I have no idea what compelled me to watch Crazy Ex-Girlfriend when it first aired, but I want to thank that little demon for introducing me to something truly special. The show introduced me to Rachel Bloom, playing Rebecca Bunch, a young lawyer with mental health issues that processes the world around her through musical numbers while stalking her summer camp ex-boyfriend. She quits her job, moves to West Covina, and pours her meds down the drain. The show is wild and I love it.

Crazy Ex-Girlfriend’s comedy acts as a hook, pulling the viewer into a show that exists not only to entertain, but to open dialogues about mental health, familial trauma, unchecked ambition, and love. It is also an introduction to a city that many, especially folks outside of Los Angeles County, aren’t familiar with.

So, what’s up with West Covina?

West Covina is part of the San Gabriel Valley (SGV) and is located on the eastern border of Los Angeles County. West Covina itself is a suburb surrounded by other suburbs, namely Covina, City of Industry, Pomona, Azusa, and Glendora. Not unlike the South Bay on LA County’s southwest corner, people don’t talk too much about the SGV. 

My familiarity with West Covina stems from its proximity to my alma mater, Cal Poly Pomona, and the various jobs I held in the nearby City of Industry and Walnut. Over the years, West Covina became a significant part of my daily life, from banking to shopping at Ikea. It’s a small city, unremarkable at first glance to folks that didn’t grow up in or near there. That’s the main reason why Rebecca’s opening song of the series comes off as so humorous - there is nothing immediately special about West Covina. 

But here’s the thing - a city doesn’t have to be cosmopolitan to be special. At the beginning of the show, Rebecca “loves” Josh, and she moves to West Covina to be near him. As the show progresses, Josh becomes an outlier, with West Covina becoming the common denominator in Rebecca’s healing journey. West Covina is where Rebecca finds true friends. She builds a community. She finds true love, she finds hobbies, and she begins to unravel (in good and bad ways). West Covina is where Rebecca hits rock bottom and where she begins to learn how to love herself. West Covina is not just where Josh is - it’s her home. And she stays. 

Never underestimate a place’s importance.

It's perfectly fine to have mixed feelings about a city or place. However, it's important to recognize that every place holds unique value and significance to someone, even if it doesn't resonate with you personally. All places hold memories, whether they be positive or negative. Even if regionally important activities don’t happen within a city’s borders, small impactful actions happen everyday within our homes, workplaces, and favorite spots. There will always be someone who loves where they are, no matter what. With that said - every place is important. If we’re talking about the larger SGV, I did a lot of my growing up in Pomona. My first job out of college was in Walnut.The job sucked, but it allowed me to move into my first proper apartment with my then-girlfriend, now-wife in Pomona. Later on, my first job out of grad school was in the City of Industry. That job also sucked, but I learned a lot about working in an office and was introduced to some great pho and Korean BBQ places.

The South Bay and Long Beach also live on the edge.

Nowadays, I’m back near home, in a place I love. I grew up in West Rancho Dominguez which is bordered by Compton, Gardena, Carson, and Los Angeles. I moved to Long Beach, which I consider to be where the cool kids from the South Bay end up. People tend to look down on southwest Los Angeles County too; no one ever wants to drive here because it’s “too far” and “why”. And that’s fair, I suppose. But you cannot say that these suburbs aren’t also very special. Fun Fact: Rachel Bloom grew up in Manhattan Beach!

Rebecca Bunch's love for West Covina isn't what makes her a 'crazy ex-girlfriend'; it's the myriad other reasons that give the show its title. West Covina is both special and important, much like any place that holds a piece of someone's heart. In the sprawling landscape of suburbs throughout Los Angeles County, it only benefits us to remember that even the smallest cities play important roles in the hearts and minds of those that live there.

Are you a local of the SGV, South Bay, or Long Beach? Share your favorite spots on the Proxi map below and help spread the love for all the cool spots on the edges of Los Angeles County!

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