Jane the Virgin, “Chapter 13,” was written by Josh Reims (Chapters 5 & 8) and was directed by Howard Deutch, whose other credits include Getting On, American Horror Story, and True Blood. The episode has the mix of humor and drama that makes it such a joy to watch. Gina Rodriguez (Jane) and Andrea Navedo (Xo) deliver particularly excellent performances. However, it’s always hard to single out anyone on this show and Jaime Camil (Rogelio), Justin Baldoni (Rafael), and Ivonne Coll (Alba) are also terrific in this episode. The entire theme of the episode focuses on “letting go.”
It’s quite an emotional episode, and it also examines some controversial real life issues. The episode begins with a flashback which helps to establish the theme for the episode. We see young Jane (Jenna Ortega) about to get a shot. She wants to thoroughly understand the procedure, but in the end, she has to give up control of the situation – she has to learn to let go, something the Narrator (Anthony Mendez) tells us she was never very good at.
Jane and Rafael go into her ultrasound viewing it as a simple, happy appointment. Jane wants to learn the sex of the baby so that she can be prepared while Rafael wants to be surprised. Both are quick to realize when the technician’s (Rachel DeGenaro) demeanor changes, and they ask to see the doctor. It’s the kind of news that every expectant parent dreads receiving and Rodriguez’s performance is heart-wrenching. There’s a small spot on the baby’s heart and intestine. It’s called and echogenic focus and could be something – a chromosomal abnormality – or it could be nothing. The only way to tell is by amniocentesis and the risk with that test is a possible miscarriage. I liked that the storyline explores some of the challenges faced by expecting parents. I also liked that the little touch of magic realism here – both Jane and Rafael see babies with glowing spots on the hearts – also parallels the glowing heart we saw from both of them when they were falling in love.
Jane talks through the problem with Alba, who is against the test, and Xo, and she decides not to have it. This discussion is particularly good. Xo is the one to face the issues head on and asks Jane if she would have an abortion if there was something seriously wrong with the baby. Jane answers quickly and definitely no. But she does want to be prepared if she’s having a child with special needs. In the end, she initially decides against the test because it changes nothing. Xo’s last comment is “as long as you can let go.”
But of course, Jane can’t, and she researches all the implications thoroughly. This naturally leads her to decide to have the test. Once they know, they can do real research, get the best doctors, plan. Rafael is supportive throughout with all of Jane’s decisions. He tells her it’s because he knows it’s going to be fine. We get another family meeting, and this time Rogelio is also invited. Rogelio asks about the doctor, and it’s hilarious as Jane quizzes the Dr Hillcroft (Paul Nobrega) about whether he had a good night’s sleep and a good breakfast. Xo is a little disappointed that Jane will miss her graduation, but Alba is content when Jane says they will just have to have faith.
I have to admit, I’m totally falling into the team Rafael camp. He’s also utterly supportive of her after the test, even sleeping on the floor by her bed. Once again, Rodriguez is brilliant as Jane has second thoughts about the test in the middle of the night. The baby hasn’t kicked, and she’s worried she’s failed her first parenting test by putting her own anxieties and needs before the baby’s. Rafael points out that she gave up her graduation without a moment’s hesitation – something she’s worked her whole life for. When she asks Rafael if he’d forgive her if anything happened to the baby, he doesn’t hesitate in saying of course. And then the baby kicks. The relief on Baldoni’s face speaks volumes. He has been just as worried but has been keeping up a strong front for Jane.
Rafael also begins to win over Xo. She tells Alba that she thinks he really does care about Jane. I loved his plan to bring Jane’s graduation to her if she couldn’t go to it. There’s some funny moments as she declares it “cheesy” and Xo and Alba both say that they warned him. It’s fun that the men stick together, however. Rogelio is hysterical as his keynote speech is completely lame, and I loved the phone going off with him chastising the others for not turning their phones off as he told them to before discovering it’s his own phone!
It’s then that the scene turns more serious. Navedo and Rodriguez have such amazing chemistry, it’s easy to see them as relatives – though I can never feel that Navedo looks quite old enough to be Jane’s mother! Xo tells Jane that she’s so proud of her, the choices she’s made and the way she lives her life. She tells her that “it’s inspiring.” They both end up crying and hugging. Then Alba also tells Jane how proud she is: “You are the granddaughter that I dreamed about.”
Jane asks what the secret is to being a good mom. Xo admits that it was easy for her and we come back to the episode theme as she says she just let Jane go because Jane figured it out for herself. Alba lightens the mood by pointing out that it depends a lot on the child as her experience wasn’t quite so easy!
Once the 48 hours of bed rest are over, Rafael admits that they’ve been very stressful. Jane is determined to make “letting go” – at least a little – part of her new parenting philosophy. Rafael takes the opening to suggest that she let go finding out the baby’s sex until he or she is born. Jane accuses him of trapping her, but laughingly agrees. We will have to wait TWO weeks to get the results of the test! So… “Chapter 15”? I found this particularly funny given the video that Justin and Emily Baldoni released this week and that went viral of them announcing they were pregnant. At the very end of the video, they find out the sex of the baby… Haven’t seen the video? You can watch it
here.
Navedo and Coll also share another touching and wonderfully acted scene. Alba has been remarkably eager to go to physiotherapy and Xo discovers that there is a “Silver Fox” – Edward (Cheech Marin) – who seems to have a thing for Alba. Xo encourages her mother to take a chance, and it’s hilarious when Rogelio declares, “I personally think that any man would be blessed to have Alba as a lover!” Which sends her fleeing, blushing, into her room!
Xo doesn’t let it go, however, and presses Alba about why she’s never dated. Alba admits that she hasn’t to honor Xo’s father’s sacrifices and his memory. He gave up everything because Alba wanted to come to America. Xo gently asks her if she thinks that’s what he would have wanted. She insists that he would have wanted Alba to be happy. Xo gently pushes her to let go just a little and to allow herself to be happy.
It would be easy to see Jaime Camil as just the comic relief, and he’s very, very good at it, but we see just a glimpse every now and then to prove that he’s a terrific dramatic actor too. Xo also has to push Rogelio to get back on the horse, to get another job. Part of her motivation is to get him out of the house, and to stop meddling in her dance classes! However, she also knows that he needs to work. I loved her appealing to how his Twitter followers need the joy he brings them, and the proof is in the sad emojis they keep tweeting to him. She convinces him to let go of his rigid parameters and let his agent find him a role. Unfortunately, his agent finds him the lead in a new telenovela. The catch is that it’s to be filmed in Mexico and he’d be gone for one and a half years. Camil’s face is not the happy one we’d expect from Rogelio. He clearly doesn’t want to let go of his relationship with Xo, not to mention Jane and being away when the baby is born.
Rafael also has to let go of part of the hotel in this episode. Lachlan (Michael Rady) and Danielle (Ursula Burton) have a buyer, however. Meanwhile, Lachlan lets go of his resentment about Petra (Yael Grobglas) by letting Petra go and evicting her from the hotel. Milos (Max Bird-Ridnell) has no intention of letting Petra go, however, and he’s the one who’s bought 33% of the hotel. He’s already professed his undying love for her – I particularly enjoyed him suggesting they attend couple’s therapy! He’s bought the hotel for her – but not without strings. They’ll control the interest together so that they are still in each other’s lives.
Lastly, Michael (Brett Dier) has to let go of the notion that Emilio (Carlo Rota) was Sin Rostro when it comes to light that he couldn’t have killed bellboy Tom because he was with his mistress (Alex Lombard). I loved the scene with Scott (Wes Armstrong) when he tells them he couldn’t tell about the mistress before because “guy code.” Michael immediately tells him “stop talking.” It’s hilarious because of the look on Dier’s face – he doesn’t want the guy code revealed in front of a woman – Nadine (Azie Tesfai) – and he knows it’s going to piss her off – it does!
There’s also a nice little bit of Narrator addition during the interrogation of the mistress. The Narrator points out the moment that Michael realizes that Rose (Bridget Regan) is Sin Rostro, but saying “if a lightbulb could go on over Michael’s head it would.” I was totally expecting a cartoon lightbulb, but instead we get Nadine turning on the fluorescent ceiling light because it was too dark in the room!
Rose also has to let go of her identity as Rose Solano and gone into hiding. We do learn before she goes that she’s not a red head but a blond!
The episode ends with a huge reveal. Michael and Nadine discover from the footage of Zazo’s (Alano Miller) death that neither Rose nor Tom could have done it, leaving them to wonder who did it. We are left to wonder if it was done at all when Rafael meets Zazo in the basement of the hotel, saying, “Hey. Everything go okay?” Clearly, Rafael is not surprised that Zazo is alive! But is this Zazo? Could he have a twin? Other explanations?
Just a few final thoughts on the episode. I liked the little parallels we see. Jane is afraid of needles in the flashback and in the present the test involves a gigantic needle. We see Rafael promise to do due diligence on the buyer for the hotel and we see Jane do due diligence on what the echogenic focus means. This episode, like all the episodes, has great writing and attention to detail along with great acting. Is anybody else really excited to see more of Cheech Marin? What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
About the Author - Lisa Macklem
I do interviews and write articles for the site in addition to reviewing a number of shows, including Supernatural, Arrow, Agents of Shield, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, Forever, Defiance, Bitten, Glee, and a few others! Highlights of this past year include covering San Diego Comic Con as press and a set visit to Bitten. When I'm not writing about television shows, I'm often writing about entertainment and media law in my capacity as a legal scholar. I also work in theatre when the opportunity arises. I'm an avid runner and rider, currently training in dressage.
