After talking to everyone else about what is going on in her life, Jane turns to Petra who she knows will give her a straight answer. In return, Petra leans on Jane for advice about JR. Xo is determined to be at grandparents' day for Mateo but still has one more chemo treatment. Alba is getting mixed messages from Jorge about their relationship.
In 2018, there were 495 scripted shows airing amongst the linear channels and streaming services. The way people are consuming content now is so different than it used to be. It happens according to one's own schedule. As such, there is less necessity to provide ample coverage of each specific episode in any given season from a show. Moreover, it is simply impossible to watch everything. As such, this site is making the move to shorter episodic reviews in order to cover as many shows as possible. With all of that being said, here are my thoughts on the next episode of The CW's Jane the Virgin.
"Chapter Eighty-Five" was written by Carolina Rivera & Liz Sczudlo and directed by Melanie Mayron
The show and Brett Dier had their fun in playing Jason for a little bit. But now, the show is getting to the drama of the love triangle being reignited between Jane, Michael and Rafael. It's the agonizing decision that was first introduced when Michael came back from the dead. The first few episodes of the season have dealt with the fact that he is a different person. He was Jason who had no memories of the life he had with Jane. In that situation, it was easy to say goodbye because Jason wasn't the kind of person Jane wanted to be with. But now, Michael's memories have come back. He understands everything that happened in his past and what is happening now. It's fascinating to see how selfless Michael and Rafael want to be with their actions. Michael wants to get on a bus and not ruin Jane's life anymore than he already has. He sees how happy she is with Rafael. He doesn't want to get in the way of that despite his own feelings for her. Meanwhile, Rafael knew he couldn't keep the truth about Michael still being alive from Jane for long. This was the newest hurdle they had to overcome before officially getting engaged and building their lives together. But now, there is also the sense that Rafael is getting impatient. He thought all of this new drama with Jason was behind them. Jane made the decision to send in the divorce papers because she couldn't hold onto the potential of Michael one day coming back to her. She couldn't put her life on pause. And yet, it's still frozen at the moment because Michael is back now. The spark is still there between them. All it takes is one look for Jane to understand that Michael is himself once more. She got used to who Jason was despite him carrying the same face as the man she loved. Here, Michael even shares stories about his recent adventures in Montana. But he actually connects with Jane because that bond is still present. They still know how to communicate with each other. They share laughs and feel loved. That's so special. But again, every action feels like a betrayal to Rafael because those feelings are just as passionate as ever before. Jane isn't hiding the truth from Rafael either. She is searching for answers as to what to do in this situation. Petra gives her some clarity in saying she should send in the divorce papers and be happy with Rafael. To her, it's that simple. And yet, the two of them are making these decisions while drunk. That's a very amusing sequence. It's great how often Jane and Petra are spending time with each other this season. Their bond as sisters is fantastic to watch because they are brutally honest with each other despite how outrageous their lives are. Here, Petra's mom returns and tries to extort money from her by handcuffing herself to Petra. That's insane but doesn't get in the way of Petra and JR getting back together. Now, it's a little questionable if Petra actually put in the work to prove to JR that she is a changed person. But there's also the understanding that she is aspiring to be better and that's enough for now. Meanwhile, Xo is trying to be better in order to provide many happy memories for her family. She wants to be there for Mateo for Grandparents' Day and perform the number they have been rehearsing. She doesn't want anything to disrupt that even though she collapses from exhaustion afterwards. That's a little manipulative on the show's part. Plus, it's unlikely that Xo will die - especially so early in the season. And yet, it still remains a possibility given the show's excellent ability to mine emotions from difficult situations. Right now though, the focus remains on the men vying for Jane's love. She still has no idea what to do. Her love for them is even more intense than ever before. Their bonds with her family are stronger than they have ever been. It's more agonizing than the last time she chose between them. That's what makes things difficult. Plus, there's even more at stake considering Mateo is a child with a distinct personality who will have to deal with the repercussions as well. That means Jane can't take too much longer to make this decision even though she has no idea what to do.
