We at TVOvermind are taking a look at the best of the 2014-2015 television season. Like our readers, we have fallen in love with The CW’s breakout hit Jane the Virgin. In our round table discussion, we talk about the many reasons why this freshman series is so beloved.
There have been many quirky “dramedies” on television. What sets Jane the Virgin apart from others?
Araceli Aviles: Jane the Virgin has just the right balance of comedy and drama, reality and dreaming, practicality and passion. It touches on people’s vulnerabilities and the importance of leaning on the people in your life for the big moments and the little ones. The moments that make you laugh are filled with just as much genuine affection as the moments that make you tear up.
Laura Schinner: There are a few things that set Jane the Virgin apart from the other dramedies on television right now. The first one being that the show openly embraces what it is, poking fun at some of the more obviously over-dramatic moments in the series. While it can sometimes come across as a telenovela, the writers acknowledge this fact, even having one of the main characters star in a telenovela. The other thing that sets Jane the Virgin apart is the genuine heart that the show portrays. Even with the characters often finding themselves in highly unrealistic situations, they still bring the emotion like no other show does. That is in big part thanks to the talented cast, especially this season’s breakout star, Gina Rodriguez.
Andy Behbakht: That is a big question for sure, I think my personal reason why I prefer this show over some other “dramedies” that I watch/have watched (which there aren’t a lot of on my list) is that this show has not only a terrific cast and group of characters, but it knows so well how to put them to use. It’s hard to compare because we really haven’t had a show like Jane the Virgin in a long time.
Chris King: I think what separates Jane the Virgin apart from so many other TV “dramedies” are two distinct qualities. First and foremost, it’s the show’s heart; while all of the best dramedies have heartfelt exchanges and moments, I’ve never seen a young series nail them all so consistently well throughout its freshman season as Jane the Virgin has. It’s these quieter, tender moments between the characters that really ground them in reality, no matter what insane situation is happening.
Second, and just as important, Jane the Virgin is, week in and week out, one of the most romantic shows on television. And I’m not just talking about first kisses or confessions of love, but smaller moments, like Jane encouraging Rafael to reach out to his mother, or Xo taking the fall for Rogelio’s fear of heights. These scenes may not have the dramatic flair of some of Jane‘s more telenovela-like moments, but they do a great job of balancing the series’ sense of fun and playfulness with its unapologetic and authentic emotion.
The character of Jane is easily one of the most likable characters on television right now. Why do you think she is also so relatable, given that she has basically unwittingly found herself in the middle of a telenovela?
Araceli Aviles: Jane is authentic and real, not only in her struggles with the topsy-turvy parts of her life, but in the basic everyday aspects as well. She struggles with career and monetary choices, between what’s sensible and what is her passion. She values her family and her culture, but doesn’t try to rub it in people’s faces. More than anything, she always tries to see things from other’s perspective, always tries to be fair, because she is a genuinely caring person.
Laura Schinner: Jane is relatable because like so many other people, she is simply trying to make the best decisions she can given the situation she is in. Like many of us, she had no control over how that situation came to be, but she deals with it head on. While she stumbles and questions herself along the way, she always ends up okay. Jane is an incredibly strong woman, as are the other women of the show, and that’s relatable to a strong percentage of the female audience. Even though she finds herself in these insane situations, when it comes down to it, she’s just like the rest of us. The believable writing of her character combined with Gina Rodriguez’s heartfelt performance goes a long way in making her relatable as well.
Andy Behbakht: I think it has to do with the fact that she just feels so damn real as a character, like this is someone that you could actually run into in real life. There is one episode in particular that I remember that was in the second half of the season where Jane was expressing fear about having to be a single parent, which is something a lot of young women and men can relate to. But then we see Jane pick herself up from the ground and proceed to face those challenges, which makes her someone whose story I want to follow every week.
Chris King: Similar to what I said above, it’s a combination of the quieter, more personal moments that Jane gets to have with her over-the-top, larger-than-life fantasy sequences. Jane isn’t afraid to be hopeful and daring and imaginative; she wants her life to be the best it can be, for it to be as romantic and fulfilling as what she sees on TV. However, even though she’s a dreamer (and man, do I love that about her), she’s also realistic and understands that there are some things in life that are just out of her control. But it’s her toughness, her perseverance and determination, that keeps her afloat in the rocky waters of her telenovela life and makes her such a lovable character, a protagonist that we can connect with and truly root for.
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