Monday, July 15, 2019

TV: Jane the Virgin

I don't think Jane the Virgin has nearly the viewership it deserves, just based on the premise.  I certainly avoided it for a long time, but now that I've watched it I can't recommend it highly enough.  It's joyful, compelling, and hilarious.  Gina Rodriguez is a treasure, and you'll fall in love with the characters (except the ones you love to hate!).  The show functions on three levels, starting with the realistic life of Jane, her mother and grandmother.  There is the heightened reality of the telenovela, and in between, the colourful world of the Marbella Hotel where Jane works.  I won't spoil anything, but all three end up intertwined.

The last episode is scheduled to air on July 31st, so it's the perfect time to binge the whole five seasons.

Scores and comments for:
Jane the Virgin
Gore/Violence: Occasional
Passes Bechdel test: Yes (The very first conversation in the show is Jane, Xiomara, and Alba talking about Jane's virginity.  Maybe that one's a technicality, but the whole show is full of well-written female characters).
Diversity:  Watch it for the amazing portrayal of the Villaneuva women, and celebrate a Latina character actually speaking Spanish regularly (with subtitles, don't worry!).
HAES-friendly:  Not too bad, but the occasional joke or insult does happen.

As of July 2019, viewable on Netflix Canada.

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