Jane the Virgin Review: Chapter Seventy-Four (Season 4 Episode 10)

Jane has come a long way since she crumpled that flower in her hand and swore off sex till marriage.

Old Jane would have rolled her eyes at having sex in her car with Rafael but on Jane the Virgin Season 4 Episode 10, “Chapter Seventy-Four,” new Jane already has the seat reclined all the way back.

Now that is character development at its finest.

And that is what this episode is all about as the characters we have come to love attempt to deal with their situations in a mature and reasonable way, which brings up an interesting topic.

“Chapter Seventy-Four” puts Jane and Rafael’s relationship on the back burner to focus on Alba’s love life.

This is unusual for the show as Alba is usually the voice of reason or the lady drawing the line in the sand when Jane brings a new man home. But in this episode, it is Alba who is in desperate need of advice and validation from Jane.

The change in character is a clever parallel to Jane’s virginity scene in the pilot and gives Alba the much-needed screen time she deserves this season.

What is so delightful about this storyline involving Jane and Alba is how it starts out as light and fun with scenes involving online profiles and grandma/granddaughter double dates but turns into a serious conversation about not being ashamed of human pleasures.

This is a very difficult and racy topic for a show such as Jane the Virgin because despite being about taking a woman’s virginity, it does not usually discuss the topic of sex in such a direct manner.

Alba looks down on herself because she doesn’t believe she can be a woman with desires anymore and thus can’t satisfy a man sexually. However, what is important about this storyline is the way Jane completely ignores Alba’s worry of not being good enough for a man and focuses on her grandmother’s own well being.

Jane knows better than anyone how hard it is to have a love life and keep a vow to save herself for marriage. While this is something that can easily be forgotten amongst all the murder plots and love triangles, her development as a woman is on full display in this chapter.

In the strongest moment of the episode, Jane points out a very important flaw in her grandmother’s own religious beliefs.

Alba has refused to allow herself any pleasure in the past thirty years, and she constantly shames herself for thinking about anything involving sex because it is a sin.

But as Jane beautifully points out, satisfying her own needs is not a sin just because a bunch of people at the church says it is. There is nothing wrong with someone having sexual desires.

This message becomes the clear theme for the episode as Alba takes Jane’s advice and tags along with her to visit a sex shop in a scene that balances out the serious topic with some much needed comedic relief from candy lingerie and a latex suit that will remind you far too much of the one Tate wore on American Horror Story.

In a surprising turn of events Jane the Virgin reveals it isn’t just discussing Alba’s suppressed desire, but Petra’s as she realizes she might be attracted to her lawyer, Jane “JR” Ramos (played by everyone’s favorite neighborhood superhero nurse Rosario Dawson).

This is a nice note to end on, as a weird tension has been building between Petra and JR for several episodes now. To the point that it is hard to tell if you can just ship anything now or if there is actually something more there.

“Chapter Seventy-Four” takes a much more human and toned-down approach to its storyline this time in an episode full of awakenings.

Except for that absurd scene where Rogelio calls on Twitter to attack Brooke Shields’ character only to have her accidentally attacked by a wolf on The Talk instead. But that scene feels so out of place amongst a sexually driven episode that it almost feels unnecessary to the story.

Almost.

Not long ago, Jane’s religion and virtue were used primarily as a comedic tool to further the plot. During this newest chapter, you realize it is not just Jane who has matured, but also Jane the Virgin as the show openly talks about a topic that seems vulgar and uncomfortable to discuss to such a length.

The underlying point this episode tries to make, however, is that even if it is hard to discuss that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t do it.

Top Lines from “Chapter Seventy-Four.”

Jane: “HBO part of the package? Cool, cool. I mean, I love a… [Narrator: don’t say it Jane.] full package.”

Rogelio: “Wow, I’m getting lots of replies. Not all of them are kind, but most aren’t verified, so who cares, right?”

Jane: “It’s bigger in your mind. Once you say it, it gets smaller.”

Narrator: “Come on, I can’t show you everything. We’re not on HBO.”

What did you think of this episode of Jane the Virgin? Share your thoughts with us in the comments below!

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Jane the Virgin returns with new episodes Friday, March 2nd at 9/8c on The CW.

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