★★★★★ 0/5

Jane the Virgin

An 'adorkable' Latino is accidentally artificially inseminated, in a comedy with a sense of familiarity.

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2014-11-29_1520There are occasions when I wonder if Foxtel acquisitions from US broadcasters are a TV equivalent to the fish John West rejects.

You know what I mean, our Free to Air networks pass on titles in their output deals and they wind up on Subscription Television which trumpet them as the hit of the season (obviously I’m not including HBO, Showtime, FX etc).

Shows like Smash, Revolution, Nashville, Chicago Fire, Pretty Little Liars, The Crazy Ones, The Vampire Diaries…. many are amongst the titles that FTA passed on -or dumped after they did not connect with their own audiences (albeit, sometimes due to sloppy scheduling).

Don’t get me wrong. I’m not suggesting these are without their attributes. At Foxtel they can find niche audiences with more consistent scheduling, but I do worry about over-hyping them in the pursuit for new subscribers.

This year one of those is Jane the Virgin. 

It’s impossible not to be reminded of Ugly Betty here. Its DNA is similar: it was originally a Venezuelan telenovela Juana la Virgen, produced by US television executive Ben Silverman (Betty was Colombian given the greenlight by Silverman when he was at NBC).

At the centre of the story is Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) an ‘adork-able’ young Latino woman who has kept herself pure at the behest of her grandmother, Alba (Ivonne Coll). Her frustrated detective boyfriend Michael (Brett Dier) is keen to get her to the altar sooner rather than later.

Everything changes when she is artificially inseminated by accident during a pap smear (did I mention it’s a comedy?). This “immaculata conception” brings her together with the father of the foetus, Rafael (Justin Baldoni), a dashing hotel owner whom she once had a passing moment with in a cafe. Rafael is also on the brink of divorce with his wife Petra (Yael Grobglas), who is having an affair.

Then there is also mystery of Jane’s own father who had a one night stand with her mother, the exotic and youthful Xo (Andrea Navedo) (think Ugly Betty’s sister Hilda played by Ana Ortiz).

After her maternal calamity, Jane is torn about whether to keep the baby or remain true to her values -mindful of being raised by a single parent herself.

As you have probably deduced, the labyrinthine plot is unashamedly telenovela.

So is the style, with its glam cast, colourful fashion, melodrama and thick-Latino narration by Anthony Mendez. His syrupy pastiche voice, which wouldn’t be out of place in a Disney animation, helps link the convoluted relationships for the viewer. Suspension of disbelief is crucial here, given some of its overt logic.

Jane the Virgin works largely thanks to its lead, Gina Rodriguez, who is affably daffy with her goofy face and perky waddle. Like the wonderful America Ferrera, she is effective as a loveable loser and holds the sum of these parts together most entertainingly.

There’s also a same-sex element at play here, though perhaps not as expected.

This is the kind of escapist fun that has worked well for Devious Maids, Desperate Housewives and Ugly Betty but there is a feeling of familiarity about it that causes me to wonder if it has left its run too late?

At least over summer there is time to indulge and find out.

Jane the Virgin premieres 7:30pm Monday on FOX8.

14 Responses

  2. I watched this very casually with average expectations… & liked it more than I thought I would. It’s not event tv by any means, but the laid-back, tongue-in-cheek manner of it all was especially likable.

    I had no issues with the review. As critically acclaimed as it is, it’s not the kind of show that will appeal to everyone. I liked it, but even I thought it was no better than a 3.5. Reviews are ultimately still the opinion of the writer, so it’s almost impossible to completely ignore personal likings & dislikes, etc…

  3. You don’t start getting Pap smears until you become sexually active, why would a virgin get one. They just couldn’t come up with any other way to artificially inseminate a virgin because that would never happen.

  4. What follows are the ratings* for ”Jane the Virgin” in the categories:
    total viewers (in million)—adults 18-49—adults 18-34—women 18-34; the last two particularly important to the CW network:

    #101: 1,61—0,6/2—0,5/2—0,7/2
    #102: 1,38—0,5/1—0,4/1—0,6/2
    #103: 1,09—0,4/1—0,5/2—0,7/2
    #104: 1,01—0,4/1—0,3/1—0,5/2
    #105: 1,22—0,5/1—0,4/1—0,6/2
    #106: 1,09—0,4/1—0,4/1—0,6/2
    #107: 0,96—0,4/1—n.a.—n.a.**

    Yes, the ratings dropped after the pilot. However, this is quite normal. Since then the ratings in the demographics, and those are the ones that actually count, have leveled off. And in total viewers the show has established a baseline around 1 Million. I do not see a ”constant decline.”
    Whether those ratings are good enough for the CW to give the show a second season…well, we will see next year.

    *: source:…

  5. Agree with most people here, and I think David is way off – I think the show is great, and I think the key is that it doesn’t take itself too seriously so why should it be judged so?

    To be honest this is the only crappy review I’ve seen for the show.

    Turn down that automatic ‘hate everything on Foxtel that isn’t made by HBO’ meter David.

    1. BrendenMoo.n: I have no problem with readers disagreeing with any review, especially those who have viewed far more episodes than I, possibly via illegal means. I do however object to what is largely a favourable review being misrepresented, perhaps you overlooked even the closing lines. I vehemently object the suggestion I “hate everything on Foxtel that isn’t made by HBO” -especially towards someone who puts STV on the same editorial platform as FTA. This ignores 7 years of reviews for shows including those on Arena, UKTV, Lifestyle, STUDIO, FOX8, BIO, BBC First. Did you skip The Missing review? Did you see HBO’s Leftovers did not grab me? Be very careful about implying I am not entitled to an opinion, thanks. Jane has her merits and I noted several.

  6. I like series like Chicago fire and VD more than most of the crap FTA serves up. Can see why audiences don’t connect with them at large though. A lot of 35+ year old bogans watch The Block 6x a week while the younger generation resorts to seeking better shows via piracy. This is why game of thrones and walking dead are the most downloaded shows in Australia, and more than anywhere else in the world

  7. redlock-the ratings have declined significantly and constantly-started at 1.6 million, now at 960,000 for the latest ep 24.11.14, the lowest so far, next ep not until 8.12.14 in the US and a break in broadcasting won’t help.

  8. It’s not true that the ratings for JtV have been on a ”constant’ decline. They dropped after the pilot episode and have since leveled off. Granted, it’s in the CW ratings territory were it could either way for renewal or cancellation (a full first season of 22 eps had been ordered a few weeks ago).
    Furthermore, the show has brought more latino viewers — a constantly rising part of US population — to the CW.

    I agree with manoymouse. The reviewer is selling this show really short. JtV is a highly entertaining show which balances comedy and drama very well. Definitely worth watching.

  9. Jane is definitely loveable, but I would never consider her to be a loveable loser. I guess it’s probably meant here with more of a positive connotation, but there really isn’t anything loser-ish about her.

    She is naive at times and wholly idealistic, but also walks tall and proud and stands up for her convictions. She’s sensitive and caring, but doesn’t take shit from anybody.

    Like with the first comment, I think some of the generalisations of both Jane and Gina are slightly offensive. But to be fair, you only begin to get a better picture of both the actress and the character when you’re a few episodes in.

  10. It is a shame that this show isn’t rating well in the US. I think it’s a really fun show and it’s up there with The Flash as one my fav new shows of the year.

  12. This is an example of a show I would like to see on a free to air multichannel for 7, 9, 10. Unfortunately those free to air networks aren’t interested in offering a diverse range of shows. Instead they fill their multi channels with mostly repeated content because they are so afraid that offering something different will cannibalise the many hours of reality offerings on their main channels. Lack of diversity in offerings is why these free to air channels are losing viewers.

  13. Wow, I think you’re selling this show really short. Yes, there’s the masterful use of telenovela tropes, but also some terrifically nuanced storytelling with real heart. Gina Rodriguez is a revelation, balancing light comedy and melodrama equally well; definitely not adorkable. Not that it matters to me, but she’s also incredibly beautiful; to describe her as waddling perkily and goofy faced is a bit offensive.

    All the performances are great, beyond the three generations of women in Jane’s family. Everyone is bringing their A game to this fantastic show, which many critics agree is the best new offering in the current US telly season.

    Rant over – just watch this show!

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