Jane the Virgin digs deeper into how Jane and her family got to where they are three years in the future. Their present realities are, to be quite honest, either miserable or deeply confusing given the people they used to be. Petra having better behaved children than Mateo should be proof enough of that. So how did everyone get on their current tracks? This week we get a little more than just the cliff notes versions of these moments. This includes a better glimpse into Jane’s mindset in the weeks and months following Michael’s sudden death.
Poor Rogelio’s life has really gone down the tubes. Not only is he fake-married to a woman he hates, he blows all chances of reconciling with Xiomara. When she finds out that he knew she would be painted as the ‘Evil Ex’ on his reality show, she says goodbye to him forever. Not even Jane and Alba can excuse his behavior, though they accept his well-though ‘Ropology’ baskets. The more important point here is that nothing in Rogelio’s life is real anymore, and he’s not the same person he used to be. Rogelio was always self-absorbed, over the top, and sweet as a puppy, but he was never so disingenuous. Darci became that way after Rogelio let her one viable egg die, and dragged him through reality television so they could both be miserable and rich. Now in order for Rogelio to reset his life, he must break his $10 million contract.
Jane is exuberant about her publishing offer, until she realizes the upfront offer is not what is actually in the contract. It’s a fifth less of what she makes now, with the added sting of no benefits. Unfortunately, by the time she realizes this Jane has already quit her job. Going back to it is tough considering she chewed out her boss for being a horrible person. But Jane is so desperate she’s willing to endure a very painful spin class. Zen Rafael hates seeing Jane so miserable. He knows working a job where she’s not in a constant state of stress is important. Ultimately Jane takes the job he offers as the Marbella lounge manager. Doing a job she enjoys which will free up her creative spirit more than being stifled.
Even though the body is found on next-door hotel neighbor Chuck’s property, Rafael makes the point that the Marbella needs to get ahead of the story.. What Petra doesn’t realize is that the move unintentionally puts Chuck’s business at risk when the media thinks his silence on the matter is suspicious. She tries to brush off the notion that she has feelings for Chuck, but she goes through an awful lot of trouble to prove Scott’s death was accidental. Of course it could just be her guilt over moving Scott’s body past the Marbella’s property line. Then again, Rafael and his friend from prison seem more worried about being associated with that body than Petra does.
Michael’s old partner is put in charge of Scott’s murder investigation, and his reappearance rattles Jane. A panic attack seems valid, but slapping him seemed to come out of nowhere. We get the answer amidst flashbacks to the first few weeks and months after Michael’s death. Dennis made it a priority to check in on Jane after Michael died, but neglected to tell her he was trying to steal Michael’s notes on the Mutter investigation. She threw him out, and they haven’t spoken since. Now she has a bad habit of hitting him every time she sees him. You know you have unresolved issues when your 4-year old tells you to use your words! Luckily Dennis learns his lesson by taking Jane to a boxing ring for their next conversation (giving Gina Rodriguez the opportunity to show off her skills). He explains he was trying to clear Michael’s good name of any foul play, and the two are able to make peace.
Life’s too short to be miserable. Here’s to Jane finding a new balance.
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