I can't believe I wrote a post last year! Though technically speaking it's been almost two years.
But it was also a commentary post about something I just watched.
I've been frantically binging Jane The Virgin.
All the inspirations and artistic opinions to the side, I really want to talk about Michael and Jane's relationship.
I've been Team Michael since day 1. And apparently I am the minority here! 80% Jane/Rafael online.
I read a lot in the comments and actually think that the audience mostly reflect their own thoughts. Beginning with their own preference in types, Rafael is a handsome, tall, muscular, rich, prince charming kind of guy(mostly doesn't exist), while Michael being a boy next door, also handsome, but more of a warm, funny, loyal type of guy.
From a LOT of J/M shippers' comments, Michael reminds them of their own spouses, who is more realistic, who provides, who gives off a sense of security-- someone you want to spend the rest of your life with. Me personally too, besides how vulnerable and admirable Brett Dier's performance is, and the off-the-chart chemistry between him and Gina.
Ad for Rafael, yes he did grow, he grew throughout the series, but then again, OF COURSE he had to, given how dramatic this telenovela story arcs are. It's impossible not for Jane and him to go through all this all these years and not end up together-- from a logical point-of-view.
But I'm still having a hard time watching their intimate scenes, there's just something missing between the two of them, it's less, realistic? Or the chemistry just isn't as strong as J/M.
I almost quit the show when Michael dies in the middle of season 3, he is probably one of my all-time favorite TV love interests, ever since Matthew who also tragically dies in Downton Abbey, WHICH I almost quit the show for.
As much as I care about the show and know it has to be this way, I still feel like Michael's character is neglected and instead of having him back for Jane to choose Rafael, I'd rather he didn't, because real life isn't a telenovela. Welp, I KNOW I'm watching one thank you. It's just that, you don't need a closure(with Michael in this case) in order to move on with Rafael wholeheartedly, because it's not how real-life works. In real life, shit happens unexpectedly and you have to move pass it and live on. Meeting your supposedly-dead husband and rekindling only to find out that you're both different now and now you can happily move on is absolutely not necessary.
Back to where I was. I think Michael is a more relatable character of them both. And the fact that he never stops loving Jane, is what makes us(ok, me) so heart-wrenched, I mean even with the heartbreak sex with his coworker and his attempt dates with his ex-girlfriend, he never stops loving Jane, through Sam, through Rafael, through all sorts of difficulties, through his death, even when he comes back as Jason. Remember when Petra says to Rafael that she knows he still has feelings for Jane, is was like a WTF moment to me, because it was so not true, it's not believable, it feels forced. To be honest I was even hoping things will work out with Adam. Rafael and Jane's relationship always seem very forced to me, even Petra and him have better chemistry, even when they are not together.
And back to my point, Rafael has been with countless women and seemingly even forget about how him and Jane were in love once: her cousin, Abbey, Petra (And he really went for it!!!! oh by the way if it wasn't because Petra and JR are so amazing together, I was very pissed at how Petra chose Rafael over Chuck)....
Right now I don't even want to finish watching the remaining few episodes after Jane leaves Montana and clears things up with Michael. It is wrong. It breaks my heart to just think about Michael marrying someone else, after everything he's been through.
Now let me get some sleep(4am) and who knows, maybe I'll never finish the series.
I'm just frustrated cause they cast such an amazing actor to play Michael and it's really hard to let him go.
