Jane the Virgin Season Premiere Review: Chapter Eighty-Two (Season 5 Episode 1)
Ah friends, the efforts of the Villanueva family may not be enough to bring back Michael’s memory but they sure are enough to make this show’s final premiere unforgettable.
Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 1, “Chapter Eighty-Two,” is the first of many farewells to this glorious show and if you were thinking that meant this telenovela would finally settle down, you were very misinformed!
Of course, Jane’s story wouldn’t be complete without some classic amnesia, a diabolical plot to fake someone’s death, and the return of an epic love triangle. It just wouldn’t feel right to end this series any other way than with a whole lot of crazy.
Jane may have been a pregnant virgin but if this premiere is an indication of anything, it’s that this show is the real miracle here.
Jane the Virgin has roughly 40 minutes to wow us with this premiere but all this show really needs is 7 minutes and Gina Rodriguez to win us over.
Her rambling monologue is a tv moment for the history books. Every anxious scrambling thought of Jane’s nervous breakdown is felt through the audience and nothing is off limits – not even Alba’s dead husband!
Rodriguez does an incredible job of putting Jane’s crazy situation into words and in doing so has solidified that this monologue should be submitted to the Emmy’s for consideration.
Everything that comes out of Jane’s mouth during these 7 minutes is absolute gold.
More importantly, Jane’s human way of processing the fact that her husband is alive and living with amnesia is a pleasant reminder of why we fell in love with this insanely quirky telenovela — as if we ever needed one.
But it is also a reminder of how grounded this show can still manage to feel despite the ludicrous plot surrounding Michael’s resurrection.
A man comes back from the dead with amnesia and yet Jane the Virgin can still be seen as an honest representation of the human experience. That is in big part because of these actors’ real portrayal of characters thrown into an unreal situation.
The reveal that Michael is alive but has suffered from amnesia brought on by brain electrocution is undeniably ridiculous. Amnesia is also the oldest trick in the telenovela toolkit which is precisely why it is so hilarious that the show went in this direction with the storyline.
Although the grand villainy that surrounds Rose’s diabolical plan warrants a few laughs, the most uncomfortable, frustrating, and undeniably great moments have to go to Michael — or Jason because apparently, that’s what he calls himself now.
And despite the fact that Jason is not the liveliest of guys, his situation brings with it so many intriguing storylines to explore.
There is the resurrection of the infamous love triangle, Jane’s responsibility to reintroduce Michael to her crazy life once again, and somehow try to explain all of this to Mateo, wherever he may be at the moment.
Jane the Virgin knows how to make us laugh but this episode sets out to make one thing very clear, this show knows how to break us too.
Instead of loveable goofball cop Michael, we get bland rancher Jason who has a southern accent and a thing for Petra — PETRA! Plus he keeps calling Jane Ma’am, who does that?
It is this kind of blatant uncaring that has produced some deeply scaring emotional scenes and also some wildly enjoyable plot lines during this premiere.
It’s clear Jane the Virgin is holding nothing back and I only wish every show could be this daring and reckless in their finale seasons because wow!
When the focus is not on Jane and Michael, the premiere shines just as bright.
I mean Rogelio believing he would be the one to cure his best friend’s amnesia with one look at Michael is just so on par for the character I can’t stand it.
If Rogelio keeps this up he will easily be one of the hardest characters to say goodbye to at the end of this series.
Even Xo has some winning moments of her own when she checks in on Rafael to see how he is processing Michael’s return. Given that Rafael has no family of blood to turn to I love this new dynamic for him, regardless of whether or not its a friendly or motherly one.
But it is Rafael and Jane’s swoon-worthy time together that really brings the episode together.
Everything from the sweet moment the two share at Michael’s funeral to present day where Jane makes it clear to Rafael that she is choosing to be with him because she loves him.
Their choice to be together despite Michael’s return doesn’t feel wrong, it feels organic and right after an entire season of build-up to this decision. Michael is not the same man he used to be and neither is Rafael, so this seems like a reasonable decision on Jane’s part.
Regardless of whether Jane and Rafael will stay together, it’s impossible to deny they are killing this couple thing right now!
Jane the Virgin may be ending but it doesn’t look like the series is going to be leaving us empty-handed.
If this premiere is any indication of what the rest of Season 5 has in store for us, I can say with confidence that we are not prepared for what is to come but we will not be disappointed either.
Jane the Virgin is still very much that crazy family member you never want to stop coming to the reunions. It is wild, unpredictable, and above all else aware of just how far to cross the line.
Thank you, Jane, for inviting us back into this wonderfully wild world one last time!
Top Lines From “Chapter Eighty-Two”
Petra: “By the way, I’m bisexual. It’s you.”
Rogelio upon seeing Michael: “Yes, it is me and I have missed you.”
Michael: “Did I ever have a thing with her (Petra)?”
Jane: “You did conspire to cover up a crime with her. Maybe that’s what you’re remembering.”
Jane: “I love you Rafael, and I know it feels like everything’s changed but it didn’t. Not that.”
And because I could never capture the essence of the 7-minute monologue with quotes here is the full clip to enjoy:
What did you think of this episode of Jane the Virgin? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Jane the Virgin airs Wednesdays at 9/8c on The CW.
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Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and a Critics Choice Association member. She credits her passion for TV to workplace sitcoms, paranormal dramedies, and coming-of-age stories. In her free time, Alicia loves to curl up with a good book and lose herself in a cozy game. Keep a lookout for her coverage of Ghosts. You can also find her work on Eulalie Magazine and Cool Girl Critiques. Follow Alicia on social media: @aliciagilstorf