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Enough! This is not 'some other guy's kid', this is Mateo and I love him, and I love Jane way too much to be putting up with this disrespect
— Michael to his parents[1]

Michael Cordero is a principal character on Jane the Virgin. He is portrayed by Brett Dier.

Character[]

Michael Cordero is a 34-year-old man. He has lived in Montana under the name Jason for 4 years, after being presumed dead following the abduction and suffering amnesia as a result of electroshock. Until this happened, Michael worked as a homicide detective in Miami, Florida and was married to Jane Villanueva. When he was young, Michael used to steal cars and sell the parts for profit, with his younger brother, Billy. After getting arrested, Billy took the fall so Michael wouldn't go to prison (as he was 18 and Billy a minor).

This was a wake-up call for Michael, who then worked to clean up his act and, ironically, trained as a police officer. Michael eventually became a detective and worked in homicide, assigned to the Sin Rostro case. Sin Rostro becomes a defining figure in Michael's life, as she kidnaps Jane's newborn, kills his former partner, Nadine, and eventually shoots Michael. Though Michael survives wounds, he is presumed dead of an aortic dissection 9 months later.

Michael is tenacious in his work, perhaps with a thirst to prove himself following his criminal youth. He seems to have trouble letting people in, despite coming from a loving and caring family, as seen when he doesn't tell Jane about his past, which could also indicate that he has low self-esteem, thinking he would lose Jane if she knew of his past mistakes.

Story[]

Season 1[]

The show opens with him and his partner Nadine Hanson hunting down the elusive Sin Rostro, "The Man Without a Face" – a known drug lord. As Detective he has shown that he will do anything to keep his loved ones safe – even if that means cutting a few corners along the way. He has been dating Jane for 2 years[2] and understandably has his own feelings about Jane's pregnancy. Michael is supportive of Jane's abstinence and her work towards becoming a teacher.

Michael's dismissal of Jane's feelings and lying to her about his dealings with Petra Solano put a strain on their relationship, which leads to the ending of their relationship.[3] Almost immediately after Michael realizes Jane and Rafael are getting together, he starts up a sexual relationship with Nadine.[4] The two continue their bantering work relationship but become perhaps all the more synchronized since their personal relationship has progressed. Although Nadine calls Michael out on his lack of professionalism in his pursuit of any evidence that might link Rafael to Sin Rostro's crimes, what she doesn't know is that Michael goes to illegal lengths to secure this.[5]

When Petra discovers and accidentally murders the very much alive Roman Zazo, who was posing as his twin brother, Aaron, Michael comes to her rescue[6] and gets a hold of the flash drive with the names of every Sin Rostro associate – including Nadine.[7] Michael gives Nadine a head start after she explains the danger her family's in, and she later returns to cut a deal with the police. Michael and his superior put a tracker on Nadine's phone, hoping she will lead them to Sin Rostro's associates, or the woman herself. After Jane's break-up with Rafael, she and Michael get closer and reaffirm their friendship, leading Michael to hope that maybe there is a chance for them to begin again.[8]

Season 2[]

Taking Mateo's arrival and the strengthened connection between Jane and Rafael hard, Michael jumps at the chance to help them return Mateo when Rose contacts him, and he succeeds – even with Nadine questioning his duty as a Detective in not retrieving the flash drive.[9] He even doles out Villanueva family advice to the two new men in the family – Rogelio and Rafael. After Jane says to Rafael and Michael that she is in love with them both, Michael tells her that she doesn't really love Rafael and he's not worried about his chances[10]. Jane eventually chooses Michael[11] and Michael is walking on air, elated.[12] The joy is short-lived as he's fired from the Miami Police Department and takes his wrath out on Rafael, causing Mateo to sustain a minor injury. This inability to control himself around Rafael has Jane deciding to end their romance.[12]

More fuelled than ever, Michael sets out on a quest in Mexico with Nadine to catch Sin Rostro, at any cost. Sadly, the cost turns out to be Nadine's life[13] and Michael blames himself, feeling responsible for her death.[14] But he did return their undercover mission with a clue, as it turns out Michael was not fired after all. Together with his new partner, who was originally hired to keep an eye on him for their superior, he works hard at figuring out the connection between Sin Rostro, and notorious Miami crime lord Mutter.[13] After Rafael's mother, Elena Di Nola, attacked him and revealed herself to be Mutter, Michael is forced to reveal to Susanna that he let Nadine go in exchange for Mateo, as well as the flash drive. Susanna is livid and writes up a report on Michael to give to their superior, but relents as Michael discovers the flash drive 'on himself'.[14]

Finding the first criminal, Cordero and Barnett devise a plan to lure Sin Rostro out in the open, but Barnett is wounded when Sin Rostro uses her as to escape and ends up strangled by Mutter.[15] Michael tells Jane that he kept his distance and lied about having a girlfriend to protect her and Mateo, and they reunite.[16] Michael re-proposes to Jane and they get engaged[17]. He goes through conflict with his parents when they learn that he and Jane are engaged, as they don't want Jane breaking his heart again. Michael stands up for Jane and his choice when his parents rudely interrogate Jane about her leaving Michael. Eventually, Jane manages to create a "ceasefire" with Michael's parents, which alleviates the pressure on their impending union.[1] Michael and Jane move into a new house together[18], but Michael is suddenly fired from the police force due to an exposé on his handling of the Sin Rostro case.[19]

He agrees to take a temporary job as security detail for Rogelio, but misses detective work and takes it upon himself to uncover the connection between Derek and Mutter[20] and realises that Derek actually was working with Sin Rostro to take out Mutter, who is imprisoned. Happily getting married, Michael on a fluke suddenly realizes that his supposed partner is the one who leaked the story on him and she shoots him.[21]

Season 3[]

46hospital

Jane has nightmares

Following the shooting, Michael is brought to the hospital and Jane has to decide whether to risk him never walking again when he's in surgery. She decides that he would take the risk and lets them perform the surgery, which is successful. Michael will recover, but needs to spend a good deal of time recuperating and rehabilitating.[22] He and Jane temporarily move in with Alba and Xo and for the first time, Michael feels the emotional weight of having been shot and cries.[23] As he gets better, Michael and Jane have sex for the first time and move into their new house. Although not entirely back at work, Michael helps Rafael with finding Luisa and when she returns, Rafael brings Michael over to hear Luisa's story, which leads Michael to call in a check on Elena Di Nola, who has just been poisoned.[24] He and Jane learn that their rent is actually double what they thought and that they're being evicted because they haven't paid for months. They find out that Petra actually paid the other half of their rent in secret and decide to try and cope with the dent in their budget. This leads to a fight between Michael and Jane when Michael realizes Jane has padded their budget and not told him, as she's always had to be in control in her household. Michael is offended and retorts that she's always lived at home and in the last few years has had help from Rogelio, while he's been on his own for 10 years, despite what Jane may think of his shoebox bookkeeping. They decide to move into a smaller place as the strain of their budget limitations is too much and have a farewell-housewarming party.[25]

49solero

Rafael and Michael fight

Michael is determined to return to the force, which is a point of contention for a worried Jane, who ultimately is supportive of his decision. He trains to get back in shape for his work physically to be allowed to return to work and Rafael offers Michael the use of the Marbella gym and to work out together. When Michael gets there, he's intimidated by Rafael's physique and becomes petty, making snide comments to Rafael. He also tries to talk with Rafael about the Mutter case, which Rafael doesn't really want to discuss in public at his workplace. Afterward, Michael sees Rafael being cozy with a woman whom Michael assumes is married. He tells Jane, who talks to Rafael and Michael is proven wrong. He confides in Rogelio how he's derailed all the progress in his family dynamic with Rafael and Rogelio takes it upon himself to stage an intervention hang-out with the three of them and Mateo. Rafael is tired of all the crap he has to suffer from people's assumptions about him and, when they get a flat tire and Rogelio has to leave for his audition, they guys start fighting. In the midst of their quarrel, Mateo's suddenly gone and they panic. Luckily he crawled one lawn over, but Rafael and Michael are freaked and gain some perspective. They have a heart-to-heart where Michael admits that he is still mad at Rafael for making a move on Jane when she was engaged to Michael. Rafael apologizes to Michael and Michael, in turn, apologizes for having been such a dick to Rafael, lately, although they don't discuss their relationship before that. They reach a new understanding and go to pick up Rogelio after his audition. When there, Michael has a stroke of inspiration regarding the words in Mutter's bible and realizes it's a bank account number.[26]

52michael

Michael tries stand-up

Michael and Jane move into their new house, where Michael temporarily becomes insecure when Jane is angry about Catalina dating Rafael. Michael suspects it's because feels insecure about her life in comparison to Cat's jet-setter lifestyle. They go to a socializing date with Jane's new colleagues and, irritated, Michael challenges Jane to a karaoke-off to prove to her that they aren't a boring couple.[27] Michael continues work on the Mutter case and the account number leads them to discover Rafael's true parentage — he's not a biological child of Mutter and Emilio Solano.[28] When he doesn't pass his physical to return to work, he's assigned desk duty instead. He's frustrated with not having access to all the work he has done and impulsively quits his job. He's upset afterward that he didn't talk with Jane first, but she tells him she understands after he explains how he felt and that he's sorry and Michael's relieved that she supports him. He gets 6 months of severance pay and is thrust into finding out what this move means for him. After making a speech to his colleagues that got a lot of laughs, he decides to try his hand at stand-up comedy. After learning that Jane didn't exactly find him super-hilarious, he changes his mind about comedy and takes an aptitude test, which suggests he should be a detective. Thinking it over, Michael realizes he has an interest in the legal proceedings he's observed as a witness in cases and decides to pursue his new career path – as an attorney.[29]

And friends, I did say, Michael would love Jane until his dying breath
The Narrator
54

Michael dies

After taking the LSAT, Michael dies suddenly from an aortic dissection (his blood pressure spiked) from being shot by Sin Rostro.[30]

Season 4[]

Four years after his death, Rafael learns from Sin Rostro that Michael is alive and that she faked his death. Rafael finds Michael and brings him to Miami, to Rafael's apartment, where Michael waits. Jane shows up for her plans with Rafael and he lets her in to see Michael standing inside. Michael looks at Jane and she's overcome to see him alive.[31]

Season 5[]

82cordueva

Michael returns

Jane faints after seeing Michael alive and Michael's new dog, Bup, brings her back by licking her face. Michael's lived in Montana for the last 4 years, goes by Jason and has a different dialect. He tells them that he woke up in a field and a woman told him not to try to uncover his identity, as people were looking for him. This scared Jason, who decided to just live a quiet life. Rafael tells them that Rose abducted Michael after drugging him so his heart rate would slow enough to simulate death. She then fried his temporal lobe and hippocampus with electroshock, until he couldn't remember who he was. Michael just tells Jane what he knows and calls her M'am, which Jane finds strange and somewhat unsettling. Feeling uncomfortable, he takes a walk to clear his head. Jane waits for Michael after Rafael leaves and Michael comes back the moment she's about to leave. She awkwardly hugs him and leaves the apartment. Later on, he goes to the Villanueva House to look at Michael's things that may jog his memory. He also re-meets the family, and Rogelio is sad that he doesn't remember him.[32]

Jane continues to help Michael regain his memories but they struggle to connect. She tries to show him things Michael used to like but Jason remains disinterested in most things she shows him. In the middle of it all, she finds out they are still married. He also gets hired as a amnesia consultant at Rogelio's telenovela where he meets River Fields who makes him realize that he is the victim in this situation. He tells Jane he doesn't want to got through old stuff anymore as he's tired of her disappointment every time he doesn't react the way she wants him to, like Michael used to. She apologizes to him and asks to get to know the person he is now and not just try to make him into the person Michael were. They go out dancing but Jane is thrown when he kisses her. When she comes back and asks for the signed divorce papers he claims Bob ripped them up, however, as it turns out, he himself just threw them away.[33]

He goes on to try and win Jane over asks her on a date. She rejects him but eventually agrees to one date in exchange for the signed divorce papers. He takes her out fishing and she realizes she no longer feels anything for him. Afterwards she asks him to leave and tells him she can no longer disrupt her life for him, which he agrees to and buys a bus ticked back to Montana. However, just after Michael and Jane has their tearful goodbye, his memories return and with that his feelings for Jane.[34] Despite that, Michael chooses to leave anyways but when Jane realizes he's gotten his memories back, she chases him down and stops him. Now, he and Jane reconnects and start to feel like old times. Michael decides to stick around and Rafael breaks up with Jane as she sorts through her feelings.[35] Michael gives Jane a copy of her book based on their relationship, Snow Falling, with his thoughts written down in the margins.[36]

88goodbye

Jane and Michael's goodbye

Michael tells Jane he still feels the same about her and to really sort through their feelings somewhere without the past around them, Jane agrees to come with Michael to Montana for a trip.[37] They have a good trip and even end up kissing. However, Jane realizes that the person she really loves and wants to be with at that point is Rafael. So Michael stays in Montana while Jane goes back to Miami.[38] Michael instead got together with his old rival at the ranch, Charlie. They became engaged and she fell pregnant with his child.[39]

Family[]

Billy Cordero

Pilot

Michael & Billy in the Pilot

When they were teenagers, Michael had a record and the two worked together stealing cars and selling the parts out of a garage[40]. When they were caught by the police, Billy took the fall due to Michael's record and the fact that Billy was underage. Michael tells Jane that he subsequently got his life together, while Billy stayed in the illegal trade. Michael's reaction to Billy's arrival at his engagement party is defensive and watchful[2], and Billy even makes threats about Jane to Michael[40], when asking him for money. Later, however, they are seen working together as Michael asks Billy for help and there is an almost natural rhythm to their co-operation[5]. Billy is not present at Jane & Michael's wedding.[21]

Patricia Cordero

Patricia

Michael's mother seems to be well-meaning in her dislike of Michael's engagement to Jane, as Michael apparently talked to his parents after the break-up. She's adamant that Michael not marry Jane, but tries to give them a chance by showing up to the engagement party, only to balk at Jane's non-appearance. Patricia found out her husband cheated on her with his dental hygienist and they acrimoniously divorced, yet come together in their attempt to stop Michael from marrying Jane.[1]

Michael Cordero Sr.

37parents

Michael's parents are acrimoniously divorced and haven't been in the same room since Michael's high school graduation in 2004[1]. That all changes when they find out that Michael and Jane are engaged to be married – again. Michael Sr. disapproves of Michael marrying Jane, seeing as how she broke his heart. Along with his no-longer-so-estranged ex-wife, he doesn't take well to Jane, and Patricia lets Jane know that she and Michael Sr. will only show up at the wedding for Michael's sake.[1]

Family

Michael's grandmother makes an appearance at his and first Jane's engagement party, but nothing is really known about her, nor whether she is the paternal or maternal grandmother[2].

Mateo Solano Villanueva

40michelmateo

Mateo was not only Michael's step-son through his marriage with Jane but also his god-son. Michael were the first person outside of the family to visit Jane in hospital after Mateo was born.[8] He was the one who got him back from Sin Rostro after he was kidnapped,[9] after which Rafael asked him to be his godfather.[41] As a stepfather, Michael and Mateo had a close bond and a special connection. After baby-sitting him, Mateo would call him "dada" even before Rafael.[42]

Romances[]

Jane Villanueva

Main article: Michael and Jane
39twentyfirstbday

Michael meets Jane, while on duty as a cop, on her 21st birthday in 2012 and they are instantly attracted to one another[3]. They date for two years and Michael quickly plans to propose. Their relationship is altered by Jane's pregnancy and they ultimately break up but stay in each other's orbit as Jane relies on Michael being a part of her life, and Michael is unwilling to let her go. After Rafael breaks Jane's heart, she and Michael toy with reuniting but are halted and take some time apart from each other's lives. When Sin Rostro is killed, they reunite and start dating again.[16] They eventually get engaged and married. However, their wedding night is interrupted as Michael is shot.[21] He recovers and they have a happy marriage but that incident eventually leads to his demise later down the line, leaving Jane a widow.[30] However, many years later, it's been revealed that Michael is still alive but is suffering from amnesia. They somewhat rekindle their romance but Jane eventually realizes the person she loves is now Rafael.[38]

Nadine Hanson

Main article: Michael and Nadine
9canson

Michael and Nadine are assigned to each other as partners before the beginning of the show and seem to be quite familiar with one another. Their relationship is competitive in nature and consists mostly of banter and racing towards finding Sin Rostro.[2] After Jane breaks up with Michael, he kisses Nadine and they start a fling.[4] When Nadine is revealed to be working for Sin Rostro because she threatened Nadine's family, Michael lets her go[7] and Nadine later returns and agrees to help Michael track down Sin Rostro[43], and is killed in the process.[13]

Andie

Michaelandie

Andie and Michael started dating again in 2015, after not seeing each other for 3 years. It turns out Andie net stalked Michael a bit and spent time with Jane to get back together with him and suss out whether he and Jane were completely through. Michael found this out and dumped Andie via text message after he found out that Jane and Rafael had broken up.[6]

Charlie

88charlie

Originally not getting along with each other, after Jane leaves Montana, Charlie and Michael fall in love with each other, and they are engaged. Furthermore, they are also expecting their first child together.

Trivia[]

  • When he comes back to Miami in Season 5, he developed a crush on Petra, the owner of the Marbella.
  • Michael wasn't supposed to be alive, but Jennie Urman decided to bring him back after finishing Season 3.[44][45]
  • Originally, Michael was supposed to die sooner, but due to Brett Dier's performance, the character was kept alive long enough for him and Jane to marry and move in together.[46]
  • In the show, Michael is about 5 years older than Jane, when in real life Gina is older than Brett
  • This quote from Chapter Ten started the ongoing theory that Michael was going to die[47], which came true:
Michael – We belong together. And I'll never stop believing that
The Narrator – And for as long as Michael lived until he drew his very last breath, he never did
―Chapter Ten

Photos[]

Michael Cordero/Gallery

Episodes[]

SEASON 1 (22/22)

All episodes

SEASON 2 (22/22)

All episodes

SEASON 3 (12/20)

Chapter Forty-FiveChapter Forty-SixChapter Forty-SevenChapter Forty-Eight • Chapter Forty-NineChapter FiftyChapter Fifty-One • Chapter Fifty-TwoChapter Fifty-Three • Chapter Fifty-FourChapter Fifty-FiveChapter Sixty-Four (flashback)

SEASON 4 (1/17)

Chapter Eighty-One

SEASON 5 (9/19)

Chapter Eighty-Two • Chapter Eighty-ThreeChapter Eighty-FourChapter Eighty-FiveChapter Eighty-SixChapter Eighty-SevenChapter Eighty-EightChapter Ninety-EightChapter Ninety-Nine

Notes and references[]

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Chapter Thirty-Seven
  2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 Pilot
  3. 3.0 3.1 Chapter Six
  4. 4.0 4.1 Chapter Seven
  5. 5.0 5.1 Chapter Nine
  6. 6.0 6.1 Chapter Nineteen
  7. 7.0 7.1 Chapter Twenty
  8. 8.0 8.1 Chapter Twenty-Two
  9. 9.0 9.1 Chapter Twenty-Three
  10. Chapter Twenty-Four
  11. Chapter Twenty-Six
  12. 12.0 12.1 Chapter Twenty-Seven
  13. 13.0 13.1 13.2 Chapter Twenty-Nine
  14. 14.0 14.1 Chapter Thirty-Two
  15. Chapter Thirty-Four
  16. 16.0 16.1 Chapter Thirty-Five
  17. Chapter Thirty-Six
  18. Chapter Thirty-Eight
  19. Chapter Forty-One
  20. Chapter Forty-Three
  21. 21.0 21.1 21.2 Chapter Forty-Four
  22. Chapter Forty-Five
  23. Chapter Forty-Six
  24. Chapter Forty-Seven
  25. Chapter Forty-Eight
  26. Chapter Forty-Nine
  27. Chapter Fifty
  28. Chapter Fifty-One
  29. Chapter Fifty-Two
  30. 30.0 30.1 Chapter Fifty-Four
  31. Chapter Eighty-One
  32. Chapter Eighty-Two
  33. Chapter Eighty-Three
  34. Chapter Eighty-Four
  35. Chapter Eighty-Five
  36. Chapter Eighty-Six
  37. Chapter Eighty-Seven
  38. 38.0 38.1 Chapter Eighty-Eight
  39. Chapter Ninety-Eight
  40. 40.0 40.1 Chapter Five
  41. Chapter Twenty-Five
  42. Chapter Forty
  43. Chapter Twenty-Eight
  44. 'Jane the Virgin' Boss Breaks Down the Big Season 4 Finale Telenovela Twist (April 2018)
  45. ‘Jane the Virgin’ Finale’: Series Creator On That Shocking Twist, ‘Dallas’-Inspired Cliffhanger, Season 5 & Show’s Endgame (April 2018)
  46. Dearest Jane Fans – (February 2017)
  47. Will Michael Die on 'Jane the Virgin'? He Already Went to the Hospital in His Quest To Find Sin Rostro (January 2015)
CHARACTERS
main Jane VillanuevaXiomara VillanuevaAlba VillanuevaMateo Solano Villanueva
Rafael SolanoRogelio De La VegaPetra SolanoMichael Cordero
recurring Rose SolanoJane RamosLina SantillanJorge GarciaDarci FactorBruceEsteban Santiago
Adam AlvaroMarlene DonaldsonNadine HansonChuck ChesserRoman Zazo
family Luisa AlverAnna & Ellie SolanoMateo VillanuevaBaby De La Vega FactorManuel De La VegaLiliana De La Vega
Mia AlverElena Di NolaEmilio SolanoMagdaAnežka ArchulettaCatalina MoraDerek Ruvelle
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