Crazy Ex-Girlfriend (S1.E3-4)
Wednesday, July 13, 2016 at 3:00PM We're encouraging you to watch season 1 of Crazy Ex Girlfriend before the show returns in the fall. It's one of the best comedies on television and a musical, our most beloved entertainment genre. We previously covered the first two episodes so here's two more...
Both Rebeccas - the neuroses only multiplied with age
S1:E3 "I Hope Josh Comes To My Party"
In which Rebecca throws a housewarming party despite not knowing anyone in town and childhood trauma from party-throwing. Josh saves her from humiliation. Let's rank the crazy...
Not Crazy, Totally Sane
Meet Heather (Vella Lovell) arguably the show's funniest supporting character outside of Paula. She'd be the easy MVP of this episode were it not for Paula's 'inspirational' showstopper in this one. Rebecca is trying to meet her neighbors and Heather is just next door.
Her first scene is classic:
Look, just as a tip, we don't actually talk to each other around here. That guy has lived next door to me for eleven years. And, like, I say "guy" but honestly it could be, like, a a stack of cats in a jumpsuit."
And that moment she accepts Rebecca's party invitation is even deadpan funnier.
Heather: I kind of think you're fascinating, actually. I'm taking Abnormal Psych at the JC and I think you would make like a really good paper
Rebecca: [awkwardly bowing with affected hand gesture] Why thank you, Madam
Heather: Yeah, see like that. That would just be an "A" right there. Like, done.
Relatably Foolish
Darryl's 'Weekend Tuesdays' at his law firm in which he can't get his staff to actually work. "I didn't think this through."
Endearingly Odd
White Josh (David Hull) walking circles shirtless in Rebecca's apartment to 'catch up' her step counter. The funniest thing about White Josh might be that everyone, including White Josh himself, calls him that. Josh Chan being the alpha of the show's figurative boy band... though Josh Chan is also a one man Boy Band in his first big musical number here which has ahmayzing lyrics.
Baby, you can kiss all your childhood traumas goodbye
You’re never gonna miss all that stress you’ve been keeping inside
All your psychological problems
Girl, we’re gonna solve them
‘Cause we’re not just a boy band made up of four Joshes
We’re also a team of licensed mental health professionals
Dangerously Nutso:
Paula's geniusly ill-advised pep talk to Rebecca. If this doesn't win Donna Lynn Champlin an Emmy nomination tomorrow Emmy is only hurting itself with their ignorance about new shows and talents.
Episode Grade: B+
MVP: Paula
Songs: "Face Your Fears" (Paula), "I Have Friends" (Young & Old Rebecca), "A Boy Band Made Up of Four Joshes" (Josh)
Introducing: Rebecca's neighbor Heather (Vella Lovell), Rebecca's Mom Naomi (Tovah Feldshuh), Young Rebecca (Ava Acres), Paula's sons and husband (Steele Stebbins, Zayne Emory, Steve Monroe)
S1:E4 "I'm Going on a Date With Josh's Friend"
In which Rebecca decides she's vegan, tries hook-up apps, and goes on a day date with Greg -- all three of which go horribly wrong. But the episode has the BEST lines. So we'll do this review a bit differently only with quotes.
Define "Crazy"
As Jean Paul Sarter said, we are our choices and this woman's choices are nuts. I mean she's seriously bonker balls."
Heather giving her presentation on Rebecca. The teacher is not pleased.
I'm Not Crazy She's the One Who's Crazy
You don't know her... She's like a stalker I used to live inside of."
Rebecca on why she has to answer those self-esteem wrecking-ball calls from her mother.
Relatably Foolish
Sugar jugs I'm so bereft. Demeaning terms are all that I have left of my masculinity, so settle for me.
Poor Greg. He has it so bad for Rebecca even though he knows she's obsessed with Josh. Santino Fontana is so love struck charming as Greg that he makes the self-pity party endearing rather than obnoxious.
Bonker Balls
Hey Sexy Stranger, come back to my place.
And please don't be a murderer.
Please Please Please don't be a murderer.
(no comment)
...but maybe Self Aware
Do you ever have one of those days that you've done something so horrible that it feels like you did it in a dream. And you just want to wake up. And you want it to be all okay. But there's no waking up because you did it for realsies.
Rachel Bloom is terrific in this episode, displaying Rachel's self-destructive streak and the regret that instantly follows it.
Episode Grade: A-
MVP: Greg who gets the most screentime and has a huge range of emotions to explore in the date sequence and its apocalyptic aftermath. But honestly Heather's transition from 'observing' Rebecca to being an actual friend is beautifully handled without losing the funny, as is the episode ending moment when Josh gets a job he loves thanks to Rebecca's intervention. Vincent Rodriguez III's line reading...
I'm so glad you moved here Becs."
...is so guileless and good-hearted. It makes you understand why Rebecca hangs on his every response in such an unhealthy way. And you need to understand that for the show to hurt as well as make you laugh.
Songs: "Sex With a Stranger" (Rebecca), "Settle For Me" (Greg), "Settle For Him (Reprise)" (Rebecca)
Introducing: No one who has become a recurring character yet.
Did you like these two episodes?
Reader Comments (7)
"Settle For Me" is my all-season favorite song. Super-catchy AND really good at the genre replication.
I mean, I KNOW that Face Your Fears is amazing (DONNA LYNNE CHAMPLIN FOR ALL THE EMMYS), but I may actually love I Have Friends MORE. Partially for all the "friend" introductions and how varied and perfect they are, but mostly because it so perfectly captures Rebecca's self-delusion both then and now (and Ava Acres is INCREDIBLE as Young Rebecca. What a find!).
Settle For Me, though, is Top Five of the entire season, EASILY.
ALSO! You forgot the introduction of one of my favorite tertiary characters on the show, Grocery Clerk With Half An Eyelid in Ep. 3!!
I'm probably a bit biased but I love all the Greg songs. "Settle for Me' is up there as my favorite, but I also loved "I Could If I Wanted To." Santino Fontana is such a pro.
"I Have Friends" is SUCH an earworm.
Also I heart everyone in this bar, but what they do with White Josh in the back half of the season is just so great.
YES! the love for Donna Lynne Champlin is giving me life, she's an absolute revelation, although Face your fears is not her best number of the season IMO (but that's another story)
And episode 4 is fabulous, as mentioned Rachel Bloom delivers a great acting showcase, especially during the scene when she confronts Greg after he finds out why she left him. Oh! and i'll join the Settle for me acclaim, one of the best songs of S1
"Face Your Fears" is so good, and set an awfully high bar for future Donna numbers. (Her "Gypsy" tribute was better in concept than as written...)