Diversity on television and lack there of is a constant cadence in media. Whether it's admonishing the absence of it or lauding those paving the way in earnest like Shondra Rhimes, the conversation about having television choices that reflect the society we live in continues to be prominent. That two shows that prominently feature Latinas in primetime in very different ways is so important. Cristela Alonzo with her broad ABC comedy Cristela aligns with more traditional situation comedies that take a page from a stand up comedian's act and builds a show out of it. That it is produced and created by Alonzo is important, because having culturally accurate voices driving content behind the scenes in television is as important as seeing those faces on screen. Cristela leans into the typical stereotypes and misconceptions in order to highlight their absurdity and that is great to see. However, what is happening over on the CW with Jane the Virgin is different and it's special.
On it's face Jane the Virgin, owes its framework to a Spanish telenovela. And truth be told, at first glance the show's plot premise made me worried. I didn't want yet another show that stereotyped Latinas in a way that was not only monolithic, but often degrading. However, there was no denying that I was excited about the prospect of a show that was committed to bringing forth a multi- generational Latina lens to its plot. What I have so terrifically discovered is a show that at first glance appears to be a parade of absurdity and stereotype but is actually blossoming into a funny, thoughtful and entertaining television show filled with characters who are much more than they seem at first glance and who you quickly want to spend time with each week.
The premise, if you haven't heard is simple, Jane discovers she is pregnant due to a mix up of medical charts that results in her being artificially inseminated. To make matters more complicated the father is her boss. The story centers on Jane navigating this colossal stroke of bad luck and the interconnected relationships that play into the pregnancy. There is a fantastical approach to some of the story telling, including a narrator who often serves as a Greek chorus and guide to some of the underpinnings and background of the plot.
Like others have written in the weeks preceding the premier Gina Rodriguez is the heart and soul of the show and she brings an honesty to Jane that makes the silly aspects melt away to understanding that this is a young woman navigating life in deliberate effort to build her identity as more than what is perceived or expected of her. As a Puerto Rican girl growing up in a predominantly white community I remember all too well the challenges of finding my own voice beyond what was presumed of me both in my school and community as well as the embrace of my family. It was often like straddling two very different worlds. It was a balancing act of respecting those who raised me and all they had done while still wanting more for myself. As Jane, Rodriguez brings a vulnerable voice to her character's ambitions and fears hitting a poignant balance of humor and the underlying truths to defining who you are in a world that wants to define you through limitations. Gina Rodriguez may not be playing seven different characters, but what she's achieving on Jane the Virgin is very similar to what Tatiana Maslany is achieving on Orphan Black. Both are balancing a fine line between an absurd premise and bringing truth to a character that the audience is able to forgive the fantastical aspects because the protagonist is grounded in attributes we want to spend time with as viewers. In the case of Rodriguez, her ability to navigate the comedy and drama, often on the turn of a dime, within the show keeps the audience with her. Rather than dissecting the plot, what becomes compelling are these characters journey and how it shapes them within the plot movements. So while I will be curious to watch how the story unfolds, I am more invested in how it evolves the show's characters.
One of the great surprises and under-reported aspects of this show is the performance of Andrea Navedo. As Xiomara, Jane's mother, Navedo in two short episodes has given an unexpected depth and nuance to her character. Xiomara could have easily served as a counterpoint to Jane, or an 'odd couple' mother/daughter team. Instead, the writers and everyone involved took the time to tie this character into an integral part of the show's underlying point. What we see is rarely the whole story and that is why stereotypes are demoralizing. Not because they are untrue, but because they take a piece of truth and hollow it out as though that is all there is of a person. The character of Xiomara offers up the stereotypical single, teenage mother and quickly shows us how insensitive and small minded it is, not only through her actions but in Jane's reactions. Last week offered a wonderful moment on the porch when Jane realizes the pregnancy is not something she can rationalize away. It will change her, no matter what. No one understands that more than Xiomara. What we get as an audience was a fresh take on the advice of parent to child. We learn that Xiomara isn't a woman who is immature. She is a woman who holds onto her youth in order to hold onto her dreams. We watch as a mother advises her daughter to be selfish, to take this time to focus on herself and preserve her own dreams. A woman who as it turns out has been quite selfless when others thought the opposite of her. It is a moment of transparency that displays the very real helplessness we can feel as parents who can not subside our children's pain. And she delivers it all while taking stock in how her own choices may have influenced the moment. Navedo not only delivers, she displays restraint and heartbreak that has contributed to this character quickly becoming my favorite on the show.
There are many reasons to watch Jane the Virgin including the authentic voices of the characters, the cultural respect given in decisions like having Jane's grandmother only speak Spanish and subtitling it for the audience and its humor. In fact, I recommend TVExamined's terrific breakdown of what makes this show worthy of a slot on your DVR. For me, Jane the Virgin signifies so much more. As a TV fangirl and a child who grew up looking for images that reflected myself this show honors my life experiences in a funny, honest way. It honors and values of the strength I grew up seeing each day in the matriarchs that make up my own family. It displays the very real self doubt and reflective blame I sometimes entertain as a single parent and most of all it honors the love, dignity and respect I have for my heritage, my family and the women who helped make me the person I am today. I am a proud Latina who doesn't fit into some simplified box. The women of Jane the Virgin reflect and celebrate that reality and complexity.
It's billed as a comedy, but like most stereotypes that doesn't reflect all the show has to offer. For me, it's simply must see TV.
