'Glee' Meets 'Fleabag' in This 4-Part Comedy Series That's Officially a Streaming Hit

6 days ago 15

Published Oct 17, 2026, 7:36 PM EDT

Erin Konrad's love for everything entertainment dates back to elementary school when she became obsessed with classic Hollywood musicals. When she's not catching up on all her favorite television shows, she's advising her friends and family on what they should binge watch next.

She has her Bachelor's degree in Journalism and a Masters of Fine Arts in Creative Writing. Creating content for Collider gives her the opportunity to combine her writing skills with her passion for television and movies. She spends her free time trying to beat her personal record of reading 137 books in a year and cuddling with her dog, Gracie.

There are very few television series that have been able to effectively use songs to tell their stories. FOX's six-season musical, Glee, is perhaps the most well-known and beloved. With a wide range of musical performances featuring hit songs in each episode, the series never shied away from using music as a key element of its storytelling. During its reign from 2009 to 2015, the massively popular show was unstoppable, and it has recently been climbing streaming charts as well. If you're looking for a binge-watch that promises the same incredible utilization of music, with the dark comedy vibes found in Prime Video's brilliant Fleabag, there's one show that will definitely fit the bill.

What Is 'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend' About?

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend premiered on The CW back in 2015, filling in the gap Glee was leaving behind. Throughout its four seasons, the dark comedy somehow always stayed under the radar, despite its unique and captivating story and talented cast. Created, written, and directed by Rachel Bloom and Aline Brosh McKenna, the series follows Rebecca Bunch (played by Bloom), an Ivy-League-educated lawyer working in New York City. Rebecca struggles with depression and anxiety, and decides on a misguided whim to move to the quiet suburb of West Covina, California. The (real-life) location is the hometown of her childhood sweetheart, Josh Chan (Vincent Rodriguez III), and Rebecca is determined to win him back. She gets a job at a small, local law firm run by the quirky Darryl Whitefeather (Pete Gardner), which is a far cry from the high-profile job she's used to. She bonds with her supportive, bored co-worker, Paula Proctor (Donna Lynne Champlin), and her new roommate, the deadpan Heather Davis (Vella Lovell), and ends up forming a complicated bond with Josh's best friend, Greg Serrano (Santino Fontana in Seasons 1-2 and Skylar Astin in Season 4). It's clear from the start that Rebecca is no typical protagonist. She makes horrible decisions, and self-sabotages at every turn, but that makes her journey all the more addictive to watch.

'Crazy Ex-Girlfriend's Unhinged Hilarity Will Make It Your Next Obsession

The show would be fun enough to watch for its captivating characters and plot points alone. But Crazy Ex-Girlfriend becomes a must-watch because of its creative storytelling. Each episode is filled with hilarious songs, goofy choreography, and magical interruptions from reality, which help the viewer feel like they're getting a peek inside Rebecca's mind. All of the songs were written for the show, and with sarcastic, yet insightful lyrics and catchy melodies, they're all super memorable too. You won't be able to get enough of tunes like "The Sexy Getting Ready Song," "The Math of Love Triangles," or "Let's Generalize About Men." But Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is so much more than just your average musical comedy. The show also dives into relatable and authentic concepts, like Rebecca's battles with mental illness, tough relationship problems, insecurities, and the many difficult stages of adulthood.

There is simply no way that Crazy Ex-Girlfriend would have been successful without its wildly talented cast. Bloom is a revelation as Rebecca, so much so that it's often hard to remember that she's simply an actor playing her. Her creativity is boundless, evident by the many hats she wore for this project. Fontana and Rodriguez are fantastic as the men caught in Rebecca's topsy-turvy orbit. A true standout of the series is Champlin, who allows her incredible booming voice to truly sell every song. Her layered performance, that gets developed more throughout each season, instantly makes Paula one of the most fascinating characters in the series. Scott Michael Foster is also exceptional in the role of Nathaniel Plimpton, who first pops up in Season 2, and creates even more chaos in Rebecca's life. There are also many exciting guest stars, including Tovah Feldshuh, Brittany Snow, and the legendary Patti LuPone. Thanks to these gifted actors, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend tackles everything from the effects of trauma to the complexities of parenting. These topics are all handled with care, while also infusing each subject with honesty and humor.

After 62 episodes, the series wrapped up in 2019 with a satisfying conclusion. Although it had a small yet devoted fanbase during its original run, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend still managed to snag four Emmys (and eight total nominations). What's even more impressive is its 98% Rotten Tomatoes score, which points to the fact that the comedy hasn't lost any of its potency. This inventive and unique series deserves even more fans, so if you're missing the music of Glee and the dark humor found in Fleabag, make Crazy Ex-Girlfriend your next binge-watch today.