Crazy Ex Girlfriend returned from it’s winter hiatus with a crazy good episode.

This article contains spoilers so if you haven’t seen the episode “I’m Going To The Beach With Josh and His Friends”, please do not continue reading.

For anyone who thinks that Crazy Ex Girlfriend is just that musical comedy with great humor and songs, they’re wrong. Yes, it does have great humor and song but it’s also so much more.

One of Crazy Ex Girlfriend’s strengths is that it doesn’t hide from its premise.  A show about a woman who uproots her life to move cross country to basically stalk her ex crush is tricky.  How can you make the lead character, Rebecca Bunch endearing without appearing stalkerish?  Well, first have Rachel Bloom play her.  Rachel has that likable quality that draws viewers in.  Additionally, Rebecca knows she moved because of Josh but doesn’t want to admit that to herself or even to BFF Paula. Also, regardless of how intelligent and successful Rebecca is, she has an insecurity that makes her easy to relate to as we all have our own insecurities.

As “I’m Going To The Beach With Josh and His Friends” opens, Rebecca is emotional after going to see a movie “Friends Until The End”.  She sings about having friends when she spies on Josh, Valencia and his friends talking about the movie and making plans to go to the beach.  When Valencia notices her, she invites Rebecca over and also to join them on their beach trip. Though surprised, Rebecca accepts.

Paula doesn’t think it’s a good idea.  She wants Rebecca to admit she loves Josh.  Their boss Darryl is excited and wants to go too, offering to bring bean dip.  Here’s another successful person that is insecure and wants to be part of “the guys”.

So, Rebecca shows up to pick up the gang in this huge tour bus.  Poor Rebecca, she always seems to go over the top.

On the bus, Valenica jealously notices that Josh and Rebecca appear to have a lot in common as they have fun dancing. Heather and later Darryl board the bus joining Rebecca, Josh, Valencia, and White Josh. When Rebecca performs an impromptu pole dance, Valencia’s had enough and calls Rebecca on her interest in Josh.

It also comes up that Rebecca and Greg hooked up when she first got to town, causing a temporary rift between Josh and Greg (which they patch up by episode’s end).  But the biggest revelation is that Rebecca lied that she moved to West Covina for a job once Darryl tells the group that is was Rebecca who begged him to hire her.

Rebecca explains that after she ran into Josh and he raved how happy he was to be in West Covina, she realized because she was unhappy in New York, she wanted to be some place happy too so she moved to West Covina.

I think Rebecca does believe this, that moving wasn’t just about Josh, although it was a large part.  When they are alone, Josh tells Rebecca he believes her, glad he could help her be happy by her moving to West Covina and glad she’s there.  I think this also causes Rebecca to fall in love with Josh for more than him being an old crush.

Later, Rebecca finally admits to Paula that she loves Josh.

“I’m Going To The Beach With Josh and His Friends” helped move the Rebecca/Josh relationship forward in an unexpected way.

What did you think of the mid season premiere of Crazy Ex Girlfriend? Sound off in the comments.  Or tweet @thenerdygirlexp and @stacyamiller85 .