Jane the Virgin Review: Chapter Thirty-Four (Season 2 Episode 12)

Jane the Virgin took a week off and returned with “Chapter Thirty Four.” The showrunners promised a game changer, and of course, viewers assumed that Jane would go all the way with the Professor — but no, not quite.

Good deflection, writers, nicely done. A lot happens during the episode, but the relevance of the title, much like Jane’s virginity, remains intact. Let’s dive in.

Jane decides to seal the deal with Jonathan. He’s obviously interested, is looking for something casual, and will be leaving for Thailand on a two-year sabbatical. All of that sounds perfect to Jane who is also interested, is not looking for a long term relationship, and is beginning to question the relevance of her virginal status. Their dinner dates are perfect, and sex is definitely on the table. But Jane’s virginity and her promise to Abuela work its way into the conversation and that puts the breaks on the evening.

A day later Jane and Jonathan turn up the heat again. Two writers sexting is a whole new level of hot and heavy and soon Jane is speeding over to Jonathan to do the deed. She gets pulled over by a cop and seeing his badge reminds her of her feelings for Michael. A very emotional Jane tries to convince Jonathan that she’s ready, but he knows better than to make love to a woman who can’t stop crying.

Gina Rodriguez really excelled in this scene. Jane is so conflicted — Jonathan sees it and the viewers see it. Ideally, Jane would have made the decision for herself, but Jonathan helps her out, and his character is able to exit the romantic arc on a high note.

So Jane is a virgin — still — but there is a game changer of sorts. Abuela tells her that she will not judge her if she decides to have sex. She herself had sex before her marriage and was judged harshly for it, and she never wanted that for Jane. Given that Jane and the viewers have invested so much time in her virginity, I’m glad that she didn’t end up losing it in a casual relationship. As Abuela says, if you’re crying through it, he’s not the right one. From the very beginning, Abuela has been the strongest protector of Jane’s virginity.

Up until this point, that’s appeared to have been driven solely by religion. This reveal comes out of the blue, but it was well timed and relieves Jane of the burden of living up to her grandmother’s very stringent relationship rules.

Xiomara and Rogelio are at their own crossroads. Xiomara decides that she doesn’t want to have kids, but Rogelio proposes to her anyway. He decides that having something tangible now is better than the promise of genetically perfect children in the future. But he does ask Xo to freeze her eggs in case she changes her mind. Xo’s interactions with Mateo and some personal introspection brings her to the realization that she really does not want to have have kids now or in the future and she returns Rogelio’s ring. Is there anything sadder than a single tear rolling down Rogelio’s cheek? Not on Jane the Virgin.

 

Petra is turning a corner in her pregnancy herself. Her twins are almost due and the hormones have kicked into high gear. Raphael asks Jane to help Petra shop for the babies and this leads to another clash of egos and a war of words. As usual, when there is conflict between Jane and Petra, all roads lead back to Raphael. Jane realizes that she needs cut the cord with Raphael and she tells him that there is no future for them.

Jane and Raphael finally tie up the loose ends and open some doors for Petra, but her character development takes a bit of a hit. All through the latter half of Season 2, there has been great progress in etching out who the real Petra is, and why she does the things she does. In the previous episode, we even had a flashback to her joy at saving some money at her wedding to Raphael.

So this week’s nonchalance over the money spent on baby-ware and really, over the pregnancy itself, seems somewhat misplaced. Petra has always had a edge — its what makes her interesting. But you have to add to the nuances, not tear them down after building them up.

The episode closes with Michael at Jane’s door. He tells her Rose is dead and that she can never hurt Jane again. He still loves her and only turned her away to protect her. This then, was the big game changer. Rose is no longer a thorn in their side. Michael still loves Jane more than ever and Jane chooses Michael. I’m guessing Jane, Once A Virgin will be a more appropriate title in the not too distant future.

We are more than halfway through the second season and the triangle was beginning to get old. Jane needed to decide one way or the other and I see Michael as the right choice at this point in time. It doesn’t mean that Raphael will never stand a chance with Jane, but everyone was stagnating and that’s not good for the show or the characters. Jane needed to choose one of them or neither. The neither route didn’t work out too well as this week’s episode proved. Michael’s love for Jane has never been in doubt and I think he has earned his place in her heart, again. Rogelio’s happy dance speaks for at least half the fandom.

Quotables Quotes

• “Gather round, suffragettes.” — Rogelio gets the best lines on the show as he time travels on his Telenova to be the first male feminist.
• “Now get over her Susan B. Antony, and give me a kiss.” Yup, more Rogelio as Tiago, the time traveling feminist.
• In spite of all the history between them, Jane’s toast at Petra shower was short and sincere, just like Petra wanted — “To Petra, she’s having two babies.”
• “Rip of the band-aid already.” — Jane when talking about sealing the deal with the professor. Uh Jane, Abuela is on to something, it shouldn’t be that hard.
• “Does he know that?” — Petra, when Jane tells her she no longer loves Raphael. This is big! Everyone needs closure.
• “Do you still love me?” — Michael. “Yes” — Jane. Awww.

What did you think of this episode of Jane the Virgin? Did you think Jane would lose her virginity to Jonathan? Are you glad Michael and Jane are together again? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.

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Jane The Virgin airs Mondays at 9/8c on The CW.

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