First, my apologies for the lateness of these two reviews – I still love you Jane the Virgin! But then there is life… So here’s a quick synopsis of “Chapter Forty-Six” followed by a loving look at “Chapter Forty-Seven” in which… we need a title change! Woot! “Chapter Forty-Six” was written by David S Rosenthal and Paul Sciarrotta and was directed by Brad Silberling.
Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is having nightmares about Michael (Brett Dier) returning to work. I loved the gimmick in this episode which kept giving us the Rx for things! Jane finally admits she’s having nightmares and Michael tells her he’ll quit if she can’t deal with it. Jane doesn’t want to ask him not to go back. He tells her that he loves his job, he’s not scared and he wants to go back. Jane promises to try to deal with it. In the end, it takes Mateo biting Michael for his own emotions to bubble to the surface. He realizes that he almost died. Jane comforts Michael – and Dier is terrific in this scene. Jane doesn’t take the easy out here and ask him not to go back to work.
Mateo is biting, and it’s due to the upset and break from his routine. Rafael (Justin Baldoni) and Jane clash over the choice of pre-school. Rafael tells her that he’s simply not going to agree to everything she wants anymore just to please her. He’s over being in love with her, so they’ll have to deal with being equal. In the end, they pick the hippy-dippy pre-school which turns out to actually be the best because it gets them to confront their feelings and deal honestly with each other. Rafael wants a voice and feels alone and left out, but Jane makes sure he knows that they are still a family.
Xo is no longer pregnant. She had a chemical abortion, but she’s worried that Alba (Ivonne Coll) will find out. And of course she does, and Alba is furious. In the end, Alba concedes that they are different, but that they have to move on. I liked how they handled this. There were clearly a lot of emotions involved, but the show didn’t get preachy about it one way or the other, leaving the audience to really come to their own conclusion, not demanding that they take a pro or con position.
I loved the scene with Michael, Xo (Andrea Navedo), and Jane on her bed – the way it used to be with Jane and Xo! It’s sad that they’ve had to move back into Alba’s and missed their honeymoon AND have to wait 6 weeks for sex, but this is an awesome scene, especially as it seems only Jane finds it a little weird at first!
Rogelio (Jaime Camil) decides to crossover to American television but Esteban beats him out on a part on Hawaii Five-O. When Xo asks about his need to crossover to a new audience, he tells her that his home isn’t in Mexico anymore. It’s in America with Jane and Xo! Aw! Most romantic thing that Rogelio has ever said! In the end, he decides to remake The Passions of Santos in America.
When Scott (Wes Armstrong) catches Petra (Yael Grobglas) in Rafael’s office Anezka quickly thinks What Would Petra Do, and seduces him! Which results in her having the best sex of her life! Magda (Priscilla Barnes) is not impressed and tells her to focus. Petra hated that loser! When it seems that Rafael has figured out that something is up, Anezka plays the Scott card, pretty much freaking Rafael out into silence! Petra, still paralyzed, watches, however, as Anezka learns that Scott has dirt on everyone and they plot to take Rafael down together!
“Chapter Forty-Seven” was written by the team of Carolina Rivera and Micah Schraft and was directed by Eva Longoria Baston. And yes, it is THAT Eva Longoria!
Jane and Michael reach some pretty huge milestones… they move in together… AND THEY FINALLY HAVE SEX!! Jane the Ex-Virgin? I loved that the narrator pulls us out and we get a cartoon rocket going through the roof! Perfect for our show! And also perfect was going with just Jane! In true Jane style, they have a lot of roadblocks before the two actually get there though!
Of course they finish together! Or not… Jane needs a few minutes to process. She tells Michael she feels good, but she needs some water. She’s happy to have waited AND to have finally put the whole virginity thing behind her. Naturally, when she gets back to the bedroom with some wine to celebrate, Michael is sound asleep!
Professor Donaldson (Melanie Mayron) has been pressing for pages, and Jane is just sending them when Michael arrives and they send the rocket on its way – and inadvertently make a sex tape that Jane sends to Donaldson by mistake! OMG! It is utterly cringe-worthy when Jane has to meet with her about her chapter. However, one good thing does come out of it – Donaldson finds out it was Jane’s first time. It’s hilarious when Donaldson says that explains so much, and Jane immediately thinks there’s something wrong with the sex, but in fact, quite logically, Donaldson explains it’s something that’s been missing from Jane’s writing. Her romance writing without sex is just fantasy.
Jane fills Lina (Diane Guerrero) in during work. She didn’t really finish with Michael – she panicked and faked her orgasm! She’s going to tell Michael, but Lina tells her that she absolutely can’t do that! But of course, Jane does, and really, that IS the right thing to do. When Michael wants to have an afternoon quicky while Mateo is napping, he suggests doing exactly the same thing – and Jane tells the truth. Michael is completely understanding – because he’s Michael!!! – and they start with the other things they used to do because Jane says she never faked those. BUT of course Jane is now too much in her head – time pressure is a passion killer anyway, without the added pressure…
Meanwhile, as Jane progresses through her novel, she learns about Alba’s evil sister Cecilia, who just happens to be the spitting image of Jane! Or rather Jane is the spitting image of her? Jane tries to incorporate her into the novel, but Cecilia refuses to be written as a villain! Though she’s happy to admit she is bitchy. But she’s also happy to give Jane advice on her sex life – like kicking the seduction up a notch.
Unfortunately, the sexy gel – and boy that was one sexy label! – makes Jane #feeltheburn in a really, really bad way! I love the art department on this show... Michael is still understanding, but he does ask Jane to keep it between them. Of course, she’s already told Lina. As always, Jane returns to Alba’s for comfort. She finally tells Xo they had sex, but doesn’t tell her the details – and this is one instance where she probably should have broken her vow to Michael.
It’s not sexy, slutty Cecilia who gives Jane good advice, but NUN Cecilia. I loved her telling Jane that her “burning bush” moment was a sign! LOL! Best pun on television this week – and maybe ever! Nun Cecilia told on Alba because sex is about intimacy between two married people – it’s not about the sexual pleasure; sex is small. What’s big is the connection between two souls. But now Michael is in his head. And Jane lies to Lina and tells her everything is fine.
Michael runs into Rafael at the station. Rafael is surprised to see Michael back at work, and Michael asks if Rafael is there about his family – loved the little figures popping up around poor Rafael, especially missing Luisa (Yara Martinez) on the milk carton, and that’s the perfect segue into what Luisa and Rose (Bridget Regan) have been up to since Rose kidnapped her! Clearly, NOT faking orgasms… for 157 times.
Rose professes her undying love for Luisa and asks her to build a life with her. Two months later, Luisa still hasn’t said yes – or no for that matter. Luisa asks if they can go to the surface – they’ve been touring around the Great Barrier reef in a submarine. Luisa says she wants to see if Rafael emailed on her birthday, which he didn’t. Proof to Rose, that he’s written Luisa off. Rose wants to get off the sub and start their life together on her island, but Luisa really can’t get past Rose killing her father. Luisa wants to see Rose’s list of the people she’s killed.
Rose gives her the list and brings her an email from Rafael – he did remember her birthday, but they are a day ahead. Rose is upset when Luisa jumps when she comes in the room – clearly afraid of Rose. But Rafael tells Rose happy birthday and that he loves her and misses her – cut to Michael asking Rafael if he’s gotten a reply. Looks like these two are working together again!
Xo is trying out for The Voice and is learning that maybe she’s not as special as she thought she was – there are lots of singing Grandmas! But Rogelio is finding out the same thing as his agent is having a hard time finding anyone interested in bringing his telenovela to the US market. Jane calls Rogelio when Xo tells her that she’s thinking of giving up her dream.
Rogelio gets Xo a shot with a music producer. Jane calls her to tell her the good news and to tell her not to lose sight of who she is when Xo tries to say it’s all too much trouble. I loved that the two of them are both eating grilled cheese – their comfort food!
AND Rogelio is trying to sell the
Passions of Santos to the CW!!! Jane asks if that’s a streaming thing, and Rogelio insists no, no it’s a huge network – with fabulous stars! Please, please, please let the crossovers begin!!! But Dina (Judy Reyes) doesn’t know who the CW is either AND she owns half the show AND she and Rogelio broke up! Reyes is also terrific in this episode, and it really feels like Dina finally becomes a more rounded character. Rogelio reminds her that her big dream was to make it in the US too and tells her that it’s also good business. Dina finally relents and tells him that she’ll go to Hollywood, but they are getting separate rooms and she’s getting the better view!
I loved Dina and Rogelio really being at the CW offices! They love the show! But they want Rob Lowe to play Santos! Rogelio is not happy… but Dina wants to take the deal. She uses Rogelio’s own words against him, telling him to put his ego aside and admit that it’s good business because Rob Lowe can launch a series in the US while Rogelio can’t.
Jane reminds Rogelio about the favor ladder. Rogelio tells Dina that he can get Gloria Estefan to play a part and Emilio Estefan to do the music – basic celebrity math then gives him the edge over Rob Lowe – who gets launched off the teeter-totter!
Rogelio’s music agent pulls out of seeing Xo at the hotel, and Jane tells him to find someone else because she found a list at Xo’s of alternate careers! There’s never been a list before. It’s a nice parallel to Rose’s kill list – as this list will kill Xo’s dream.
It’s the night of Xo’s performance and the whole family is at the Mirabella. Suddenly, Jane, Michael and Alba spot Rogelio with Gloria and Emilio Estefan!!! Rogelio has asked them for a favor – and I knew immediately what the favor was and who it was for. However, Xo doesn’t see the Estefans until she’s about to sing – and it leaves her speechless… for a minute. It’s hilarious when she curtsies – but hey! Latin American royalty, right? But then Xo sings like an angel.
Luisa doesn’t want to give up her brother, but she doesn’t want Rose around her family. Rose swears that she’s changed and asks Luisa to trust her. Rose tells Luisa that it’s up to her. Either she trusts Rose, or Rose will let her fly home and never bother her again.
Lina asks Michael how things are going, and it looks like he’s going to be upset that she knows, but then – omg, how is he so damn perfect?!?! – he accepts it when she says she’s just there to help. But… she can’t diagnose the problem with a play-by-play… so Michael gets out his phone. So maybe not so perfect?
Gloria asks Xo what her goals are as a singer. Xo shocks Jane and Rogelio by saying she doesn’t know, but when Rogelio jumps in with she wants to be one, Xo clarifies, “I AM one.” But Xo tells them that she is at a bit of a crossroads and maybe music is just going to be more a one day a week gig – and she’ll pursue something else professionally. When Gloria agrees with Xo that that’s what they do too, Jane loses it and tells Gloria Estefan to just stay out of it! Jane immediately realizes what she’s said and apologizes, but it’s a bit too late.
Xo realizes that it’s not about her giving up something really big, it’s what Jane just gave up – her virginity. Rodriguez is utterly brilliant in this scene – no less than in the first scene after having sex with Michael. It’s clear that she’s not really happy – she has lost a piece of her identity. Xo tells her she didn’t lose something, she gained something.
Jane finally admits that the sex hasn’t been great – but they aren’t talking about it with other people! Xo gives her the best advice – of course! She tells her that sex can’t take time – to discover what you like and what you need. Just then Jane gets a text from Lina. She’s worried she offended Michael by asking about their sexy times.
Jane goes home and thinks that Michael is watching porn – Lina tells her to join in. Michael is still perfect. He didn’t give Lina the play by play but he did realize he might learn something from the tape – and he does. The second rocket ship cartoon is even better than the first!
Now that Jane can concentrate again, she figures out Cecelia’s story – but Alba is furious! Jane got it so right that she thinks she’s looked at the letters in her closet! So, of course, Jane and Xo run to really look!
Dina is furious with Rogelio for squandering his favor on Xo. She’s done with the entire deal! Rogelio apologizes to Dina for how he treated her – he broke up via twitter!?!?!? He insists that they are artistic soul mates. Dina gives him 6 months to get famous enough to play Santos in the American version or he has to go and beg Rob Lowe to come back. She also wants 51% of the show – and he gives it to her!
Rafael finds Luisa at the hotel, and Rafael brings Michael in to hear her story. She tells them everything – the sex, the sub, the list – and that she and Rose broke up and Rose told her to come and tell them everything. Including that Derek was on the kill list AND Elena (Fabiana Udenio)! But Elena isn’t dead… and the final scene is her dying in her prison cell and telling them to give her Bible to her son!
This was another great episode. It was everything I’d hoped for – it was funny, touching, dramatic, and above all was a really realistic portrayal of what losing your virginity is like! They didn’t make it easy or a joke, but grounded it in real, human emotion, acted to perfection by Gina Rodriguez. What did you think of the episode? Were you satisfied, or did you fake it? Let me know in the comments below!
