What causes you to lose interest in a TV show? Oftentimes, it’s when you feel like the writers ran out of steam. You’re in the seventh series of your go-to sitcom and the plot lines are superficial or jumbled together. The characters have become caricatures. The jokes don’t seem that original anymore. You might not even realize which episode was your last. All you remember is that you no longer had to know what happened next.
Occasionally, you’ll run into a series that causes you to lose interest for a different reason: it tests your patience.
Recently, I broke up with Jane the Virgin.
It started out so well. I even got my parents hooked. JTV filled a void I never knew I had. Comedy, romance and drama? Characters so likeable and interesting that I happily accepted the love triangle trope? A cast full of people of color? A poignant and timely discussion of immigration reform?
This satirical telenovela was unapologetic in its constant twists and turns. There were several scenes that made me go “aw, come on.” Still, I was along for the ride. We all were.
Until Season 3 Episode 10.
We sort of knew this day was coming. Our dear narrator dropped hints since Season 1 that Michael would die someday. But that was not nearly enough preparation for when Michael hit the floor after completing his LSAT. Sure, it was meant to be a shock. I was gripping the edge of my seat. In fact, my parents and I absolutely had to see the next episode. Was he actually dead? Where would they go from here?
And then Season 3 Episode 11 happened. This, my JTV lovers, was where our patience ran out. The twist of having Michael die in the middle of the season was difficult enough. But to be thrown into Jane’s new life three years later with no answers was too jarring. It felt like a new show full of new problems and new characters, just so the writers had more to work with. A classic bait and switch.
My dad was so annoyed he swore he wouldn’t watch another episode. My mom was heart-broken (the guy who plays Michael looks and acts a little like my brother, so it was personal.)
I was frustrated. I admired this show so deeply for its well-crafted storytelling and ability to teeter between real life and telenovela without pushing me, the viewer, over the edge. With this episode, I was pushed too far. I was asked to abruptly let go of a beloved character simply because “this is a telenovela, after all.” I needed answers.
So, I turned to the internet. I read Jennie Urman’s Tumblr post that explained why the writers made those narrative decisions. It eased my pain. Yes, they had this idea from the beginning. Yes, it made sense that the story would pick up after Jane had had time to grieve.
At the same time, Urman’s words gave me pause. At what point is a narrative decision too jarring? Is it when you have to release an explanation after the episode aired so that your fans won’t stop watching? And how do you know that your fans will be forgiving?
Of course, Urman is not the first TV writer who has had to issue an explanation after a shocking episode. It’s the nature of the beast: if your show gets approved for another season, you keep that story going in whatever way possible. (Think Grey’s Anatomy.)
With a show as well written as Jane the Virgin, we also have to assume that the writers weighed the risks. Some viewers, like my parents, were bound to call it quits in the middle of Season 3. They only have so much patience for telenovela trickery. Most viewers, who can still appreciate the storytelling, will probably stick around.
As for me, I needed a break. I was far too invested in Michael, to Brett Dier’s credit. I was far too miffed that the writers had pulled such a stunt. Jane had three years to grieve over Michael. I had no time at all to process what happened and get used to her new life! On top of which, it could take a while to find out what happened immediately after Michael’s death. Ugh.
Will I be back to watch the remainder of the series? Of course, but not immediately. The writers asked too much of me in this plot twist. On the other hand, I still want to know what happens next.
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