Jane the Virgin, “Chapter Three,” was written by Meredith Averill and directed by Brad Silberling, who also directed “Chapter One.” Averill’s other credits include Star-Crossed, The Good Wife, and Life on Mars. Clearly, she has off-beat, drama, and romance on her resume. The show continues to delight with its mixture of magic realism, humor, and genuineness.
In this episode, everyone’s story gets a little more complicated. Jane (Gina Rodriguez) decides that she’s been saving herself for no reason, Michael (Brett Dier) starts to dig himself a hole, Petra (Yael Grobglas) raises Rafael’s (Justin Baldoni) suspicions, and Rogelio (Jaime Camil) pushes harder to be in Jane’s life. And of course, like any good romantic comedy, there are many near misses as characters bump into each other at inopportune moments.
Jane decides that she’s going to have sex with Michael because the one thing that had been holding her back was that she didn’t want to be pregnant and not married like her mother and she is anyway! However, we see that that isn’t really what was holding Jane back, and really wasn’t the message that Alba (Ivonne Coll) was trying to convey. Really, Jane was saving herself for the man she wanted to spend the rest of her life with. Suddenly, however, she finds herself having ever stronger feelings for Rafael. I loved the gimmick of showing her heart beating.
Rodriguez is delightful throughout, but really stands out in several scenes. I loved her delivery of “Let’s have sex” with Michael and “It’s all awkward, don’t you think?” with Rafael. When the Priest starts talking to her and then the choir and Alba start singing to her, her reaction is priceless. I also thought the scene in the church was terrific – especially having the Virgin Mary statue join in.
Jane happens to see Petra lurking at the crime scene and then meeting up with Michael. I like that she doesn’t lie to Michael. And of course, her breaking into Petra’s room and then getting caught is also hysterical. Again, I love that she is motivated to avoid the “Great balls of evil” that snowballing lies create. She tells Petra the truth, and it would seem that Petra mostly tells the truth about the pills. She does already have the nursery fixed up, but does she really want this baby? Petra is a master of the big balls it would seem – except she doesn’t do very well with Rafael. She tells him she didn’t know Zaz had a brother and then let’s the brother’s name slip, tipping Rafael off that something is amiss.
Meanwhile, Michael is coerced by Petra into starting his own snowballing lie. He gets her necklace back which puts him at her mercy by the end of the episode. Michael’s partner is also suspicious of him. Dier is doing a great job. It’s hard not to like Michael even while we see that Jane’s heart is leaning toward Rafael, and Michael’s actions to make sure she gives up the baby are somewhat reprehensible.
Camil is simply hilarious and adorable as Rogelio. He may be vain and a bit stupid, but his heart is clearly in the right place. I loved the parallel scenes of him calming both Jane and Alba when they meet him. He treats both equally, and I get the distinct impression that the takes the same care with all of his fans – young and old alike. He may be full of himself when he’s checking into the hotel, but he’s still polite. And he may send standard gift baskets – albeit with a beautiful addition for Xo (Andrea Navedo) – but they are pretty generous gift baskets!
Camil is wonderful in his interactions with Rodriguez. I loved how Xo is hurrying him out of the house behind Jane’s back, but he has to pause to drink her in. When he takes the selfie with her at the hotel, I loved the touch of him hungrily drinking her in again while she gets the camera ready, and they smiling sweetly beside her. He does manage to charm all three generations of Villanuevas!
We didn’t get to see much of Carlo Rota (Mr Solano) in this episode. Luisa (Yara Martinez), however, manages to seduce her father’s wife – Rose (Bridget Regan) – again, however. Rose tells her she’ll never leave him. I wonder if we have another murder looming? It was another classic crossing of paths for Luisa to have to hide and pull the fire alarm to avoid being caught.
Another great scene was Michael and Jane’s failed attempt to have sex. Having Rafael’s message start playing was hilarious – and so wonderfully fit the occasion – more clever writing! And of course, we revisit Jane’s flower as she keeps seeing petals fall off the pure white flowers in the room. Ultimately, the fire alarm puts out the remaining flames of their passion. Michael is wonderfully understanding and simply suggests that they move up the wedding – to next week! Both Alba and Xo are thrilled when Jane comes home with the news.
Once again, an incident from Jane’s past bookends the episode. This time it is her firefly wishes – there’s that flame again! I loved the opening sequence with Alba and Xo both giving Jane advice. I love the chemistry between these three. Xo tells Jane not to tell boys she wants to remain a virgin, but also supports Jane’s decision to remain one. I also loved the scene in which Xo says someone pissed the big guy off as both she and Jane ended up pregnant and unmarried. When she sees Jane’s stricken face, she quickly adds she was trying to insult Alba, not Jane. The episode ends with the three together again and Jane making another wish on a firefly – that she will stop having feelings for Rafael. This time the firefly is extinguished rather than flying away. Does this signify the extinguishing of her feelings or that she isn’t going to get this wish?
I thought this was another very strong episode. The show is still struggling in a tough time slot, but has been given a full season pick up. If you’re loving the show as much as I am, spread the word! Did you love this episode? Are you still charmed by the characters and the special touches in the show? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
