What I’m Watching: Jane the Virgin

Jane the Virgin: Season 5, Episode 12 “Chapter Ninety-Three” (B+)

This episode covered a lot of themes, and it was rare to see Jane shown in an imperfect light at the start of the hour. I guess we’ve never heard her sing before, and her memories of being in the musical were enough to compel her to get Mateo excited about in a way that wasn’t necessarily expected. It was sad to see him get kicked out of the musical because of his disruptive behavior and to have to watch it through Rafael’s eyes. Xiomara did a great job of getting him ready, but the crying baby was enough to set him off and ruin the experience. While it’s tough to endure, it is a testament to the strength of Jane and Rafael’s coparenting, which is not going to be the only thing they’re sharing anymore. It was strange to see Sophia Bush of “One Tree Hill” and “Chicago PD” fame introduced as Rafael’s new girlfriend only to have Jane convince her of Rafael’s feelings before he finally came around to what we’ve all been hoping for since he said he needed space: he’s in love with Jane! It’s possible there won’t be any distractions to keep them apart, as evidenced by the celebratory song and dance number at the end of the episode, which was fun. The most worrisome development was Krishna’s return to Petra’s employ, hardly the stable support system she needs but instead plotting to get the revenge she’s desperately wanted with another imprisoned enemy that wants to see her fall: Milos.