What I’m Watching: Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Season 1, Episode 4 “I'm Going On a Date with Josh's Friend!” (B+)

I’m excited that the songs on this show are holding up to the point that I’m starting to sing them even when I’m not watching the show. While the opening theme with the title lyrics is catchy enough, “Settle For Me” was a new high for this show in this episode. Doing the number in black and white was a nice twist, and I really enjoy whenever Rebecca or anyone else interjects to point out the absurdity or inconsistency of a lyric or moment. Going on a date with Greg was an important step for Rebecca, whose attempt at a one-night stand at the start of the episode was ill-conceived and ended quite abruptly. The date with Greg was full of unfortunate moments, of course, and ditching him to sleep with the vegan guacamole guy was harsh and self-destructive. I like that Heather has become a regular character who can’t decide whether she wants to study or befriend Rebecca, and it’s a good to see her become a bit three-dimensional and remain funny at the same time. Josh, on the other hand, doesn’t have much to him, and it was hilarious that the depth and sophistication conveyed by Rebecca’s essay was what almost didn’t get him the job. It’s great that he thinks she’s cool for helping him to get the job in the end, and it was an important victory for the short-term vegan who sabotaged what could have been a successful relationship and couldn’t even stick to her butter-prompted convictions for more than a few days.