Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Review: I Have A Date Tonight (Season 4 Episode 16)
It is SO easy to get caught up in the over-under on Nathaniel, Greg, and Josh on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 1 Episode 16, “I Have A Date Tonight.”
I am whole-heartedly Team Nathaniel, and I think their Greek Theater-eavesdropping date recognizes and honors my favorite things about Rebecca. But, I don’t think a zoomed in focus on the plot and The Bachelor style date competition is the way to watch this episode.
We have to zoom out.
When we do, when we can see the musical forest for the hot-fit-guy trees, we actually get something pretty profound from the story, rather than just hand-wringing and shouting at the TV.
The penultimate episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, when watched from a pulled-back perspective, shows us Rebecca’s arc from loneliness to community, and projection to self-realization.
Even if Rebecca never picks a guy, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend gets the final rose (and jacuzzi-slap, we see you Dr. Akops)
From Loneliness to Community
When we first meet Rebecca Bunch, she is at the top of a game she doesn’t want to be playing. She’s anxious, lost, and deeply lonely.
Now, look.
A literal crowd of people are gathering together to take part in a game that is about her.
Yes, this is in part a dig at the way media commodifies romance. But, it is also a huge fat testament to the community of people Rebecca has in her life.
Her life is rich in relationships. This is monumentally important for her healing and management of BPD.
Importantly, her imaginings are faux but her relationships are real. When Rebecca once again faces Tyler Darkness, as she inevitably will, she has a wide and sturdy safety net of friends that can support her.
Rebecca has gone from lost and lonely, to safe and sound.
Rebecca has also been a key part of the other characters’ arc from loneliness to community too.
As White Josh leads the supporting cast in a rousing and epic parody from my favorite problematic musical, Guys and Dolls, it becomes clear how central Rebecca has been to each individuals’ inclusion in the community.
Heather would not be the badass manager of Homebase, coming up with profitable and innovative breakfast specials, if it weren’t for Rebecca knocking on her door and insisting on friendship.
Darryl would never have met White Josh without Rebecca. Hebecca exists because of Heather and Rebecca.
Rebecca can be incredibly divisive and hurtful. But through her hard work to grow and become a better version of herself, she has become an influencer in the best possible way.
My two favorite examples of this are how Valencia, Heather, and Paula meet together to have breakfast. Rebecca isn’t even there, and it doesn’t matter. These very different women have found voice and support with each other, thanks to Rebecca.
My second favorite is the simple and surprisingly beautiful connection between Josh and Nathaniel. The pair sitting at the bar, commiserating and joking shows us that it is not actually about who Rebecca chooses.
It is about this magical, wild, and diverse group of people who have she has brought together.
Back to the musical number though.
White Josh shines and taps in this stunning group number.
Kat Burns’s choreography is absolute perfection for the song. It might be my favorite dance sequence on the entire series, and certainly on the season.
Paula’s fervent tapping makes me laugh, shimmy along, and shake my head with incredulity at the level of talent encompassed in Donna Lynne Champlin.
“Love’s Not A Game” is a love song to this gorgeous, complicated, talented, diverse, and BELOVED ensemble.
It just makes sense that this is where we see White Josh with the spotlight.
I love this show.
From Projection to Self-Realization
The other arc that a zoomed-out view of the episode allows to be seen is Rebecca’s from projection to self-actualization.
During the first three seasons of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, Rebecca’s romantic identity is almost entirely fake. It is composed of projections from fairytale films, her mother, and other parts of her past.
None of it, arguably, is authentically Rebecca.
And this is why even though at first I find it frustrating, ultimately the date competition works so well: it allows us to finally “Meet Rebecca.”
Each of the dates is perfect in its own way and each reveals a part of Rebecca that is really her.
Josh’s date reveals Rebecca’s kindness and endlessly youthful spirit. Rebecca is an extrovert, certainly. But, she is also a bit of a homebody, and that promise of a place to call home is what Josh presents.
Nathaniel’s date, where I’d put all my money, illustrates how Rebecca finds competitive creativity very, very sexy. She is a gifted storyteller and Nathaniel’s love for Rebecca illuminates this core quality.
Through Greg’s date, it becomes clear that Rebecca loves the taste of cynicism. She’s not a cynic herself, but she craves the salty to compliment her sweet.
The person she connects most naturally and closely with, Paula, puts herself out as a romantic, but really she’s quite a bit like Greg. Irreverant and sharp, Greg lets Rebecca feel safe to embrace her failures.
Rebecca finds joy in falling apart. And that really lovely quality is highlighted by the bush-humping boy who loves her.
I find myself frustrated by the episode because I keep wondering, how could Rebecca not know who she loves? They are so different!
But, that’s the kicker. Rebecca doesn’t know who to pick because she doesn’t know herself.
That doesn’t mean she’ll choose herself, rather than one of her suitors. She may indeed choose a guy or doll to be with.
But, that’s not what this episode is about.
The penultimate episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is the people of West Covina, especially the three men who are in love with her, holding up a mirror to Rebecca so she can finally see who she really is.
On “I Have A Date Tonight,” Rebecca finally “Meets Rebecca,” the coolest girl in the world.
Crazy Talk
- Sometimes the parody extends to the dialogue of supporting characters, i.e. the Gurl Group breakfast discussion, and it threatens to undo the important character development that has happened.
- When White Josh starts his song he says “love,” and points at Darryl, and then he says “love” as he grabs Darryl’s money sack. Talk about love game! I call foul on the play, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend writers!
- Paula’s struggle in the mom game is real. That could be a whole other show.
- On the death bet, the odds are for Nathaniel dying of loneliness. That’s pretty sad, but it also somehow makes me laugh.
- Weird Al’s reprise of “Where’s The Bathroom,” is perfection! I can’t think of a better use of his cameo.
- Valencia hits it on the head when she says, “I spent so much time and energy off of Rebecca’s drama, the least I can do is make money off it.”
- At the end of the day, I think Valencia actually understands Rebecca best. She is a really, really good friend to Rebecca. For that reason, and the way the music and cinematography support it, I would put my money on Greg if I was betting to win, not on principle.
- Father Brah can do it all! Id love to see Rene Gube be a showrunner and romantic lead of his own show.
What did you think of this episode of Crazy Ex-Girlfriend? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Crazy Ex-Girlfriend airs Fridays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Janelle Ureta
Janelle Ureta is equal parts Veronica Mars, Raven Reyes, and Rebecca Bunch, but she aspires to add some Tammy Taylor to the mix. An attorney turned teacher, Janelle believes in the power of a well-told story. She is currently exploring how to tell short stories, 140 characters or less, on twitter. She loves to talk about TV, and right now she can't shut up about Timeless, Dear White People, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, The 100, or Younger.