Jane the Virgin, “Chapter Twenty-six,” was written by Paul Sciarrotta and was directed by Zetna Fuentes. This was another wonderful episode blending humor, pathos, and the little magical touches we’ve come to expect. Added bonuses? Jane (Gina Rodriguez) dancing, lampooning Scientology, and fun with emojis!
I love the way the show moves so many story threads along. I also loved how one tiny plot point is introduced in the beginning and then revisited several times before becoming a major plot point. I’m talking about the baby monitor, of course! We see Jane and Xo (Andrea Navedo) checking it while Jane asks Xo to help with the party.
Then Alba (Ivonne Coll) hears them discussing the kiss and comes in to say that Jane wants to tell Michael (Brett Dier) because she’s an honest person. Then Michael is finally honest with Jane about Nadine and they see the baby monitor is on in the room and rush out to find Rafael (Justin Baldoni) on the phone in the living room but the baby monitor off! Whew! And finally, Jane is telling Xo that Michael is the one after their amazing kiss, see the monitor is on, and rush out to the living room where Rafael appears to still be sleeping – but the monitor is off, right? No! Rafael opens his eyes and looks devastated when Jane and Xo leave the room. He clearly turned if off and pretended to be asleep. Which then makes me wonder if he also really did overhear Michael about Nadine…
The episode begins with a flashback to Young Jane (Jenna Ortega) being the good daughter, good student, and good friend. We see Jane sacrifice her perfect behavior record to sneak in a clearly unsuitable dance in the student talent show with Young Lina (Dayrin Martinez). It’s hilarious to watch Jane push through her obvious discomfort to support her friend and end up enjoying it. I also loved watching Alba squirm and Xo love it and even dance along!
In the present, Jane has forgotten Lina’s (Diane Guerrero) 25th birthday – and the surprise party she vowed she would throw for her. I loved the scene at the baby exercise class when the Instructor (Sara Erikson) asks Lina’s secret for being so slim and she answers “Birth control!” When Jane isn’t able to put the Great Gatsby themed party together in time – and how cool were those invitations! – she finally has to admit to Lina that she forgot.
Lina is understandably hurt – no one likes their birthday to be forgotten! Even though Lina said she got it – that it happened with her sisters, that new mothers just drifted away – she is angry with Jane. Xo makes Jane go to the club. Xo helps Jane find a part of herself by making her go. I also love all the little nuances of motherhood that the show is weaving in – like having to regain control over your bladder and pumping and dumping! It’s a nice bookend to the episode to have Jane and Lina reprise their dance after making up at the club.
The episode is also bookended by two kisses – the one with Rafael at the beginning and the one with Michael at the end. The show continues to make the choice between the two far from an easy one. Jane replies to Rafael’s text about their kiss with a teeth clenched emoji which he interprets as a go ahead when Jane meant it as complicated. Rafael really does everything right in this episode. He initially asks Jane about custody – and we get the gut-punched emoji. He simply wants more time with Mateo. Jane later agrees to the lawyer to take the emotion out of the situation, but by putting Rafael at the top of the babysitting list, she reassures him and he decides they don’t need a lawyer.
While they’re having the initial custody conversation, Michael keeps calling – which is painfully awkward! He needs them to meet with him, however, he runs into Petra (Yael Grobglas) first. She tells him they want the same thing – to break up Rafael and Jane. Michael may want Jane, but I think he wants her to have what will make her happy. Of course, he does think that’s him, but he won’t play games like Petra. Michael really is a good guy! Petra shows him the photo of the kiss, and when Jane shows up, she immediately senses that Michael is upset.
Jane presents Rafael with a huge babysitting list before he takes Mateo for the first time. She tells him that it’s really hard to leave Mateo, and Rafael says, “It’s hard for me too. Every time.” He’s not an ass about it, but it’s clear that Jane really hasn’t realized what it’s like for him. However, when Jane finds the list crumpled up at the hotel, she’s furious. She’s about to confront Rafael when she has second thoughts that there could be another explanation other than him simply throwing the list away, and she hides in a utility closet.
Michael calls Jane who is locked in the closet, and he comes to rescue her. Jane confronts Rafael and Michael is – so the narrator (Anthony Mendez) tells us – enjoying watching everything unravel in front of him. But he’s a good guy remember and just wants Jane to be happy. He tells them that it could be Petra setting them up because she still thinks she has a shot with Rafael. Michael tells Rafael that he should tell Petra if there’s not a chance between them. The narrator once again helps us out here and says that Michael wasn’t just talking to Rafael – he wants to know if he still has a chance with Jane.
Rafael and Jane talk. He was disappointed she didn’t think he could take care of Mateo, but also tells Jane that they should be together – and tells her to think of Mateo! At this point, Jane loses it. Rodriguez is so good in this episode as we see her enjoying motherhood, loving her baby, and trying desperately to maintain her own identity. She tells Rafael, “Are you kidding? He’s all I think about!” She tells Rafael that she knows Mateo has changed in the last 3 weeks, but so has she! She can’t choose who she wants to be with because she doesn’t even know who she is anymore.
Rafael confronts Petra. I loved that he shows her a picture of Mateo and points out that she’s hurting a baby by her actions. Petra admits that she’s now scared to be alone and pregnant. Rafael is supportive but makes it clear that while Petra deserves someone who will make her happy, that person isn’t him! And of course, cue the return of Milos (Max Bird-Ridnell) who now insists that Petra marry him or he’ll see she goes to jail! Grobglas is also excellent and treading the line between being a villain and making us feel sympathetic toward her!
It’s when she’s at the club with Lina and realizes she’s missed a bunch of texts from Rafael that she feels most like herself. Jane even writes a drunken gibberish version of her Great Gatsby paper. And then, when she runs into Michael they kiss by the paper mache mountain and get snowed on. But is this progress or simply a reversion to the Jane before Mateo? She’s at a club with her best friend and Michael is there – really, her life before Rafael and Mateo. Is she just being nostalgic?I loved the gimmick of her walking on air on the way home and coming back to earth when she sees Rafael asleep on the couch. Michael texts her with “Best. Kiss. Ever.”
Meanwhile, Michael’s investigation into Sin Rostro continues. He convinces Rafael to hire yodeler Heidi Von Ocher (Linn Bjornland), so he can interview her – turns out she was Rose’s lover too! Michael is saddled with a new partner – Susanne (Megan Ketch), who turns out to be working undercover, investigating Michael. I loved that he clearly got a bad vibe off her at the end of the episode when she pushed for more details on Nadine. However, she does prove useful when interviewing the newly returned Luisa (Yara Martinez). Turns out the blue, silk ties that the kidnappers used on Luisa were the signature of Mudder – a 1980s drug lord in Miami! Lets keep our fingers crossed that Michael keeps his guard up around her!
Luisa has a hookup with Heidi, but then goes looking for the website that she saw just before her kidnappers let her go. She finds the Garden of Eden and EveryRoseHasItsThorn has sent her a friend request. It has to be Rose, right? Will she tell anyone?
And finally, Rogelio (Jaime Camil) tells Xo the truth about Luciana (Kate del Castillo). I thought it SO refreshing that he immediately told her that Luciana was blackmailing him to stay on the show. I adored the scene in which Rogelio explains Scientology! Hilarious!
I also loved that Xo supported Rogelio and then they worked together to bring Luciana down. Of course, it’s also hilarious just how much Rogelio and Luciana are alike – both must have coverage only on their right side – and I loved the little sequence of them both pausing to preen in the mirror. We get another emoji when Xo manages to take the Luciana’s bunnies hostage. She does give up the tapes in exchange for her precious rabbits, but not before telling Xo that she’s going to want to see one of those tapes… What could it be?
Another terrific episode! It’s always a delight to watch this show. It manages to amuse and touch the viewer and to do it often in unexpected ways. What did you think of the episode? Will Petra be able to avoid Milosh? Will she go to Rafael, and if she does, will he help? Has Jane really figured out it’s Michael? Will Susanne get the upper hand on Michael or has he seen through her? 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, Agent Carter, The Walking Dead, Game of Thrones, The X-Files, Defiance, Bitten, Killjoys, and a few others! I'm active on the Con scene when I have the time. 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.
