40 binge-worthy TV shows: Watch them all right now because who needs sleep
By Sundi Rose
Photo: Danny Feld/The CW
Jane the Virgin – Netflix
Jane the Virgin is one of those shows that I recommend to everyone. I literally tell everyone I meet they should be watching this show because it’s just that good. It’s super sweet and heartfelt, but it’s also funny and so very cleverly referential to it’s telanovela roots. You will absolutely fall in love with the Villanueva women.
It is the story of Jane Villanueva who is accidentally inseminated with her crush’s sperm, by his doctor sister. Jane, who is a virgin, saving herself for marriage, decides to keep the baby and raise it in a house with her mother and grandmother. The story is mostly about family and the bond between these women, but it’s couched in a lot of funny and unlikely shenanigans.
The telenovela format leaves a lot of room for some pretty unpredictable plot lines. There’s an evil twin, faked deaths, a masked enemy, a long lost father, and a lot of returns from the dead. It strikes a unique balance between silly and poignant, and it’s a more successful show because of it.
It’s also pretty topical, taking on such topics as immigration, abortion, and feminism. It’s just a really fun and cool show that you will desperately want to finish in one sitting. Which is totally possible if you’re really committed.
Starring: Gina Rodriguez, Andrea Navedo, Ivonne Coll, Justin Baldoni