Our Favorite Fictional Moms: A Celebration of Mother's Day

Is there a fictional mom that you absolutely adore? One who has made an impact on your life? (Or multiple ones, perhaps?) It doesn’t matter if they’re from television, film, webseries, or books — mothers impact us. Well-written female characters are so important (in life in general and especially to us here on staff), and they can often feel more personal and real to us than our family sometimes.

It's Mother's Day, and we thought that in lieu of a TV MVP Series post, we would celebrate fictional moms in addition to our real-life motherly figures. There are so many amazing fictional moms and we know that we can't celebrate them all, but we thought we would highlight some of the most important and influential ones for each of us. Some of these are from the 90s — moms we literally grew up with — and some are from the present-day. But one trait is shared among them all: they have all influenced us for the better.

LILY POTTER

(Harry Potter)

Mel: When people think of motherly influences and figures in Harry Potter, it is likely that Molly Weasley comes up first, and for a good reason. But Lily Potter has always been a lingering favorite of mine both as a character in her own right and her role as a mother. She’s a constant presence in Harry’s life and often her memory is used as a source of comfort for both him and those that knew her. She gets little live screen time in the series, but her aura of protective motherhood is what truly defined her character. After all, it was her sacrifice that saved Harry and granted him lasting protection throughout his life, even when she wasn’t physically there to help him. At the young and tragic age of 21, she gave her life for her only child, knowing the lasting affects it would have. The moment in which Dumbledore informs Harry that the “far more ancient magic” of love protected him from Quirrell and Voldemort in the dungeons is poignant and is a motif that returns multiple times throughout the story.

Lily’s sacrifice pervades the story and serves as the catalyst for Harry’s own ability to provide the same sacrifice for his fellow students the night of the Battle of Hogwarts. She is more a presence and symbolic character than an active mother like Molly Weasley who represents a different, but no less important, form of motherly protection. And I’ve always been drawn to Lily — how the mention of her name seems to quiet rooms and the reminder that one brave young woman, who wanted nothing but to see her son live, could topple the greatest dark wizard in history with something so simple but so deeply felt. Lily Potter is a grade-A mom, despite the tragedy that prevented her from ever truly getting to live out her potential as such.

BEVERLY GOLDBERG

(The Goldbergs)

Maddie: The interesting thing about Beverly is that there is an actual, real Beverly Goldberg (and she is hilarious on Twitter) — which is part of the reason why I think the character is written so well. Beverly could easily fall into a stereotype, but the show conveys her with nuance, depth, and heart. Furthermore, Wendi McLendon-Covey embodies the role so well that she is not just one of the best fictional moms, but one of the funniest characters on television. In my opinion, the core of the humor just comes from the innate truth in the story and her performance. Sure, with a personality even bigger than her hair sometimes, Beverly is a little over-the-top and obsessive, but it doesn’t feel forced. That’s just who Beverly is. She loves so deeply and believes in her kids so much. The show does a good job of show both perspectives. From her kids’ point of view she is “The Original Smother” but we also see that Beverly just wants the best for each of her kids and will not let anything prevent her for being for them every step of the way (even when they don’t ask her to be) or she “has failed as a mother.”

But I love that she is so unapologetically confident in who she is. One of my favorite episode of the show ever is “The Kremps” which contrasts the Goldbergs with their much quieter and seemingly perfect neighbors. At first, Beverly tries to be more like them but realizes that is not who she or her family is. She’s loud, a little overbearing, and drops the F-bomb a little more than occasionally, but on the other hand she is confident and unafraid to stand up for herself or her family. Furthermore, McLendon-Covey plays Beverly with such earnestness and warmth that you can’t help but love her.

   

CLAIR HUXTABLE

(The Cosby Show)

Amir: Watching Clair Huxtable with her children is to truly understand not only the mechanisms of motherhood, but the mechanisms of black motherhood. Stern, assertive, funny, loving, intelligent, scary, independent, and — most importantly — fair, Mrs. Huxtable manages to balance all of these traits to bring a character who both immensely loves her children, but also has no qualms setting them straight if she has to. She shows care and affection for everyone who crosses her path, but will never allow herself to be stepped over or spoken down to. She tears into a son-in-law who doesn't grasp that his wife shouldn't "serve" him, and she puts fear into her own children when they do anything she deems unacceptable like lying, dressing too provocatively at a young age, and doing anything against the law. While growing up I always sided with the children with a "but that's not fair!" attitude, as I've grown, I appreciate Clair in the same way I appreciate most adult characters from John Hughes movies. She speaks the essential truth that children don't want to hear, ranging from being their safety net to being their voice of reason. If any character has a chance of surviving the tattered reputation of The Cosby Show in this day and age, I sincerely hope it'll be Clair Huxtable.

LORELAI GILMORE

(Gilmore Girls)

Lizzie: Before Lorelai Gimore, I thought mothers were supposed to be... well, more like my mother. Loving and kind and giving, but still, at the end of the day, a mother — the authority figure, and not a friend. Certainly not a partner-in-crime. A mother, to me, was someone who inspired you and showed you the way, but not someone who walked the road of life with you, side-by-side.

Oh, how very wrong I was.

Lorelai showed me that mothers don’t have to be these mythical creatures who know everything — they can be like me: flawed individuals who, in spite of their mistakes, try their best. She showed me that it might be okay to one day think about kids, because, though I’ve never felt I could aspire to be my mother, I always did feel I could do the Lorelai thing — that this version of motherhood was attainable. And mostly, she inspired me to break the wall within my own family. She made me see that we didn’t have to conform to stereotypes, and that our relationships were entirely ours. And she managed to do this all while teaching Rory how to love, how to find your way in the world, and how to be true to yourself.

DONNA SMOAK

(Arrow)

Maddie: Plain and simple, Donna Smoak is the embodiment of sunshine. She is fabulous and I love her. Upon first introduction, Donna simply seems to be a flash of bright colors, big blonde curls, and squeals meant to serve as a foil to Felicity. But we learn that she is so much more than what she wears. She may be different than her daughter in some ways, but Donna Smoak highlights the true strength required to remain positive and see good in the world — a trait we all admire in her daughter. Donna had always wanted to be there for her daughter, but just initially didn’t know how to connect with her. However, as her relationship with Felicity has deepened, the audience sees how fiercely Donna loves and how well she knows her daughter. Donna’s unconditional love, as well as her warmth and wisdom is evident in each of her scenes with Felicity.  She’s a refreshing light in the world of Arrow and has been one of the highlights of this season — largely in part to Charlotte Ross’ amazing and endearing performance. She truly is a character who is both delightful and admirable.

LILY POTTER

(Harry Potter)

Connie: My love for Harry Potter is two-fold. There is, of course, my love for the world J.K. Rowling has created and her genius in executing it. Then, there is the big similarity between Harry and myself, which brings us to our Mother’s Day post. It is well documented that Rowling wrote much of Harry Potter after the death of her mother. The themes of different kinds of motherly love are spread throughout the series and give the books much of their heart and magic. Lily Potter doesn’t get a lot of page time, but everyone knows her story: a brilliant and spunky witch, she lived during a war, chose to have a child anyway, and sacrificed herself to save him. The magic of her sacrifice ensured Harry could not only live, but defeat the darkest wizard of their age.

Like Harry, my mother also died when I was very young. Too young, in fact, to remember her. I didn’t have a Dursleyish upbringing (I was more like Neville, living with my grandmother), but the similarities in wanting to know more about someone very important to you, but who you have never met always brought me closer to Harry’s story. One of my favorite moments in Deathly Hallows is when Harry finds Lily’s letter. He reads her words, tracing the letters she wrote in her own hand, wanting so very much to be closer to her. The photo he finds, torn in half by Snape, also resonated with me. It’s the one photo Harry finds where he and his mother are in the same photo — yet it is ripped apart. A few years after Deathly Hallows came out, after searching through the massive amounts of photos in my apartment, I came to the realization that there is not one single photo of my mother with me — she’d been too ill or in the hospital. I did, however, find a photo of my mom that she’d sent to my grandmother, where she’d written a letter on the back. I similarly traced her letters and looked to see how my handwriting matched hers — looking for the nature where there was no nurture.

Yet, there is one more similarity I have with Harry that Lily helped me realize. It seems that my mother sacrificed herself to save me. My mother was sick with cancer, off and on for much of her life, but it hit her heavily around the time I was born. That’s one version of a war, isn’t it? She only lived six months after my birth and was sick for that entire stretch of my infancy. The very act of having me was a sacrifice. She’d had two boys before and wanted a girl so much, but in giving that girl life, she lost her own.

Mothers like Lily and my own are actually seen quite often in media, particularly superhero/fantasy stories — it probably explains why I am drawn to them so much. Mothers like them represent the pinnacle meaning of a mother’s love and sacrifice. This year, on Mother’s Day, I want to thank Lily Potter (and J.K. Rowling) for showing me the love my own mother had for me, for showing me what I can never know through fiction.

MARIA VON TRAPP

(The Sound of Music)

Jenn: I grew up on The Sound of Music, and in spite of the fact that none of the von Trapp children were biologically Maria’s, I love how quickly and naturally she embraced them as if they were. The children didn’t need someone pretending to be their mother — they needed a woman who would love them and treat them kindly. As the relationship grew, Maria truly became a mother to all of the children. And the reason that Maria is such a great mother is simply because of her patience, kindness, and love for the children. She never wanted to replace their birth mother. She simply wanted to be there for these children, no matter if their struggle was related to a relationship or tying their shoes. Her absolutely wonderful demeanor (and the fact that she’s played by queen and hero Julie Andrews) and love for music is what adds to her likability as a person and a mother. A mother is one who constantly supports, loves, and teaches, and this is Maria von Trapp in a nutshell.

ELEANOR WALDORF

(Gossip Girl)

Megan: Blair Waldorf was a very multidimensional character who was both fragile and fiercely strong. She was, after all, Queen B. But it was her mother that we should appreciate. Where Lily van der Woodsen was almost careless in a way and made rash decisions, Eleanor Waldorf was smart. She was business-savvy with her respected fashion house, she was steadfast, she was supportive but she also didn’t always put up with Blair’s nonsense. When Lily would lay down and put up with Serena’s tantrums, Eleanor would call Blair out on them and know when to walk away from an argument. She believed in Blair and what she was capable of — of who she was destined to be. She was willing to do whatever it took to make sure Blair, even in the midst of her royal matrimony scandal, was okay. If it wasn’t for the example Eleanor set, we wouldn’t have been blessed with our Queen Blair Waldorf.

FRANE FINE

(The Nanny)

Maddie: The theme song of this show kind of explains it all. Fran Fine was “just exactly what the doctor prescribed” for the Sheffield family. Long before she became the children’s mother officially, Fran was exactly what each of the three Sheffield children needed. Over the course of the series, we see Maggie, Brighton, and Gracie grow from children still deeply hurting from the loss of their mother to confident young adults who knew they were truly loved. Furthermore, the love between her and the kids is just as important as the romantic love between Fran and Maxwell. Fran brought love and laughter back into the Sheffields’ life, and prompted Maxwell to be a better father to the kids. Her vibrant personality and ways so different from their own helped make the house a home. It was her loving and caring nature, even though it was often conveyed in unconventional forms, that made the Sheffield family whole again.

MOLLY WEASLEY

(Harry Potter)

Jenn: Oh gosh, when it comes to great mothers, how can I not mention Molly Weasley? Not only did she successfully raise her own children, but she also took Harry in as one of her own. When I read Harry Potter, all I could think was: “Molly is the ultimate in mothers.” And the best part about the book series was that J.K. Rowling showcased how strong Molly was, simply because of the fact that she is a mother. She was caring, supportive, and the traditional “mother hen” figure — checking up on her children and praising them whenever they did something great... then sending them Howlers when it was necessary. The thing is, Molly and Arthur never had much. And so it would have been easy for Molly to overcompensate and be ashamed of her modest lifestyle. But she embraced her circumstances and constantly made the best with the modest that she had. Not only did Molly create a life for her family, but she also raised amazing children. She passed on her strength to every child, constantly reminding them of what was important in life and reinforcing their moral codes. She is the reason her children are heroes. And Molly became like a mother to Harry, too, which I think is fantastic. She had so many children to deal with already that it’s incredible she didn’t brush past Harry. She embraced him in every single way that she would have her own flesh and blood.

And if anyone ever threatened the lives of her children, Molly went from completely unassuming housewife and mother to terrifying monster. (I mean, just ask Bellatrix.) I absolutely love Mrs. Weasley and am so grateful that she existed in literature for me as a child.

MARIE BARONE

(Everybody Loves Raymond) 

Jon: Seeing as how this week’s TV MVP is focusing heavily on mothers, I figured that I would go back in time to the show that first really impacted me as a young child: Everybody Loves Raymond, which is still one of my favorite sitcoms of all time.

Growing up, I vividly remember the shows I watched with my family on weeknights. A lot of shows came from CBS, which was a staple in my household. The big standouts for us were Survivor, (which my mother still watches to this day), Early Edition (a.k.a., the most underrated show of all time), and Everybody Loves Raymond. The portrayal of your average, everyday suburban American family, featuring some of the zaniest relatives of all time, really struck a chord with me, as it influenced the way I looked at sitcoms and how comedy in sitcoms could truly work.

The best parts of the show, at least to me, were never Ray, Debra, and the kids. Instead, the comedy really shone when it focused on Robert, Frank, and Marie. Out of those three, I connected to Marie the most. She reminded me a lot of my own grandmother, who passed away at the beginning of this year. Marie was always so loving and devoted to her family — always making sure they were okay and fed, and just generally checking on their well-being.

My grandmother was essentially the embodiment of Marie Barone. She was always the kindest, most caring woman, always checking in on her family, making sure we were well taken care of (she always said if we didn’t finish the food, she’d just give it to our dog). My grandmother also loved Everybody Loves Raymond and loved Marie, seeing a lot of herself in the character. With the recent passing of Doris Roberts, paying tribute to both wonderful women seems like a fitting gift for Mother’s Day.

   

LESLIE KNOPE

(Parks and Recreation)

Jenn: Though we don’t get the chance to see a lot of her in action as a mother in Parks and Recreation, Leslie is such a role model and inspiration. A feminist who believes in women taking charge of their own destinies, Leslie is a wonderful mother because she cares deeply about her children. She loves them and is committed to them, just like she is committed to her marriage and her career. Leslie is everything a mother should be — caring, considerate, supportive (you just know that she’ll be the embarrassing mom at every one of those debate tournaments or chorus concerts), and invested. I think this is one of the best words to describe Leslie Knope, really. She is wholeheartedly invested in the people she loves. Nothing is too silly to celebrate, no circumstance too small to be recognized. This is a woman who makes a plethora of scrapbooks of her children (proof, again, of how invested she is) and who will be their biggest support and cheerleader. I love Leslie so much, and I’m grateful that Parks and Recreation was able to give us a glimpse into motherhood for her.

DONNA ROSEWOOD

(Rosewood)

Alisa: Rosewood entered the television scene this season like a ray of sunshine. It’s the show I didn’t realize I was missing, but now don’t want to live without. There are so many great characters on this show, but the one that holds everyone together is the Rosewood matriarch, Donna Rosewood, played by the mesmerizing Lorraine Toussaint. Donna Rosewood is everything you hope for in a mother — fierce, loyal, loving, protective mama bear, and deliverer of hard truths. She is by no means perfect, and her relationship with her two adult children reflects all of the nuances and complexities of real life. She is overprotective of her son, Beaumont (Rosie) Rosewood, who suffers from a wealth of health issues due to his premature birth. She did not react well when her daughter, Pippy, came out as gay, and though she fully accepts her now, it took them years to rebuild their relationship.

The best thing about Donna is that despite the real flaws her character is infused with, she is her children’s biggest supporter and advocate. She will defend them on any issue and she backs them 100% (though she’s not afraid to tell them privately when she thinks they’re making a mistake).

Donna also serves as surrogate mother for Pippy’s partner, Tara Milly Izikoff, known affectionately as TMI. TMI was disowned by her own family after she came out as gay, and Donna has made it her mission to shower TMI with all the love and support she should have received from her own mother.

Donna is truly the foundation that underlies not only the Rosewood family, but the entire show. If one day I am even half the mother Donna Rosewood is, I’ll know I’m doing something right. I’m so thankful to have found this show, and that characters like Donna Rosewood, and actors like Lorraine Toussaint, are there to inspire week after week.

MOLLY WEASLEY

(Harry Potter)

Megan: When I was in elementary school, a phenomenon took over the literary world. Harry Potter burst into my life and has been a major part since. While everyone was finding characters to identify with (I’m part Hermione, part Neville and a dash of Fred and George, with the appetite of Ron), I found myself gravitating more and more towards Molly Weasley as the series went on. She was the type of mother that I wanted, and that was perfect for the seven strong brood that she had charge over. (Later nine if you counted how often Harry and Hermione were with them.) She was sweet and caring, but also stern and commanded respect.

When we first meet her, she’s ushering four of her children off to Hogwarts and has one in tow. Instead of shrugging him off, she assists Harry in getting through the barrier to the train. She could have been annoyed that he had no idea how to get on the platform, but she wasn’t. She helped him in a warm, maternal way. And she only got better from there. Molly was angry that her sons had gone to rescue Harry, but understood that he needed the rescuing and was keen on doing so herself in the second book. In the third book, she made sure that Harry had everything he needed. Even when she wasn’t sure how she was going to afford to send all of her children to school with all of the right requirements, she never let on that she was worried and always made sure that Ron’s best friends had what they needed.

As the series continued, Molly was the mother that we all had wanted. She made sure her children ate, and also that they knew she was proud of them. She kept up tradition (knitted jumpers, anyone?) too. Even in the face of impending doom, Molly made sure that Fred and George appreciated their success, that Ron and Harry had wonderful 17th birthdays, and that Bill and Fleur had a magical wedding to remember.

Not only that, but Molly Weasley didn’t hesitate to participate in the Battle of Hogwarts and fight to protect her family, screaming the single greatest line that had me jumping out of my bed through my tears — “Not my daughter, you bitch!” as she struck Bellatrix down. It was amazing, it was perfect, and in a world where love needed to triumph, she was the true heart of the Weasley family.

Who are some of your favorite fictional mothers? Hit up the comments below and let us know! And a very happy Mother's Day to all of you mamas out there. :)

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Dear Jane the Virgin, Please Don’t Make Me Hate Rafael Solano [Contributor: Connie]

One of the recent episodes of Jane the Virgin (“Chapter 35”) brought Jane and Michael back together, for what seems like for good. If you’ve read my writing on Just About Write before, you know that I am Team Rafael. While I don’t hate Michael — nor do I hate that he and Jane are together right now — I do hope that in the end, she and Rafael make it work. However, something I’ve noticed about Rafael’s characterization (especially in comparison to Michael), makes me concerned about his trajectory. It reminded me of another character on another show who I once shipped with the female lead, but began steering his ship onto a path I did not want to follow.

RAFAEL VS. MICHAEL

I think that Rafael’s biggest hurdle for both Jane and we as the viewer is that Michael is perfect. Maybe too perfect. He gets all of Jane’s jokes, he’s supportive, her family loves him, he’s perfectly working class with a job that serves and protects people, he’s passionate about his job and will do whatever it takes for justice to be served, he’s self-sacrificing, he’s funny, he’s attractive, he’s attentive, he’s willing to wait for Jane, and all the rest of it. I could go on. His one flaw is that he got angry and punched Rafael in the face — and that was honestly a long time coming between the two of them.

In comparison, it seems like Rafael has more flaws than virtues. He’s possessive, he’s prone to jealousy, he’s prone to anger, he drinks when things are out of his control, he and his family have a lot of drama and murder and mayhem. In order to root for Team Rafael, you have to hope he grows out of these traits, while Team Michael fans have a perfect person who Jane already loves and knows intimately (you know I don’t mean sex).

If Rafael were continuously on an upward trajectory character-wise, this wouldn’t be so bad. Yet, just when it seems like Rafael is making progress, he’s knocked back a few pegs, distancing himself from Jane even further. What Jane and Raf are missing, more than anything, is time to actually get to know one another and understand their differences and learn to work around them. We haven’t had many scenes like the one Jane and Michael shared in “Chapter 35” for #TeamRaf in a very long time (remember when Jane rapped?). They are, yes, very different people, and Jane’s maturity doesn’t match Rafael’s need to learn how to deal with not getting his way; but I do want them to figure it out. Instead, Rafael keeps getting further and further away from even putting up a fight.

I remember when I felt this way about a character/ship before.

A LITTLE BIT OF SCANDAL

In my early Scandal days, I was a strong proponent of Fitz/Olivia, despite the fact that the relationship itself was an affair. As the show went on, however, Fitz’s behavior became more and more unbearable. It became harder and harder to defend his actions, to the point of me actually hating his character now. He’s a child — a “baby” as was directly stated to him on the show — who whines and drinks when he doesn’t get what he wants. (Sound familiar?) He doesn’t want Mellie, but she can’t do what she wants. Liv rejects him, so he sleeps with an intern. Liv breaks up with him when he’s finally divorced, so he sleeps with a reporter (spoilers for the latest two episodes, I guess) because he’s bored and lonely. This, plus much more, make his declarations of love for Olivia meaningless. He’s treats others terribly, is emotionally manipulative, whines and yells and drinks when he doesn’t get his way, and he doesn’t even make up for his emotional shortcomings by being a decent president.

All of this to say that Rafael gave me Fitz vibes during this most recent episode. I love Rafael, and I love Rafael with Jane, but I don’t want to blindly defend him — or conflate Rafael with Justin Baldoni, who seems angelically wonderful. And Rafael’s behavior this week left it hard to do so. In fact, Rafael spent most of “Chapter 35” filling out a Fitzgerald Grant Bingo Card:

• Declare love for someone who keeps saying no? Check.
• When Woman A says no, move back to Woman B (who used to be Woman A)? Check.
• When Woman B says no, drink because this depresses you? Check.
• Find the nearest hot girl with legs, despite the fact that it’s severely unprofessional because you are in a position of power? Check. 

Rafael is certainly less two-faced than Fitz — Rafael has an honesty that comes at a cost: he can’t lie to Jane and he can’t fool Petra. I know Rafael is emotionally immature and not used to getting what he wants, but hasn’t he learned anything in two years? I just hope, that instead of five years of stagnant growth — if not complete regression — Rafael doesn’t become Fitz. And I know Raf has work to do on himself. Rafael’s desire to be a father certainly upped his emotional maturity, but it’s easy to forget that it wasn’t that long ago that he was a philandering playboy. He still has much to unlearn about how to treat people. Hopefully, three babies will keep him too busy to regress into pre-cancer Rafael.

It’s on the writers to give Rafael some character growth (that sticks) soon. I do like Michael; he and Jane are very cute together. But if there is to be any hope had for Team Rafael, they need to give Rafael a chance to learn, rather than revert to the status quo of the pilot. I think it would only even the playing field between Rafael and Michael, and that tension is what engages fans on both sides of the coin. We all know that this show’s continued success can only mean more seasons, which can only mean more back and forth between Rafael and Michael (and continued celibacy for Jane).

Leveling out the playing field gives us more hope for Rafael’s character growth. The work must be done to Rafael, because Michael’s near-perfectness is hard to detract from. In my opinion, Michael’s a little too perfect and giving him a flaw would only be seen as pandering to Team Rafael. Even I admit that Michael’s physical attack on Rafael seemed just out of character — because we hadn’t established that flaw yet. Now it seems like it’s too late to give him a real one.

Whatever the writers decide, whomever Jane is meant to be happy with, I just hope they don’t write themselves into a corner with Rafael and make his flaws irredeemable. That’s what happened on Scandal: Fitz’s behavior piled on until there was no turning back for many fans who previously shipped him with Olivia.

I don’t want to hate Rafael. Please, writers, give him a chance to heal, give him quality time with Jane that helps them to understand each other. And then allow him to become a character who fully is worthy of Jane’s love.

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Jane the Virgin 2x09 “Chapter Thirty-One” & 2x10 “Chapter Thirty-Two” (Best of Women) [Contributor: Connie]

“Chapter Thirty-One”

Original Airdate: January 26, 2016

I typically sort Jane as a Gryffindor — she’s basically Hermione after all: determined, loves rules and learning, but has a temper that will blow her lid off if she let it. Enter: Chapter 31.

Jane was a bit of a Gryffinpuff in this episode though. Her lion tendencies came out towards the end of the episode, but she began as a sweet little badger who wouldn’t listen to Abuela about Mateo’s sleep training. She reveals it’s because it feels selfish (you Hufflepuff, you!), but Alba says it’s just because Jane is “too soft. You need to toughen up!”

Jane had so much trouble showing Mateo tough love and letting him fall asleep crying and this bled into her treatment of the jocks in her class. As Jane gets more frustrated, she goes from Hufflepuff to Gryffindor in the blink of Mad Eye Moony’s magical eye. I really love that Jane is a complicated woman, who sometimes plays nice and sometimes plays tough.

GLAM-MA, THE BEARD

Rita Moreno returns to be flawless as Jane’s paternal grandma, Liliana. She tells Jane a long-held secret: her grandfather is gay and she hasn’t told Rogelio! The whole family isn’t bothered by it (even super Catholic Abuela invites over her gay friend from church for dinner!), but Liliana struggles, because it means she’s failed as a wife. Her reasoning for not telling Rogelio was that he idealized his parents’ relationship. Now that Rogelio knows, everyone will know. And what will she do, now that she is alone after 40 years?

Everyone tries to cheer Liliana up, but Grandpa Manuel (Castulo Guerra) arrives anyway and reveals she’s known he was gay all along! Whoops.

MICHAEL MOVES ON

I’m pretty sure we’ve all had that awkward moment where we accidentally friend someone we didn’t mean to while Facebook stalking. It happened to me once and the person friended me back immediately — then it was too awkward to unfriend them, so I just hid all their posts and blocked all of mine. I’ll unfriend them later.

Jane friends Michael’s new girlfriend, Natalie Tanner, and while she cancels the request, Natalie still got the notification and Michael finds out. He’s truly trying to move on with his life. This is good, because with what happens to Rafael at the end of this episode, Jane’s attentions are soon going to be elsewhere (after some teased almost-sexy times with her professor, of course).

RAFAEL’S CRIME RING

Rafael really can’t catch a break these days. This was the least we’ve seen Raf, but he went from one criminal mother in his life to another. Rafael helps Petra to outwit her mother and have her arrested for Ivan’s murder — getting herself a deal for no prison time. It’s really nice to see Rafael and Petra team up in a non-romantic way. I hope this continues.

Then, Rafael reaches out to his own mother, who weakly explains why she walked away from him. Just as Rafael turns to grab her box of letters, but he notices the blue silk ties. Just as he tries to call the cops, she STABS HIM IN THE NECK WITH A NEEDLE! Michael and Susanna reveal to us just then that ELENA is Mutter, not Luisa’s mother. She wants the flash drive! Why didn’t I think of that all along? Of COURSE Elena should have been a suspect! This show is amazing at what the twists.

Rattles and Rockets:

• “I know what’s going on here. You’re extra mean to be because you like me. And just so you know, that is not the way to get me to like you. I respond to kindness.” THIS SHOW YOU GUYS. It always finds such brilliant ways to address so many issues that seem little, but grow into big problems. 
• Jane’s “teacher voice” was so on point and predictable. Gina Rodriguez can do anything, you guys.
• Jane is a terrible liar. 
• McBaskets! Books for Ballers!  
• Alba’s “fed up with Jane” faces were this best this week. Always listen to your Abuela. 
• “Everyone knows how gay-friendly I am. I was on the cover of Out magazine!”
• The SleeperBowl was genius. Weight: “100 and none-of-your-business lbs.” // “100-and-you-never-ask-a-lady-that” // “Seriously stop asking how much they weigh and how old they are!” Bless this show.
• So is Susanna interested in Luisa back? (Also, she still reminds me of Patty Spivot from The Flash.) 
• Mia, Luisa’s mother, died eight years ago of natural causes. Are we sure of that?
• Jane jumping to give McBaskets a high five and the whole basketball thing was amazing. I bet Gina Rodriguez plays basketball like a boss, though. 
• “Wrong choice.” “It turns out these words will come back to haunt Petra. But you don’t know that. Pretend you don’t know that.” DUN DUN DUNNNN!

“Chapter Thirty-Two”

Original Airdate: February 1, 2016

This week on Jane the Virgin, Jane struggles to rewrite a chapter, Lena makes Jane a Cinder profile, Rogelio fires his mother, Rafael and Petra deal with baby stuff (and almost make out?), and Michael finds out where Nadine put the flash drive. THERE’S ALWAYS SO MUCH GUYS! Onto “Chapter Thirty-Two!” My subtitles are all Hamilton lyrics because when one came to me, two more followed.

WRITE LIKE YOU’RE RUNNING OUT OF TIME

No show has ever so accurately expressed what it’s like to be a writer as this one. The opening scenes of Jane in the middle of the night, with letters raining down on her? Perfect. Plus the writing, printing, editing, montage? Not only was it PAINFULLY ACCURATE, it was also fantastically done from a visual standpoint. Plus, I think of all the heart-stopping moments on this show, none were as strong as FIRST watching Mateo crawl! THEN the plug making the computer fall, THEN the orange juice! We’ve all had that scare, but what made it so sharp was the joy of seeing Mateo crawl. Man, that kid is cute. I really need Jennie Urman and all of the Jane the Virgin writers to be my writing mentors, because that was a perfectly-crafted moment.

Jane’s computer needs to be fixed, so in the meantime she struggles to recreate her chapter. This was too real for me, because I hate rewriting what I’ve already written. I can fix it, rearrange it, punch it up, cut it down, but if I have to redo it without the original text I wrote, I have an inner temper tantrum. My process usually involves a draft that I painstakingly spit out, then rewrite below it to find the better flow. But it’s that’s not even there? I don’t want to do it. Jane also demonstrates another typical writer moment: heavy procrastination.

ALWAYS TAKE A BREAK (I’M LOOKING AT YOU, ALEXANDER HAMILTON)

Jane decides (and it’s cosigned by her teacher) to take a day to not think about her chapter. With Lena’s help, she goes on a few dates. I absolutely love that the dating app is called “Cinder” and I’m surprised it hasn’t been the Tinder proxy on any other show that has used a similar dating app. It’s perfect for Jane’s world. Jane’s dates aren’t really that important, and it takes until the last scene of the episode to get to what I really wanted to see: Jane’s dream make out with her teacher!

And while I wholeheartedly agree that Jane doesn’t need to add another messy man into her life, at the same time, have you seen Adam Rodriguez? I think he’d make a great break from the Rafael/Michael drama (which can only go back and forth for so long).

ROGELIO, SAY NO TO THIS

As soon as Rogelio decided to hire his mother to be his manager again, I could feel the fandom groaning. We knew it would be a bad idea, and thankfully, Rogelio learned that as well. Liliana steamrolls everything and drives Rogelio crazy. Surprisingly, Xiomara doesn’t push Rogelio to fire her; he comes up with the idea himself. After he does so, Liliana is so sad, because she’s slowly losing everything she once had control over. Rita Moreno was flawless in the scene in the hallway. You could see all of the emotions running across her face. But I mean, it’s Rita Moreno. Also, she was really sweet when she gave Rogelio her ring for Xo. Could a proper wedding/marriage be coming soon?

THAT WOULD BE ENOUGH

While watching Rafael and Petra sitting in bed, there was a comfortability between them that’s been growing for a while. For a moment, it seemed like it was going to develop into a kiss. It reminded me of these lyrics from Hamilton:

If I could grant you peace of mind
If you could let me inside your heart
…

Let this moment be the first chapter:
Where you decide to stay
And I could be enough
And we could be enough
That would be enough

Petra’s desire to be with Rafael wasn’t as strongly addressed this week as it’s been in the past, but I imagine her thoughts mimic some of this song. She wants him to be there; after all, she got pregnant to try to keep him from Jane. So far, it seems to be working. I really hope their relationship remains platonic, however. Their team-ups this week and last were really nice to see, and as I said earlier about Jane, a break for Rafael from the love triangle aspect could be really helpful for both the characters and the viewers.

Sidenote: Rafael all sad and tired and scruffy and non-gelled? Aces. Justin Baldoni plays sitting in bed really well (we’ve gotten it here with Petra and several scenes with Jane. They all make my heart feel warm.)

THE WORLD TURNED UPSIDE...

Michael admits to Susanna that he helped Nadine and she storms away to become a CSI. Wait, no — that’s Patty on the Flash. Turns out, Nadine never gave anyone the flash drive. Elena attacked Rafael because she wanted it back. Susanna gets Michael re-suspended because of his involvement, and Michael considers everything he went through with Nadine. She asked him to trust her and he tried to and it got her killed.

Then he remembers their last day together (lots of secret meetings on the beach... did it turn into anything more?) where she somehow inserted the flash drive chip into his leg? First of all? Eww. Second of all, how did he not feel that? Third of all, is that even possible? Fourth of all: eww. Fifth of all, would it still even work? I have a lot of questions about this secret chip. But either way, its discovery helps Michael remain relevant to the case and provide new information.

We seem to be getting just a little bit closer, guys.

Rattles and Rockets:

• Google Justin Baldoni’s Wells Fargo commercial! His wife and daughter make an appearance, as do his arms, his dedication to his faith, and a really melodic and heartwarming voiceover. I don’t know where he comes from, but he’s wonderful.
• Welcome back, Lena! I hope they give you more to do soon, but you always come back to shake things up for Jane in a really fun way.
• This show’s endless innovation in storytelling never ceases to amaze me. I’ve already written about the letters raining on Jane, but the Cinder profiles propped up on the screen? Amazingly done. What other show can truly get away with that?
• We all thought about Avril Lavigne during Jane’s date with the skater, right? “He wasn’t good enough for her!”

Keeping it short this week guys, because next week we get more Jane/Teacher! (Be honest, you don’t remember his name either.)

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Team Snowflakes vs. Team Flower Petals: The Ships of 'Jane the Virgin' [Contributor: Connie]

Jane the Virgin is back from winter hiatus! In order to celebrate, I have decided to explore the two main ships on the show in terms of their usual motifs: Jane/Michael as Team Snowflakes and Jane/Rafael as Team Flower Petals. Of course, Team Jane wins above all, but Michael and Rafael both represent great (if flawed) men, who love Jane and want the best for her.

But their relationships look very different and have different attractions — both for Jane and for us audience members. The choice of motif is actually very indicative of each relationship — both for better and for worse — so let’s discuss!

TEAM SNOWFLAKES 

Jane and Michael have had many romantic moment under falling “snowflakes,” most notably the ceiling dust when they first meet and the fake snow at the Marbella when they reunite for their epic “let’s get back together” kiss. Snowflakes, of course, symbolize winter — which is the perfect season to represent Jane and Michael’s relationship. Winter represents steadiness, quiet, and purity.

Its use is often similar to the color white, which is often used to denote purity, light, and innocence. See Shakespeare’s use in Cymbeline, for instance, "I thought her as chaste as unsunned snow." 

Snow, especially the first snow, sometimes feels like magic; the world becomes quiet and beautiful. (I live in New York where we just had the second biggest snowstorm in the city’s history, and the quietness of the storm as it raged indeed felt like magic.)

Michael is just as steadfast, always quietly supporting Jane, and of course, respecting her desire for chastity. Michael is often a soft blanket of snow, calming Jane’s anxieties. Winter means staying at home, or being snowed in, and Michael is known for being very close with the other Villanueva women. He is very comfortable in their house. He is the person you cuddle with on the couch and watch the Netflix Yule Log with — the person who you could be with forever.

However, winter is cold and snow can go from peaceful and fun to a dangerous blizzard very quickly. Jane the Virgin is set in Miami, a city where snow is nearly impossible. Winter ends and snow eventually thaws. Jane’s love for Michael is overtaken by her attraction to Rafael, which burns just a little hotter...

TEAM FLOWER PETALS 

Jane and Rafael represent springtime. Their iconic first kiss featured falling cherry blossoms swirling around them. Springtime and flowers represent passion, rebirth, and warmth. Spring is outdoor adventure, sunshine, and growth. The intensity and liveliness of the cherry blossom gives the warrant for anyone to dream and hope for big things in the future and to be optimistic. 

Spring represents first love. Rafael solidified that position when 19-year-old Jane fell for him all those years ago. Jane and Rafael’s relationship is one of twirly, dancing, rapping dates — it is energetic. Just like flowers opening up in bloom, Jane encourages Rafael to open up to his emotions. Springtime is constantly changing, nature and creatures are growing very fast, just like Jane and Raf’s relationship. Spring also represents fertility, birth, and babies. No need to break that one down.

Jane and Rafael’s passion for one another often tests her vow of chastity; without Michael's cool blanket of snow to calm her, Jane lets her equally fiery temper match Rafael's and they erupt at one another. Just like snow can melt, flowers wilt and die, spring soon burns too hot and becomes a raging summer.

Both relationships have their magical qualities — people love winter and spring for different reasons. This is why it is so hard for Jane and many fans to choose which guy is the best for her. Yet both have their downfalls as well, the reasons why they do not last long. Placed against the other, Jane has something she needs from one relationship that the other does not provide. She both needs Michael’s peacefulness to calm her anxieties, but she needs Rafael’s passion to push her to experiences that enhance her story (as a woman and as a writer).

We do not yet know which direction the show will decide on, but with the season two mid-winter return, it seems we are expecting a decent amount of snow. Bundle up, Team Flower Petals!

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Jane the Virgin 2x08 “Chapter Thirty” (Another Perspective) [Contributor: Connie]

"Chapter Thirty"

Original Airdate: December 15, 2015

Who doesn’t want to spend Christmas with the Villanuevas? Chapter 30 balanced the joy of the holidays with Jane’s rage at Rafael very well. It ended on a happy note for most of the characters, but Petra cliffhanger shows us viewers that things aren’t going to stay that way. Let’s dive in!

First of all, this episode’s use of time and perspective was wonderful. From Jane’s stories (especially the Alba/Mateo flashback) to the therapy scenes where Jane and Raf switched voices, the show proved that they haven’t run out of great ways to experiment with storytelling. I love this show and its brilliance. It’s also important in establishing empathy, both in the storytelling and in real life. We don’t often put ourselves in other people’s shoes to understand why they make the decisions they do. We fail to realize that people have different motivations and considerations (like how Jane didn’t think about Rafael’s father being murdered by Rose). Those natural biases keep us from empathy, which can keep us apart. Jane and Rafael learned that small lesson today. It’s also why TV and art in general are so important because we see the world through the eyes of other people, other writers, other characters. They broaden our worldview and make us empathetic to things we might have not considered before. TV saves lives, guys. Of this, I am sure.

Besides the fantastical and inventive storytelling, one of the things I love about Jane the Virgin is how real it is with their relationships. As we know, the show and its fans are primarily divided into Team Rafael and Team Michael (or as we say on the site, Team Rose Petals and Team Snowflakes), with those two factions venn diagrammed into a center “Team Jane” circle. Yet, neither relationship is necessarily perfect or viewed as better than the other by the show itself. Both have flaws, though Rafael and Jane’s relationship has more of them. And as the episode was starting, I thought "these two need therapy." And the show really put them into it. It was a one-off moment, it seems, but I believe that the show will explore the fact that one therapy session does not fix a relationship for two people as scarred as Jane and Rafael, especially when there’s a baby in the mix.

I also loved Rogelio’s honestly with Xiomara about the whole situation. He is Team Snowflakes, but Jane’s willingness to push Rafael out in her anger and Xo’s encouragement really do a number on his feelings. But he was so honest and upfront with Xo about it, as well as with Jane. Look at our Lavender King maturing before our very eyes!

A LIST OF CHRISTMAS MIRACLES

ABUELA’S GREENCARD!

I don’t think we talk enough as a fandom about Ivonne Coll. Though they are not related in real life, Gina Rodriguez as Jane clearly inherited the ability to make anyone cry when they cry from Ivonne. Her teary joy as she opened the envelope was so palpable! Ivonne’s warmth and calm are so soothing and she also has to balance the language barrier between her and the audience. Even as a Spanish-speaking actor, that can’t be an easy task — knowing you have to connect with an audience who literally doesn’t speak your language. But her interactions with Jane and Xo transcend language and make it so easy to understand her, even when you’re not reading the subtitles. Team Alba! Also the actress who plays young Alba, Rosie Garcia, is wonderful and I hope we can meet angry!Alba in the present as well!

JANE CAN CONTINUE GRAD SCHOOL!

I only thought briefly about how Jane was paying for school, especially since she is not working right now. But I love love love that Rogelio secretly fronted the money for her schooling. It’s totally something he would do, and it was a sweet gesture since he knew Jane wouldn’t want to take it. My question, however, is where did the money for the second semester go? Did Rogelio just not give enough upfront? Or did it disappear somewhere? Knowing this show, it’s probably the latter.

MICHAEL RETURNED THE ANGEL!

As you know, I am Team Flower Petals, but of course it’s sweet that Michael had the angel for the top of the Christmas tree fixed and painted. It shows how much he knows the Villanuevas, not just Jane. He knew how important that topper was to Alba, so he made sure to get it fixed and return it, even as he keeps his distance from everyone in the family. Including Rogelio, who is torn up about it. I think he’s taking Michael’s absence from their lives harder than Jane did; she’d actively given up on him a few episodes ago, even if he lingered on in the recesses of her heart. But it’s good that Rogelio and Jane can bond over missing Michael and missing all those years together, in a way that Michael was only a middleman, or a sounding board.

RAFAEL GIVES TO CHARITY!

While Rafael’s presence at the precinct somewhat disproves my theory from last week that he and Michael planned the firing as a cover for Michael’s undercover work, which Mateo only accidentally got involved in, I still think there is way more to the story. Rafael is not a bad person. He didn’t exactly learn how to express himself or his love or concern from anyone in particular, so he needs a little more therapy than most (and I hope he gets it), but he does try. Of course, Rafael begins to get incredibly petty when his mother arrives in town, thus culminating in the alcohol. Le sigh.

Although the number Jane calls turns out to be a domestic abuse hotline that Rafael sponsors, what if it really isn't? What if that’s a Mutter front...? What if...?! (This show spawns so many theories. I can’t trust anything!)

INTERNS WRITE GOOD SCRIPTS!

Rogelio might have found his next big project! That is indeed a needed miracle so he can afford toppings on his pizza (but then who paid for the pedicures they received?). Wait, did Rogelio say it was about a time traveler? IS ROGELIO ABOUT TO BE A FAKE DOCTOR WHO?

However, from the files of the ghost of Christmas past: Magda, our scrooge, does not learn a wonderful lesson about being kind at Christmas. She senses Petra’s betrayal and calls the cops on her before Petra can turn her in. That conniving! I think if there’s any character you can truly hate on this show, it’s Magda. You should not have your pregnant, chronic morning-sickness-ailed daughter, who is carrying your twin grandchildren scrubbing blood from the floor. Petra needs to reduce stress, which is hard to do from prison.

Rattles and Rockets: 

• Aww, Jane’s teacher is forming a bigger and bigger soft spot for Jane. I wonder if the writers will attempt to pair them together at all, even if briefly. 
• Cell Phone. Avocado Masks. Lavender. Mirror. 
• Also Jane’s M turning to Mateo. Heart eyes emoji. 
• Jane unlinked their calendars. :(
• Abuela’s face when she found out Jane yelled at Santa Claus. 
• “I can still see the blood.” “Easy there, Lady Macbeth.” 
• “I would tell you what Jane said next, but I’m a gentleman.” 
• Elodea Gale Vigor 
• Why is baby Mateo so cute though? 
• “Do I have something there? Oh. Maybe it’s just my nipple.” LUISA. 
• “Are you thinking what I’m thinking? Because I’m thinking I hope they tell us what they’re thinking because I have no idea!” I should probably just have a section of Narrator moments, because man. So good. 
• The Prince William test 
• Dr. Damprey really needed some backstory. I hope they told her everything in a Sexy Latin Lover voice. 
• Could she be Sin Rostro at all? Or connected in anyway? Hmm. 
• “I misled you for your own good.” Almost the subtitle, but that would’ve been too long. But wow is Jane surrounded by people who do this. Michael is doing it, Rafael lying for six months, Rogelio, and now her teacher. I love that everyone wants to help her, but I hope that Jane is able to take more charge. 
• Where is Mia Alver? 
• And why is Magda so awful?! 

See you guys in January!

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Jane the Virgin "Chapter Twenty-Eight" & "Chapter Twenty-Nine" (Sparkly!) [Contributor: Connie]

"Chapter Twenty-Eight"

Original Airdate: November 16, 2015

Between two jobs and pretending like I sleep, plus writing and TV time, I felt like I didn’t have the time or the energy to write this. Then I turn on Jane the Virgin, and I feel lazy. Two jobs is no joke for sure, but watching Jane Villanueva struggle with balancing Mateo, grad school, her family, Rafael, her heartbreak over Michael, and sometimes sleeping — I still got to use watching Jessica Jones as rest time — Jane doesn’t have that luxury.

What’s been another of the many wonderful things about Jane the Virgin is the way people respond to it. Mothers all across Twitter have praised the show for showing what it’s like to be a new mother who also wants to work or go to school or develop their life outside of their child. I saw so many tweets from mothers relating to Jane leaving her breast pump plug at home while on her retreat. While I haven’t experienced the baby/work balance, I still felt so much empathy towards Jane (and mothers like her in the real world), that my own time management problems felt minuscule in comparison. Of course, one person’s struggle isn’t necessarily more valid than another’s, but shows like this one are important in giving people a glimpse into a life they don’t know so that they can feel that empathy, can have that perspective. And it, of course, lets working mothers see their struggles portrayed in modern media, thereby allowing the normalization of their circumstances for others.

Jane the Virgin treats summer like most shows treat summer. Meaning, in this episode, we skip the summer and head straight for the fall holidays. It’s been easy to forget that Mateo was born around May or June — and that we haven’t already skipped ahead to October/November — but this episode gets us to Thanksgiving with a series of photo memories for each month that passes.

When we left off in our story, Jane really had chosen Michael, but then she removed him from her life and he disappeared on a weird road trip with Nadine. Despite the violence that occurred the night before, Jane is still in mourning over Michael, and the length of time that passes in this episode helps her move forward believably so that the audience doesn’t have to wait for her to give Rafael another shot.

Jane and Rafael have an estate planning discussion meeting, where Jane is reminded that Rafael — and therefore, Mateo — is worth 40 million dollars. And growing! While many may ask how Jane could forget that Rafael is super rich, it’s actually refreshing to know that she can forget. It means that Rafael’s former lavish lifestyle isn’t what he’s about now and he’s not constantly rubbing his wealth in her face or flashing it at the hotel. That he is trying to be modest, but still fighting for the right to spend necessary money on his son. He’s not going to treat Mateo like he’s poor, even if that’s what Jane is used to, and Jane needs to learn that while it’s fantastic she doesn’t want to use Rafael’s money, that she can still instill a grounded mentality for Mateo without denying him comfort. All parents want their children to have better lives that they do, and both Jane and Rafael need to understand that each of their definitions of “better” brings them to the same place.

Meanwhile, Petra gets her mother out of prison to assist her with her pregnancy (it’s gonna be twin girls!), but Petra soon remembers that Magda isn’t quite the maternal type. Petra often looks to Jane and thinks she’s having an easy time, but in a wonderful conversation between the two women, Jane reveals what we’ve seen this episode: Jane isn’t handling it at all. The women solidify a bond that’s been growing in previous episodes, which stems mostly from the fact that their children will be siblings. I hope this friendship continues, and not just to fulfill the ideals of #LadiesSupportingLadies.

Because each woman needs someone to talk to, someone not just a new friend from their mommy groups. I love that Jane’s warm heart isn’t used to thaw out a cold, mean man, like in a lot of media. It’s used to warm up everyone around her, including the women. That’s a rare sight — as we know, most media rarely have more than one woman in a single scene, speaking to each other so getting this dynamic is even more rare.

“I would rather be with you at your worst.”

At the end of the episode, Rafael reveals to Jane that even though he has dated someone in the interim six months, he will choose her every single time. Jane gets both Michael and Rafael to confess their adoration of her even when she’s sweaty, mean, achy, itchy, boobs fevery, and bursting — amazing.

Rattles and Rockets:

• So what do we think Nadine and Michael got up to all those months? Since we didn’t check in with them much, time passed slower for them in my mind than the rest of the team, but it’s been just as many months for Michael, so what has he learned in all that time that he presents to his former boss? Has he been working? How’s the search for Sin Rostro going? Things we should keep in mind. 
• Jane’s grad school teacher is a douche. Ugh. I didn’t know grown ups in grad school could get locked out of class. [Chelsea Note: They don't.]
• I like that Rafael was already in agreement that if they should both die, Xo would get Mateo. He knows his family can’t be in charge of that kid. 
• Baller Mateo, Oliver Twist Mateo, and Charitable Mateo were all so great! I love the way this show has shown us these possible futures Jane dreams up. 
• Charitable Mateo references #62milliongirls — the campaign to bring awareness to the educational opportunities millions of girls lack across the globe — which has been making its way into a few TV shows lately, including Scandal. Have I mentioned I love the brilliant ways Jane the Virgin incorporates real life issues into their show? 
• Doesn’t the reveal of twin girls for Petra mean that Mateo gets a third of 40 million? I wonder if that will be an issue down the road between Jane and Petra, who technically also has money from Milos. 
• “I think the Russian redheaded lady in the kitchen is trying to poison me.” OH SNAP. MAGDA GOES TO THE ORANGE IS THE NEW BLACK PRISON. 
• I really hope they continue with Rogelio’s telenovela version of Mad Men. The cease and desist order is a bit of a problem, but maybe this can be a thing: telenovela versions of current TV shows, with a producer/showrunner cameo? “Mine will move much faster. It will be a masterpiece.”
• “Thank you grips. For everything you’ve... gripped. Gaffers, thank you for all your gaffs.” 
• Net-worth 2,622* *Returned shirt to mall. Filed under reasons why I LOVE this show. 
• More Rafael at mommy class please, if only because knowing Justin Baldoni is a devoted dad in real life means that he probably knows these kinds of baby dances already. 
• I should’ve known Wesley Masters was a spy. No way he’s in GRAD SCHOOL and his last name is MASTERS is a coincidence. I’m so mad at him for pretending to be Jane’s friend. 
• “Boobs bursting” makes me think of the Star Spangled Banner. “Boobs bursting in air!” 
• A little obsessed with Rafael sitting on Jane’s tiny cabin bed at her retreat. 
• Who thought giving a recent ex-convict a hook for a hand was a good idea? She’s in jail for hurting someone! As soon as I saw it, I knew it would Czechov’s Hook.
• Aww, caught the Rogelio/Desi Arnaz comparison on the second watch and it made me smile. Rogelio is equal parts Lucy and Ricky.

"Chapter Twenty-Nine"

Original Airdate: November 23, 2015

"Chapter Twenty-Nine" of Jane the Virgin made it so sparkly, I got glitter in my eye. Team Flower Petals picked up steam this week, but then went from pulling a “she loves me” petal, to tearing off four “she loves me not” petals in the blink of a sparkle-filled eye! I’m so upset by Rafael’s betrayal, but we’ll get to that later.

CLEAR EYES, FULL CARTS, LET’S SHOP!

It’s the day after Thanksgiving and the Villanueva women + a Solano head to Target! Now, I love Target. I saw a few critics tweeting annoyance or snark that this episode would basically be a Target ad, but I love it. Not only am I thankful to Target for sponsoring this great show, but unlike a lot of other product placement, it works for the characters. It’s a natural fit for lower income families to have a Target Black Friday plan, and for #BlackFridayVirgin Rafael to amusedly follow along. Target appeals to families like the Villanueva's — families like mine.

Most ads and product integration on TV appeal to people in higher income brackets than me. Rolex, Audi, car after car, jewelry, high end appliances, more cars. The show and Target know that they can appeal to not only lower income demographics, but also younger viewers, who go to Target but aren’t wealthy or advanced enough to be ready for a car or have a house for that fancy appliance. Target is relatable. That kind of thoughtfulness towards the audience? Important. It means they understand who is watching their show, making them — us — feel important. Which creates brand loyalty to both Target and the show. So I’m glad Target sponsors Jane the Virgin, because it means more to me than just product placement.

Besides all of that, that was the tamest Black Friday at Target I have ever seen. They left at what was probably 10 AM, and all the good stuff was probably sold out already. We didn’t even really get to see their haul. Which, if you think about it, makes sense. Villanueva Black Friday isn’t about the stuff, nor does it speak to the consumerist nature of the day. It’s a family outing, a tradition, a chance to get Christmas presents and have a little fun doing it. I’m pleased and fascinated in the way the show handled a materialistic day and made it about family.

THEORY TIME

After the reveal that Michael’s firing and disappearance were all a part of an undercover operation (GASP!), I want Rafael’s involvement in the case to be a part of it, too. I want to believe that he didn’t betray Michael or Jane — that Michael asked him to do this. Mateo getting hurt from their fight was, of course, accidental and awful, but the fight itself was all for show (though, I don’t know for whose benefit).

I just can’t believe that Rafael would manipulate Jane so much without it being for a larger plan. He has issues, but he’s not quite that petty. Maybe that’s the Team Flower Petal in me, but this helps Team Snowflakes, too. It would mean that Michael’s anger — which we all agree was sudden and out of character — has meaning. I think Michael recruited Rafael’s help in planning this so they could take down Sin Rostro, which is the one thing all members of the Seasonal Love Triangle agree on, plus Rafael has the money to help Michael and the cops with less of a paper trail to blow their cover. Hiring Eric gets Michael in trouble, but leaves Rafael blameless in Jane’s eyes. Michael possibly wanted to ensure that Rafael would be there for Jane while he wasn’t around? Yes. It’s ALL a plan. I just need it all to be a plan! *wishes and hopes*

PETRA BURIES HER FRIENDSHIPS WITH IVAN

Petra... oh, Petra.

With Ivan very dead in her very open air bathtub, Magda has her pulling a Weekend at Bernie’s to get him out of the hotel. But in the process, Petra ruins her burgeoning friendship with Jane! As I said in my recap above, Jane warming Petra’s heart and opening her up to love is something we rarely get to see between women on television (again, #LadiesSupportingLadies). Petra needs her potential friendship with Jane, so that also means that she needs to cut Magda out of her life. She thinks she needs her mother in order to care for her twins, but Magda is just poisoning her and ruining her chance at friendship. Also she MADE A PREGNANT WOMAN HELP HER DIG A GRAVE FOR THE MAN SHE KILLED. Magda’s got to go.

UNDERCOVER EX-LOVER

Okay, so let’s see if we can break this down. Michael PRETENDED to get fired. Nadine caught up with him and they had some adventures over the summer that ended up with her dead as he returns to the precinct. She gets shot in Mexico when they attempt to meet Rose, taking a bullet for Michael and he seems authentically shaken up about it. But since the firing was a cover up, could Nadine’s death be faked as well? I know she’s not a major character, but I feel like they wouldn’t push her death to only a flashback.

BABYSITTING IDOL!

Jane struggles to find someone she can trust to leave Mateo with. After what happened with Sin Rostro, her concern is of course sensible, and it’s Jane, too — we know she goes overboard with these kinds of things. But while Chepa may seem great right now, I still don’t trust her. She’s too perfect, and we are not sure if she’s working for Sin Rostro or if — like Wesley — she has a long con planned. But perhaps she will prove me wrong.

THE CURSE OF THE SOLANOS

First of all, why does everyone tell Wesley their life stories? Second of all, Luisa’s mom was the crime boss Mutter? Then Papa Solano later married her apprentice/rival Sin Rostro, who Luisa is in love with? And Luisa’s mother is still alive somewhere, having faked her death. But this also means that Luisa’s mother KIDNAPPED HER AND HAD HER GOONS BASH IN HER KNEE. But it explains why they were so gentle at times — it wasn’t for Rose’s benefit, but for Mutter’s!

And we thought Magda was bad for Petra.

Rattles and Rockets:

• Will we get to hear Xo’s theme song?!
• “Two hand grab, this is serious.” 
• Baby Mateo is SO. DARN. CUTE.
• That black Target dress Jane wears to her Christmas party is amazing and I need to get to Target to find it. [Jenn's Note: I have a Christmas party coming up and I need to find it.]
• Never drink and email!
• The shot of “Matt Weiner” posed as the Mad Men poster was great. 
• “But I love new pants Wednesdays. It’s the perfect antidote to the midweek blahs.” 
• “I think Petra just asked me out on a date.” “She said yes!” Team Petra and Jane friendship! 
• Man, that adviser's writing “advice”... #facepalm. But we’ve all been there, trying to write something based on someone’s vague notes and it makes the writing worse. Don’t let bad criticism get into your heads, fellow writers!
• “The problem is the tonal shift is too jarring.” “He’s right. That’s just clumsy storytelling. Now: TO THE POLICE STATION!” 
• Rafael WANTS TO BUY A HOUSE. GUYS. Lots of flowers in the yard, yeah? A tree in the backyard with beautiful FLOWER PETALS?!
• Rogelio’s De La Condo.

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Brooklyn Nine-Nine 3x07 "The Mattress" (Shmooshing Booties at the Mattress Factory) [Contributor: Connie]

"The Mattress"

Original Airdate: November 14, 2015

Jake and Amy work their first case together and it actually brings them closer together on this week’s Brooklyn Nine-Nine! I hadn't realized that Jake and Amy haven't had many cases together because their relationship seemed to have been moving forward off-screen. I assumed this milestone had come and gone, so it was exciting check back in on their relationship and watch them overcome their first fight.

Amy and Jake proved that their hilarious banter and dynamic has remained the same even with them dating. There is, of course, always the fear of the will-they-won’t-they curse. Many shows have suffered with getting their characters together, finding that it takes out the spark and sizzle of that unresolved sexual tension (UST) dynamic. Then, in order to combat that, many shows go through lengths and hoops and bounds to avoid getting their characters together in the first place — stringing the audience along for endless seasons before fans became frustrated with that dynamic.

I think we’re now reaching a point in the current television era where creators are trying hard to reach a middle ground. They want to give the fans what they want, but they’re also finding ways to still bring the tension to these characters — it just comes from a different place. You don’t have to change the characters and make them lovey-dovey all the time. Only focusing on the good, harmonious moments of a ship tanks it because fans do become less interested, and that is not how real relationships work. Two people don’t change personalities just because they fall in love and finally get to express it. They still have the same flaws and hang-ups. Maybe over time they change, as their partners inspire them to grow, but for the most part, if a will-they-won’t-they couple bickered and argued all the time before they dated, it’s likely they will carry that into their relationship. And as long as it’s not always about serious stuff, that’s fine. When fights are sparked by fundamental differences in beliefs, then we have to wonder if the characters were ever meant to be in the first place.

So turning to Jake and Amy, what I loved the most about them being in a relationship, and us finally getting to see it, is that they haven’t changed personalities and become the perfect couple. They think they are, but the things that annoyed them about one another still drive the other crazy. Jake is still sloppy, lazy, and unwilling to spend money when it’s useful (I hope we get more of Jake’s hoarder tendencies down the road). Amy is still uptight, awkward, and adorably nerdy. (I might have Amy-goggles on because she’s an adorable Gryffindor Hermione-type.) She’s also still nervous that Jake isn’t in their relationship all the way like she is, yet, Jake is fearful of the same thing — he feels and has always felt that Amy is too good for him. Jake and Amy had yet to have a fight. Ironically, not fighting left them both still nervous about the others’ intentions, meaning that they hadn’t proven their commitment yet. This fight finally gave them permission to relax into their relationship.

Despite being frustrated over Jake’s mattress, Amy still calls his apartment “home.” I know it’s easier than “your apartment,” but a lot of couples I know still use very specific language to speak of their partners’ homes as being separate from their own. So despite the lumpy mattress, all the junk that’s probably there, and her statement that she went home to shower, Amy is clearly comfortable at Jake’s apartment and feels at home there. Did she slept at his place without him there? Since he was already at work and had to explain that she showered at her own place and he felt comfortable leaving her there. Amy has referred to Jake’s apartment as her home in a previous episode this season; I wonder if there’s something about Jake’s apartment that’s more appealing to her than his. We don’t know all that much about Amy’s home life after all, do we?

All in all, I thought this was a perfect first case as a couple episode, a great first fight episode, and it wonderfully moved Amy and Jake forward. Also, it featured Jake and Amy bouncy-testing mattresses and ending it with mattress hand-holding. IT WAS THE CUTEST AND I WANTED TO LIVE IN THAT MOMENT.

Bullets on the Bulletin Board

• “Ooh, lovers quarrel!” Love you Gina!
• “My snitches are the best. The key is handwritten thank you notes.”
• “Shall we take this partnership from the sheets to the streets?”
• “I just discovered a new drug too. It’s your relationship and I’m high on it.” WHY IS BOYLE ME THOUGH?
• I focused a lot on Jake and Amy, but I loved Rosa being a big sister. Everything about it was so in-character for her: for her to care so deeply, but express it so apathetically. Also it’s a great subtle storyline that this is happening after her break-up with Marcus and she needs a new way to use her time but also express her love. What a great way to deal with a break-up!
• A small little detail that’s a perfect New York City detail? Rosa’s little brother was selling candy for his basketball team. That’s a thing young kids said on the subway when they sold candy. Then they figured riders didn’t believe that, so they switched up to “I’m not selling money for a basketball team, but just to keep myself out of trouble.” Now, I don’t see as many kids selling candy on the subway, but man did I love that little detail.
• Also: ROSA DID BALLET. MORE PLEASE. THANK YOU.
• “HR gets daily updates and are BCCd on all of our emails to each other.” “That’s why HR Jim keeps high-fiving me.”
• “Our only close call was when Jake didn’t know who Will Shortz was.” “Really. Never heard of the Puzzle Master. This is who you want to be with? I shouldn’t get involved.” I LOVE this moment.
• “What’s with you Furiosa?”
• Last review, I talked about how I wanted more Boyle/Holt interaction and I WAS BLESSED THIS WEEK. Am I psychic or should I be writing for Brooklyn Nine-Nine? (I did write a spec script for it last year... Or it’s just that the writers are really in-tune to what the fans want.)
• Gina with the brilliant lesson taught to Captain Holt on Boyle’s behalf. Love when she stands up for him and they get to work together. “And I was the brilliant Gina Linetti in both scenarios.”
• Charles sings Charles in Charge every day. Of course.
• Also, as a lifelong New Yorker, I don’t know if Jake as the environmental activist was relatable to anyone else, but it was absolutely perfect to me. Because I also avoid anyone on the street with a clipboard.
• If you didn’t giggle (giggle, not laugh) at Terry’s reaction when Rosa suggestion Cagney might call Lacey a poopie-head, I don’t know what to tell you. “Poopie-head means no Doc McStuffins for a week! Terry hates toilet talk!”
• One confusing thing: why did Jake and Amy’s fight tip off the perp? They didn’t mention cop stuff in the fight...
• I only heard Rosa say that ballet-age Rosa had pink hair on my second watch. Which is 1) Amazing because Rosa with pink hair?! 2) We can see it because actress Stephanie Beatriz actually wore pink hair over the summer. You could see some of the cover up earlier in the season. She rocks it well.
• Finally, congrats to Melissa Fumero, who announced this week that she is pregnant! That’s so wonderful for her! 

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Jane the Virgin 2x05 “Chapter Twenty-Seven” (Insert Britney Spears Pun Here) [Contributor: Connie]

"Chapter Twenty-Seven"

Original Airdate: November 9, 2015

What’s between snowflakes and flower petals? Maybe rain, baby tears? Whatever it is, Jane is in that in between state now. Neither Michael nor Rafael have come away with her affection, because she’s realized she should focus all of that affection on Mateo. Jane is coming full circle from where she was two episodes ago, when she first told Rafael she couldn’t choose between him or Michael. The liquor and clubbing has worn off, the baby hormones have cleared a little, and rational Jane is remembering that it is too soon to get involved with either man because she has a new man in her life that needs her utmost care. And after what happened with Xo and Zed — I mean Jon Snow — Jane sees how decisions you make while high on the drug called "love" can come back and hurt you later on. As much as I am Team Rafael, I am glad Jane chose neither man for the time being, but I am curious to know where Michael is at right now.

As I’ve stated before, the whole Rafael vs. Michael of it all has always been a bit uneven in terms of accessibility to Jane’s affections. Michael has fewer distractions, while something is always eating at Rafael’s time and energy. While I appreciate the attempt to balance things out in this regard, I think there should have been strong build-up to Michael’s violent reaction to Rafael. Of course Michael hates him and has for a long time, but never have his emotions been this physical, especially to the point of hurting not only Rafael, but also being blind to hurting anyone around them. As a police officer, that should always be in the back of your mind, and since Michael is a good one (his infractions have all been in the service of goodness or kindness), he should have been more aware of his surroundings, even as he pummelled Rafael into that vase.

So where does this blind rage come from? The beginnings are, of course, there, but we haven’t seen this side of Michael before, so it’s a bit of a shock. I hope we get more backstory into Michael and maybe we’ll get some clues into where this rage really derives from in the coming episodes. I hope so, because right now I feel like Jane the Virgin came up with a way to make Jane anti-Michael without quite enough warning that this was coming.

On Rafael’s side of things, he actually didn’t blow up like I expected him to. Sorry for being another one who didn’t believe in you this week. Despite being on his side, during my first watch of the episode, I didn’t know if I could completely believe that Rafael had nothing to do with Michael’s troubles. I think that I leaned more toward his side after my second viewing, but that’s still not a great vote of confidence in his character.

I think that this all has to do with the writers evening out the sketchiness of each potential romantic partner, so that we’re unsure of who is better for Jane. This makes it so that neither are “better” for her in the long-run at all. Michael being out of the picture for a little while will certainly give Jane and Rafael time to get to know one another as people (and parents) and gain back that trust they had as a couple. As Mateo grows, we’re going to see them co-parenting and man am I excited to learn how they differ as parents.

But as a friend of mine said on Twitter: Jane Villanueva should be obsessively listening to Hamilton and ignore both boys. 

Real. Pretty sure those Britney dance moves work for at least one of the Hamiltunes.

Side note about Jane unrelated to boy drama: watching her jaunt around the hotel trying to fix problems with the baby in tow is very adorable. From Raf’s apartment to Petra’s rooms down to the lobby and all around, she’d make an awesome super-sleuth. But it’s Jane, so of course she would.

What else happened this week?

Petra got married! Milos convinces her to marry him for at least one year, even though she is pregnant with Raf’s baby. She figures out that he spies on her when he gifts her with the wrong “one of a kind” violin, so she must be careful when talking to people about their arrangement. But also, his job was actually being a scam artist. So clearly the violins are fakes anyway. I refuse to believe Petra ever loved that CREEPY man. Milos used the wedding as a cover to bring in 2,000 HAND GRENADES!

Elsewhere, Xo overcomes a 20+ year old felony charge on her record by threatening her stoner ex-fiance’s precious graffiti wall. Alba and Xo bonding outside of the house, on an adventure, was so fun to watch (added bonus: Alba getting high and got a few steps closer to becoming an American citizen!) Alba stoned out of her mind is a hilarity I never knew I could expect from this show, and then this line solidified the perfection: “Nor. mal. That’s a fun word.” We learn, also, that Alba has a sister named Cecelia, leaving the audience to ponder some questions. Does she still live in Venezuela? Is she alive? 

We also delve a little deeper into Mateo the Former, who died on June 12th and whose absence allowed Alba to feel as though she neglected Xiomara during her teen years. I love that we’re learning more about him.

Rogelio and Britney Spears move past the frayed denim jeans of their relationship to the smooth orange/red leather jumpsuit that brought them together in the first place. The most interesting thing about Britney’s cameo was that the show didn’t try to make her an actor. They literally wrote her as herself. It was so ridiculous that she could only be paired with Rogelio for scenes where she had to speak. 

I must say, though, that the scene where Jane and Britney dance together, I had eyes only for Gina. What can’t she do? She can act, do slapstick comedy, sing (see the little lullaby she sang baby Mateo on Instagram) rap, dance... the list goes on and on. I think that with the high caliber of acting chops this show has all around, they had to exaggerate Britney’s appearance to make any comparisons null and void. Final note about Britney: man, is her troupe of back-up dancers who follow her around everywhere weird? Is that a joke or parody of something? It really just threw me off.

Finally, just as Michael is fired from the precinct and left without his firearm to protect him, NADINE KIDNAPS HIM.

How DARE The Narrator leave us hanging on that moment!

Rattles and Rockets:

• They keep teasing me with the Narrator being a character, like with a past and hopes and dreams… I know we’ll never get it, but man, those teases...
• “Good instinct. What I would have done.” — Luisa. I love how Rafael looks to the side, like, “wait, maybe this isn’t the answer.” 
• Michael’s flips in the graffiti park were REAL. Brett Dier really did them!
• Petra played violin? I hope we get more of her playing!
• Petra would also make a good sleuth. That Konner/Guarneri catch was very Encyclopedia Brown! 
• “The fact that you cared that 2%? Thank you.” So here for Jane softening Petra’s sometimes evil heart. They’re gonna be spending quite of a bit of time around each other with their kids, so it’s for the best if it isn’t hostile. 
• Also, Jane’s love and genuine desire to help people, even people who have hurt her and manipulated her like Petra, is why she’s such an angel. An imperfect one, but my heart warms when I think of Jane Villanueva. 
• Jane getting through Britney’s security saying, “it’s a baby thing, don’t worry,” is totally like the “it’s for the bride” trick How I Met Your Mother (and a few other shows since) brought to light. Can’t wait for that one to be used again. 
• “Immigration laws are constantly changing” #vote #vote #vote I love you, show.

Who is Eric Wu? And what does he have to do with Nadine?

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