Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 10 Review: Chapter Ninety-One
Lizzy Buczak
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Well, Jane the Virgin Season 5 went downhill fast.
How long before every single character's storyline gets ruined?
Most of Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 10 was a rollercoaster of familiar emotions.
Does anyone else feel like the 'ship drama is getting repetitive?
Is the whole point of the final season to rip out our hearts feom our chests, stomp on them, put them back in and do it all over again?
Both couples -- Petra and JR, and Jane and Rafael -- keep repeating the same scenarios over and over again expecting different results.
Last I checked that was the definition of insanity.
End of story. Well, you know what, I'm the writer. I'll end the story.
Jane
I'm not even concerned about Jane's happy ending anymore. With or without Rafael, Jane is a strong woman with a budding career who will turn out just fine.
But Petra and Luisa deserved a happy ending more than anyone for all the suffering they've endured.
Petra and JR have been on the verge of a break-up every single episode.
One of their biggest issues is communication.
They usually talk something out after the fact, but by that point, the damage is already done.
Petra wasn't okay with JR interviewing in Houston, but she didn't say anything because she didn't want to stand in the way of her happiness.
Instead, Petra tried to JR her a job in Florida without even consulting her first.
Their whole relationship is built on resentment.
As heartbreaking as it was that Petra said that her heart was in a million pieces after JR officially ended things, it's been a long time coming.
Rafael: Flowers are not going to make me forgive you, Luisa. Your signature was all over Rose's bank accounts.
Luisa: The woman can forge faces, I'm sure she can forge a signature.
JR has been trying to tell Petra that she's unhappy in the relationship, but they needed time apart to get some perspective and finally pull the trigger.
As much as I wanted them to jibe, Petra and JR wanted different things and couldn't find common ground.
The fact that Petra bought an engagement ring and was ready to propose showed that she's been misreading the situation.
I even brought this up on my Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 9 review, but JR flat out told Petra she didn't want kids and felt like she hit "rock bottom."
That's not something to be glossed over
However, things didn't have to end this way.
JR and Petra's relationship didn't have to be toxic.
When JR forgave Petra and decided to give her another chance, it could have counted as her fresh start.
It makes me wonder why the only way to make a final season successful is by destroying all the remaining relationships.
Rafael: What if Mateo really has an issue?
Jane: We don't know that he does.
Rafael: But what if he does?
Jane: Then we'll deal with it.
Rafael: I know. But you just want your kid to have a normal life. Whatever that means.
Jane: It will be. His normal. Look, here's what I know. Mateo is the same amazing kid today as he was yesterday. And now, it's just up to us to figure out how we can support that kid we both love so much as best we can. And we will. Because no matter what, we're in this together. And I'm sorry like I acted like we weren't.
Rafael: You are forgiven. And thank you.
Luisa hasn't always been trustworthy, but for the first time ever, she's innocent and telling the truth.
If Rafael just listened and let her explain, then things would have turned out differently.
Rafael's inability to communicate with his sister like an adult essentially pushed her right into Rose's arms.
The idea of family has always been important to Luisa, and getting out of her own dysfunction has been an uphill battle.
But even when she's trying her best, it isn't enough.
And losing Raf again pushed her right back to square one.
What's frustrating is that it seemed like Luisa was strong enough to overcome temptation when in reality, there was never any hope for Luisa's redemption.
Despite her best efforts, she always had a soft spot for Rose, and Rose knew it. And she knew how to take advantage of it.
Luisa's also impulsive and wasted no time before jumping st the opportunity to help Rose with her diabolical plan.
Now, the question is, what does she need Luisa to do?
Related: Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 7 Review: Chapter Eighty-Eight
What is Sin Rostro's evil plan?
And do we have enough time to properly wrap this storyline?
I'm guessing that Michael will come back to finish up his work on the Sin Rostro case now that it's entering its next phase.
Michael was the only one who ever got close to bringing her down.
Jane and Rafael are still trying to figure out the co-parenting thing, and since breaking up, they've stumbled a lot.
Most of us are rooting for their happy ending, and it seems like Mateo's diagnosis is going to be what gets them together again.
I have mixed feelings about that mainly because it seems like a cop-out.
Two people shouldn't decide to be together because it makes parenting easier.
I'm in. What does Rose need me to do?
Luisa
Jane and Raf were on such a good path at the end of Jane the Virgin Season 4.
If Michael had never gotten revived, Mateo's diagnosis would have gotten the attention it deserved rather than being used to usher in a potential love story.
Communication is also a struggle for Jane and Rafael.
Sure, Jane and Raf were able to support each other and be there for Mateo by the end, but getting to that point was rocky.
Jane undermined Raf's decision not to seek medical help. Raf tried to "put his foot down," and both of them blamed each other for being out of line.
Both of them were wrong as they both did what they wanted without honoring the other's wishes.
If they talked it out like adults and listened to each other's hesitations, they could have handled things a lot better.
The most shocking part of the episode had to be how surprised Jane and Raf were by the ADHD diagnosis.
Petra was the only one who properly reacted to the news that something was up with Mateo.
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If they were paying attention, they would have realized that there was more to him than just being a "rowdy" kid.
At first, I thought Raf didn't want Mateo to see a doctor because he found out that he was sick again.
It would explain why he got upset at the thought of not seeing his kids grow up and why he was acting out towards Jane.
Thankfully, I was wrong, again, and Raf was just scared of what a diagnosis meant for their future.
As Jane said, it's better to diagnose it early on and give Mateo the tools he needs to learn so he doesn't have to continue struggling to be "normal."
There's nothing to be ashamed of when it comes to such a diagnosis, and despite their initial shock, I'm glad Raf and Jane are acknowledging that Mateo is the same kid he's always been regardless of what the doctor says.
Unless you suffer from ADHD, it's hard to understand the experience. However, we got a little glimpse of it by clashing Jane's novel with her father's telenovela.
Related: Jane the Virgin Season 5 Episode 9 Review: Chapter Ninety
Much like Mateo, Jane struggled to focus and prioritize her projects so they ended up bleeding into each other.
Speaking of telenovelas, it seems that Jane's novel also begins when she was artificially inseminated.
Could she be the narrator of the story?
Have we been watching her novel this whole time?
Rogelio's a changed man, and he's got three badass women to vouch for him.
Thankfully, they managed to convince Dina to forgive him and spearhead the pilot after Jane backed out to pursue her own passion project.
Being the author of a novel and a telenovela would look great on her resume, but Rogelio hit the nail on the head when he said that you have to be passionate about your work.
Jane was spread too thin by trying to make everyone happy.
Yes, Jane would make tons of money writing the telenovela, but if she's not giving it her all, what's the point?
I love that the series has always honed in the importance of following your dreams and choosing a career path you're passionate about.
Other Marbella Musings
- Does Petra really think people in Houston dress like that? Come on, girl.
- It was scary to see Marlene so giddy and energetic. Is her new lover important to the overall story? Is she the narrator? Will Jill publish Jane's book?
- Rafael is a pretty good realtor. Jane, on the other hand, should stick to writing.
- Can The CW greenlight Rogelio's telenovela "This Is Mars"? The Martian White House looked awesome.
- Alba and Jorge are on a honeymoon! Where did they go?!
There are so many heartfelt moments on Jane the Virgin that the show could sustain itself without purposefully messing up things because "it's a telenovela."
At the pace we're going, I'm worried the series won't deliver a satisfying end that both the characters and the audience deserve.
What did you think of the episode?
Will Mateo's new normal bring Jane and Raf together?
Is Jane the narrator?
Are Petra and JR done for good?
Be sure to watch Jane the Virgin online and catch up on all episodes.
Lizzy Buczak was a staff writer for TV Fanatic. She retired in June 2021..
