What I’m Watching: Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin: Season 1, Episode 11 “Chapter Eleven” (B+)

It’s interesting to see Jane take on a writing gig for a soap opera and have her get criticized for not being ridiculous enough when this show is itself a soap opera and manages not to be over-the-top in a preposterous way. It’s funny that the head writer on Rogelio’s show, portrayed by Judy Reyes of “Scrubs” fame, actually embodies the zaniest, soapiest plotline yet, which is that Jane has been kept on as a writer because she’s having an affair with Rogelio’s assistant and I guess they’re conspiring to get Rogelio fired or something of the sort. Jane has clearly become a great teacher in the short time that she’s been at the school, and she’s always had a good sense about people, writing apology letters from her mother to her grandmother to ensure that they wouldn’t let petty arguments get in the way of a lasting relationship. It was entertaining to see Xiomara try to resist Rogelio’s passionate advances, and sweet that he said that he would wait for her no matter how long it would take. Alba couldn’t keep the fact that she heard Xiomara’s vow of chastity a secret, but the truth coming out underlined that Xiomara being a bit more discerning might be a smart idea. Rafael seems pretty well-intentioned too, set on taking good care of Jane while two other men with an axe to grind with him, Lachlan and Michael, seem a bit less honorable in their efforts to win back the women in their lives.