where to watch Seasons 1-4 available on Netflix. Season 5 expected on Netflix Aug 8!
when to watch Anytime you’re in the mood for something not too serious—but don’t be fooled, Jane the Virgin can definitely make you cry
tl;dr Jane the Virgin is expertly crafted, features awesome strong female characters, crazy crime plots, a killer romance—it’s my first rec for a reason!
you should note Female showrunner, lots of female writers, and directors. Also, the three main characters are Latina. Highly bingeable
my first recommendation has to be Jane the Virgin
Jane the Virgin is one of my favorite shows of all time, and my friends know I could talk about it for hours. It takes an absolutely ridiculous premise—a 23-year-old grad student gets accidentally artificially inseminated, and suddenly she is a pregnant virgin—and grounds it in fully-developed characters and often very meta commentary. The result is a highly character driven show that pushes the boundaries of what television can do. Every aspect of the show feels carefully crafted, yet somehow viewers still become fully immersed in all of the ridiculous twists.
The show is a storytelling feat.
Each episode centers around some kind of theme, whether its memories, surprises, Law and Order, or improv comedy. The “Latin Love” narrator guides the story, and provides hilarious commentary along the way. Each scene transition is seamlessly constructed. There are ridiculous telenovela subplots involving drug lords, plastic surgeries, and kidnappings. There are also deeply moving everyday plots, like the undocumented status of Jane’s abuela, or the nuanced parenting choices Jane and her baby daddy have to make. Ultimately, the star of the show is the unbreakable bond Jane has with the two women that raised her—her mother, Xo, and her grandmother, Alba. These two women have massively informed Jane’s perspective on the world in both positive and negative ways, and the show never shies away from fully exploring how Jane deals with those influences.
Jane the Virgin is by no means perfect. It has its moments where it goes too far, or the occasional misstep. It also has what I’ve dubbed “writing tics”—little phrases you notice all the characters say just a little too often. In Jane, “and I get that” is the go-to phrase post-misunderstandings. It also won’t be everyone’s cup of tea. But, I strongly suggest everyone give it a shot, even if the distinctly pastel aesthetic discourages you—I guarantee the show will surprise you in at least one way. Getting wayyy too invested in #teamrafael is a bonus.
Jane inspires me
In addition to all of that, I love Jane the Virgin because it is very personal to me. It has taught me so much about what TV can be. And perhaps most importantly, it has inspired me by showing me what women can do off-screen. Gina Rodriguez started as the star of the show, Jane. But, since then, she has gone on to direct several episodes, become an executive producer of the show, and expand her own production company. Her directorial debut was on the show (Season 4 Episode 10), and it’s one of my favorite episodes. She has since taken on directing and producing other projects, including an upcoming show for Disney+. Watching Gina Rodriguez’s journey just as I directed my first play and developed an interest in producing reminded me of all the roles that exist in entertainment outside of actor.
If I ever do try my hand at making TV, I’ll have Gina Rodriguez to thank for it.
Jane the Virgin aired its last episode on July 31, 2019. It will be sorely missed.
I love this! So insightful with a personal touch!
As a huge Jane the Virgin fan thanks to your recommendation years ago (thank you!), your review COMPLETELY rings true and captures the beautiful, highly bingeable essence of the show!!