Portrayal of veganism in "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend"

It's always interesting to note how veganism comes up in movies and TV shows--it's not uncommon, and is usually portrayed within the context of a variety of stereotypes of vegans. As veganism is a counterculture rather than a mainstream, the portrayals are usually not flattering. It is usually the quirky (if we're being generous), weird, loony characters that are vegan/vegetarian. The trait helps to establish the character as idiosyncratic. This perspective makes sense, as TV show/movie writers are usually a part of the mainstream, and therefore view veganism in the context of their interactions with other vegans, than in the context of the content of the topic itself (animal rights, environment, etc.).

However--and perhaps this is because I have such low expectations that I am easy to please--I was not unhappy with the portrayal of veganism in the Netflix TV show, "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend." The main character Rebecca goes vegan in the episode where she is trying to make better decisions and turn her life around. Rebecca's hallmark trait is her self sabotaging, especially in her romantic life, and this episode sees her trying to reign in her more basic desires (for her crush to be requited, wanting to eat meat, etc.), and instead opt for the healthier, right decision (going on a date with the guy who treats her well and likes her, going vegan, etc.).

This portrayal is complicated, because it clearly shows going vegan as the subpar option, in that it is not what the heart truly desires. Her veganism is also clearly portrayed as a fad--rushing into something too quickly, and then giving it up because it's too hard, like buying a bunch of running clothes and getting excited, but ultimately never going running. As part of this, there is a scene where she tries the cauliflower over the meat taco, and while she says it's delicious, her date says it's disgusting, and she later goes back to guiltily devour the meat taco, so the message is that the vegan option is less delicious--and of course they would use the cauliflower example. I promise vegan options are not all cauliflower wings and zucchini spaghetti! I felt the clearly unappetizing sounding cauliflower example was unfair in vegan food representation, but moving on.

Despite this association with veganism as bland and subpar, it also clearly associated with doing the better thing. The repeated analogy drawn in this episode was her choice to be vegan being similar to her choice to engage with a more healthy romantic partner, Greg, rather than Josh. The show definitely frames it so that you are rooting for Greg the whole time, and you want her to have the maturity to make it go right with Greg, so this is a very positive association.

However, ultimately she succumbs to her self-destructing tendencies, reaches for the meat taco, and while she's gobbling it down, meets the the blond ponytail guy again and sleeps with him, thus ruining her date with Greg. So analogy continues here--she is giving into her self-destruction, which is both to eat meat, and to ruin her relationship with Greg.

In conclusion, while she is ultimately unable to show the self-control to make good choices, thus making veganism out to be difficult and cauliflower-type boring, the show is not necessarily the protagonist, especially in this show, where Rebecca is clearly made out to be flawed. So the show, unlike Rebecca's choices, overall puts veganism in a positive context, rather than a negative one.