I'm of the firm opinion that what you take away from a book, movie or show, even a song, depends upon your state of mind when you first encounter it. This isn't a particularly groundbreaking, original thought. Reader-response theory relies on it, as do feminist, postcolonial and other 'ism' schools, which hold that a work and its value are defined by the context within which it operates (which is largely determined by the powers-that-be), its negotiation of those powers, and the position of the reader, who brings to it his/her own experiences and predispositions. It's totally possible for someone to read The Lord of the Rings, for instance, and see a militant declaration of war against industrialization, and just as possible for someone else to see a world that clamps down on modernity and technology in favour of a bucolic vision of the feudal/pastoral set-up.
Love is blossoming on Jane the Virgin, or in some cases, lust. The show moved the needle forward on almost all the romantic entanglements this week. Let's break down what worked and what didn't, shall we?
Jane the Virgin returns after a two-week hiatus with another ho-hum episode. More mommy trouble, a wedding that wasn't to be and zero reference to any sort of crime lord. The only thing that may take the show to a new and interesting place is a potential not-so-new pairing.
Is it just me, or is Jane the Virgin having trouble finding its footing post the Big Event from two episodes ago? The show returns this week with an uneven episode that appears to be struggling finding the balance it has so easily struck in the past — between the over-the-top, telenovela-inspired hijinks and the inner lives of the characters.
After an action-packed few episodes, Jane the Virgin returns with one that looks inward, albeit with a few rather random dead ends.
Jane the Virgin has never shied away from changing the game. Last week, it changed the game more dramatically than it ever has before, and you know what? It worked.
Oh. My. God. I'm still in shock after the gut-punch that was episode 10. But also, a little in awe of the writers. What a bold decision — and its just what the show may need.
Note: I assume everyone reading this has seen the episode, but thought I'd put in another warning: there will be spoilers ahead.
Okay, ready? Let's dive in.