Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Josh Is Irrelevant (3x06)

Stunning. Perfect.

Cons:

... I have no complaints. I wish WhiJo could have been in the episode? Does that count? I almost wish that when Darryl showed up at the end, WhiJo could have been with him. But on the other hand I understand the impulse not to overcrowd the episode with that sort of thing, and leave it a simple examination of just a few key characters. So, I'm a bit torn on that one.

Pros:

Basically, this episode is just the aftermath. We have Rebecca's friends worrying about her, we have her getting a new diagnosis that she then panics about, and finally she comes to terms with things and decides to get help. I think I'll take this review character by character, and talk about how each are dealing with Rebecca's recent experiences.

Paula - she's being clingy and overprotective of Rebecca, going everywhere with her and abandoning all other responsibilities to stay by her side. I love that as Rebecca hits rock bottom and starts to think about getting help, we're also seeing signs of Paula's own issues, which I imagine will be addressed as the season goes on.

Heather - she took a backseat this week, but I love the fact that she's the most pragmatic and focused out of everyone. She doesn't go crazy, she's not in denial. There's one moment where Rebecca goes into the bathroom and doesn't come out for a while, and her friends knock on the door and she doesn't answer. It turns out that Rebecca had headphones in, but Heather actually goes to get an axe to break down the door. Heather might come across as unmotivated, but when stuff gets real, she'll do whatever it takes.

Valencia - one of this episode's subplots focuses on Valencia, who films a Facebook video to help spread the news that Rebecca is recovering. Things get out of hand, and she ends up starting a trending "movement" about bringing hope and positivity into the world. This leads to one of the funniest songs this show has ever produced: "This Is My Movement." The entire thing is just references to poop. Gabrielle Ruiz does an amazing job with this number. I was dying the whole time. Her poses where she looks like she's... um... bearing down... were hilarious, and then you've got the line: "I've really, really got to shi--iiiine a light on this issue!" Perfect. One of the most admirable things about this episode and indeed this show as a whole is that it avoids the pitfalls you might expect in a cliche story. Valencia's subplot could have been played for laughs, or could have had a gentler, more "special episode" climax. Instead, we get a moment where Valencia breaks down and tells Rebecca that she's really, really scared that her friend is going to die. She's been trying to be positive, but deep down she's terrified. It was a powerful moment, and the perfect way to cap Valencia's journey in the episode.

Josh Chan: Predictably, Josh makes everything about him, telling Hector that Rebecca's suicide attempt was his fault, because they'd gotten into a fight. This is another spot where the story avoids a cliche, because I feel like in most TV shows Josh would be right - the suicide attempt would be about a tragic lost love, not about a mental illness. At the end of the episode as Josh shows up to give Rebecca a puppy and clear the air, he overhears Rebecca telling her friends that she hasn't thought about Josh in days. "Josh is... irrelevant." This whole thing isn't about him. Maybe it never has been. Josh leaves without intruding on the scene, but you're left to wonder if this is because he realizes he should leave things alone, or because he's embarrassed or confused by not being the center of attention. Much like with Paula, we're seeing hints of Josh's own problems manifest as a response to Rebecca's. I hope he can also get the help that he needs.

Nathaniel - his subplot really got to me. Nathaniel is having a hard time reaching out to Rebecca in the wake of what has happened, and he realizes that this is because he has repressed memories of his mother's suicide attempt from when he was ten. At first, his parents deny everything, but eventually his mom tells him the truth. The episode ends with Nathaniel bringing by roses and a card for Rebecca, offering his support. Nathaniel is a character I felt completely neutral about at first, but now he's a puppy and I want to give him a hug. The fact that he wanted to do right by Rebecca was sweet enough as it is, but seeing him with his emotionally abusive father and distant mother made me realize more about the making of this poor guy. I don't think Rebecca is in a good place for romance right now, obviously, but I hope that as she gets better, and as Nathaniel learns more about his own problems, they can maybe one day find their way to each other. In a healthy way.

Then you've got Rebecca herself. Rachel Bloom does an excellent job of portraying Rebecca as an empty shell at the start of this episode. Everything changes when she learns that her doctor has a new diagnosis for her. She sings a song that perfectly encapsulates the situation, called "A Diagnosis," and it actually made me tear up a bit. The idea is that if she just knows what's going on with her, she'll be able to finally take positive steps for her life. I don't have personal experience with mental illness, but a few people very close to me have had a hard time, and the sheer power of having an answer is not to be underestimated. Rebecca's hope and enthusiasm was a real breath of fresh air after seeing her in such a dark place recently.

Then, you've got the diagnosis itself: Rebecca has Borderline Personality Disorder. Once again I need to applaud this show for not taking the easy way out. They've committed themselves to this, and from now on, Rebecca's mental health will need to be a serious part of the show and how things develop for all of the characters. It's not a death sentence or anything... it's just proof that this show is not a silly comedy about a wacky gal who moves across the country for a guy. It's a show about a woman with BPD who makes a lot of destructive choices but wants to learn to help herself.

Rebecca sings about how mental illness is stigmatized, and that is absolutely true. But one of the amazing things about this episode is how much all of her friends treat this like she has a physical illness. Yes, they're paranoid when she goes to the bathroom alone, yes, there's some delicacy issues to address. But for the most part, you have Paula wanting Rebecca to take medicine and "get better," and you have Valencia saying that she's so scared that Rebecca is "going to die." She doesn't say "I'm scared you're going to commit suicide." This might seem like a semantic difference, but it's really not. She's scared for her friend because her friend is sick, not because her friend is crazy.

Man, I have so many feelings about this show. I'm going to stop now so I don't go on and on. I admire what they're doing so very, very much.

9.5/10