With the 2014-15 TV season coming to a close, TVOvermind is taking a closer look and reviewing the most recent seasons of some of network TV’s biggest shows. We first examined FOX’s “Gotham.” Next up: The CW’s “Jane the Virgin.”
After falling in love with and having to see brilliant new shows cancelled time and time again over the last few years, I went into this television season only planning on watching two new shows: Selfie and The Flash. While one was tragically cancelled and the other met expectations, neither of these shows ended up being my favorite new show of the 2014-15 season. That spot was reserved for a special show, one that generated a lot of buzz within its first few episodes, causing me to tune in and see what all the hype was about. Right away, I knew I wouldn’t be disappointed in Jane the Virgin, as I immediately fell in love with the Villanueva women and the dramedy surrounding Jane, a pregnant virgin. Jane the Virgin started out strong and only got better throughout its freshman season as characters developed and fully embraced the series’ unique format. For once I can say that I fell in love with a show that will be around for a very long time.
Jane the Virgin is a genre in and of itself, so unique in the way it tells stories. Many people cite the narrator as their favorite character, something that would be unheard of on any other show, but Jane the Virgin manages to pull it off seamlessly, as the narrator offers commentary and insight about the going-ons of the characters. This accomplishes a few very important things, the first of which is that it lets us know that the show does not take itself too seriously. While the genre could be described as many things, dramedy seeming most appropriate the majority of the time, there’s no denying the fact that underneath it all there’s a hint of that telenovela charm. After all, the characters are constantly watching telenovelas, and Jane’s father himself is a telenovela star.
Instead of ignoring this essential quality that makes Jane the Virgin so special , the writers embrace it by acknowledging the ridiculous nature of what’s happening. When the narrator makes a sarcastic comment or when Jane and Rafael go through every insane thing that has happened to them since the start of the season, that is the series’ writers acknowledging that they know what’s happening is beyond the realm of reality. Instead of taking away from the dramatic aspect of the show, this adds to the comedy, evening out the two genres that make up this fantastic series.
The heart of Jane the Virgin, the reason why we tune in week after week to see what will happen, is the Villanueva women. Jane, her mother, and her abuela are all huge inspirations for women everywhere, as they face challenge after challenge. As an audience, we’ve cried with them, laughed with them, sympathized with them, and then cried with them a whole lot more, and through every step of the journey, they’ve been there for each other, offering advice or sometimes just a shoulder to lean (or cry) on. The bond between these three women is a strong one, and while they may not always agree on how to live their lives, they will always be there for each other when it matters most.
Of course, no telenovela is complete without a bit of romance, and with romance often comes love triangles, although the term “love triangle” may be a bit too simple for the complicated romantic lives of the characters on Jane the Virgin. Imagine the next few sentences being said in the voice of the narrator: At the beginning of the series, Jane was with Michael, even getting engaged to him early on in the season. Meanwhile, Rafael was married to Petra, ready to have a child with her. But when Jane was accidentally artificially inseminated with Rafael’s sample, things got a bit more complex. Both original relationships fell apart as Jane and Rafael developed feelings for each other, the future parents unable to deny the attraction between them. Like in any good telenovela, their newfound happiness couldn’t last long, with family drama and the pressure from running the hotel catching up to Rafael. With their relationship also falling apart, that left the door open for Michael to find his way back into Jane’s life, hoping to rekindle something.
With the back-and-forth nature of these romantic relationships, fans have taken to deeming themselves either #TeamMichael or #TeamRafael, depending on who they want to see Jane end up with. At the end of the day, I think it’s safe to say that almost every fan is #TeamJane, simply wanting what’s best for the character that has stolen everyone’s heart. While the drama among these four characters has been fun to watch, there’s only so many times they can go back and forth before the audience loses interest. It would benefit the show to pick one pairing and stick with it next season. After all, there will be plenty of other drama to explore next season with baby Mateo having been kidnapped by Sin Rostro in the season finale.
While all of the actors can hold their own comedically, it’s Jaime Camil’s portrayal of Rogelio de la Vega that provides a majority of the laughs in Jane the Virgin. Naturally, most of that comedy comes from his over-dramatic nature as a stereotypical soap opera star, always needing praise and attention. Between his obsessive use of hashtags, his bromance with Michael, and his giant ego, there is never a dull moment when Rogelio is on screen. If the Villanueva women represent the heart of the show, then it’s safe to say that Rogelio represents the humor that can also be found in every episode.
Featuring a cast of incredible actors, exceptional writing, and all around fun, it’s no wonder that Jane the Virgin has made such a big impact in its freshman season. Gina Rodriguez and the show deserve every bit of recognition they’ve received so far, and it’s been a joy to watch this cast so humbly take in all the positive attention. I have no doubt that the show will continue on its quest of excellence next season and am waiting with baited breath to see what will happen to Mateo and the rest of the characters we all love so much.
[Photo via The CW]
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