Last summer, I was annoyed. One of my friends, Kyle, had been bugging me for months to watch his latest obsession, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend", I brushed him off time and time again, saying I was busy or had other shows to watch or that it was just something I wasn’t really interested in. Until one day, I logged onto Netflix and decided to give the first season a chance.
I finished all 18 episodes in less than a day and a half.
The show centers around Rebecca Bunch, an overworked and highly intelligent lawyer who lives in New York. After running into her summer camp sweetheart, (who she hasn’t seen in 10 years), she quits her job and follows him to his hometown of West Covina, CA.
If you haven’t yet discovered the gem of the CW network, you are really missing out. Here are some of the reasons why "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" should be on your spring break binge-watch list
1. Its cast is super diverse.
There isn’t quite a scripted show on cable that has such a diverse cast of characters. The main cast includes a Jewish woman, a Filipino man, a plus-sized working mom and a blatantly bisexual male boss. There hasn’t been this much diversity on TV since "Glee" ended in 2015. And speaking of "Glee"...
2. This show also has musical numbers in every episode.
However, what sets it apart from "Glee" is that each musical number is completely original. These songs hilariously parody all genres of music, from Billy Joel to classic musical theater to Beyoncé. Unlike "Glee" these songs don’t seem forced into the episode, but rather fit perfectly into the storyline like a puzzle piece, making you laugh along the way.
3. It’s not your average romantic comedy show.
"Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" has found its voice by poking fun at the tropes often portrayed in a romantic comedy. The show’s unpredictable nature is what makes it so captivating. It breaks down the conventions about how love and relationships are often portrayed in entertainment.
4. It canonically portrays the main character as mentally-ill.
While Rebecca Bunch is obsessed with her high school fling, it is also explicit in the show that she has mental health problems. She is not portrayed as the one-dimensional crazy ex-girlfriend, but rather, a complicated individual who is seeking to find herself while dealing with anxiety and depression.
5. It’ll make you laugh, cry and really think.
Not only is the show so cleverly written and the songs so catchy, but it can get incredibly sad and painfully accurate in regards to how people deal with relationships. However, this show is not just about romantic relationships. It’s about sisterhood, self-discovery and the anti-hero within us all.
Despite having a niche following and below-average viewership ratings, the CW just recently renewed the show for a third season and rightfully so. Rachel Bloom, who is also the show's co-creator, won an Emmy for her portrayal of Rebecca Bunch last year and the show has garnered positive critical acclaim.
Seasons one and two are both on Netflix now, so if you’re looking for a new spin on TV comedy, (while adding in a fun musical number or two), then "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend" should be on the top of your watch list.
