Crazy Ex-Girlfriend: Symbolism of West Covina
In addition to being the main physical setting of the entire show, West Covina is in many ways a manifestation of the concept of personal growth and change. It’s the place of self realisation and discovery, a place for people to break out of old patterns and form newer, healthier ones. West Covina symbolises a different thing for each character, as each character has his/her own unique path to self discovery.
Rebecca: West Covina = Happiness
For Rebecca, West Covina is the utopia she always dreamed of finding, and the escape from her high-stress city lifestyle in New York. The people she meets and the experiences she has in West Covina cause Rebecca to rethink what her definition of true happiness is. This is echoed when Audra wins the lawsuit against Rebecca, and instead of feeling defeated, Rebecca reminds Audra not to forget to be happy. Unlike Audra, Rebecca no longer ties her source of happiness to external successes such as her career or her performance in the courtroom. She no longer holds onto a rigid definition of happiness, which is a great leap from the Rebecca in the pilot episode who has a panic attack while repeating “this is what happy feels like”.
Nathaniel: West Covina = Vulnerability
Similarly, Nathaniel’s entrance into West Covina redefined his sense of self, and gradually we see that his whole “rich corporate asshole” persona was merely a facade to mask his insecurities. As a child, Nathaniel’s father has always enforced the idea that vulnerability was weakness, and that weakness shouldn’t be shown. This becomes especially clear in the song “Man Nap”, when he initially refuses to take a nap even though he is clearly unwell. As a literal and figurative separation from his father and his toxic beliefs of masculinity, West Covina teaches Nathaniel how to be vulnerable, and he is finally able to let go of his fear of being weak, thus freeing himself from his obsession with discipline and control.
Josh: West Covina = Nostalgia
Having grown up in West Covina, Josh’s relationship to his hometown is very much one of nostalgia and dependency. West Covina holds all of Josh’s fondest memories, and by clinging onto his problem-free past, he is unable to grow up and move on to the future. For Josh, West Covina is the perfect, blissful childhood that he never seems to be able to let go of. In order for him to grow into the future self contained within him, Josh needs to learn to release himself from his unhealthy patterns of reminiscence, and face some of the more painful truths of reality (and adulthood).
Greg: West Covina = Comfort
As with Josh’s case, Greg has grown up in West Covina, making his hometown a place of comfort and contentment. While this may seem like a positive relationship to have with one’s hometown, Greg’s sense of comfort in West Covina is the very thing that is stopping him from stepping out of his bubble to pursue his dreams. In the song “What’ll it be”, Greg sings “hey West Covina, why won’t you let me break free”. As ironic as it sounds, the comfort that West Covina provides is the chain that ties him down. In An Imaginary Life, David Malouf writes of life as a series of “painful settings out into the unknown, pushing off from the edges of consciousness into the mystery of what we have not yet become”. In order for Greg to grow, he needs to step out of his comfort zone that is West Covina, to risk the pain and struggle of change and pursue his dreams. As heartbreaking as it was to see Greg and Rebecca break up, Greg’s choice to sacrifice comfort and step into the unknown is what he needs to do in order to find his own happiness.
