25 feel-good shows to start 2018 off right

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend

The premise: A successful, albeit high-strung, lawyer moves from New York City to West Covina, California, to go after her high school boyfriend, whom she runs into after 20 years on the street. Rebecca Bunch, played by the limitlessly talented Rachel Bloom, is the “crazy ex-girlfriend” in question, but the show is about so much more than her insane whim to move or her erroneous crush. The show is about a woman with a lot to uncover about herself, and the work it takes to be okay with yourself.

Why it’s so good: There’s so much good about this show that it’s hard to narrow it to a few paragraphs. It might be a toss-up between the catchy musical numbers and the scathing, raw reflection of the female performance. Rebecca might seem like she’s a complete nutball, but she’s really a compilation of every woman in American culture. She fights with the pressures of being successful, beautiful, marriageable, friendly, and well-adjusted. Rebecca’s journey might be a little exaggerated for dramatic effect, but it’s not unrecognizable for women.

And then there’s all those musical moments that lift our most absurd rituals into the light of day. No other show commemorates the heavy bosom or getting ready quite like this show, and frankly, it’s genius.

How to watch: Seasons 1 and 2 are available on Netflix, and the first half of season 3 is available to watch through The CW app.