When the show first came out, I did not immediately latch-on. I started watching when upon season three’s release and then proceeded to binge-watch every episode on Netflix to catch up. Tragically, every single season ended with a cliffhanger, and it tortured me to have to wait. The show was scripted like a traditional telenovela, meaning that there were many unexpected twists and turns that happened. As I am sure many people feel when their favorite show ends, I felt the season finale was rushed. I still enjoyed it, but I felt that everything was shoved together in the last episode.
The first episode kicks off with addressing the cliffhanger that ended the last season: Michael’s return from the dead. Honestly, I was underwhelmed. They took the typical cliché and made it to where Michael had lost his memory. I was expecting something else, something much bigger to fulfill the crazy telenovela vibe that the show had going. Instead, Michael lost his memory, which also was the show’s justification for why Jane chooses Rafael in a later episode. I would have preferred not bringing Michael back at all if this was going to be the path they chose for him. I mean, Michael did not even make an appearance in the final episode. Why bring back a character if he’s going to merely be used for plot convenience purposes?
Michael was used as the justification for the show to incorporate yet another Jane and Rafael break up. Furthermore, when Michael finally got his memories back (that happened too quickly and randomly in my opinion) he remembered his love with Jane. Jane, of course, had to explore her feelings for Michael leading to Rafael spiraling into depression. Not only did Jane break Rafael’s heart in this season, but she also managed to break Michael’s as well. After Jane breaks Michael’s heart, that is the last we see of him except for a short cameo in a later episode. Again, why bring him back if Jane and Rafael were ultimately going to end up together?
Also, when Jane and Rafael broke up, it seemed like they got back together almost instantly. I was waiting to have a mental breakdown wondering when Jane and Rafael were going to get back together, but I never did because that was quickly resolved. Everyone got resolutions in this season, and I was overwhelmed because it seemed that everything was resolved at the exact same time. I wish things would have been spread out a little more.
There were some good things about the season finale, excluding all of the aforementioned bad parts. I was team Jane and Rafael throughout the show, so I am glad they finally ended up together. It was discovered that Jane’s novel was going to be made into a TV show, which is actually the show we’ve been watching all along. Going off the last point, Mateo was the narrator! What an amazing reveal!
Moreover, this might not be a popular opinion, but I like the fact that Rogelio and Xo are moving to a different state for Rogelio’s show. It just feels like the decision provides a good excuse for the show to end. I guess Michael fans did get a little bit of justification concerning Michael’s whereabouts. We find out that Michael is getting married and having a child, so Michael fell in love again! The actor who played Michael gets to end up with his real-life girlfriend in the show, so yay Michael! I still wish he had been in the season finale because he was such an impactful character.
I guess there were more bad things in the finale than good, but maybe that is just me being spiteful over the show ending. If the finale had not been so rushed and things would have been evenly spread out, then I would have definitely liked the finale more. Ultimately, I am happy for every character and where they ended up in life at the conclusion of the show. Jane and Rafael together with Mateo, Petra and J.R. back together with the twins, Xo enrolled in nursing school, Rogelio’s American show finally going into production, Michael getting married and starting a family, Alba remarrying and enjoying her new life, and Mateo having a future career as a narrator.
Would I rewatch? Yes, I would because it might be nice to revisit this show in a few years to see if I have the same opinions.
