How Jane The Virgin Got Losing Jane's Virginity Right

The moment two-plus seasons in the making has finally...um...arrived: Jane Gloriana Villanueva is no longer a virgin. It wouldn't be a romantic comedy if everything went perfectly, of course, so it doesn't -- but even in the imperfection of the enterprise, Jane The Virgin continues its streak of storylines that take women's sex lives seriously. Here, in no particular order, is what "Chapter Forty-Seven" gets right about Jane's big bang.

1. Jane is relieved to have had the experience.
   "I'm now a person who has had sex," Jane tells herself as she goes for a post-coital glass of water. "Thank god!" Jane has spent her entire post-pubescent life refusing every opportunity to have sex outside marriage, but it's enough already. Now maintaining the integrity of her "flower" is one less thing for her to worry about.
2. ...but Jane also acknowledges immediately that it was not the best.
   "I faked my orgasm," Jane reluctantly confesses to Lina the next day. This is important for the show to make clear for several reasons. First: Jane admits that her first penetrative sexual intercourse with a partner was not totally satisfying, as it often is not for women even if their partners are -- as we assume Michael was -- very generous and attentive. Second: this may be Jane's first time doing P in V, but it's not her first sexual experience. She knows what an orgasm feels like because she's had one before. When Michael checks on that later in the episode -- "Have you faked it before, when we did...other things?" -- we learn that they've fooled around pretty extensively before. (When Michael tries going down on Jane to right the earlier wrong, it doesn't seem like it's the first time.) I don't think we knew for sure, before this episode, what sexual acts Jane was willing to engage in, but the specifics don't matter that much: by her own standard, Jane had not lost her virginity before marriage, and as far as the show's concerned, that's what counts.
3. Plus, Jane took control of her own sexual pleasure a long time ago.
   Or so it seems! "You guys should just bite the bullet and try porn," snorts Lina, about to give up on Jane as a sexual being forever. "Forget I told you," replies Jane. "The sex is good. And I've had orgasms since!" So: on her own. Good job, Jane.
4. Jane ignores bad advice about communication.
   Lina orders Jane not to tell Michael that she didn't have an orgasm the first time. Jane seems like she might keep that secret...but not for long. And she's right! Jane respects Michael and knows he wants their sex life to be good for both of them. Lying to him about her sexual fulfillment doesn't do either of them any favours.
5. Jane falls prey to a sketchy marital aid.
   "With extra stimulation tinglers to enhance pleasure."
   

   Surprise! It burns, and not in a fun way. This is an important lesson for this show's young viewers to learn: definitely mix things up, but stick to recognizable brands and reputable retailers!

6. Jane talks about it to the one person in the world she can always trust.
   The first penetrative intercourse ends in Jane faking it. Then Michael gamely labours through twenty minutes of cunnilingus before Jane tells him she's too much in her head. Her massage oil detour ends in tears. And when Jane tries to spend time in bed with Michael without their both being focused on the goal, Michael is hurt that she's given up on the prospect that they'll ever get there.

   After an outburst in front of Gloria Estefan (and her husband Emilio) about Xo's career prospects as a singer, Xo finds her outside and suggests that Jane's protectiveness of Xo's talent and dream isn't about her concern that Xo is giving up something that's "been so important to [her] for so long": "You gave up something pretty big lately." Jane denies this interpretation: "My virginity? No! I'm happy it's gone!" Jane cries as she goes on: "I'm married, I have a kid! It's been like this weight. I've been dying to get rid of this for so long." But as she tearfully talks it through, she realizes Xo is right: "I feel weird. Like I lost something, like a part of my identity." Xo gets it: "And I blame the flower." ME TOO, XO. "It's perfect, untouched, then crumple it up, now it's ruined," Xo adds. "I know I'm not ruined," says Jane. "But you feel like you lost something and you didn't," says Xo. "You just gained something -- a whole new dimension in your life, your relationship." Jane allows herself a whispered question: "What if we're not compatible?" Though Xo is initially upset to learn that Jane's sex with Michael hasn't been spectacular, she promises that it will be: "With sex, it can take time to find your groove and figure out what you like, what you need. And you're just starting out! You'll get there." Xo is the best.

7. Jane doesn't give up.
   After Lina screws up and reveals to Michael that she and Jane had discussed Jane's sexual problems, Jane comes home to sexual sounds coming out of the bedroom and texts Lina that he's watching porn. Lina urges her to join in (before apologizing again), and when Jane heads in ready to meet Michael halfway, she learns that it's not exactly porn: it's the video she accidentally made of her and Michael's first attempt, which he's watching to try to figure out where he went wrong. It turns out watching themselves gets both Jane and Michael going, and...
   

   ...mission accomplished. Surely no one doubted that a perfectionist like Jane would have the determination and persistence to solve this problem -- like, sexily.