* MAJOR SPOILER ALERTS AHEAD! READ AT YOUR OWN RISK!
After a complicated third season complete with surprise baby news, a beautiful wedding, a messy love triangle, and the reconnection of first love, fans are excited for season four of Jane the Virgin. From ball pit fights to bisexuality, the fourth season of the popular television show has several moments that make fans laugh, cry, cheer, swoon, and develop awareness for complicated issues.
Although only seven episodes have aired so far, here are five reasons why you need to watch the fourth season of Jane the Virgin. Again, if you aren’t all caught up, stop reading now!
1. It Tackles Issues Like Home Births and Bisexuality
Jane the Virgin is a one-of-a-kind television show that tackles important issues like abortion, immigration, social status, sexuality, and stereotypes. This season of Jane the Virgin once again did not shy from several controversial issues, like Darci’s decision to have a home birth and Adam’s revelation about his sexual orientation.
In episode three, Jane’s father, Rogelio, believes that a hospital birth is a better option than Darci’s idea of a home birth for their baby. However, Jane’s mother, Xiomara, explains to Rogelio that it is Darci’s body and she can do whatever she wants and Rogelio needs to support and respect Darci’s decision. Similar to the show’s stance on abortion in previous episodes, Jane the Virgin promotes social discussion as it highlights the idea that women have the right to do whatever they want with their bodies.
Another topic addressed in episode five of this season is bisexuality, an issue rarely discussed in media, especially the bisexuality of men. When Jane learns that her first love and new flame, Adam, has had previous relationships with both women and men, she spends the majority of the episode anxious and confused. Although Jane is an incredibly kind and compassionate character, her panicked reaction to Adam’s bisexuality is a tool used to highlight and invalidate many of the modern stereotypes associated with bisexuality.
Besides the humour and romance of Jane the Virgin, I love how the writers discuss important topics in order to address complex issues and destroy cultural stereotypes.
2. Michael’s Memory is Captured in Such A Beautiful Way
After the death of Jane’s husband, Michael, near the end of season three, many fans were absolutely devastated. Although there is still a complicated love dynamic between Jane, Rafael, Adam, and Petra in season four, it is clear that almost four years after Michael’s death, Jane is still grieving. In order to keep honouring Michael’s memory, the fourth season of Jane the Virgin is filled with heart-warming scenes to reveal how Michael’s death impacted his loved ones (all of which made me cry).
Once Adam and Mateo are acquainted in episode three, there is a touching scene between them where Mateo expresses his worries about the wellbeing of Jane: “after Michael died she cried for a really long time…Sometimes she still cries so don’t hurt her feelings and don’t die, okay?”
Another beautiful scene which honoured Michael’s memory is in the fourth episode when Rogelio and Darci are deciding on a name for their newborn daughter. Jane is deeply touched when Rogelio announces that his second daughter’s name is Baby Michaelina de la Vega Factor, with Michaelina as the middle name in order to give tribute to Michael’s memory.
The most moving scene about Michael’s memory so far this season is in episode seven, when Jane and Michael’s mom, Patricia, have an emotional moment about Michael at Jane’s book signing event. As Jane’s novel is her way of grieving the death of Michael, Jane feels defeated when she initially receives critical reviews about her book. However, when Patricia admits that she is so sorry for blaming Jane for Michael’s death and that she absolutely adores Jane’s novel, Jane is so happy because Patricia’s approval is the only review that truly matters.
3. The Jokes and the Humour Are Fantastic
Yes, Jane the Virgin covers controversial issues and darker subject matters like sexuality, social status and grief, but the creators often use jokes and ridiculous humour in order to add light-heartedness and comedy to the show. From ball pit fights to sperm costumes, season four continues to use comedy that is so outrageous you can’t help but laugh. It is no secret that, for the last three seasons, the Villanueva women have been providing moral guidance in times of need, which is why my favorite joke of the season so far is when Petra says to Rafael, “Oh…you got Villanuevaed,” which, according to the show’s narrator, is being “suddenly hit by a morality crisis.” The use of jokes and humour in Jane the Virgin are fantastic because they ease the tension of the show’s dramatic plot and complex subject matter.
4. Adam’s Positive Impact on Jane
I will start by saying that no one can replace Michael; he was a kind and wonderful character who was madly in love with Jane and who died way too soon. Although Jane occasionally feels sad after Michael’s death and is still dealing with her feelings for Raphael, season four introduces fans to a new love triangle when Jane reconnects with her ex-boyfriend, Adam. From skinny-dipping dates with Jane to baseball games with Mateo, Adam is a kid at heart who makes Jane happy. Although Adam is initially hated by all of Jane’s loved ones and eventually breaks Jane’s heart, he reminds Jane that even after the grief and adversity she has experienced, she can still be young and fun.
5. Rafael and Jane’s Relationship
Jane and Rafael’s relationship experiences ups and downs this season, but, in the end, the last couple episodes show their supportive and heart-warming relationship blossom. Although Jane and Rafael often have ugly fights about their different feelings and social statuses, they have a beautiful friendship filled with comforting and supporting each other in times of need. As the mid-season finale ended with the two of them kissing, it will be interesting to see where their relationship will go in the second half of season four.
Through its unique storyline and well-developed characters, Jane the Virgin makes fans laugh, cry, cheer, and develop awareness for complex issues. Although I initially believed that there was no story after Michael’s death, season four is definitely worth watching because each episode is absolutely hilarious, emotional, insightful, and beautiful.
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