Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Review: I’m Finding My Bliss (Season 4 Episode 14)
Wow, the whole Prince Charming thing really works! I am swept up in the romance and magic of Nathaniel and Rebecca.
I can’t help but sigh and squee and shiver with glee as Crazy Ex-Girlfriend Season 4 Episode 14, “I’m FInding My Bliss,” sets us up for its final grand gesture. Whether that will be the fairytale ending or a reality check, is not even a big deal to me at this point.
I am just so thankful for this beautiful, heartstopping, breathtaking, life-changing, TV show.
REBECCA: This whole song is problematic.
Every character arc on the episode works, down to Tim’s meta-joke story of having the character song, “Apple Man.”
Cherri Oteri is the perfect actor to play Connie, the community theater traditionalist.
I really could just make a long list all the things that I love on the episode, but lest I turn into a basic fangirl, let’s get into some analysis.
Josh, Nathaniel, and Greg are each auditioning for the role of Rebecca’s love.
In the process, we see how Josh has always been backstage in Rebecca’s life, not quite the right fit for the part.
We learn that Greg needed to accept West Covina’s love before he can be really ready for love in his life. Heather has all the great insight.
HEATHER: You just wanted to hate it because you hated yourself.
And, we learn that Nathaniel has been on the same stage all along, separately preparing for the role.
It is so fun and luscious to have the play within a play and to consider what it all means. Crazy Ex-Girlfriend has been clear that it is countering the rom-com messaging that we get in media, starting from childhood movies.
At the same time, the episode makes me ache to have Rebecca get that happy ending in her life with the handsome and endlessly charming Nathaniel.
It is significant that as Rebecca looks on at Nathaniel on stage, she says to herself, “someone else is singing my song.”
This is BIG.
On Crazy Ex-GIrlfriend Season 4 Episode 1, “I Want To Be Here,” Rebecca, Nathaniel, and Josh sing “No One Else Is Singing My Song.” It is one of my top five favorite songs of the entire series!
During the song, Rebecca exhorts how she feels that no one understands her rhythm and can sing along with her. Nathaniel and Josh sing along with her, harmonizing and echoing, but she doesn’t realize it.
On “I’m Finding My Bliss,” Rebecca finds her bliss, but it’s no through the theater production.
The bliss is finding out that there is a person who sees her, understands her, and knows her everchanging rhythm enough to sing along.
Nathaniel doesn’t save her, he is not her knight in shining armor. Instead, he is the re-written version of that story where the prince is a partner, a co-writer, a confidante and a costar. It is so beautiful.
I can’t wait to see where this love story goes.
Valencia is an underrated character who is consistently getting the short end of the stick. Where Rebecca has three different suitors who want to commit to her, Valencia has to fight to have Beth propose to her.
There is something deeply moving to me watching Valencia’s struggle. Even though she is stoic and reserved, Valencia also wears her heart on her sleeve.
It should not be overlooked that rather than any kind of manipulation or controlling, Valencia straight out tells Beth what she wants, why she wants it, and what will happen if Beth’s not ready.
She does not give Beth an ultimatum; Valencia sets her boundary and communicates her standards.
I stan.
Beth seems legitimately surprised by Valencia’s proposal and so we don’t get a resolution on the episode.
This topples my expectation that Beth was planning on proposing all along and I am so glad. Instead of a cute happy ending like a rom-com would give us, we get actual conflict.
Beth and Valencia are clearly not on the same page right now, and that honors both Valencia and the relationship in general by giving it depth and dimension.
I can’t wait to see where this love story goes, too! Hopefully, it goes down the aisle.
Paula is styled in a gorgeous and soft way on the episode. The new lawyer is glowing.
The message is that beauty comes from self-confidence and knowing your worth. I could cry at how meaningful and important this message is.
PAULA: It turns out, this is what I’m worth.
Paula is not the type of character who gets to be so beautiful. She is a middle-aged mom! But, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend knows how to put a spotlight on the wonderful attractiveness of a tenacious woman.
I am going to miss Paula so very much.
I’m not ready for the end of the show, but I am overwhelmed with joy that these final episodes are brimming with excellence.
Crazy Talk
- Skylar Astin sings the “What’ll It Be” reprise so very beautiful. It sounds delicious.
- Greg falling in love with West Covina is the love story I didn’t know I needed on this show.
- Connie’s everchanging accents are spot on hilarious.
- The episode’s commentary on what it is like to revisit media from your childhood, only to realize it is problematic AF, is incredibly timely and very well executed.
- I speculate that Nathaniel and Rebecca are going to write a play together and that play is what we’ve been watching this whole time.
- I miss White Josh.
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.