Jane the Virgin “Chapter Fifty-Four” was written by the team of Micah Schraft and Jennie Snyder Urman and was directed by Melanie Mayron. I’m not going to lie. I’m still devastated by this episode, so this isn’t going to be a regular review/recap of the show. Instead, this is going to be a tribute to Brett Dier and his wonderful portrayal of Michael that made me fall madly in love with him and be Team Michael from “Chapter One.” I can’t help but think that the show is losing a big part of its magic – one of those bits of fairy-dust that isn’t quantifiable when a show is first conceived and cast. It’s that undefinable element that really takes a show over the top to have staying power and really connect with its audience.
The episode focused on memories, specifically “flashbulb memories” – events that are so important you remember the feelings more than the details, and that is in large part how I feel about this episode. There are clues throughout as to what’s coming. The introductory flashback is of Michael – something we haven’t had before - of him at 7 ready to go out for Halloween as a police officer only to have his big day shattered because he is sick.
Mateo is also sick in the episode, so it’s easy to brush off Michael’s feeling off. Is he getting sick right before the big test? Of course, the flashbacks show us why Michael is taking the LSAT – he failed his physical, so he couldn’t go back to work as a cop, except on desk duty. Why didn’t we ever get more of an explanation for what was actually wrong? Why did Michael give up that dream so quickly?
Then it seems that maybe Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is sick – or is she pregnant?! Many would see it as the worst possible time for her to have had an “accident” – but once again, Michael is the dream guy and has the perfect, wonderful reaction. It might not be on their schedule but Dier pulls out the utter joy of Michael at the thought of having a baby with Jane. Dier’s willingness to give 100% to every one of Michael’s emotions – be it joy or anger or sadness – really brought this character to life.
Jane has decided to re-create their date to the Carnival to help them both de-stress before Michael takes his LSAT. Of course, the date acts as a bookend to their relationship – it’s both their first and last date as a couple. They revisit the Compatibility meter from their first date. Four years ago, they made the heart glow – today, the machine is broken – but we see Jane and Michael’s hearts glow – in one of my favorite magic realism touches that we’ve seen throughout the series. And I love how they ground this in Jane's story.
The two revisit the photo booth – which has now become the make out zone! Their first set of pictures were a bit stiff and awkward but the new ones are porn! Michael tells Jane that he remembers everything exactly from that first date – it’s a flashbulb moment for him.
On the Ferris wheel, Michael is nervous. Four years ago, Michael was nervous because he wanted the date to be perfect and because he wanted to be exclusive with Jane. Now, it’s because he just wants to do well on the test for both of them. Michael suggests that it would be fun to bring Mateo to the carnival. And let’s never forget what a terrific Dad Michael was. Jane and Michael both agree that maybe they should be thinking about baby number two sooner than they’d planned – and Michael is so excited.
Rafael (Justin Baldoni) and Michael have finally found an easier relationship. Rafael even tells Michael that he’s really impressed with Michael for taking the LSAT. Jane also tells Michael how proud she is of him before giving him an adorable police lunchbox to take with him to his test. We see Michael taking the test and then collapsing as he’s on his way out. I watched in horror as the light of his heart faded out.
I’ve already said much of what I’ll miss about Brett Dier – his 100% commitment to all of his scenes and the undeniable chemistry he had with Gina Rodriguez and Jaime Camil (Rogelio) especially. Who isn’t going to miss those two riffing on each other? I will also miss Dier’s amazing impressions – always hilarious. I’m thinking especially of his Jimmy Stewart in the Hitchcock parody a few episodes and let’s not forget that awesome stand up routine he did! And then there was the puppet show he did for Mateo. And finally, another flashbulb memory for me was his breakdancing and doing the worm at the wedding. Mr Dier, you will be very, very missed.
The episode ends with a three year time jump, so presumably we will see if Jane took the publishing job with Chloe (Maya Kazan) – her dream job that she landed only with Michael’s help. Has Alba (Ivonne Coll) started dating? Did Rafael go to prison for six months? Are Scott (Wes Anderson) and Anezka (Yael Grobglas) still blackmailing Petra? Has Petra continued to bond with her daughters? Has Xo (Andrea Navedo) grown closer to Tess (Dannay Rodriguez) and moved in with Bruce (Ricardo Chavira)? Has Rogelio and Darci’s (Justina Machado) reality show rocketed them to fame and fortune? Have the two had a baby? And have Luisa (Yara Martinez) and Rose (Elisabeth Rohm) managed to pass Rose off as Eileen?
I will miss seeing Michael each week. He was almost the perfect boyfriend and husband. I realize that kind of happiness is pretty much doomed on a soap opera, but I hoped that a telenovela might prove a safe place because of its limited lifespan. I am sad that Michael never got to really experience the joy of seeing his baby come into the world. And I’m sad that we will lose all that Brett Dier brought to the show. What did you think of the episode? Was this a fitting close to this part of the story? Should we have expected this because this is how the story plays out in the original? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below.
