Jane the Girl on Fire who is so inspired to write, words are pouring out and she can't stop flowing, it's like 'what writer's block?' Nothing —
"If you knew ANYTHING about telenovelas, you would KNOW that EVERYTHING is supposed to be DRAMATIC!"
— Rogelio to River
Jane and Rafael try to find the money to move in together, which include temporarily moving back in with Alba while Rafael considers working with the man who cut him out of the deal last time. Rogelio is upset with River's demands for a more realistic and grounded script. Xiomara prepares for chemotherapy, and enlists Rogelio's help for cold caps.
Tropes:
- Big Entrance: Invoked. Rogelio dramatically busts upon the Villanueva door upon arriving at dinner because he's frustrated that River hates dramatic entrances.
- Coitus Interruptus: Alba walks inside the room while Jane and Rafael are going at it. The narrator even points out they were Tempting Fate, doing it while she was in the house.
- Easy Amnesia: Discussed. Rogelio wants to keep it in the script as a classic telenovela trope.
- Intoxication Ensues: River accidentally eats one of Xiomara's pot brownies.
- Leaning on the Fourth Wall: Utilized to full effect in the final minutes.Xiomara: Here comes the main couple!
[cut to Jane and Rafael getting off a bus]
[later]
Xiomara: And here's the big sweeping kiss!
[cut to Jane and Rafael kissing]
River: Aww!
[later]
Rogelio: Oh, the scary music means they're getting ready for the classic Friday night Cliffhanger.
[cut to Rose calling Rafael to tell him she knows a secret that'll change everything]
River: Now we have to wait to find out what happens?!- Bonus points as Jane the Virgin also airs on Friday nights.
- Long-Lost Relative: In-Universe, one of the hallmark plot twists of Santos is that his maid wound up being his long-lost mother.
- Rewatch Bonus: The expression on Petra's face as J.R. admits to throwing away her own career to keep Petra out of prison takes on a whole new meaning following the revelations of Chapter 81.
- Shrine to Self: River has a giant pop art painting of herself in her dressing room, as well as two framed photographs of a river and a field.
- Stepford Smiler: Xiomara spends most of the episode putting on a brave face and a positive attitude for her family, but it breaks down after Donna's death.
- Time Skip: The episode skips ahead nine weeks in the middle.
- Too Much Information: Magda spouts information about her bowel movements in the middle of a deposition.
- Tragic One-Shot Character: Donna, Xiomara's chemo buddy, who suffered a relapse and died after the short timeskip.
- Watch It Stoned: Xiomara introduces River to telenovelas while both are high up on pot brownies. River warms up considerably to the genre.
- Waxing Lyrical: As a Shout-Out to Hamilton.Petra: Trust me, no one else was in the room where it happened!
Narrator: The room where it happened?
Jane R.: The room where it happened, right...
