I Need to Talk About Jane the Virgin

You know, pilot episodes usually aren't representative of the quality of a TV show. Great shows often have disappointing pilots, and terrible shows can have not-so-terrible pilots. And occasionally a pilot comes along that is so charming, so gripping, so engaging that you know it's earned a place in your heart (and schedule) for at least its first season. Right now, that show for me is Jane the Virgin.

This fall's abundance of underwhelming pilots has left my hopes and my expectations on the low side--it's unfortunate that so few shows this year have been able to grip me emotionally. I can gladly say that Jane the Virgin has restored my hope in this fall's lineup. 

Jane the Virgin features a very likable main character, Jane (portrayed by Gina Rodriguez, who nails the role), who has lived her whole life pursuing purity. She has taken great measures to maintain her innocence, apparently in an effort to avoid the fate of her own mother, who found herself with child at sixteen. Jane is in a committed relationship with her longtime boyfriend Michael--a charming, kind man with a terrible secret. Jane goes to the doctor one morning for a pap, but the doctor--Luisa Alver, sister of rich hotel owner/Jane's kind-of boss, Rafael Solano--having experienced heartbreak, mistakenly gives her an artificial insemination! And that just starts it.

The show only builds on the momentum from the first conflict. Anytime something feels close to being solved, a new twist is introduced, complicating the story again. But every twist is such a delight to behold; the show presents itself with charm and cunning that complement the plot brilliantly. Having never seen an actual telenovela, I can't speak to the series' actual similarity to the genre, but Jane the Virgin matches any stigma I've ever attached to the world of Spanish soap operas. That's not to say the show has no depth, however; no, this is perhaps the most human of any freshman drama currently on network television.

The word I would use to describe Jane the Virgin is "strong." It has a strong plot, strong dialogue, and a powerful cast. Rodriguez plays a brilliant Jane, both humble and confident. She is an upstanding character, giving, kind, and sweet. Her mother, Xiomara (Andrea Navedo) is a saucy lady but a wonderful mother. Jane's grandmother, Alba (Ivonne Coll) is an abrasive but kindhearted woman. We've also got Michael (Brett Dier), Jane's boyfriend, who has beautiful chemistry with Jane. Jane the Virgin is always tasteful, and it remains classy even in its grimier telenovela moments. The narrator, along with the typewriter who writes freeze frame titles throughout each episode (one of my favorites is "Luisa Alver, married *in some states"), both add immensely to the humor of the show. The series is sometimes reminiscent of My Name is Earl, which brings me great joy.

Jane the Virgin has a lot going for it--a brilliant cast, witty writing, a solid pace. It's definitely one I'm going to stick with for awhile. What did you think of the pilot? Let me know!