Why Crazy-Ex Girlfriend Is Your New Favorite Show | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Entertainment

Why Crazy-Ex Girlfriend Is Your New Favorite Show

The situation is pretty nuanced.

18
Why Crazy-Ex Girlfriend Is Your New Favorite Show

"Crazy-Ex Girlfriend" is not what it sounds like. Yes, it’s about a woman who leaves her perfect-on-paper life of being a rich and powerful lawyer in New York City and follows a boy she dated at high school summer camp to a small California town. Yes, she drops everything to follow a man she hasn’t spoken to in over a decade, and yes, she is very often goes through over-the-top schemes to get them together.

But the show admits in the theme song that the title is sexist, includes raps about the patriarchy, and touches on mental health and sexuality in really insightful ways. It is funny, dark, diverse, and probably more realistic than we’d like to admit.

We can all agree that quitting your job and moving across the country to follow a summer camp sweetheart is bold, immature, and a little insane. But people have done a crazier things for happiness, and being in love with the idea of a person (often more than the person themselves) is universal.

What I like in particular about our protagonist, Rebecca, is that a) there is no question that she has mental health problems and b) she is more than that. One of the first scenes of "Crazy-Ex Girlfriend" is her popping anxiety pills, and there is a whole musical number about how she needs therapy for her issues.

But, as she constantly reminds us, she went to Harvard and Yale. While some of her personality traits and actions may have originated from her mental health problems, she is a full person without them.

Too often, characters with mental health problems are nothing more than that. I loved "Monk" as a kid, and "Mr. Robot" is by far one of my favorite shows, but the protagonists are consumed by their mental illnesses. And to be fair, those are struggles that a large part of the population go through. But there are people who have problems that aren’t necessarily obvious on the surface.

There are very few scenes when Elliot, the protagonist in "Mr. Robot," isn’t plagued by his schizophrenia or anxiety, but Rebecca’s problems, while always there, take a backseat sometimes. Having mental health issues isn’t always all-or-nothing, it’s possible for people to have good days and bad days. Rebecca doesn't have a heightened other skill (like computer hacking) to "make up for" her illness, she just has problems that she can overcome sometimes, and other times can't.

And just an aside- this show passes the Bechdel Test, and the Racial Bechdel Test. Where most shows avoid talking about bisexuality, "Crazy-Ex Girlfriend" showcases one character coming out as bi through a well written musical number. It features a (pretty) diverse cast of characters, and gives each character real personality traits and depth.

All of the characters have truly unlikable characteristics, and a set of redeeming qualities to make up for them. Even Rebecca’s idea that getting with her prince charming will fix all her problems, which is central to the plot, is not without critique.

The show makes it clear that a man will not fix her problems. We watch her endeavors as an exaggeration of our own hunt for happiness, and hopefully get some perspective on our own lives.

And to top it all off, the songs are hilarious and well-written. It’s clever, original, and four hours from the beach.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

12 Midnight NYE: Fun Ideas!

This isn't just for the single Pringles out there either, folks

13525
Friends celebrating the New Years!
StableDiffusion

When the clock strikes twelve midnight on New Year's Eve, do you ever find yourself lost regarding what to do during that big moment? It's a very important moment. It is the first moment of the New Year, doesn't it seem like you should be doing something grand, something meaningful, something spontaneous? Sure, many decide to spend the moment on the lips of another, but what good is that? Take a look at these other suggestions on how to ring in the New Year that are much more spectacular and exciting than a simple little kiss.

Keep Reading...Show less
piano
Digital Trends

I am very serious about the Christmas season. It's one of my favorite things, and I love it all from gift-giving to baking to the decorations, but I especially love Christmas music. Here are 11 songs you should consider adding to your Christmas playlists.

Keep Reading...Show less
campus
CampusExplorer

New year, new semester, not the same old thing. This semester will be a semester to redeem all the mistakes made in the previous five months.

1. I will wake up (sorta) on time for class.

Let's face it, last semester you woke up with enough time to brush your teeth and get to class and even then you were about 10 minutes late and rollin' in with some pretty unfortunate bed head. This semester we will set our alarms, wake up with time to get ready, and get to class on time!

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 5 Painfully True Stages Of Camping Out At The Library

For those long nights that turn into mornings when the struggle is real.

2619
woman reading a book while sitting on black leather 3-seat couch
Photo by Seven Shooter on Unsplash

And so it begins.

1. Walk in motivated and ready to rock

Camping out at the library is not for the faint of heart. You need to go in as a warrior. You usually have brought supplies (laptop, chargers, and textbooks) and sustenance (water, snacks, and blanket/sweatpants) since the battle will be for an undetermined length of time. Perhaps it is one assignment or perhaps it's four. You are motivated and prepared; you don’t doubt the assignment(s) will take time, but you know it couldn’t be that long.

Keep Reading...Show less
Student Life

The 14 Stages Of The Last Week Of Class

You need sleep, but also have 13 things due in the span of 4 days.

1600
black marker on notebook

December... it's full of finals, due dates, Mariah Carey, and the holidays. It's the worst time of the year, but the best because after finals, you get to not think about classes for a month and catch up on all the sleep you lost throughout the semester. But what's worse than finals week is the last week of classes, when all the due dates you've put off can no longer be put off anymore.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments