Michael comes back from the dead – Jane the Virgin
What happened: Fans of The CW drama might not be able to fully appreciate this bit of telenovela melodrama, but those of us in the know understand it tracks in the most delicious way. The “what” of it all is the title character’s dead husband returning from the “dead.”
Jane is the virgin of the series; however, she was accidentally impregnated artificially by her long-lost crush’s doctor sister. Her boyfriend at the time decided to stick around through it all, and their love story was beautiful and epic. But then he died, and we all fell into grief with Jane, rooting for her to feel better and move on, which she did. But now, Michael’s back, and that episode left us all with our mouths hanging open.
Why it’s important: Jane the Virgin is an adaptation of a Venezuelan telenovela, and Michael’s return from the dead is a nod to the genre. This series is the first of its kind, incorporating magical realism into its hour-long drama format, introducing American audiences to a strategy employed by Latinx writers and creators for decades.
Also, it’s just damn good TV. Michael was a beloved character, and his death rocked audiences. Having him come back from mysterious circumstances is juicy and satisfying, and The Walking Dead could take notes from the writing from this darling of a show. Nobody leaves an episode from Jane feeling completely emotionally healthy.
How to watch it: Michael returns from the dead in the season 4 finale, but you really need to get on board all the way. It’s the only way you can appreciate how exciting (and dramatic) it really is.