“FINALLY! Welcome back!”
“Chapter Forty-Five” of “Jane the Virgin” premiered Monday on the CW, and there is nothing quite like the voice of Anthony Mendez, the unseen yet enthusiastic narrator of “Jane the Virgin,” to welcome fans into the show’s third season.
After a quick recap of the last two seasons, the narrator quickly dives into the aftermath of a riveting finale that left viewers with many questions — mainly concerning the fate of Detective Michael Cordero (Brett Dier) who was shot in the final moments of the last episode. But the premiere does not assuage the fears of characters and viewers alike by immediately clearing up the possibility of Michael’s death. Rather, the tense uncertainty plays out in an emotional 40-minute episode.
Michael’s possible death in the immediate wake of his and Jane’s wedding is definitely in a more serious vein than most of the show’s plot twists. On one front, the more dramatic episode gave Gina Rodriguez, who plays Jane, the opportunity to display some serious acting chops. The actress’s ability to deliver a genuine emotional performance in a show that is normally lighthearted and borderline cheesy demonstrates Rodriguez’s — and the show’s — versatility.
Admittedly, the premiere did run the risk of getting caught up in its own telenovela-style melodrama. However, the somber scenes in the hospital waiting room were interspersed with flashbacks to earlier parts of Jane and Michael’s relationship that lightened the mood of the episode and highlighted the innocent charm that makes the show so endearing.
Along with Rodriguez, Yael Grobglas made a striking performance in the show’s season premiere. Since the latter part of the show’s second season, Grobglas has balanced the portrayal of scheming Petra Solano and her artless twin sister Anezka. In last season’s finale, the sub plot thickened as Anezka stole her sister’s identity while Petra lay frozen in a hospital bed. In Monday’s episode, Grobglas portrayed a nervous Anezka posing as Petra — an acting feat that Grobglas pulls off brilliantly.
Although long lost twins, stolen identities and masked drug lords continue to fuel the drama of “Jane the Virgin,” the third season premiere has a more sedated feel to it. After all, by the end of the episode, we know that Michael will be alright, which means that his and Jane’s marriage can begin and the show’s premise — Jane’s virginity — might no longer be relevant. The episode’s definitive resolution may lead viewers to wonder where the show can go from here.
Nevertheless, for two seasons the show has expertly poked fun at the telenovela genre by taking the plot in overtly far-fetched directions, and if viewers have managed to suspend their disbelief this long, there is little doubt that they will enjoy wherever “Jane the Virgin” goes next.
Read More
University Department of Drama hypnotizes with theatrical Spring Dance Concert
By Kenneth Do | YesterdayFrom its compelling choreographic dialogue to the thematic costume selection, each dance in the concert maintained an individual artistic voice.
On Repeat: Motivating songs to help power through the rest of the semester
By Emma Royse | YesterdayThese songs will give University students the needed push and inspiration to power through to the end of the school year.
Six must-see films to watch with your NetBadge login
By Thomas Hodgkins | 2 days agoFilms from different continents, documentaries about a wide range of topics and lesser-known independent films are all streaming on Kanopy, waiting for students to click “play.”
