Jane the Virgin: What Works, and What Doesn't

Warning: SPOILERS IF YOU HAVE NOT WATCHED.

Hey everyone! I'm sorry for posting this a week late, but this week wasn't one of the greatest in my life. But I'm back now, and that's all that matters. Let's get into what we've missed on Jane the Virgin!


When I say a lot has happened since my last review, A LOT has happened, one of the most important, impactful events being Michael's death. I was always Team Jafael and was indifferent to Michael, so that didn't really bother me. The timeline abruptly skipped a few years ahead, though, and I would've liked to see Jane dealing with her grief some more.

Meanwhile, Rogelio's ex Darcy just had a baby, Luisa is blackmailing Rafael and Petra, and Jane has a new fling love in her life. I don't really have much to say about the plot, so let's just get into the characters themselves.

I'm pretty sure I said this in my last review of JTV (which was nearly a year ago, woah), but Rafael and Petra deserve better. Petra has never been my favorite, but even I can tell that she deserves to get away from her toxic mother, Magda, and twin sister, Anezka. FGS, they even tried to murder her! It's not fun anymore to watch Petra suffer every episode when she just wants to protect her loved ones.

Rafael is in a similar boat. It's clear that the writers never cared for Rafael, and don't know what to do with him. Whether it's turning him into a shell of the man he used to be, or literally running him over a car, the writers might as well be saying a big "FUCK YOU" to Rafael fans every episode. I was angry about this, I am angry about this, and I always will be angry about this. RAFAEL DOES NOT DESERVE THIS. The Rafael I know is not a hypocrite who pushes away people who care about him. Jane and Rafael have one of the most important dynamics on the show (aside from Jane's relationships with her immediate family) and it's physically sickening to watch the writers tear it apart and smush it into tiny little pieces.

It also doesn't help that Luisa is back in town. I find it a little disturbing that the main lesbian representation on the show comes from a manipulative, bipolar woman and a crime lord. Luisa's actions are inexcusable, and the best thing she ever did for herself is to give her hotel shares to Rafael - even though her signature ultimately becomes fraud, given her mental state. Listen, I want to like Luisa. I really do. But her actions as of right now make her dislikable, and the best I can hope for is a redemption arc. (I did feel bad that Luisa wasn't actually hallucinating Carl, though, which was just a ploy by Magda and Anezka to gain full ownership of the hotel.)

On to the not-currently-suffering characters - Xo and Rogelio are one of the show's purest ships, and I'm glad they're healthily communicating right now. Whether Xo readily supports Rogelio's new daughter with his ex Darcy, or Rogelio offering to sponsor Xo's dance studio, the mutual support is apparent, and so refreshing to watch. I also appreciate the plot of Ro's telenovela making no sense just so the writers can dress Jaime Camill up as a sperm. I'm sure that was the highlight of his acting career.

Jane is also moving on with love in her life. Her ex from when she was 19, Adam, has returned, and they're giving their relationship another shot. An illustrator, Adam's casual lifestyle clashes with Jane's ideals upon first sight. Adam is....okay, I guess. The best part about him is that he's canonically bisexual, and Jane being biphobic was awful to watch but relatable, in terms of experience. He bonds with Rafael and Mateo easily, and so far hasn't done anything suspicious. Jane's still pushing ahead with her novel based on her relationship with Michael, and Adam is 100% on board. While I prefer Jafael by a long shot, he's miles better than Michael. I'm still waiting for the other ball to drop, though, because it just seems too good to be true.

I wish I could say I still love this show the way I loved the earlier seasons, but I'm sad to say it's slowly going downhill. I love the cast with all my heart, but even they can't act well to the shitty writing. Jane deserves more female friends, Rafael deserves to spend time with his family, and Petra deserves to be free of her mother and sister. I can only hope the writers finally pull their heads out of their asses and start respecting the fan faves, because if Rafael, Petra, or Abuela (ABUELA?!?!?!) die, it will be the last straw.

Andi Mack next week, people! SO EXCITED :)