At home, Rebeccatexts her father hoping to meet privately with Silas before her wedding to Josh. Paula arrives with a veil she made and the two celebrate Rebecca's upcoming nuptials (♫ What A Rush To Be A Bride ♫). Afterwards, Rebecca tells Josh how excited she is to have her father here and isn't even upset when Silas texts her back to turn down her invitation. Rebecca dons the veil and looks into a mirror triggering a memory from seven years ago. Lost in her reverie she calls Josh "Robert" and when he asks Rebecca about it she claims it's the name of a new client. Josh goes on to Home Base to attend his stag party with Darryl, Father Brah, WhiJo and Hector. He is bothered when Darryl reveals Rebecca lied to him; Darryl himself becomes upset upon learning WhiJo doesn't believe in the institution of marriage.
Later, Josh asks Father Brah if he had any doubts about becoming a priest. Brah says he never questioned it once he arrived at the seminary and felt at peace. That night at the rehearsal dinner, Valencia in her role as wedding planner coordinates the event and greets guests. Paula warns Rebecca to lower the expectations she has for her father. Rebecca doesn't listen and makes an embaressing scene when Silas arrives. She introduces him to Josh and Silas also has an uncomfortable reunion with Naomi. Rebecca is ecstatic when Silas agrees to her request for a father/daughter dance at the wedding reception. Nathaniel unexpectedly shows up but Rebecca ignores him when she notices her fiancée and father talking. Josh asks Silas about Robert and he recalls that was someone involved with Rebecca having to leave Harvard.
The next day at basketball practice, Josh confides in Sara his worries about Rebecca. In a dance studio, Rebecca and her father rehearse for the wedding. As they dance, memories of Silas' neglectful treatment of Rebecca leads to an awkward moment when he asks to borrow money. She goes to a sympathetic Dr. Akopian who suggests Silas may be the root of Rebecca's psychological issues. Akopian is concerned when her patient has a dissociative episode and says 'Robert' once more. Rebecca suddenly panics about her father leaving and goes to his hotel to give him a check. Meanwhile, Naomi tells Josh to drop the subject when he asks about Robert. Across the country in Massachusetts, Trent Maddock bribes a state official for a file on Rebecca to find something to break up her and Josh.
The next morning at Rebecca's house, Valencia and Heather leave with the bride for the wedding venue. Josh lingers and wrestles with his doubts about Rebecca. He is eventually joined by Father Brah who advises he just talk to Rebecca. At the venue, Rebecca reflects on how her dreams are coming true (♫ Rebecca's Reprise ♫). Back at her home, Trent catches Josh before he leaves and gives him a file possibly containing Rebecca's secret. Josh rushes over to see Sara but realizes he's falling into his pattern of hooking up with the next available pretty woman to solve his problems. At the wedding, Paula and Rebecca reminisce as the guests mingle outside. Amongst them are WhiJo and Darryl who put aside their disagreement about marriage to help Madison prepare for her role as a flower girl.
Heather's conversation with Hector and his mom is interrupted when Valencia asks her to confirm Josh's arrival. At the entrance, Heather observes Josh pull up in his SUV only to drive off. While Josh eventually stops to think things over, Heather and Valencia tell Rebecca and Paula what just happened. As the guests wait for the ceremony to start WhiJo is surprised by Darryl. He now wants them to have a baby after seeing how well Wilson gets along with Madison. Meanwhile, Father Brah updates Rebecca on Josh's whereabouts. Josh is now at the seminary having decided to become a priest. In reaction Rebecca runs outside past the guests stopping at the edge of a cliff near the venue. Paula, Heather and Valencia follow trying to calm Rebecca down as she has another flashback of Robert.
He was a married Harvard professor she had an affair with who ended the tryst and broke her heart. She accidentally set his house on fire and was forced to leave school and get psychiatric help at a mental institution. Rebecca faints after remembering all of this and is caught by Paula. As Rebecca blames herself for all her broken relationships Paula assures her it was the men's fault not hers. She stokes Rebecca's fury by telling her she should blame the first man to leave her: Silas. Backed up by her friends, Rebecca tells her father to go and that she never wants to see him again. Once he departs, Paula tells Rebecca that they will make Josh pay for what he did. Rebecca calmly states that Josh Chan must be destroyed and smiles when Paula asks what she has in mind.
Recurring themes[]
Songs[]
Episode songs
Debut
"What A Rush To Be A Bride" Performed by: Rebecca Bunch, Paula Proctor Writers: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger
Rebecca and Paula celebrate the end result of all their scheming.
Reprises
"Rebecca's Reprise" Performed by: Rebecca Bunch Writers: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger
Rebecca reflects on how she's about to get everything's she's dreamed of.
Leitmotifs
"Love Kernels" Performed by: N/A Writers: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger
The song is heard while Rebecca hugs her dad after he shows up for the rehearsal dinner.
"Thought Bubbles" Performed by: N/A Writers: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger
Guitar chords from this song can be heard as Josh gets dressed for the wedding.
"One Indescribable Instant" Performed by: N/A Writers: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger
The song is heard at the start of a scene transition to Rebecca and Josh's wedding.
"I'm The Villain In My Own Story" Performed by: N/A Writers: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger
The song is heard in the final scene of the episode as Rebecca plots her revenge.
Rebecca composes a text to her father which is almost exactly like the one she wrote for Josh after moving to West Covina in the Season One episode "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!".
Rebecca describes herself to Josh as having been "dramatic" and "weird" when she was a child. These were two words Josh himself called her when he broke up with her at camp over a decade ago. This was shown in the Season One episode "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!".
Rebecca says the line "This is what happy feels like." This was originally spoken in the Season One episode "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!", Rebecca first said the words when she learned about a promotion she was getting at her firm. Although it was what she worked hard for she was still unhappy. This line was also spoken by Audra Levine in the episode "Josh and I Go to Los Angeles!".
Father Brah mentions traffic and how long it takes to get to the beach is a callback to a running gag in the episode "Josh Just Happens to Live Here!".
When the dance choreographer mistakes Rebecca and her father Silas as a couple she laughingly says "Oh, oh my God, he thinks we're a couple! We're not a couple but he thinks we're a couple! We're not a couple! But that's so funny, he thinks we're a couple!". This is a callback to the Season One episode "I'm So Happy That Josh Is So Happy!" when she said the same thing after Dr. Phil mistakes Rebecca and Josh as a couple.
When Naomi Bunch pleads with a judge to go easy on Rebecca after she is facing serious criminal charges she recites a line from the song "Just a Girl in Love". Rebecca also does this when the judge sentences her to seek psychological help.
Silas calls Rebecca crazy and she responds "A little bit." She said this one line first in response to Josh when he asked her if she was kicking him out of her apartment in the Season One episode "Josh's Sister is Getting Married!". The entire exchange was also used between Nathaniel and Rebecca in the Season Two episode "When Do I Get to Spend Time With Josh?".
Backstory: The extent of Rebecca's underlying issues involving her father, her past relationships with men who are emotionally unavailable and how music is a part of her life is explored.
Its revealed that Rebecca hadn't seen her father in four years when she was still living in New York. He spent only twenty minutes with her when they got coffee together after he and his new family saw the Broadway show "The Lion King".
It's revealed Rebecca had a tryst with a married Harvard professor named Robert seven years ago. When he ended things with her she accidentally set his home on fire resulting in her leaving Harvard and having to get psychological treatment.
It's at a mental institution that Rebecca sings song to herself and retreats into musical fantasies inside her head to deal with reality, a coping mechanism she still uses.
Foreshadowing: Rebecca's connection to fire has been foreshadowed before the reveal in this episode about the accidental arson she caused.
"I Hope Josh Comes to My Party!": Rebecca makes flyers for her house warming party and the image she draws looks like the house is on fire.
"When Will Josh and His Friend Leave Me Alone?": Rebecca set Josh and Greg's stuff on fire and nearly burned down her apartment which in retrospect mimicked her break up with Robert.
Rebecca, unsatisfied with Paula's ideas to build a case against Josh, turns to Nathaniel for help crafting a truly evil plan. Meanwhile, Josh finds becoming a priest is harder than he thought.
Directed by: Stuart McDonald - Written by: Dan Gregor and Doug Mand
Just as Rebecca tries to be more realistic and practical, Trent throws a wrench into her plans. At the same time Josh and Valencia reckon with their shared history.
Directed by: Audrey Wauchope - Written by: Erin Ehrlich
Rebecca, Paula, Heather and Valencia participate in a séance after a spooky discovery. Darryl takes his parenting duties to an extreme, while Nathaniel is determined to prove to his father he's the best person to run the law firm.
As Rebecca contemplates her feelings about her career, Paula is forced to deal with a big client. Josh tries to get back in the dating game, while Heather and Hector deal with insurance.
Directed by: Stuart McDonald - Written by: Elisabeth Kiernan Averick
As Rebecca contemplates her feelings about her career, Paula is forced to deal with a big client. Josh tries to get back in the dating game, while Heather and Hector deal with insurance.
Directed by: Erin Ehrlich - Written by: Ilana Pena
Heather and Valencia both have changes in their lives which leaves Rebecca reeling. Meanwhile, Paula has to adjust to some good news/bad news from her eldest son.
Rebecca gets more than she bargained for during a day out with Darryl. Josh lends a helping hand to Paula, while Heather encourages Nathaniel to be a nice person.
Directed by: Stuart McDonald - Written by: Rene Gube
Greg returns to West Covina, which forces Rebecca to question things she thought she knew about people she has loved in her life. Meanwhile, Valencia and Josh make some shocking discoveries while at their high school reunion.
Directed by: Stuart McDonald - Written by: Rene Gube
Rebecca supports Paula in her time of need despite, her own personal challenges. Emotions run high when Greg, Josh and Nathaniel have an unfortunate encounter.
Directed by: Stuart McDonald - Written by: Alden Derck & Aline Brosh McKenna
Rebecca gets a call to help her old nemesis out of a complicated situation. Meanwhile, Nathaniel, Josh and Greg attempt to deal with their competing feelings for Rebecca.
Directed by: Marty Pasetta, Jr. - Written by: Rachel Bloom, Adam Schlesinger and Jack Dolgen
Rachel Bloom and the cast of the critically acclaimed series perform live versions of fan-favorite songs with incredible staging, multimedia visuals and a live band and orchestra.
