Rachel Bloom as Marilyn Monroe in a parody of “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” Photo Courtesy of the CW.

  Students at San Luis Obispo High School have enjoyed musical comedies for years. From the Cult Classic “Glee” to the 2023 “Schmigadoon,” musical comedies have been consumed by students. 

  Comedy writer and singer Rachel Bloom released “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” in 2015. The show continued for four seasons, and 62 episodes, including a live show following the conclusion of the show. The show addresses many important issues, including suicide, antidepressants, problems that members of the LGBTQ+ community face, abortion, and stalking. The show’s inherent darkness is directly in contrast to the comedic side, and the musical references. 

  “I like [“Crazy Ex-Girlfriend”] because it is funny. It also accurately demonstrates the mental health struggles people experience,” said freshman Kaila Foley. 

  The first episode opens following Rebbeca Bunch (played by Rachel Bloom) working at her high stress New York law firm. She bumps into her ex-boyfriend Josh Chan (played by Vincent Rodriguez III), and the ecstasy of seeing someone she cares about made her reconsider everything. She quits her job and moves to his hometown, and consistently claims to everyone around her that she moved “just for a change.” 

  Throughout the show, Bunch is often referred to as a “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” hence the title of the series. The first two seasons largely revolve around her relationship with Chan, and the final two are about repairing the damage that obsession created on her life. Not only does it involve fixing relationships, but repairing her own mental health. 

  One of the biggest appeals of the series is Bloom’s references to major musicals and pop culture moments. Songs like “The Math of Love Triangles’” is a very clear allusion to Marilyn Monroe’s “Diamonds are a Girl’s Best Friend.” The song is poking fun at the consistent trivialization of Monroe throughout her career, consistently making her appear as an airhead, despite the fact that she was an extremely intelligent person. 

  Personally, I feel like “You Stupid B****” is one of the most wonderfully written and moving songs of the series. The scene is comparable to many songs sung by musical theater icon Bernadette Peters. My other favorite would have to be “Antidepressants Are So Not a Big Deal,” which is a direct parody of romantic musical “La La Land”’s “Another Day of Sun.” As someone who was really struggling with my own mental health when I discovered this show, hearing a fun song about how antidepressants quite literally are the only thing some people have in common with each other, made me feel a lot more confident with my prescription. 

  “I think it’s a good show because it highlights the humanity of people with mental illnesses, while also making light of the scarier parts of those problems. It’s also just a genuinely likable show with realistic and interesting characters,” said senior Sophia Campbell. 

  “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a delightful take on mental health. The show spirals along with Bunch’s own mental state to a much darker and more depressing state. The high highs and low lows make the romantic take on the world a lot more grounded, feeling more like the real world.

  Despite what image the title of the show may create for students, “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend” is a must see. 

Source: imdb.com