West Covina behind her pursuit for Josh. It just wasn't that clear if those details will help define what the overall office dynamic will be in the future.
- How soon until Rebecca's mom shows up in West Covina to try and talk some sense into her? It would be strange if she doesn't come soon considering how much influence she has had over her life up to this point.
- The running gag about how far away West Covina is from the beach was a little too forced. It's two hours except in traffic, then it's four. It only shows just how sensible Greg is as a guy.
- One of the funniest moments was the ending where the rapper from Rebecca's getting ready song calls all the various women in his life to apologize for how he has mistreated them over the years. More humor like that please!
- Awareness will be key to continue making Rebecca a sensible leading woman. Her realizing that she may actually be crazy was a great moment - and then Paula chirped in bringing her back onto the happy path.
