What I’m Watching: Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin: Season 1, Episode 9 “Chapter Nine” (B+)

This episode got a bit more into true soap territory, with Michael thinking that Rafael might be Sin Rostro, Petra’s dark past revealed, and Petra’s mother pushing poor Alba down the stairs after she saw their hostage. Ultimately, though, it was everything else in this episode that drove it, as Jane and Rafael graduated from their honeymoon period into the real world as they argued about how to confront their latest problem, a dramatic and manipulative Petra trying to exert control and get custody of the baby. Her tactics didn’t serve her well, as her secret soon came to light, but it does seem more and more that she may just be a victim of circumstance and not the villain she’s often portrayed to be. Her mother, on the other hand, who doesn’t appear to be so wheelchair-bound, is definitely evil, and that doesn’t bode well for her quick-thinking hostage who is hilariously trying to escape by watching Rogelio’s show and listening to how he escaped his bonds. Rogelio losing his big award to the rival who considers him a father despite the fact that they’re the same age was appropriately humbling, and it’s nice to see that he continues to do kind things for Xiomara, though I think she’s earned something good happening to her of her own volition without her baby daddy pulling the strings. Michael is definitely grasping at straws trying to take down Rafael, and though I’m sure Rafael isn’t an innocent as he claims to be, Michael’s brother’s tip panned out very poorly in a way that is sure to have a negative impact on Michael’s standing with Jane.