Jane the Virgin Review: Chapter Ninety-Five (Season 5 Episode 14)
Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 14, “Chapter Ninety-Five,” looks to bide its time until Jane and Rafael’s wedding with some help from one of Jane’s old friends — her best friend that is.
Lina returns from prison — I mean fashion school — to ask Jane for some eggs as one does in a casual conversation and the awkward conversations that ensue make for a peculiar episode. So many egg jokes.
This newest chapter is on the quieter side of things as Rose continues to keep herself out of the picture and in doing so she allows these characters some well-earned family time we might not have the luxury of seeing once the wedding festivities commence.
Jane The Virgin is many things, but it will never be dull.
Which is why even a “filler” episode such as this has to have at least one discussion about Jane’s eggs to keep things interesting. And if there was ever a time where Jane’s eggs weren’t the centre of attention I don’t know what we would do.
With a larger episode order, these instalments are bound to come along. You know, the episode that signals the lull between the drama of Jane and Rafael’s bumpy breakup and the excitement of their wedding — which is sure to be eventful.
The calm before the storm, “Chapter Ninety-Five,” gives us back our beloved best friend Lina and a baby conundrum for Jane that generates some valuable discussions between her and her family.
That being said, this episode doesn’t bring a whole lot to the table beyond that.
This seems like an insane accusation, what with Rogelio’s heart attack scare and Lina’s baby fiasco to deal with, but neither of these setbacks has a wide arc to prosper from.
Most of the new content thrown our way is wrapped up within the hour and that’s a disappointment.
With Rose’s evil plan still theoretical at this point in the series, some of the topics chosen to cover in this episode feel like they are just biding time before the big showdown.
With the only exception being Xo’s evolution from cancer survivor to kick ass nurse in glasses — she has earned the right to have all the screen time she wants.
By bringing Lina back, Jane the Virgin is able to do one thing brilliantly.
Her return prompts a walk down memory lane for Jane as she looks back on the first season through various flashbacks.
Allowing the audience to visualize the change these characters have undergone in 5 seasons is the greatest tool Jane The Virgin wields throughout this episode.
Something as simple as Rafael standing amongst his old office set up or Jane reflecting on the moment she found out she was pregnant makes this mundane episode feel like something just a little bit more special.
Lina’s presence is also a strong reminder of how much Petra has had to grow as a character in order to fill the role of Jane’s best friend after she left.
We don’t need any flashbacks to know how much Petra has changed. Her ability to demonstrate real human growth is something she has captivated us with for many seasons now.
But the beauty of her character is something we are just beginning to grasp and that’s a shame. Yael Grobglas has always deserved recognition for the hard work she has put into making this vain two-dimensional villain feel like a human being we can empathize with through the good and bad.
Petra has not only become a strong support system for Jane but a strong support system for this show to lean on in times of need as well — and this episode desperately needs all the Petra it can get.
These quieter episodes are meant to bring us closer to Jane and Rafael, but the more time we spend with them the less I find myself caring about their future together.
This is it — this is the big endgame Jane the Virgin has been alluding to for 5 whole seasons and it’s perfect in every way it should. But that doesn’t erase the problematic elements of this relationship Jane the Virgin is proud to put on display but hardly equipped to fix.
Seeing Jane and Rafael struggle with prioritizing each other reminds the audience that there are other relationships worth investing more interest in. I ship platonic Jane and Petra harder than I do Jane and Rafael because that friendship is giving us content that deserves to be praised for its complex portrayal.
I’d rather invest in the show’s remaining time with characters that are showing actual growth. This means seeing more of Jane and Mateo against the world, Xo and Alba killing it in nursing school, and Petra and Rafael building the best hotel experience they can.
At the end of the day, Jane and Rafael being happy together is fantastic but it is something that should have happened long before now and long before the rest of the Jane the Virgin cast had the chance to develop into these wonderfully complex characters.
And maybe that’s why “Chapter Ninety-Five” doesn’t have the effect it should on the audience. Flashbacks provide a great nostalgia trip, but why hold on to the past when you have characters in the present who are better than ever before?
This cast truly is Jane the Virgin’s greatest asset in its last days and yet they do struggle to shine in a mediocre episode such as this one.
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