Crazy Ex-Girlfriend had a rough start. I still remember a friend told me the show looked “super sexist” via billboard, and it kind of did. It seemed terrible in the same way that The New Girl’s original commercial made everyone wince. (Remember that?)
After Showtime nixed Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, the CW picked it up, and people started discovering how quirky, progressive and different it was. The podcast scene took it in, and suddenly it was winning the People’s Choice Award for best new comedy.
I liked season one enough. I really can’t get sick of shows that feature powerful yet lonely female lawyers occasionally breaking into song. Plus, the cast was talented, the songs were hilarious and the comedy was off-beat enough to feel different.
In season one, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend was still wrestling with whether or not its initial premise was just a little bit sexist. In the intro song, she even makes a joke about it. In season two, the show becomes less self-conscious and settles into its brainy yet weird vibe.
This season, our characters get a lot more comfortable in their roles—and honest with themselves. Greg discovers that he’s an alcoholic, Valencia that she doesn’t actually want to be with Josh anymore and Paula that she needs to pursue her own destiny instead of being Rebecca’s wing-woman. Heather re-discovers that she’s always been awesome.
They also get weirder than ever. Rebecca pees on Josh’s sound equipment with his ex-girlfriend Valencia. They also run over a cat in an episode about the danger of curiosity (don’t worry, the cat is fine; its tail just falls off). Oh, and Heather becomes a douche spokeswoman.
Throughout all the chaos, the show hits a perfect balance between conflict and growth. The characters don’t get stuck, but they do try things that lead to tension, failure and humor.
As a group, the cast paints a very progressive portrait of what TV could be. They don’t stop to pat themselves on the back for it, which is what makes Crazy Ex-Girlfriend so awesomely low-key. Its abortion plot wasn’t Political and Important. It was casual, implying that it’s a common occurrence that shouldn’t be a “Huge Deal.” Yet on TV, it usually is. The diversity of the cast is also quietly refreshing. It feels like modern day CA in a way that GIRLS failed to feel like modern day New York City.
One of my favorite things about this season was watching Rebecca stand up to the fancy, money hungry lawyer Nathaniel, who takes over her firm. While she is a flawed character, I found myself cheering her on as she straight up told him he was everything she hated about practicing law in New York. Not only is she unafraid of him, but she’s evolved past where he is now, and isn’t afraid to let him know that.
In season two, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend finds its stride as a confident, progressive, hilarious, totally bingeworthy musical comedy. It’s exactly what you didn’t know you needed until now.
p.s. DO listen to Rachel Bloom pretend to be British on the Comedy Bang Bang podcast.