Every telenovela has to come to an end...
...but with a happy ending!
*Warning spoiler alert!*
Mios dios! I dramatically cried as Jane and Rafael were enjoying the sunset on their wedding day. Jane explains the ending of her novel, which is turned into a telenovela. And the typewriter writes, 'THE END'. I now understand my friend's sadness over the finale of this cheesy, yet addictive television series.
I have always been a fan of soap operas. I religiously watched South African soapies during my nursing school days. And then when I became a stay-at-home mum, I added the American and Phillipino soapies to the list. When DSTv then introduced a channel for Spanish soapies known as novelas, I was gone. The thing with novelas or telenovelas, is that they amplify the usual soapie drama. The male characters are sexy even as villains and the female characters are over the top. Unlike a soapie like Days of Our Lives or Generations, telenovelas have a time frame. Like writing a book, a novela has an epilogue.
When it was announced that season five of Jane the Virgin would be the finale, I felt anxious. I had invested five years of my television watching on this telenovela style of series. My favourite characters are Petra Solano, Rogellio De La Vega and the narrator. While Jane Gloriana Villanueva is the protagonist, I actually loved the other characters in this plot line.
To summarize the storyline here we go. 23 year old Jane Gloriana Villanueva is a second generation American citizen of Hispanic descent. She was raised in a female dominated household by her strict Catholic grandmother (abuela), Alba and wild, young mother, Xiomara. Jane, who's engaged to a Miami police officer, Michael Cordero, is an aspiring writer. Her life is turned upside down when she's accidentally, artificially inseminated. A drunken and distraught, Dr Luisa Solano, inseminates the young virgin with her brother, Rafael Solano's sperm. This would be the beginning of this hilarious, heartwarming novela.
Rafael divorces his cheating wife, Petra. He falls in love with Jane, his baby mama. Jane chooses to marry Michael Cordero and breaks Rafael's heart. Dr Luisa is in-love with her stepmother, crime lord, Rose known as Sin Rostro. Jane finally meets her long lost father, telenovela star, Rogellio De La Vega. Rogellio gets back with Jane's mother, Xiomara and marries her. Sin Rostro causes havoc in Miami. She kills Luisa and Rafael's father, kidnaps Mateo and kills Michael. Rafael's mother is a crime lord whos murdered. He also finds out that he's adopted. (Straight out of a telenovela, right?) By season four, Jane is a published novelist, and a widow. Rogellio has a baby with his match maker, Darcy. Darcy starts dating Rogellio's arch nemesis, Esteban. Xiomara is diagnosed with breast cancer, undergoes a mastectomy and chemotherapy. Alba gets her green card and falls in love with Jorge. She fakes a marriage to Jorge whilst helping him get his green card. Rafael is unemployed with three children - oh, Petra has twins after using a turkey baster with Rafael's sperm to impregnate herself. Jane and Rafael finally get back together and Rafael is about to propose. But Michael returns from the dead. That's where season four ends, and season five begins.
Season five opens with a shocked Jane meeting her dead husband, Michael. Michael has amnesia and goes by the name Jason. Jason now lives in Montana with his faithful dog, Bo. Jason's return and presence creates conflict between Jane and Rafael. Once again, Jane breaks Rafael's heart by choosing Michael/Jason. It takes a trip to Montana, for Jane to realise that her love story with Michael had come to an end. On that very same trip, it dawns upon Jane that Rafael is the love of her life; she saw a real future with him. Jane returns to Miami and declares her love for Rafael. He rejects her, however Jane is determined to earn Rafael's trust and to get back together with him. Rogellio is working on the American version of the telenovela, 'The Passion of Santos'. After several disasters, he manages to get on-board, award winning actress, River Fields played by Brooke Shields. The co-stars experience a tumultuous relationship whilst filming the pilot. At one point River has feelings for Rogellio but Xo isn't having it. Ro assists River in mending her relationship with her daughter, Pond. 'The Passion of Steve and Brenda' is rewritten by Jane and titled, 'This Is Mars'. When the pilot receives the greenlight, River decides to move back to New York with Pond. Rogellio is faced with a dilemma between his contract and his family. He asks Xo and Darcy to move to the Big Apple with him, of which they agree. Petra can't seem to catch a break with her estranged family. She is accused of murdering her twin sister, Aneska. Well, she accidentally killed her sister during a fight. Her crazy mother, Magda, keeps returning like a cockroach to blackmail her. With the assistance of her lawyer Jane Ramirez a.k.a JR, Petra gets off the hook whilst hooking up with JR. Magda also strangely exits Petras life (thank you Alba!) The couple move their relationship quickly with exclusivity and parenting. However, when offered a job in Texas, JR breaks up with Petra citing that she needs a completely clean slate.
Jane comforts a heartbroken Petra as they are now single ladies. The duo short live this as Rafael and Jane get back together. This comes after Rafael realizes that he's in love with Jane whilst dating other women. Rafael proposes to Jane during a game of cards. The couple will face a few hurdles before reaching the alter. First, Jane's parents are moving away to New York. Xiomara is afraid of the move and feels the void of missing her family. Sin Rostro returns to win back Luisa. She threatens Jane and even holds her hostage at the 'This is Mars' premier event. Rafael comes through to save Jane before Luisa saves them by giving Rose the last push. Literally! Rose falls to her death on a stake.
Thanks to Rose though, Jane's book is auctioned for half a million dollars. In addition, renowned writer Isabel Allende will publish her book. We all get excited in the last episode as we countdown to the aisle. Did I mention that Michael returns for one last time in this season. He and now fiancé, Charlie, had initial qualms with Jane's book. They resolve the issue when a content Charlie allows Michael's character to be portrayed in the novel. Now back to the wedding countdown. Lena designs Jane's wedding dress and announces that she's pregnant. Petra hosts a pre-wedding dinner for the couple. It's a very emotional scene that is lightened up by Luisa's toast. She highlights that thanks to the artificial insemination, Jane and Rafael are getting married.
During the dinner, a light bulb lights up over Jane's head. She decides to rewrite the ending of her book. However, she has to get it to the galley printers in time. She decides that she won't sneak off on her wedding day, to deliver the copy. Instead, Rafael decides to go on her behalf as a romantic gesture and gets arrested for speeding out of the printing press. An amused Jane tells Xo to meet her at the wedding venue with her dress, whilst she bails her groom out of jail.
Similar to her wedding to Michael, Jane is forced to use the bus. This time she hires out the bus with money from her book advance. After thirty minutes the bride and groom leave the police station to pick up Jane's family and her dress. Ironically, the bus is advertising the 'This Is Mars' billboard. Rogellio is ecstatic when some participants at a marathon recognise him from the pilot. Yes fans, the De La Vega factor has reached the USA.
Whilst Jane is changing into her wedding gown, Rogelio has a pep talk with Rafael. At the venue, Petra is trying to entertain the impatient guests. She then sees JR, who patches things up with her. Now the bus arrives...the moment that we have been waiting for all five seasons. As Jane steps out of the bus, we see the different stages of Jane's life. The narrator highlights Jane's passions leading to Rafael. Alba is the marriage officer. This is when we take out the tissues. The couple is getting married under the tree that they first declared their love for each other. The twins, Anna and Elsa, and Mateo share a poem about love. Jane and Rafael are so overwhelmed with emotion that they can't say their vows. The two exchange the vows they wrote and kiss each other. Talk about impatience! Alba officiates the couple as husband and wife. The family photo highlights the dynamics of the Villanueva-De La Vega-Solano family. And we end with Mr. and Mrs. Solano watching the sunset.
I bawled out when the typewriter wrote, 'THE END.' A happy ending to one of the most beloved television series. (Okay, this epilogue wasn't as painful as GOT).
Script my life to 'Jane the Virgin', I am like Jane Gloriana Villanueva. My life might not be as dramatic but I can relate. Like Jane, my ideals, family, and religion have shaped me. I too am a writer, with bestselling aspirations. Like Jane, over life, I learned to be flexible and realize that life isn't black and white but a rainbow. Jane went through a long period as a single mother and faced her struggles. I am in that struggle of raising a child single-handedly. Fortunately for her though, her baby daddy is supportive. But like the female protagonist, I do love 'love'. I am whimsical like her imagination which even breaks out into musicals. And because Jane annoyed me, she is me. But I love Petra more. She's a character who defied the odds. She's a beautiful dragon as her daughters drew her - fierce, protective, and strong. Plus, Petra's wardrobe is my Pinterest board!
The series' focal point is on the relationships between the female characters. In the last three seasons we have seen Petra and Jane develop a sisterhood. They even co-parent amicably with Rafael. They show us how to do blended families. The blending continues with Rogellio, Xiomara, Darcy, Esteban and Baby. In terms of the Villanueva women, we see the evolving relationship between Xiomara and Alba. Jane continues to be the glue between her mother and grandmother. The show debunks the stereotypes about women. We see that the women would cry, be afraid, yet be fearless, decisive and bosses of their own lives. The men also show emotional range which is a positive perspective that men are human beings too.
The show also looks at relatable issues such as postpartum depression, depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, grief, cancer, and learning disabilities. Alba and Jorge's journey to gaining American citizenship plays a role in the status quo on immigration laws pertaining to the Latino community. Jane's therapy session to deal with her fears of Sin Rostro sheds light on PTSD. Xo's experience with cancer touched on the points of lost identity, self-esteem and recovery. At each point of discussion, Jane the Virgin made the family the center of support.
The show has been larger than life and we can thank the narrator for that. In episode eighteen the narrator is revealed as voiced by Anthony Mendez. The narrator has been a key character in evoking the range of emotions in the audience. In episode nineteen, the narrator reveals that he is a grown Mateo, sharing his parents' love story - telenovela style. We cannot erase the gallons of tears shed on the 'porch of tears'. Yes, the Villanueva women cried a lot by their front porch. They also offered sound advice by the same porch. But all the characters shed several tears, offering a very human side of the show. Jane the Virgin has been colourful, dramatic and a great escape.
A hundred episodes of a hilarious heartwarming television series, how do you say goodbye to that?
A universal story about the complexity of life fulfilled by family, friends and love.
Applause to the writers and actors of the show who shaped how we view television. JTV upheld a Latin American tradition of storytelling and added modern contexts. Gina Rodriguez looks like an ordinary woman, making her character relatable. We thank the actress for accepting the role and walking into our lives.
The series ends but on a high note. The characters embark on new, exciting journeys, and fans are reassured that they are happy.
Until the next script...
P.S. Always write your own love story!
Ciao!
Lady E
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