-As a non-Californian, I assumed the Santa Ana winds were probably a real thing, but had no idea the "devil winds" stuff is an actual superstition. I liked the use of them in this episode as a storytelling device, personified by Eric Michael Roy serving as a do-wopping Frankie Valli-esque "sort of" narrator/personification of Rebecca's subconscious. One of the major themes on Crazy Ex-Girlfriend is how we try to blame our own behavior on anything that isn't ourselves. Rebecca has been clearly attracted to Nathaniel from the beginning and getting engaged to Josh has not changed the fact that he isn't going to fix her myriad of problems. Maybe Nathaniel wouldn't be keen on wanting to sleep with Rebecca if the winds hadn't blown her blouse open but it still wouldn't change that Josh hasn't been giving her goosebumps lately and yes, the winds caused Rebecca and Nathaniel to get stuck in an elevator together but she's the one who chose to kiss him after they were free. The winds give her something to fixate on and blame, but as he tells her at the end "I just reveal your deepest wishes and fears". People might act "whee-ird" during the winds but it's not the wind's doing, as much as people pretend otherwise. Then after laying out her biggest fear of all: "You ruined everything, you stupid bitch", he disappears and Rebecca is left with no one to blame her problems on but her. So she retreats even further into denial.
-The "stuck in an elevator" trope is pretty tired at this point, but the show's lampshading of how this is a rom-com staple helped make it work here because Rebecca is just the kind of person who would get caught up in the romance of being stuck in an elevator with someone you can't help but be attracted to. It's also why she goes in for that kiss even though they've been freed. It's the kind of grand romantic gesture that would be a beautiful moment in a rom-com and it's played like one, but once the moment is over reality sets in and the whole thing looks like a big mistake.
-Nathaniel gets a lot of development this week that continues to flesh him out as a character while allowing him to remain a brash jerk (Though his hostile relationship with the office this week seemed a lot friendlier, like everyone has accepted that this is their dynamic and they're cool with it). Scott Michael Foster continues to be terrific in the role also. That being said though, I am very weary of the idea of Rebecca and Nathaniel coupling up by the season's end (As I'm sure the writers want everyone to be because they're smart like that. Even with that longing look he gave her at the episode's end, he's been very clear that it's all about the chase with him. He's not going to be happy or satisfied in a relationship with Rebecca and that's only going to compound her misery. Also proposing casual sex to pass the time the moment you get stuck in an elevator is a sleazy move, especially when you know the other person is "en-gaged".
-That being said, "Let's Have Intercourse" was a very fun Ed Sheeran-inspired number that helps demonstrate exactly why Rebecca should not have intercourse with Nathaniel. It's all routine to him, like a transaction and Rebecca isn't built for that kind of attitude towards sex (Unless she really hates herself as demonstrated when she slept with Trent).
-The moment they brought up the idea of Josh and Rebecca putting themselves on a two-year long waiting list for the perfect venue, it became easy to guess that they would suddenly be getting married a lot sooner than that by the episode's end. I didn't expect it to be because a guilty Rebecca paid someone to vacate their spot though. Also I winced at the phrase "an exorbitant amount of money". Rebecca's spiralling back into old habits (In this case, spending wayyy too much money in the name of love) and it's tough to watch.
-The winds sideline Josh for the majority of the episode, which allows Rebecca to be pre-occupied with Nathaniel but hopefully he's more of an active participant in the last two episodes of the season. Proposing to Rebecca was as much a cry for help from him as anything she's done and it'd be good to see more of his headspace as we hurtle towards that inevitable catastrophe of a wedding.
-If you want to give a jerk character easy depth, make them a closet fan of the Harry Potter series. I'm already more endeared to Nathaniel, even if I think he's as bad a romantic match for Rebecca as Josh is. Also, Rebecca may think she's a Gryffindor masquerading as a Ravenclaw but she's totally a legit Ravenclaw (I'm a Gryffindor and I have no problem saying it BTW).
-Daryl's view of Paula as his best friend has been a sweet running joke since the idea was introduced and it gets explored here when a weird dream about Daryl's death and an oil painting of him and Paula leads her to guiltily accept a dinner invitation. It's a good plot that gives much-needed context to Daryl's view of his friendship with Paula. Daryl knows he isn't Paula's best friend and he's fine with that. It doesn't mean he can't appreciate her honesty or her sarcasm towards him as something he needs and values. She can still be his best friend even if he isn't hers (As the catchy and helpfully titled "You're My Best Friend (And I Know I'm Not Yours) demonstrates. He doesn't need equality in their friendship. What little she can give him is good enough.
-Of course Daryl isn't perfect and I appreciate the way the show doesn't let him off the hook for ambushing Paula with her estranged husband in an effort to reconcile them. Was his heart in the right place? Absolutely. Was it way out of line? Absolutely. Instead of trying to honestly engage Paula about her insecurities about welcoming her husband back into her life, he basically tries to force her into it. It works out in the end but not cool, Daryl.
-Rebecca may be deep in denial at this point but her words to Paula about not caring what people think do prove useful in finally letting Paula forgive Scott and getting to the heart of her dilemma nicely. Paula still loves Scott despite what he's done and she probably knows that he's not likely to do it again, but she also knows what he did is very awful and doesn't want to look foolish for taking him back. It feels like a very honest reaction and it makes the scene where she does take Scott back (while making it clear he'll have to earn back her trust) all the more powerful.
-Whatever happened to Paula in law school/Sunil? I miss both of those things and hope they can be fit in before season's end.
-I was curious about why a clip of George being called by the wrong name had made it into the "Previously On" and the moment he showed up outside that elevator, it became clear where this was going. What a terrific payoff to a great running joke. If this is truly it for George (and I doubt it is.), being more focused on Nathaniel remembering his name than the fact that he's been fired again is a great way to go.
-So it turns out Mrs. Hernandez talking and calling Rebecca out on her nonsense wasn't just a one-time deal. Excellent. The "silence" thing had kind of run it's course and with the increased prominence of people like Karen, Maya, and George (I refuse to believe he's gone for good) this season, Mrs. H needed to change course a bit.
-As far as "manifestations of Rebecca's subconscious" go, I would place Mr. Wind above the Spirit Guides but below the Dream Ghosts. Can't top those ghosts.
-"What's a girl to do when she's stuck between men? Especially when one of those men is a snake?!" Oh, Karen. Funniest tag of the season by far.
-Another solid episode this week. Next week: Rebecca tries to plan an entire wedding in two weeks. That'll go well.
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