- What kind of mother doesn't put her child first?
- — Alba, apologising to Xo
Chapter Twenty-Seven is the 5th episode of Season 2 of Jane the Virgin.
Synopsis[]
POP STAR BRITNEY SPEARS GUEST STARS — Jane (Gina Rodriguez) thinks she is finally ready to make a decision about her love life. Alba (Ivonne Coll) has taken the proper steps to become a citizen, but Xo’s (Andrea Navedo) past might make it more difficult than anyone was expecting. Rogelio (Jaime Camil) learns that his nemesis, Britney Spears, is at the Marbella Hotel and he is determined to confront her about their past. Michael (Brett Dier) is so caught up in his ongoing feud with Rafael (Justin Baldoni) that he ends up in big trouble at work. Meanwhile, Petra (Yael Groblas) gets an offer from her ex Miloš (guest star Max Bird-Ridnell) she just can’t refuse.
Recap[]
But first things first: Petra agreed to marry Milos early in the episode, under the understanding that it’s strictly for tax purposes (i.e. no nookie). Soon enough, Petra’s groom-to-be is planning an extravagant wedding at the Marbella, with megawatt guest performance by none other than Ms. Spears.
As dear Brit-Brit marches about with a totally ridiculous army of fembots in tow (a tongue-in-cheek commentary on the trappings of stardom, perhaps?), Alba starts taking steps to pursue citizenship. Dressed in patriotic red and blue, she heads to the immigration attorney’s office, where the attorney informs her that there may be a hiccup with her application. The reason? Xo — her sponsor — has a felony conviction. But it’s not what it seems (really!). It turns out that back in the day, Xo took the fall for an ex-boyfriend who had shoplifted a pricey ring. In the words of my own abuela, “Eso no se hace.” (Translation, “That’s a no-no.”) Xo’s teenage escapades aside, there’s a more serious point to be made here: Immigration laws are constantly changing, and in the process, they can seem unreasonable. With a quick PSA in the form of on-screen graphics urging viewers to “VOTE! VOTE! VOTE!” Jane’s message is clear: if you don’t like the laws, it’s within your power to help change them.
WANT MORE? Keep up with all the latest from last night’s television by subscribing to our newsletter. Head here for more details.
Jane definitely has the subject of change on her mind. She’s tired of the emotional limbo — Michael or Rafael? Rafael or Michael? — and after that amazing kiss with Michael, she’s prepared to make the decision to be with Michael forever. There’s just the small matter of telling Rafael. (Gulp.) Though she doesn’t know it, Rafael already knows what she’s decided — remember he overheard the news last week — but at Luisa’s urging, tries to make it impossible for Jane explain her feelings. Poor guy: A stable family is just within his grasp, and the possibility of it being taken away from him is something he’s just not willing to face. Who can blame him?
NEXT PAGE: In the words of Britney, “Gimme More”
That being the case, Rafael asks for Jane’s help (anything to keep her distracted!) in looking into Petra’s big proposal. “It’s a play. She and I are in negotiations for child support, and she knows I don’t want our kid around Milos, so she’s using him as a bargaining chip,” he tells Jane. So Jane — dear, empathetic Jane — agrees to visit Magda in prison to learn of Milos’ motive for marriage.
Enter an Oliver Twist-colored flashback to nine years ago, when Petra was just a poor violinist in the Czech Republic. Milos was flashy with his cash and swept her off her feet. Although Magda soon found out that Milos was running a number of internet scams, Petra didn’t care — though years later, it’s just the sort of thing she can use as blackmail.
Back at the hotel, Jane gathers the courage to tell Rafael about Michael, but he doesn’t give her a chance. “He’s shady, and he has it out for me — you know he does… You’re throwing away our family.” Real tears, people.
As it turns out, Petra’s plans of blackmailing Milos is dashed when she finds out he’s bugged her, but not all is lost: Jane’s involvement in the plan helps these two baby mommas bond in a way they’ve never been able to before. Although they might never be BFFs, their children are bound by blood, and they have an obligation to try to work it out for their sake.
Speaking of working it out, Britney’s story line this episode was surprisingly fresh and funny and focuses on a rivalry between her and Rogelio. The two had once been close, back in the days when Rogelio was a “C+ list star,” but their relationship crumbled during a teleprompter mishap at the 2009 Latin Pop Awards. Did Britney sabotage him? Or is Rogelio just being overly dramatic? Britney knows all about friendships gone south (remember her former BFFS Lindsay Lohan and Paris Hilton?), and to see her playing up an aspect of her past with just the right amount of genuine energy was a huge treat. And then, just when you thought that these two would never swap concealer tips again, there was a magical moment of apology.
“From the bottom of my broken heart, I’m sorry. And I hope our friendship could be as strong as it once was,” Rogelio tells Britney. “You know I think it’ll be even stronger,” she replies. “Stronger than yesterday.”
NEXT PAGE: “You Drive Me Crazy”
But “Chapter 27” isn’t all about happy endings for everyone, as Jane soon finds out. Michael — who’s been literally skipping with joy after kissing Jane — is unexpectedly reassigned to desk duty after an anonymous informant told the chief about Michael letting Nadine escape. He immediately suspects Rafael of sabotage and runs off to the Marbella to confront him. Blow for blow, the two exchange punches right in front of baby Mateo, who ends up being badly scratched by some broken glass. Jane is in disbelief and completely disappointed. How could the man she loves lose his temper like that — and hurt her baby in the process? Even so, she’s still firmly Team Michael, though Rafael insists that he wasn’t the informant.
That’s the clever thing about Jane’s rewrite of the traditional love triangle. Who’s the good guy in this scenario? Which counts more, good actions or good motives? And what should be the consequences — or punishment — if someone does something shady with the intention of doing good?
Jane’s confused about the whole thing but has a moment of clarity after Michael reveals that Rafael wasn’t the informant. (A nugget of information he discovered while snooping on his supervisor’s computer.) “That man that clouds your judgment, that’s Mateo’s father…which is why we won’t work.” Mateo comes first — and realizing that is one of the many lessons Jane will learn as a mother.
For Michael, the truth stings, but it doesn’t hurt as much as the next blow that he’s going to receive: He’s being fired for breaking into the chief’s office. Dejected, Michael heads to the parking lot. So, what lies ahead for the former detective? Nadine pointing a gun at Michael in his car, apparently. In the words of our favorite narrator, “This is way too stressful.”Starring[]
|
|
Quotes[]
- I mention people like Gloria Estefan, Alejandro Fernandez and Oprah Winfrey because they happen to be dear friends of mine
- — Rogelio
- Sorry dude. He's my brother, you know. Had to put up the block!
- — Luisa to Michael
- Aw. Perhaps it's stolen sperm under the bridge for these two, at last
- — The Narrator about Jane & Petra
- This entitled ass just cost me my job!
- — Michael flips on Rafael
Trivia[]
- Britney Spears makes a special cameo in this episode. The theme throughout the episode is "the writing on the wall"
- The date of Mateo Villanueva's death is June 12 (year not mentioned).
- Petra is from Olomouc, Czech Republic.
- Petra sold the violin Miloš gave her to travel to the US.
- Petra and Milos get married.
- Michael was asked to turn in his badge.
- Rafael is devastated that Jane is choosing Michael.
- Rafael and Jane team up to find out why Petra is marrying Miloš and Jane visits Magda in prison to stop it.
- Xo tracks down Zed, who now goes by Jon Snow and sells cocaine.
- Michael pushes Rafael while Rafael is holding Mateo.
- Jane still thinks Rafael informed the police and that it matters!
- Michael breaks into his Lieutenant's office to see if Rafael is on the tape!
- Jane decides to cut Michael out of her life, although she had chosen him, putting Mateo's wellbeing above everything else.
- Alba apologizes to Xo for not putting her first on the anniversary of Mateo's death in 1992.
- Alba & Xo get high.
- Michael gets fired.
FLASHBACKS
- To Autumn/Winter 2008 in the Czech Republic, where Natalia meets Miloš for the first time and he presents her with a Konner violin.
'Secrets'[]
- Miloš is an internet con-man.
- Petra marries Miloš because she realizes he has her under surveillance.
- Jane admits to Petra that she cares about her... "in an 'I don't want you to marry a psycho' kind of way".
- Britney admits that she let Rogelio bomb at the 2009 Latin Pop Music Awards, although she did not alter the teleprompter.
- A friend of Nadine's, Eric Wu, was the one to give testimony against Michael.
- Rogelio tipped reporters about Britney's whereabouts when they were hanging out, to try and make a name for himself.
- Miloš moonlights as a Nigerian prince online.
Locations[]
- Miami
- Miami Beach
- Olomouc, Czech Republic
Music[]
- ...baby one more time | BRITNEY SPEARS
- toxic | BRITNEY SPEARS
Photos[]
| EPISODES | |
| 1 | 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 |
| 2 | 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 |
| 3 | 45 46 47 48 49 50 51 52 53 54 55 56 57 58 59 60 61 62 63 64 |
| 4 | 65 66 67 68 69 70 71 72 73 74 75 76 77 78 79 80 81 |
| 5 | 82 83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93 94 95 96 97 98 99 100 |