Jane the Virgin, “Chapter Fifteen,” was written by the team of David Rosenthal and Emmylou Diaz and was directed by Melanie Mayron. This is Diaz’s first writing credit. Mayron is yet another woman director with an acting background, you may remember her from Thirty Something, but her extensive directing credits include Pretty Little Liars, Switched at Birth, and Army Wives. The flashbacks tell us that Jane (Young Jane/Jenna Ortega) has always liked to ask questions, and in the present we see everyone struggling to connect with each other.
The present storyline begins with Jane (Gina Rodriguez) and Rafael (Justin Baldoni) getting the happy news to the questions about the baby’s health – the baby is healthy! This prompts Rafael to ask Jane again to move in together. Jane, however, wants to keep some order to her life plan: date, get engaged, get married, have a baby.
This prompts Rafael to make the most romantic proposal ever. He has Jane’s favorite romance writer, Angelique Harper (Kathleen York), who is giving a reading, to set the stage during the reading. Rafael appears and goes down on one knee to pop the question! And then Jane asks to speak in private. Rafael thought Jane was hinting for him to propose by saying she wanted to stick to her order.
Interestingly, Alba (Ivonne Coll) is all for Jane saying yes – after all, Alba married Jane’s grandfather after only knowing him for 41 days. Xo (Andrea Navedo) still has reservations about Rafael and points out that they hardly know each other. I just adore the dynamic between these three women. Once again, Alba proves to be the gentle font of wisdom. She appears with an ancient compatibility test. Xo and Jane laugh over it and make fun of it until Alba translates what the questions really mean. Does he give you a generous allowance just means is he generous. Jane has to answer yes to this. Does he eat everything you prepare really means is he kind. Jane also has to answer yes. The final question translates to does he know you down to your core? And Jane can’t answer this one.
It’s actually Michael who tells Jane that Angelique is in the hotel because he truly does know Jane down to her core. Just a brief aside here to mention how adorable Jane is when she’s fangirling! Rodriguez proves she is equally adept at comedy when she tries to give Angelique a copy of one of her chapters and ends up having to give her a massage. I loved her face and the physicality of the scene as she hovers over Angelique before diving in to deliver the massage. It’s Michael who Jane tells about the incident. And of course, Rafael sees them laughing about it.
We get to meet Jane’s alter-ego in this episode – Juana – and she’s hilarious! She’s who Jane becomes when she writes romance. And she may help Jane “re-write” her life occasionally. Jane determines to find out if Rafael does know her down to her core, so she tests him. It’s such a Jane the teacher kind of thing to do. She tells him that after the baby, she’s going to take a break from everything, including her writing, to focus on the baby.
Rafael initially says ok, and Jane is crushed – wrong answer. However, Rafael not only corrects his answer, he tells her why he gave the first answer – to be supportive – to be kind! He tells her that it’s nuts for her to stop writing. Rafael is not happy about being tested, and he finally also tells Jane how hurt he is that she didn’t accept his proposal. And who can blame him. It’s another great thing about the show that the characters are so rich it’s easy to feel sympathy for the characters on both sides of the argument.
Meanwhile, Xo and Rogelio (Jaime Camil) are also having communication problems. Xo thinks she might be pregnant and tells Rogelio. It’s hilarious that Rogelio is not a very good actor when he tries to act supportive and enthusiastic. When Xo says she was only kidding, he lets his true feelings out. Rogelio is also not happy about being tested, and they have a fight. Jane is also not supportive when Xo tells her she might be pregnant. When Xo says it was an accident, Jane points out that Xo isn’t 16 anymore and that it’s reckless. She tells her, “I thought you’d be more thoughtful if you thought of having another baby.” After Xo finds out she’s not pregnant, she admits to Jane – and herself – that maybe it hadn’t been entirely an accident. Being Jane’s mom is the first successful thing she’s done. Jane tells her it’s time for her life to change – but to go slowly and step by step. As often happens in real life, Jane finds clarity for her own situation in helping Xo with hers.
Throughout the episode, we have flashbacks to Michael and Jane together. We see him begin by teasing her about reading Angelique’s books, but eventually, he ends up reading one himself. In the flashback, we see Jane discover a list of numbers as Michael has planned out how long it will take for him to save up for an engagement ring for Jane. Xo reminds Jane of this and the fact that the list proved how well Michael really knew Jane.
Jane tells Rafael that she can’t marry him. She was afraid to turn him down in case something between them broke. She points out that he’s looking at things that life is too short – no doubt his brush with cancer reinforced that with him. Jane however sees life as long – no doubt her lists and planning reinforces that. Rafael feels that she doesn’t trust him, and Jane points out that trust comes with time.
Xo goes to see Rogelio on set and discovers just how horrible Esteban (Keller Wortham) is making Rogelio’s life – even insisting that his spacesuit is the dreaded peach! Xo asks why Rogelio didn’t tell her how horrible it was, and he tells her that he didn’t want her to feel bad about him taking the part because he’s glad that he stayed for her. Even without taking the test, Rogelio passes with flying colors (no peach!). He tells her, “I want to see where this goes step by step.” And then Xo asks him to move in together!
Petra (Yael Grobglas) is enjoying running the Mirabella. She has Lachlan (Michael Rady) return and everyone, including Lachlan, thinks she’s going to fire him, but instead she puts him to work. Lachlan wants to be fired to collect his huge severance package, so he tries to work with Rafael to use the sex tape to get Rafael reinstated. Petra proves too clever for them, but ultimately aligns with Rafael to work together.
Petra is also approached by Aaron (Alano Miller) to talk about his brother. Once again we have Jainism explained as a non-violent religion and Aaron even saves a spider. Which of course, made me think about the parable of the spider and the fly being lured into a trap. Aaron tells Petra that Zazo told him that he was having an affair with Petra. Once again, I had to ask – I thought the brothers had been estranged?!?! Aaron wants Zazo’s ashes, but Petra explains that they’d already “respectfully scattered” them – on Ivan’s head! I loved their lunch together as he explains why he doesn’t eat root vegetables. Aaron asks for his mother’s necklace as he’s looked though all of Zazo’s things and can’t find it. Petra returns it and he immediately breaks it revealing a USB key! What could be on it? Can Aaron really be trusted? I’m with Jane – I want answers!
This was another wonderful episode. The actors and writing move seamlessly between drama and comedy. Do you think Jane was right in turning Rafael down? Is it too soon for Xo and Rogelio to take the next step? 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.
