Well, here we are. We are now five episodes into the CW's new series Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. The show isn't setting Monday nights on fire in the ratings department, but it hasn't dropped much further from the already low levels. Maybe that is a sign that those that are watching are liking what they see, despite the alienating title and premise of the show. I know that I still find myself questioning what exactly my hope is for the lead character Rebecca and it's led me to almost dread watching the show, I can't be alone in doing so. Sure, I can get past the groan inducing awkward scenes that go on a bit too long or some of the silly musical numbers that fall flat, but I'm not sure I can get past the fact that the only thing I want for Rebecca is to seek serious help to get her life together. I usually give shows five episodes before I decide to drop them, so this week is make it or break it for CEG. There have been several times since the pilot I've come close to giving up the show, but then the show gives me little glimpses of great comedic moments or tiny character growth that keep me watching with hope. The thing is, how long can I hold out hope? I liked where things were headed for the show in I'm Going On A Date with Josh's Friend! and I was actually excited to see Josh and I are Good People! even though going into it the future of my relationship of the show depends on whether the episode really sold me or not. So, what is the verdict?
I'll get there, but first, I'm going to dive in and recap what went down in this week's CEG, which was all about Rebecca trying to prove that, despite Greg's totally astute observation. she and Josh were not terrible people. I have to say that I agree with Greg's assessment of Rebecca when he accuses of her being terrible after seeing her and Josh relatively close to each other and cooing over photos of their time at summer camp in broad daylight as if Josh doesn't even have a girlfriend. This is just after she left their date last week and had sex with some guy she met while on a date with Greg. Maybe it's because I don't agree with the light handling of Rebecca's clear shortcomings so I can't truly accept her as genuine, but I don't find anything she has done thus far in the series remotely selfless or nice. She does everything with one purpose and that is to get closer to Josh. The only thing I feel that she did do that was remotely healthy was agree to go out with Greg, but she self sabotaged that endeavor when I think she realized it could actually work with them and that could mean no Josh, who she sees as the answer to everything. Of course it's not so much that Greg's accusation that caused Rebecca to take action, it was that it opened the wound that was Rebecca's own mother had called her terrible and blamed Rebecca for her father leaving.
Shaken by Greg's accusal, Rebecca sets out to prove she is indeed a good person by trying to do several acts of kindness, starting by giving a homeless a ride plus a twenty and then she buys coffee and donuts for the office and pledging to Paula's assistant's Karen(Played by MADtv's Stephanie Weir, who is a great addition to show) fundraiser for her snake's cancer. Paula thinks Rebecca is putting a little too much thought into what Greg thinks, and Rebecca assures her that this isn't about Greg, but about her and she she herself thinks.(Something I have no trouble believing) Rebecca's new found need to not be terrible leads her to taking on Darryl's divorce case, that he has been pleading her to take, which she announces to whole office before she and Darryl leave and put Paula in charge much to the dismay of the rest of the office. Paula manages to prove herself as a good person when after discovering that her office annoyance Tim is an illegal immigrant from Canada, and she eventually decided not to report him because of what that would do to his family while getting the office together and making them actually work for once.
Rebecca, predictably, takes Darryl to
Home Base to rub in the fact that she is helping someone out in Greg's face, but Greg sees right through it and isn't convinced that Rebecca sees Darryl's case as anything other than another selfish manipulation(My interpretation anyway). Rebecca almost calls it quits helping Darryl after Greg is unconvinced, but she eventually comes around. (Can we talk about how weird and off putting Darryl's number about his daughter was, which sure was the point, but it was almost unwatchable) While I didn't find the Darryl-Rebecca plot intriguing, it was nice that her win getting him temporary custody and then subsequent her attempt to gain Darryl full custody by confronting his wife following Greg's non forgiveness led Rebecca to a moment of clarity. It was a good moment where she realized that she seeks validation from others and that she was relying on Greg to be her moral arbiter. It was a moment where I actual felt the character was aware of just how messed up she is, but that she could something about it. I saw hope, finally. Her realization helps her rectify Darryl's situation in a way that doesn't tear apart his daughter Madison, and Greg is actually there to see it. Later she apologized to Greg, who in turn tells Rebecca that while he doesn't think she is a good person, he knows she is a good friend. D'awww...these two dopes are cute.
While Rebecca was trying to prove to Greg that she was a good person, Josh went to confession in an attempt to make sense of Greg said. Josh admits to old friend Father Brah that while he loves Valencia he finds himself thinking about someone else. Father Brah challenges Josh to write down all of thoughts for the next 24 hours that he thinks are sinful. It reveals that after 24 hours, while Josh has weird thoughts about sex with mannequins and thoughts about Rebecca, since he didn't act on them, he is all good. Josh later hits Rebecca up for koba and when she arrives, he tells her that while he is attracted to her, he plans on staying committed to Valencia. Of course all Rebecca hears is that Josh is attracted to her and oh, hello square one, it's nice to see you again old friend.
Final Verdict: I really want to break up with the show, but something about it is so weird, so mystifying, and a little terrifying that I just can't part ways with it. I don't even know if I really like Rebecca, but I fear what will happen if I back out now, because there is always a chance it can get better. There are moments that make me fully aware why the show hasn't caught on, and then there are moments when I really want the show to catch on. My relationship with the show is as dysfunctional as any of Rebecca's relationships outside of Paula, but I can't look away. Besides, the episodes have improved. I think the show is still finding its balance in becoming an hour long dramedy versus a half hour comedy, but each week it gets a bit better. By having other subplots like those with Paula and Josh, it allowed the show to fill time and give other characters depth and not have scenes that drag on with too much crazy Rebecca moments. I liked that this week our characters all learned something and we got story progression, so it made up for the cringe worthy selfish Rebecca moments we did get. I did like the I'm a good person number a lot more than Darryl's, but it was still just so ick, I don't feel good about liking it. So, no I'm not breaking up with her just yet, but she is being put on notice. Rebecca, wake up and convince me to root for you, not against you. Right now, all I want for you is to not get what you want and truly find what you needs, which is self-worth (and Greg) and I think this week was a step in the right direction. So. I'll see you next week, same time and same place, just put the knife down, okay?
So,are you still watching Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? If not why? If yes, share the love! Do you find it easy to relate to Rebecca? Are you pro-Josh or pro-Greg? What did you think of Josh and I are Good People! Sound off Below!
Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Mondays on the CW following Jane the Virgin.
About the Author - Winston Mize
Winston is a 25 year old goofball, born in the north, and currently living in the south. He loves TV.... for some it's coffee, for him it's TV talk that gets his day going. He wants to be a screenwriter, and watches some of everything. You name it, he's probably checked it out. And he would like you to know that it is okay for a 25 year old to play with action figures... well, he does anyway. He's semi-active on twitter, and has quite a lot of nothing to say. Get to know him and learn he is just randomness personified. You can check him out with previews/reviews of Minority Report, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and iZombie this fall.
