Jane the Virgin: Top 5 Moments From The First Half of Season 4

Jane the Virgin, like a fine wine, seems to only get better with age. Jane the Virgin Season 4 is no exception to this.

The first half of Jane the Virgin Season 4 has given us more complicated relationships and hotel shenanigans than ever. A blossoming relationship between Jane and an ex-boyfriend gave audiences a promising storyline full of pool floaties and Fun Jane.

Rafael had to navigate the world without his inheritance and apparently his shirt after Loisa kicked him out of the Marbella. All while Jane tried to take more risks in her dating life.

What could possibly go wrong? Well, it would seem pretty much everything.

But amongst all the craziness of Jane Villanueva’s life this season, there were several moments that stood out in the first half. Some were true to the telenovela theme this show has come to wield brilliantly, and others were just plain shocking.

As the dreadful mid-season hiatus comes to a close, let us look back on the top 5 moments of the season so far.

1. Jane Becomes a Published Freakin’ Author

The beauty of Jane The Virgin is its ability to create smaller moments that are so unique and human that they could never be overshadowed by some of the show’s more over the top moments.

Sure, it’s entertaining to see Rogelio pretend to befriend a gallbladder stone for his telenovela, but it is in Jane’s most vulnerable and grounded moments that this show truly shines.

One of those moments came this season on Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 6, “Chapter Seventy,” when Jane’s dream of becoming a published freakin’ author finally came to fruition.

After months of booking her book tour and choosing the perfect book cover, the first shipment of Jane’s novels had arrived. The moment was filled with touching sentiments. Jane wrote an adorable note to Mateo in one of the novels for him to read when he was no younger than twenty-five.

And as Jane began to admire the hardcover format she found herself flashing back to a memory of Michael when he had given her a hardcover novel from her favorite author.

Yes, Michael was the kind of guy that spontaneously bought Jane books. This is just another reason why we did not deserve that man.

The memory was a beautiful reminder that Jane put all her grief and love for Michael into Snow Falling, and those feelings will never truly leave her no matter who she ends up dating.

It was a small moment, one that reminds us that Michael doesn’t just live on in Jane’s writing, he is in every snowfall, every elevator conversation, and in many moments Jane shares with Rafael.

This moment also signifies that Jane is a legit writer now who pursued her dream career despite all the crazy kidnappings and love triangles this show has thrown her way.

2. Rogelio Introduces Us To Judy

If there is one thing Rogelio De La Vega excels at its never running out of arch nemeses. Fabian, his younger co-star on the telenovela Los Viajes de Guillermo, and Jane’s ex-boyfriend were Rogelio’s newest nemeses this season.

After an argument over whose cake was bigger on Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 2, “Chapter Sixty-Six,” Rogelio and Fabian’s feud reached its breaking point. They refused to shoot another scene together again, something that was going to be difficult considering they were co-stars.

So naturally the only option for a telenovela within another telenovela was to kill one of them off and use the suspense to boost ratings.

Sound familiar?

The same episode ended with a tagline “One of These People Will Die” while flashing pictures of Magda, Anezka, Petra, Luisa, Rafael, and Alba across the screen. Jane’s narrator called it “the oldest trick in the book”.

However, in Los Viajes de Guillermo’s case, the executives were going to use a focus group of woman viewers to decide which actor was more popular, and when Jane pointed out that Fabian’s grandmother had infiltrated the focus group, Rogelio did what any man would.

He created an alter ego named Judy complete with an on-point wig and feminine accent to sway the group in his favor.

The entire storyline might have been one of the most ridiculous things Jane the Virgin has done. It was also one of the funniest moments on the show so far.

Rogelio’s inability to be anything less than ridiculous and over-the-top dramatic in almost every situation has proven time and time again that he is one of this show’s best comedic assets.

It is likely this won’t be the last we see of Judy and with an ever-changing roster of telenovelas for Rogelio to star in, it would hardly be surprising if his alter ego got her own show within Jane the Virgin.

3. Adam Leaves Jane For LA

Three chances. Jane gave Adam three chances to bail on their relationship, and instead he chose to wait until the night of her book launch to end it.

Not to mention, he insisted on forming a bond with Mateo only to break up with the child’s mother days later. Like that kind of abandonment isn’t going to come up in Jane’s next relationship.

While not necessarily a top moment, Adam’s departure was such a shocking moment that it deserved to be on this list. This was something we as viewers should have seen coming, but Jane the Virgin had gone to great lengths to reassure us that Adam was here to stay.

If you recall this season did not start with an introduction to Jane but rather her graphic novel-writing, babe calling, and possible teenage werewolf ex-boyfriend Adam (played by Teen Wolf’s Tyler Posey) with his own personal narrator.

It was a bold move by the writers to shake up the format of the show. However, we never heard from his narrator after Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 1, “Chapter Sixty-Five,” and by the end of Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 6, “Chapter Seventy,” Adam had left Jane for LA.

This clever move was meant to reassure the audience that he wouldn’t be another fling, and it worked, allowing viewers to warm up to Adam and his childish but fun behavior. After all the back and forth with Rafael and the misery of losing Michael, it was nice to see Jane with a guy who yes, was irresponsible at times, but also refreshingly uncomplicated.

4. Anezka Dies… Twice!

Ah yes, Anezka.

What started out as a classic telenovela twin twist developed into a full-fledged character arc filled with hotel shenanigans, true love, and an accent so ridiculous you couldn’t help but grow to love her for it.

However, like most telenovela novelties on Jane the Virgin, it was only a matter of time before we said goodbye to Anezka for good.

Petra has developed into a strong independent character. She’s complicated enough that bringing in her wacky twin sister to assist her in scenes was starting to become somewhat insulting to the character.

The twin switcheroo gimmick was fun while it lasted, but it was time to say goodbye to Anezka the only way Jane The Virgin knew how, with drama, flair, and a deliberate fake out.

At the end of Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 6, “Chapter Seventy,” Anezka was found hanged in her hotel room at the Marbella. It later turned out Anezka wasn’t really dead, and those EMTs that came to take her body away? Well, they were actors, of course.

After one last twin switcheroo, Anezka confronted Petra about the truth.

She found out Petra had just been using her and ensured that her sister would never see the hotel shares again. It was a shining moment for the character, as Anezka had finally outsmarted her sister and become the true villain we had never expected her to be.

However, her reign was short-lived as she plummeted several stories and landed on top of her own cassette moments later.

To clarify, Anezka is dead. “Ned Stark dead,” according to Jane’s narrator. Although, one can’t help but wonder if one more twin switch happened before we saw the body fall.

One thing is certain. The narrator could have said she was “Michael Cordero dead,” but he didn’t, and I will take that sign not all deaths are permanent on this show. Hopefully just Anezka’s…

5. Rafael Kisses Jane

Rafael and Jane shippers rejoice!

For years Rafael has told Jane to be brave as she struggled to find her footing as a writer. The mid-season finale, Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 7, even flashed back to Rafael telling Mateo to be brave after his son admitted he was afraid he would get sick and die like Michael.

Mateo had us all crying in the club with that line.

However, it was in the last few moments of Jane The Virgin Season 4 Episode 7, “Chapter Seventy-One,” that Rafael finally took his own advice to be brave and kissed Jane while they were doing the dishes. It wasn’t standing in a violet dress as paper cranes twirled in the wind, but it was still adorable.

The moment was less adorable if you followed the relationships on this show close enough to remember Rafael had attempted to get back together with Petra only seven episodes before that. But for the sake of Jane’s happiness and our sanity, let’s just enjoy the moment.

You could practically hear fans squealing in joy, especially those that believe the couple is endgame. Seeing Rafael take the first step towards a romantic relationship instead of Jane for once demonstrates just how much the two have grown as people.

In the earlier seasons, it was their miscommunication and ability to bring out each other’s worst qualities that made Jane and Rafael unbearable as a couple and far too unhealthy to support as a viewer of the show.

What might be the most shocking thing about this entire kiss is Jane’s reaction.

While we will have to wait until the show returns from its mid-season hiatus to see how she reacts to Rafael’s kiss, Adam was the first person Jane really opened herself up to since Michael’s death, and he crushed her heart by moving to L.A.

So there is a good chance this kiss won’t go over as smoothly as shippers had hoped.

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What do you think of the season so far? Can Jane and Rafael rekindle their romance? Will Alba ever find true love again? Let us know what you think in the comments below!

Jane the Virgin returns Friday, January 26th at 9/8c on The CW.

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