Jane the Virgin finally returns this week, so I though with such a loooong hiatus, it would be a good idea to check in and see what happened in “Chapter Fifty-One.” We can also relax in the knowledge that this show has already been renewed for a fourth season! “Chapter Fifty-One was written by the team of Sarah Goldfinger, Jessica O’Toole, and Amy Rardin and was directed by Gina Lamar.
The flashback in this episode only took us back as far as Catalina (Sofia Pernas) coming into Jane’s (Gina Rodriguez) life. That dream has now become a nightmare as Catalina proves to be a terrible roommate. Catalina’s loud phone conversations wakes Mateo who is teething. Jane is getting tired of Catalina continuously bragging about who she knows and where she goes. Catalina is completely self-absorbed and even eats Mateo’ last teething biscuit! Jane soothes herself with the knowledge that Catalina will be gone in four days.
Five days later, Jane is having breakfast with Xo (Andrea Navedo) and Rogelio (Jaime Camil) and Catalina hasn’t gone because she is getting along so well with Rafael (Justin Baldoni) and wants to get to know Jane better. It’s hilarious when Rogelio complains about having told Gloria Estefan about what a shameless name dropper Catalina is and Xo teases him about telling Oprah too. Rogelio is still hilariously unaware of his own foibles and says no, he just told Gale!
Jane asks for hints about how to get rid of Catalina – the subtle ones haven’t been working – and the show uses this to transition to their OWN subtle hints – or rather their completely ironic product placements! Maybe all those Target ads were supposed to be subtly sarcastic and we were the ones missing the subtle hints? Anyway, I love that the Jane writers realize that their audience is smart and recognizes a product placement when they see one. Is Honey Bunches of Oats really what Alba (Ivonne Coll) would buy for breakfast? We, however, are treated to some over-the-top music and Rogelio’s and Xo’s gushing about the cereal – the moment is completely undercut by the little bell that stops the moment and Xo’s comment that “subtle is over-rated.”
Jane doesn’t want to kick Catalina out, but it’s beginning to look like she has no choice. The discussion is interrupted by Alba who wants to know if Jane is there to come to church with her. Jane is meeting with her writing group, however, and Alba points out that it’s always something. Jane suddenly has devil’s horns as Alba also points out that she’s falling down on Mateo’ spiritual upbringing. This week’s hilarious new title card crosses out The Virgin and replaces it with The Guilty Catholic!
Rogelio tries to get Xo to confess that she’s going to meet Bruce (Ricardo Chavira) and then finally just tells her he knows. Xo defends him, saying that “he’s different,” but she’s still keeping it a secret from Jane – because she knows that Jane won’t approve! Xo is worried that it hurt Rogelio to see her with someone else, and he completely denies it, telling her that he has hundreds of women lining up to be with him – because he’s going to a matchmaker!
Darci (Justina Machado) sets Rogelio straight – she’s not a matchmaker, she’s a “Love Dealer!” Rogelio wants a good looking woman who wants to have children right away, who is also comfortable with his full frontal role and his fame. Darci, however, has three rules: 1. No talking about ex’s. 2. No excessive drinking on dates and 3. No sex until it’s serious! She is serious that Rogelio is establishing a real foundation for a solid relationship – not bad advice!
Meanwhile, Jane is binging on Hitchcock movies because her writers group really liked the Rear Window aspect to her latest chapter. It’s hilarious when Michael (Brett Dier) startles her when he comes in. Michael points out that he’s been trying to get her to watch Hitchcock for four years! And here again, the show jumps in to meta the heck out of itself. Jane explains the bomb under the table technique and our wonderful Narrator (Anthony Mendez) chimes in to draw a parallel to what we’re watching. Two people sitting at a table? Boring. Like two married people sitting on a couch… We get the rules for building suspense – give the audience information that the protagonist doesn’t have. One character finds out. Throw the bomb out the window to defuse it and the tension about what will happen! I loved Michael being all practical about bomb detonation!
So, of course, the Narrator likes the new rules and immediately tries them out on us! First he shows us an envelope that will change everything! But he has to lay the groundwork first – and the show goes all Hitchcock on us! Jane fits the classic Hitchcock profile with her salad bowl and the boys are suddenly decked out in classic fifties-ish suits. The best part of this scene is Dier’s Jimmy Stewart impression! Baldoni makes a good stab at Cary Grant, but he can’t hold a candle to Dier’s impression. You might have to be a Hitchcock fan to truly appreciate the beauty of this scene – but I adored it – right down to the lighting and hissing cat.
The mystery revolves around a Convent in Italy, which the bank account was linked to. Rafael’s mother was making large monthly payments since 1984. Was it a bribe or blackmail? Jane points out that Michael can’t assume all the nuns are evil.
Jane uses the mention of church as segue to talk about taking Mateo to church every Sunday. Rafael says no. He doesn’t want Mateo to be super-religious, and he doesn’t want him to have to go to church every Sunday before Mateo can make up his mind on his own. Michael thoughtlessly chimes in to say that it’s not really important as he and Jane haven’t been to church since they were married. And of course Jane is super pissed off that Michael took Rafael’s side.
Jane points out that she and Michael have to present a united front to Rafael, and Michael apologizes. But he does dig his heels in when Jane insists that he join her every Sunday – he’s more a C&E Catholic (Christmas and Easter) – if you’re Catholic or know one, you know this is a thing! Michael agrees to try – and they’re just having a quick smooch when they are interrupted by Catalina.
Jane finally gets her point across to Catalina who says she has to chair a big event at Lincoln Center anyway… But the next day, when Jane goes to drop off Mateo, she finds Catalina at Rafael’s and she’s not going anywhere! Catalina is staying to consult on the lounge menu.
Rogelio blows his date with Denise Richards by talking about Xo – I love how the show gets these great guest stars to do cameos! – and Darci is ready to kick him out of the club, but Rogelio begs to stay in. Rogelio saves Darci’s Mixer by suggesting she use the Mirabella as the venue when hers falls through.
Rafael ends up being right about taking Mateo to church. Mateo is so bored that Rafael takes him out of the church – and discovers a statue that twigs a memory! Jane is initially angry that Rafael didn’t come back – until she hears about his memory of going to church.
Michael tries to talk to Jane when they’re alone. He thinks Mateo is too young for church every Sunday. He points out how upset Mateo was. Jane, however, digs her heels in, telling Michael it’s important to her, and he gives in.
Jane calls Michael after she discovers that Catalina isn’t on the Lincoln website anywhere. Michael brushes her off, telling her that she has Hitchcock on the brain. She invites Catalina out for dinner and discovers a bag of money and jewels – we get a little more Hitchcock – this time
To Catch a Thief. But then Catalina catches her with her hand in the bag! Catalina has an excuse for everything, and Jane caves and apologizes.
Michael is back at work – officially setting up his desk – but really working on the case. Michael’s new partner, Dennis (Christopher Allen) has discovered that the Convent had several pieces of artwork go missing in the early 80s. When Michael shows the pictures to Rafael, he recognizes one immediately and takes Michael and Jane to a storage facility. I loved the Narrator exclaiming “Holy Mother of God!” as we see the stolen painting of Mary and Jesus over Rafael’s shoulder! And we get another Hitchcock reference – both verbally and visually to
Vertigo.
Rafael asks Michael not to call the police. He explains to Jane and Michael that when his dad died, Rafael found financial irregularities and he suspected that some of the art was stolen, but he didn’t want to tarnish his father’s legacy, so he covered it up. Rafael says he hates putting Michael in this position – as he puts Dennis off, endangering his own career – and Jane says that maybe he should stop doing illegal things. When Rafael tells her that he doesn’t need a lecture, she tells him that she gets to voice her opinion too – and then she suggests that if Rafael went to church, he might have a better sense of right and wrong. Jane tells Michael that he doesn’t have to lie, but he clearly thinks that he does.
Rogelio finally tells Jane about Xo and Bruce, and Jane is furious with her mother – who has been dodging her calls. Xo immediately tries to call Rogelio when she finds out, but his phone is off for the Mixer. Rogelio at least compliments all the women – Carmen Electra, Brooke Burke-Charvet, Heidi Balvanera – before telling all of them that he’s “just not feeling it.” And then Xo shows up! She accuses of him just trying to blow up her relationship with Bruce. Rogelio admits that it’s hard for him to watch her move on and that he isn’t attracted to any of the beautiful women in the room!
Darci kicks Rogelio out of the club. But Rogelio confides that maybe he isn’t ready for love – really he just wants a baby. Darci asks why this is so important to him, and he tells her about Jane and that he wants a baby to be there from the beginning.
When Catalina tells Rafael about Jane’s accusation, he’s ready to be mad at her, but their conversation twigs a memory of an Italian Convent. The memory leads them to St Genevieve’s right there in Miami! Michael discovers a link to Mother Constantine (Irene DeBari). They are going to use the opportunity of the Mother Superior’s being absent at the same time as tour to try to get more evidence for a warrant. Jane goes with Rafael so that he doesn’t stick out. However, one of the nuns recognizes Rafael and calls the Mother Superior back.
The narrator 'Hitchcocks' things up a bit with a blend of
The Birds and
Vertigo with a shot of the bell tower. But then Rafael also has another memory complete with Hitchcock-y music too as he comes face to face with the statue and finds the Mother Superior’s office – right when she returns! The Narrator brings us back to the rules of suspense! Jane tries to head off Mother Constantine before she can get to her office – but Jane gets the wrong nun!
Mother Constantine finds Rafael in her office – and the Narrator tells us he can’t perform rule number three just yet – commercial break! She tells him she always knew this day would come… and after the commercial break she asks him to sit down. She admits to trafficking in stolen art with his father. She was just playing Robin Hood to help the orphans. Elena continued to pay her because she wanted her to do something for her – and the nun produces the letter! And gives it to Rafael! And… cut to Jane.
Jane runs out of ways to stall the nun, who she still thinks is Mother Constantine. So, Jane asks her about taking Mateo to church. The nun asks why Jane hasn’t been going to church. At first, Jane says she was just busy, but then mentions Michael being shot – and we discover that Jane was mad at God for letting that happen. The nun reassures her that even nuns go through times of doubt. Rafael interrupts them.
When they get back in the car, Rafael doesn’t tell them about the envelope! He does tell them that he’s returning the stolen art and turning himself in. He explains that he wants to set a good example for Mateo and stop the insane corrupt cycle that is the Solano family!
Jane tells Michael that she needs to work on her own relationship with God, so she’s not going to insist on bringing Mateo. Michael offers to go with her – sometimes – but also says it will be a nice thing for her to do with Alba as well. Jane then gets some writing done for the entire dark and stormy night! But the next morning, Michael gets the terrible news that he didn’t pass his physical and will be assigned to desk duty.
Xo and Jane finally talk about Bruce. Xo says he’s changed, and Jane says that he’s a liar. But Xo tells Jane that he didn’t lie. She knew he was married when they got together. And that single fact, really did destroy Xo’s character for me. I really thought that she was a better person than that. I think that Rogelio deserves much, much better than that.
And Rogelio would appear to be getting his baby – with Darci! She wants to have a baby – and this way they only have the child half time…
Jane, of course, didn’t have Catalina all wrong! An older French man – Arnaud (Richard Shelton) shows up at Catalina’s hotel room. The jewels belonged to his mother – but he’s not mad at her! They appear to be in a relationship!
Jane goes to check up on Rafael, and he reveals that the envelope contained his birth certificate. He’s not a Solano! He was born in Italy and Elena substituted him for the baby she lost!
And that’s where we ended! I loved the Hitchcock elements in the episode – and I’m continuing to love the show poking fun at the product placement issue. Once again the show has lots of mysteries and questions for us to ponder. What did you think of the episode? What are you most excited to see/find out in the coming episodes? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
