Matt Taylor – Jane the Virgin
The term “sophomore slump” exists for a reason, particularly within the realm of television. Many times, a show will win over viewers during their first season, only to leave them heartbroken in the second, as they try but fail to recapture the magic from the earlier episodes. Thankfully, the same cannot be said for Jane the Virgin. The surprise critical darling, airing on The CW of all places, has maintained the same level of warmth, creativity, humor and sheer entertainment value that made the first season so terrific. And, once again, Gina Rodriguez emerges as one of Hollywood’s most promising talents.
Like the telenovelas the show frequently references and draws its inspiration from, Jane the Virgin moves at a breakneck pace and frequently juggles some outlandish subplots. Within the first few episodes of the season, Jane’s newborn baby (Mateo) was already kidnapped by a criminal mastermind, the scheming Petra has artificially inseminated herself with her ex-husband’s ‘sample’ to manipulate him and, of course, Jane found herself stuck between the two men in her life: ex-fiance Michael and the father of her baby, Rafael. Thankfully, the show handles the melodrama with a wink and sly smile, creating a self-aware soap opera that pokes fun at how over-the-top it is. The jokes are hilarious, and the show is consistently a joy to watch.
But, for all its outlandish plot elements, Jane the Virgin anchors itself back to reality thanks to its warm heart and stellar cast. Gina Rodriguez is damn near perfect as Jane, effortlessly switching from Lucille Ball-esque physical comedy to tear inducing emotional speeches, sometimes in a single scene. I have no doubt her star will only grow brighter as the years go on. But the other actors are no less impressive. In fact, Jane the Virgin is home to one of the best female-fronted ensembles on television. As Jane’s immature but loving mother, Andrea Navedo makes Xiomara a subtle comedic figure, while Ivonne Coll anchors the more dramatic moments as Jane’s grandma, Alba. This season has begun to develop Alba’s status as an illegal citizen and how it impacts her family, and Coll has delivered with some truly gut-wrenching moments. She manages to humanize a heated political topic, brings a sense of gravitas to the series, and turning Jane the Virgin into a surprisingly political series. Hopefully the Emmys won’t ignore this ensemble again.
And, while it might seem reductive to dwell on the romantic elements in a show filled with subplots, it must be said that, yet again, Jane the Virgin features one of primetime’s most compelling love triangles. Both Michael and Rafael are shown to be complicated individuals, who are both genuinely admirable human beings despite some character flaws. There is a genuine sense of suspense throughout the first three episodes of the season, as viewers wonder what choice Jane will make. In fact, audience members may struggle to make up their own minds. While we may have our favorites (#TeamMichael), deciding whose best for Jane is an awfully tough choice.
It may be a cliché, but there truly is something for everyone in Jane the Virgin. Soap opera fans will adore the shocking twists, while comedy fans will laugh harder than they would during any sitcom. There are also actors to admire, writing to be praised, and diversity to celebrate. If you had told me two years ago that The CW would be home to one of the most well made series on primetime, I wouldn’t have believed you. But, the truth is, it’s hard to find a show as compulsively addictive as Jane the Virgin.
https://youtu.be/aERi1ABDTao
[php] wp_link_pages(array(‘before’=>’
‘)); [/php]
=========================================================================================================
