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From Paraffin Pointers To Phony Photography, We Rank Rogelio's Best Moments From The Season's Penultimate Jane The Virgin
It's 'Matelio's first birthday, but there's no need for his abuelo to share the spotlight.
With the season finale nearly upon us, "Chapter Forty-Three" has to set up a lot of plot for next week's episode, and boy, does it ever. After going along with Petra's plan to trick Derek into confessing his extortion scheme thanks to a fake FBI raid (in the process extending Jane and Petra's fight by pitting them against each other in the battle for Rafael's very soul), failing, and giving Derek the Fairwick after all, Rafael is unaware of the real reason Derek wants it -- but Michael and Susanna follow a hunch and find out.
On the eve of his first birthday, Mateo scuttles all of Jane's overly ambitious plans for his party by getting a bad cough and requiring hospitalization overnight; as his biological parents keep vigil at his bedside and reminisce about the milestones they've all been through together...
...Rafael is forced once again to confront his lingering feelings for Jane, even as her wedding to Michael is just days away. And though Petra agrees to Jane's request that Anezka stay out of her way by reassigning her to Housekeeping, it seems as though Petra should have been keeping Anezka away from them both: as we see when "Petra" goes to see Magda in prison, Anezka has perfected her Petra impression, and she and Magda have been working together for A YEAR on their scheme to get Rafael to fall back in love with Petra.
In the midst of all this heavy plot stuff, Rogelio gets to lighten things up with a mostly comedic plot: nominally in charge while Dina is away (and I could get into the question of why she apparently took all the show's other actual producers with her, but why would I?), he ends up being the only figurehead available to deal with the threat of a strike from Telemasivo's currently non-union crew. If the walkout happens as threatened, it will coincide with Jane and Michael's wedding on the Villanueva set, which the eminently ethical Jane won't stand for, since she won't cross a picket line (nor should she -- and nor should anyone else, anyway). Rogelio strikes (heh) a bargain with Jerry, the crew's lead in the organizing effort: Rogelio will join the crew for a week to gain an appreciation for the work they do, if the crew will delay their action until after the wedding. Lavender-work-gloved high jinks ensue.
Here are Rogelio's best "Chapter Forty-Three" moments, ranked from amusing to amazing.
- Adopting A New Look
Rogelio is thrilled that his new temporary crew gig comes with its own wardrobe -- namely, cargo shorts! Which he's acquired in lavender. (Let's all hope he didn't force the Tiago costume department to make them.)
"Honestly, these shorts are amazing! It's like a purse, but in pants form....And I can display my calves, which are the best part of my lower leg."
When all the manual labour proves more than Rogelio's brand-new lavender work gloves can handle, the heartbreak is real.
- Sharing Grooming Tips
Rogelio might not have even thought to buy gloves in the first place...
...if his deal-sealing handshake with Jerry hadn't been sufficiently rough as to cause actual injury. "Dear God, the calluses!" gasps Rogelio. "Can I recommend a paraffin treatment, which--"
Just because Jerry's not trying to hear this advice today doesn't mean he might not take it in the future.
- Campaigning For The Only Office That Matters
When Rogelio runs a Tiago production meeting, the important issues get covered first.
It's time for Telemasivo's Sexiest Telenovela Star Alive Twitter poll. Vote early for Rogelio; vote often for Rogelio. (And for God's sake, do NOT tell him his ex slept with his nemesis!!!)
- Giving Mateo The Gift Of Counter-History
If Mateo ever asks how he spent his first birthday, Jane and Rafael can decide to tell him the truth.
Or they can show him the photo album his abuelo had Tiago's graphics department make and tell him how much fun he had riding that pony. As Alba tried to tell Jane at the start of the episode, Mateo will never know the difference.
- Facing His Fears
When Rogelio takes too cheerfully to his crew assignments, Jerry decides to make things more difficult, challenging the famously acrophobic Rogelio to climb up to a catwalk to change a bulb in a spotlight. After Rogelio's spent several hours there frozen with terror, Jerry calls Jane to address the situation. "I know what you're going to say," Rogelio tells Jane after she's climbed up after him. "That it doesn't matter; that you love me--" "Wrong," Jane replies. "You're doing it."
Jane reminds him that Michael's mother won't be able to come to the wedding if the date changes (and since she already made it known that Jane's not her favourite person, that really won't be acceptable). Jane reminds Rogelio how many people are counting on him to push through, and he does! Having won the bet, Rogelio can now take Jerry for what is apparently a long-overdue manicure.
- Resolving To Join The Strike
After his triumph on the catwalk, Rogelio learns from a couple of visiting Telemasivo executives that it's not his only victory today: he's also defeated Esteban once again in the Twitter poll -- and considering how dirty Esteban was willing to play, the win is all the more impressive.
(Not really that surprising. A sexy TV star who doesn't mind getting dirty by being handy? SEXIER.) Rogelio can't enjoy the moment, because the executives also tell him that they've hired a couple of scabs who'll be involved in replacing the crew: the executives intend to fire the current crew on Friday, before the strike.
One imagines Rogelio wouldn't have crossed a picket line even before his week as an honorary crew member gave him such a visceral appreciation of the work they do, but now there's absolutely no way he can have any part in the effort to break the strike, and he tells Jane her wedding date will have to move after all. Of course Jane can't stand against labour in any way, and when Rogelio tells her he can arrange to fly Michael's mother in by helicopter, Jane decides that, just this once, an excessive expenditure is warranted. I love this show every time it sneaks in any progressive messaging, but there's no chance anyone might miss this pro-union plotline. Hooray for all the union labour that went into writing, performing, and shooting it!