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Chapter Sixteen is the 16th episode of Season 1 of Jane the Virgin.

Synopsis[]

ROAD BLOCKS — Jane (Gina Rodriguez) is feeling distant from Rafael (Justin Baldoni), so she focuses on her writing instead, but is stuck with a case of writer's block. When Jane runs into Michael (Brett Dier) he mentions a romance writing workshop, and she thinks she has found the solution. Petra (Yael Grobglas) has a solution to finding a musical performer for The Marbella's Calle Ocho celebration, but it forces Rafael to ask Rogelio (Jaime Camil) for help. Rogelio is struggling with his new character as a detective, so he gets the brilliant idea to shadow Michael for real cop experience. Meanwhile, Xo (Andrea Navedo) has made a decision about her life with Rogelio which causes a rift between her and Alba (Ivonne Coll).

Recap[]

SPOILERS AHEAD
This week’s episode featured two major guest stars: British small screen siren Jane Seymour and Spanish singer David Bisbal. On any other show, these two celebrities might be at odds—but on Jane The Virgin, they helped set the tone for an episode that focused on relationship problems and the possibility of new beginnings.

“Chapter 16” began with Jane feeling guilty about her decision to turn down Rafael’s marriage proposal. Rafael is downright frosty after having been rejected, but insists nothing is wrong. (How typical, right?) “Try to be patient,” he says. For Jane, this can translate to “leave me alone,” and so she decides to finish the draft of her romance novel. She’s typing furiously and then …nothing. Zilch. Nada. This is what’s known as writer’s block, and for Jane—just as it would be for any writer—it’s supremely aggravating.

Lucky for her, Michael can help. Or rather, he helps by passing along a flyer for a local romance writer’s group, a workshop much like her favorite course in college.

The writer’s group—composed of an eclectic bunch lead by Jane Seymour’s character, an award-winning novelist named Amanda Elaine—is friendly, stimulating and inspiring. At least, it is until Jane finds out that she’s only supposed to share positive comments with her fellow writers. So much for her “constructive criticism” for writer Wendy. “We are builder uppers, not tearer downers,” offers Amanda Elaine.

Jane—whom one can assume has always been a teacher’s pet—is horrified: first she’s managed to hurt Rafael, and now she’s unintentionally insulted some romantically challenged, middle-aged aspiring writer, to say nothing of offending Amanda Elaine. She goes to bed, upset and angry with herself. But in the morning, she’s determined to make peace with everyone, starting with Wendy. This gesture earns her brownie points from Amanda Elaine, who offers her the following gem: “The problem isn’t where you think it is. It’s often further back.”

Having downed half a glass of wine, our favorite preggo has decided to make a romantic gesture for Rafael in his hotel suite. There’s (more) wine, cheese and she even has “Living On A Prayer” all cued up. But when Rafael strolls in, he’s hardly in the mood for flowers and fantasy.

While Rafael’s happy to trade monosyllabic answers, Jane digs a bit deeper. “You asked too early. Things were great. We were moving forward and then you got into your head to ask me to marry you …You’re impulsive …Had you stopped to ask anyone who knows me, you wouldn’t have asked and I wouldn’t have said no and we wouldn’t be here. So please, please stop putting it all on me.”

And in that moment, the narrator tells us, Jane felt “unblocked.” While her speech has let loose the passion she needed for the pages of her novel, she’s less certain of its long-term consequences on her relationship with Rafael. But in these moments, Jane writers never fail to please—and a big, beautifully choreographed dance scene, set to one of David Bisbal’s hits, cements the fact that some love stories do end in happily ever after. (The one issue, of course, is the dance is totally a figment of Jane’s imagination.)

Even so, Rafael has something to get off his chest. The night’s over, and he goes to the hotel employee break room to find Jane, who’s busy writing (And, I should add, is dressed in a hoodie that’s reminiscent of the rapper gear Gina Rodriguez wore in Filly Brown.) “You were right. I did propose too soon,” he admits. “For me, it was all about family …and so I tried to rush it and I tried to lock it down so you wouldn’t leave.”

But Jane won’t leave—and tells him so. “I’m here. We don’t have to rush.” And Rafael—bolstered by Jane’s encouragement to “go back further”—brings up the fact that he’s never tried looking for his mom. “I took my dad’s word and trusted that she didn’t want to be found.”

This makes Jane a bit misty-eyed. “Lives are complicated. People are complicated. She may have had a good reason for leaving …but you’ll never know unless you look.”

With that, Rafael heads over to his laptop and starts the search for Elena Di Nola. But, the narrator warns, “You should never search for something you aren’t prepared to find.

Petra and Rafael put their dramatic past behind them and worked together to bring musical guest David Bisbal to the Marbella. Though the Latin star’s rock-infused pop number went off without a hitch, Petra and Rafael had a mishap when they temporarily lost the dog his team entrusted to their care. They eventually find the pup, and Petra makes an unexpected discovery of her own: There’s a tiny part of her that still cares for Rafael. Will she end up making a move in order to get her man back?

Rogelio is trending online, but not for the right reasons: fans aren’t convinced by his telenovela performance as an outer space police officer. Only one person can help him, and that’s Michael, whom he wants to shadow in order to gain authenticity. “This GIF is embarrassing because I take my craft very seriously,” Rogelio says. “Which you can tell by my use of the word craft.” Though these two seem like an unlikely duo, together they successfully nab Tony Vaughn, who emerged as a suspect when his name was found on Aaron’s flash drive. He’s eventually cleared of any connection to Zaz’s murder, but could he be a business associate of Sin Rostro?

Rogelio and Xo have decided to move forward with their decision to move in together. There’s just two issues: Rogelio’s being picky about the size of their prospective new home (“If we tear down that wall, we can double the size of my closet!”), and Xo needs to convince Alba about her choice to live with Rogelio before marriage. As we saw in this week’s episode, Alba stands by the old saying, “Why buy the milk when you can get the cow for free?”

Jane keeps a Tupperware container of shredded cheese in the fridge should she have a craving for her signature grilled cheese. Cute, right?

Our favorite virgin wasn’t the only new face at the romance writer’s workshop—an aspiring writer named Andi was in attendance too. She has a few things in common with Jane: she loves salsa music, Latin food, and—you guessed it—Michael. Though it’s been three years since their split, girlfriend still has the hots for him. Could she be the character whom the narrator has hinted will “change Jane’s life forever?”

Total sex scenes this episode: 3 (Wendy from the writer’s workshop shared a sweet, reconciliatory kiss with her husband; and in different scenes, Rafael and Jane kiss each other’s hands. Yawn.)

Did you like the use of writer’s block as an analogy for the hurdles that many of the characters had to face in “Chapter 16?” And while this episode veered on the sweet side, the narrator’s tone during the show’s final scenes seemed to indicate that darker days lay ahead—are you ready for things to get dramatic?

Starring[]

Gina Rodriguez as Jane Villanueva
Andrea Navedo as Xiomara Villanueva
Yael Grobglas as Petra Solano
Justin Baldoni as Rafael Solano
Ivonne Coll as Alba Villanueva
Brett Dier as Michael Cordero
and Jaime Camil as Rogelio De La Vega
Recurring cast
Azie Tesfai as Nadine Hanson
Alano Miller as Aaron Zazo
Jenna Ortega as Young Jane
Guest starring
David Bisbal as David Bisbal
Jane Seymour as Amanda Elaine
Kathleen Wilhoite as Wendy
Rachel DiPillo as Andie
Co-Starring
Arianna Ortiz as Fiona
Bella Popa as Shelly
Christopher Amitrano as Tony Vaughn
Chris Aquilino as Beau
Elaine Loh as Gretchen
Mario Corona as Churro Guy
Allen Walls as Wendy's Husband
Unrcedited
Monica Moskatow as Salsa Dancer #1
Fernanda Tapia as Salsa Dancer #2
Junes Zahdi as Salsero

Quotes[]

Apparently, people aren't believing my performance as an interplanetary detective
— Rogelio's losing Twitter followers
This GIF is embarrassing me, because I take my craft very seriously, which you can see by my use of the word 'craft'
— Rogelio to Michael and Jane
Can we please stop talking about the proposal. Seriously, your father, now you. It didn't go well, you said no, I would like to stop reliving it and just — move on
— Rafael's anguish
Whoa. You're not gonna kill him or anything, right?
— Rafael to Petra, about Bisbal's dog
For me, it was all about family. And how badly I've wanted a family. And so, I—I tried to rush it. I tried to lock it down so that you wouldn't leave
— Rafael to Jane
I'm not gonna leave. That's the point — I'm here. We don't have to rush
— Jane assures Rafael

Trivia[]

  • Rogelio and Xo are moving in together.
    • Xo told Alba a week ago.
  • Michael delivers a flyer to Jane for a writers' workshop.
  • The workshop is hosted by author Amanda Elaine, who wrote Love Under The Bridge, which won the 2007 romance novel of the year.
  • Xiomara says that Alba hasn't dated in 25 years.
  • Aaron Zazo gives Michael the chip that was in his mother's necklace.
  • Rogelio helps Michael catch criminal Tony Vaughn.
  • Michael meets his ex, Andie, at Calle Ocho, seeing her for the first time in 3 years.
    • This alludes to their break-up being roughly six months before Michael and Jane met.
  • Rafael proposed to Petra after they'd been together for 5 months.

FLASHBACKS

  • To when, at 11, Jane fell in love with salsa dancers at Calle Ocho.

PRODUCTION

  • Table read was on January 7, 2015.[1]
  • Filming started on January 8, 2015.

'Secrets'[]

  • Rafael never looked for his mother after she left.
  • Her name is revealed: Elena Di Nola.

Locations[]

Music[]

with you (acoustic) | DAN GAUTREAU & WOLFGANG BLACK
Jane tries to focus on the good
living on a prayer | BON JOVI
lunch time
esclavo de sus besos | DAVID BISBAL
jane's fantasy about her and rafael
let the light back in | MAGGIE ECKFORD
michael runs into his ex; alba mourns xiomara moving out

Photos[]

Notes and references[]

  1. Justin Baldoni Tweet (January 2015)
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