In the eleventh episode of the fifth season of Jane the Virgin<\/i>, Jane and Rafael attempt structure with Mateo; River goes too far; Petra tries to redesign her life; Jorge moves in. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch Jane the Virgin<\/i>.<\/p>\n
Trigger Warning: For discussion of consent, trauma, cancer<\/b>.<\/p>\n
Structure<\/b><\/p>\n
So, I definitely have no real experience here at all when it comes to either having ADHD or being a parent. I can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t speak to the accuracy of anything beyond saying that I recognize some of what I saw here because I know parents like Jane and Rafael, but that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s all. Again, not much of this is centered on what Mateo is experiencing, and I think it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s important to acknowledge that as we discuss this episode. This is about how Jane and Rafael deal with their attempt to give Mateo structure. What does that structure look like? How does it affect each of their daily lives? That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 well, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a complicated answer, right? Sometimes, it seems like things are working better for Mateo, and then sometimes, he gets overwhelmed and melts down. Like Jane notes multiple times throughout this, this is something that she and Rafael have to invest in over a long period of time. Mateo isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to adapt to new patterns or behaviors overnight.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n The same goes for his parents, too! And that makes this challenging because both of them are also<\/i> trying to adapt to new routines: running to school in the morning. Healthier foods. Limits on screen times. They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re coordinating all of this while working on their own problems in their life. But for what it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s worth? Jane and Rafael are trying. Virtually no part of this entire plot is dedicated to these two bickering with one another, or even disagreeing all that much. Unlike recent episodes, they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve actually managed to sync their parenting in an impressive (and frankly, relieving) way. Of course, it still stings, seeing them interact so positively while knowing that there is no real sign they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ll ever get back together. Rafael is dating again, y\u00e2\u20ac\u2122all. Which is his prerogative! He\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s moved on, and Jane needs to as well. She can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t keep waiting around for something that probably isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t going to ever happen.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Still, it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s nice to see them get along. Truly! If they can\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t be a romantic couple, they can be fantastic parents, and they really seem like they\u00e2\u20ac\u2122re doing their best with Mateo.<\/p>\n Chaos<\/b><\/p>\n Oh, Petra. I fully understand what she meant when she told Jane that she felt powerless and out of control, and it made so much sense to me that she channeled all of this into a pointless renovation of the Marbella. Petra is trying to move on from JR, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still possible to want to move on\u00e2\u20ac\u201da healthy reaction to a break-up\u00e2\u20ac\u201dand end up doing something that\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s toxic or harmful to one\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s self. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s a difficult situation, sure, since it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s understandable that the entire hotel reminds Petra of JR. But to ruin yourself and your business financially in order to escape someone? It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s unlike Petra in that sense, but sometimes, traumatic events or break-ups can cause people to behave counter to their nature.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n This plot isn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t without some positives, though. Petra may have made some missteps, but there are some wonderful strides forward! With Jane\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s help, Petra makes a vital choice and returns the engagement ring she bought. That\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s massively relieving to her! However, I was much more interested in Petra rekindling a professional relationship with Krishna. (Who, I must note, did not die. I WILL MAKE FUN OF MYSELF FOREVER FOR THINKING THIS.) It intrigues me because I want to see if Petra can actually<\/i> change in a significant way when it comes to dealing with her employees. I thought that perhaps she might actually do so post-Krishna, but she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s still snappy and mean with all her assistants. She might not personally insult them in quite the same way, but it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s there in her tone and how she views those who work \u00e2\u20ac\u0153underneath\u00e2\u20ac\u009d her.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Clearly, Krishna is at a point in her life where she\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s able to stand up to Petra and demand what she is worth. But does that also mean the writers will have her stand up to Petra\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s inappropriate behavior as a boss? Or will Petra resist treating Krishna like she used to?<\/p>\n Cohabitation<\/b><\/p>\n Living alone in a pandemic presents a whole new set of challenges to me, mainly in that I am an extrovert forced into being a perpetual introvert. Some days, that is very, very hard, but in the end, I actually prefer living alone. I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m generally pretty good at cohabiting with another person because I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve had to do so for such a long time; the majority of my life, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve lived with other people. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s always an adjustment with a new person, too. What are their habits? Their quirks? Their internal rhythms and clocks? I admit I also like cohabiting with someone I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m in a romantic relationship with, as long as I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m able to get some space and time to myself. (I might be an extrovert, but I do<\/i> need my own time separate from that person.) So I actually see both<\/i> perspectives here! I get why this was so challenging for Jane, who was being asked to change so much for Jorge. But I also see why both Jorge and Alba were hurt by Jane, too. (Though I feel like one part of this went unaddressed: Most of what Jane was asking for was to help with Mateo when Mateo was around.)\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n Jane is a deeply judgmental person. We know that. It\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s part of her characterization. And on the surface, it seemed as if Jorge was treating Alba badly, when the truth was that Jorge and Alba were settling into routines of care and desire that Jane couldn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t recognize. She only saw one side of it, and she certainly didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t consider if Alba derived joy from what she was experiencing.<\/p>\n Still, I think Jane moving out to be on her own is a good thing. She needs her own space to be more controlling in a way that makes her<\/i> happy. Again, I get it! I have very, very particular ways of living. I like a lot of organization. (Turns out that clutter\/messiness is a huge trigger for my anxiety. Only took me until my mid 20s to find that out, lmaoooo.) So I think this will give Jane more structure of her own, and that can only be good for her and Mateo.<\/p>\n Coworking<\/b><\/p>\n Wow, I\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 I genuinely didn\u00e2\u20ac\u2122t see this coming?<\/p>\n First things first: XIOMARA IS CANCER FREE!!!! Oh my god, I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m so relieved. I loved that this episode then moved into Xo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s notion of normalcy. She wants to return to her \u00e2\u20ac\u0153normal\u00e2\u20ac\u009d life, but what exactly does that mean?<\/p>\n Well, we get an example of one element of normalcy here, but holy shit, what a surprising one. Again: I never once thought that River Fields had any romantic or sexual feelings for Rogelio. Did I miss the signs or was this as sudden of a revelation as it seemed to be??? Regardless\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 holy shit. This was bad. IN EVERY WAY. I was shocked by River kissing him, and I was shocked by Xo\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s confrontation of her on set, and THEN I WAS SHOCKED WHEN RIVER DOUBLED DOWN. Oh my god, what the fuck is happening? Is this\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 oh god, is River about to engage in some creepy stalker shit? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m also now realizing that Rogelio has had a lot of toxic co-stars, though to be fair, he\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s often the toxic co-star himself. WHEW. Still, this is\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 oh my god.\u00c2\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m glad that there was a silver lining, though: Xo and Ro rekindling emotions and sexual energy again! They\u00e2\u20ac\u2122ve found some \u00e2\u20ac\u0153normalcy,\u00e2\u20ac\u009d like\u00e2\u20ac\u00a6 arguing? I know it seems strange, but you know what? I\u00e2\u20ac\u2122m happy that they argued, because it led to such a good place. But what now<\/i>? What the hell is River going to do next???<\/p>\n The video for \u00e2\u20ac\u0153Chapter Ninety-Two\u00e2\u20ac\u009d can be downloaded here for $0.99<\/a>.<\/p>\n Mark Links Stuff<\/b><\/p>\n – My second novel, EACH OF US A DESERT, is now out in the world!<\/a> In the eleventh episode of the fifth season of Jane the Virgin, Jane and Rafael attempt structure with Mateo; River goes too far; Petra tries to redesign her life; Jorge moves in. Intrigued? Then it\u00e2\u20ac\u2122s time for Mark to watch … Continue reading
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