Jane the Virgin‘s Shocking Finale Twist Will ‘Reset Things in a Serious Way’
Warning: The following contains major spoilers for Jane the Virgin‘s Season 4 finale. Proceed at your own risk!
Jane the Virgin wrapped up Season 4 on Friday with a dramatic twist straight out of a telenovela. At the close of the episode, Rafael admitted to Jane that he lied about Sin Rostro giving him info on his birth parents. So what was his big secret, which led him to temporarily hit the bottle? Raf then stepped back to reveal Jane’s dead husband Michael (played by Brett Dier) standing in his apartment! #HolyCrap
Elsewhere, JR learned that Petra had lied about not killing Anezka — it was self-defense, Petra argued — and broke off their relationship. In the aftermath, the blonde came face-to-face with a mysterious gun-toting person. “You,” Petra whispered just before JR rushed back in and shot the assailant.
Below, showrunner Jennie Urman talks about Michael’s surprise resurrection, Petra and JR’s future, and the show’s possible Season 5 swan song.
TVLINE | How did Jane not faint there at the end?!
[Laughs] If we were there for a hair longer, she would have, but we went back to Michael very, very quickly so that we left the reaction [off in] the most gut-punching, visceral [way]. I think she was processing. We will probably begin with some sort of coming out of a faint at the top of Season 5.
TVLINE | Have you had this twist in your back pocket since Michael died?
I had the possibility of it, I would say. This has been in the works for a while. I talked to Brett about this about a year ago. It really had to do with the build-up and set-up to the beginning of the end and what telenovela tropes we have left to play. There are two big ones that we’ve been saving, one of which is this return from the dead, and then there’s another. It was always a possibility, and then came into focus a while back.
TVLINE | The rules of telenovelas decree that I have to ask you this, even though you just said “return from the dead”: Was that really Michael? Was that the Michael that we know and love?
Who knows? That is also going to be answered in the beginning of the fifth season. Rose has amazing face-swapping capabilities, as we’ve established. [Laughs] That’s certainly going to be one of the questions that needs to be asked and answered, especially when we continue to play out that scene.
TVLINE | There’s another popular telenovela trope, which you’ve played with already, of surprise twins.
It’s not a surprise twin, that I can tell you.
TVLINE | How much is Michael’s return tied to Sin Rostro and possibly having to fake his own death because of that investigation?
There’s definitely a tie between him and Sin Rostro.
TVLINE | Bringing Michael back into the story, what does that allow you to do next season? What are you excited to explore with that?
The biggest fear Rafael had was: Is he Jane’s second’s choice? And with the reappearance of this character — or this character that looks like him — that’s all going to be forefronted very dramatically. At the same time, he had a great heroic moment of bringing Michael back even though he knew it would put his relationship in jeopardy. I’m excited about that. As we explore themes [about] coming full circle and move into our final chapters, it plays a very important part and resets things in a pretty serious way.
TVLINE | I rewatched the finale, and in the scenes with Rafael and Jane, it feels like he is pouring all his love into her, as if he knows this is the end.
I know! It’s a beautiful performance. Justin [Baldoni] really did a great job calibrating that. When you’re watching it the first time, you just think, “What is this heavy thing that’s weighing on him?” and then when you watch it back, you feel like, “Is he kissing her for the last time? Is he scared he’s going to lose her?” which I really think he did a great job with.
TVLINE | Jane has come so far in trying to move on from Michael’s death. She and Rafael are finally in a good place, on the brink of getting engaged. Why throw this at them now?
It really is the perfect time. When things are as good as they can be, that’s when you want to sort of bring the ultimate choice back to her, which is where we started. It felt right to me at this moment, after not having him for a year and a half. It’s a long time. We really got used to Jane the show and Jane the person without Michael, and so did she.
TVLINE | Did you miss the love triangle?
It’s not that I missed a love triangle, per se. These are two really compelling people in her life, and I like to put characters in [situations where they have] to make impossible choices, and put them in surprising situations, then deal with all of the emotional fallout from that. So more than missing a love triangle, I think this is going to allow us to explore Jane’s heart and her emotions and Rafael’s in a big, juicy, complicated way.
TVLINE | We have to talk about the episode’s other big cliffhanger: Is the person who JR shot someone we’ve seen before?
Yes.
TVLINE | Are there any suspects that you can rule out?
It’s not Magda.
TVLINE | Does the fact that JR came to Petra’s rescue bode well for a reconciliation between them?
JR’s pretty hurt and pretty horrified by the lie that Petra told. But at the same time, she did care for her and does love her. So they’re going to be sorting through some of that wreckage in the season premiere.
TVLINE | Before this episode, I was petrified that Xo’s health would take a turn, and there would be a cliffhanger with regards to that. Was that a well you wanted to avoid?
Xo’s health, I don’t treat as a cliffhanger, and certainly not in the telenovela sense. Things on our show always play at different calibrations and at different levels. Hers is a family drama moment, whereas something like Michael’s return is played at a telenovela level. So we wouldn’t leave the audience with a cliffhanger about Xo’s health. We’re trying to tell the cancer story in a more grounded, realistic and emotional way.
TVLINE | Gina Rodriguez recently hinted that next season would be the last. It certainly sounds like you’re approaching it as the final season. You talked about how you’re entering the final chapter of the story.
I can’t confirm or deny that at this point under penalty of my own demise. [Laughs]
Jane the Virgin fans, what did you think of the twist? Grade the episode below, then hit the comments to back up your pick!
Well, I stopped watching JtV because of them killing off Michael purely for drama and for the way I felt like it was only done to pave the way for Rafael/Jane.
Now, they’re probably still going to do that next season, but it seems like I will, indeed, be tuning in to season 5, despite skipping the entirety of season 4.
Damnit, Brett Dier!
Same same same!!! I was both pissed off, shocked, and intrigued reading this because I stopped watching after Michael too….we can catch up on season 5 over the summer on Netflix ;)
Oops, season 4 I mean!
I’m a die hard Team Michael fan but I can say that they definitely didn’t kill him off for the sake of drama. His death served an important purpose to shake up the series (which it desperately needed) and to further Jane’s evolution as a person and as a writer while also deepening her relationships with Rafael and Petra. The one thing I’ve always given JTV credit for is they are very respectful of their characters and relationships. Michael always had a presence on the series and his memory was consistently highlighted even in his absence.
Me too. Haven’t watched an episode since they wrote him out but I’ve kept up with the recaps hoping against hope for a twist like this. Looks like I’ll be tuning back in, too.
It was done to pave the way for J/R. It actually helped Jane progress and was always in the cards.
It meant *It was not done to pave the way for J/R*
I can’t even explain the high pitched shriek that came out of my mouth. As a viewer, bravo because that truly was a twist I never would have seen coming. As someone who’s been Team Raf since season one, this is going to be a long 5-6 months.
Raf’s endgame, he has to be. This is a telenovela after all.
They’ve telegraphed it pretty well. Michael’s return will help Rafael finally know for sure that she isn’t choosing him as a consolation prize but because she genuinely loves him and it will also give Jane and Michael closure on their relationship.
Exactly!
I completely disagree. It has always been Michael, from the beginning. Rafe was an immature man-child who made mistake after mistake after mistake. Yes, he has matured a lot this season, but he is definitely not endgame for Jane. They were never right for each other, it is like trying to smash together two puzzle pieces that don’t fit, just because they have a kid together. The last few episodes prove it. The show raced through their relationship to try to artificially put them in a place where he was going to propose (which I thought was WAY too fast!) just to make things more dramatic when she chooses Michael in the end. If she ends up with Rafe in the end when Michael is alive I am going to be SO TICKED OFF!
I couldn’t agree more. Michael and Jane in the end , but if they change that then they better end the show . I don’t think anyone will watch any of her work after that
If Jennie changes the J/R endgame after 4 seasons of build up, I will riot. lol I mean it would be cruel as hell.
Yes, yes and yes! 😀😀😀😀
Team Raphael here, all the way! I just watched the whole season on iTunes, and I’m still obsessed with that finale. The way Raph made love to her that last time is haunting, when you re-watch it knowing the ending. I just think J&R are the ultimate end-game. It’s mature real-life love. It’s going to be a LONNNNG off-season for sure… 😭😭😭
I’m usually pretty good at predicting twists, but I legit GASPED OUT LOUD and clasped my hands over my mouth and stared at the TV in shock. WOWWWWW. I STILL DON’T KOW WHAT TO FEEL.
Please, please, please let Michael reunite with Jane. I stopped watching when they killed him off, and I’m scared if I tune in again, they’ll crush me with what they will do next.
You should watch season four. Jane grows so much and I feel like you’d have a different opinion on the situation if you knew what Jane goes through
I’ve watched season four and I’m still hoping Jane ends up with Michael. It is not exactly that I don’t like Rafael, it is just that I prefer Michael. I mean I like Jane with Michael… they were fun to watch… why bring Michael back at all if she is not to be with him. He was her soul mate… hoping that Michael gets his memories back and that Jane and him find their way back together…
I always wondered if they would do this since the returning to life storyline is big in telenovelas.
It is highly unlikely Jane would chose Michael again and be as great together. It would also be too cruel on Raphael.
As a Michael and Jane fan, i would have preferred for all versions of Michael to remain dead so as to preserve what they had.
Yep, they should have let him remain dead and buried. Now, who was in the casket? We’re talking about Sin Rostro here, she used to run a cosmetic surgery ring for drug lords. Someone must have had his face altered to look like Michael at some point. Besides, the real Michael would have never let Jane grieve for more than 2 years. Nope, Jane’s gotta end up with Rafael, period.
I totally agree 😢
I disagree because even when Michael was supposedly dead she kept having memories of him. For example that guy that was trying to get into the elevator and that Jane had a flashback of Michael doing that too. And her having thoughts of her book based on Michael and Jane’s love story. I feel like Jane should be with Michael because that was the love of her life! And she and him have a longer history than her and Rafael. Yes it would be devastating for Rafael but finally Jane has the love of her life! So I am team Michael all the way:)
Damn!!!!!!!!!!!! PETRA and JR!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Sounds like it could very well be someone with Michael’s face but not actually him. I can see the first episode or two playing with the “is it really?” until revealing that it’s an imposter who is just using the mannerisms/memories that Rose taught him.
From the moment Michael died last season, I KNEW THAT THEY WERE GOING TO PULL THIS TWIST!!! We never saw a body and they only talked about it, but never showed the viewers. And with Michaels job of being a detective, I knew he had to possibly go undercover to protect his family. Wowowow I hate being right though…but I do like how Jane is going to actually have to make a choice now. I have always been a fan of Jane and Rafael, but didn’t like how Rafael was more like a default choice after Michaels “death”, so now at least she will actually choose who she wants to be with…
I totally believed he was dead, because if you remember way back in season one somewhere, the narrator says something like “and he would love her until he took his dying breath”. And it looked like he dies loving her. But now that he’s back, it makes me believe they will get back together. Otherwise either the narrator is a liar, which wouldn’t make sense, or he will end up pining away for her for his whole life, which is too depressing after everything they’ve gone through. And I don’t believe the face swapping theory because that would just be too mean. If that were true, Rafe would have warned her, and would not have been so distraught about telling Jane the truth.
Yes, I remember that quote from the narrator, so I didn’t think there was any hope for a Michael coming back from the dead story, but I was so psyched when they ended the season with Michael back from the dead. I am hoping she picks Michael. Raf and Jane just don’t fit together. Also, is anybody else sick of seeing Jane do the “ugly cry” in almost every episode this season?
unless rose is doing a deal with raph and raph is testing whether he is really second choice…
Heck to the no.
I had a feeling they were bringing Michael back into the picture when I heard his and Jane’s theme earlier in the episode. What I really want to know is, did the call Jane Ramos “JR” just so they could do a who did JR shoot joke, or did that occur to the writers later? I thought it was pretty funny!
Has anyone ever seen a higher poll grade for a show on TVLine?
I was wondering this too…
Just proves how many Team Michael fans there are!!!
Did not see that coming! I like Michael, but have always liked Jane and Rafael together better. They challenge each other and make each other better! Jane said a few episodes ago to Rafael that she felt like she was exactly where she was supposed to be, but didn’t want her marriage to Michael to feel like a stepping stone to get there.
Screaming sobs and tears of joy and anguish seeing Micheal. I missed Brett Dier and the charm and lovehe brought. I know Hane/Rafael is end game but holy cow … Micheal being back makes me so joyful! I always saw Raf/Jane as short term.
Low key though …. I actually really super Ship Petra & JR. What’s their couple name? Jetra? JRetra? PJ?!??
I knew Michael would be back the moment Jane asked who else she would be with when she found out Raf was going to propose. I hoped I was wrong, but it was a very telenovela thing to do so I cursed a bunch to prepare myself for the “shocking” reveal that would come in the last 30 seconds. Lol. That said, I don’t think Jane will choose Michael this time around. She loves him, but I doubt either of them are the same people. I do think she will try to make it work for a few episodes and realize they’ve grown apart and their love was a beautiful thing in the past. I think she will ultimately end up with Rafael because if his biggest fear was that he would always be her second choice then this would finally put that fear to rest. Unfortunately I think they will stretch out this development until the very end of the season. My guess is that Jane and Raf will get married in the series finale, but I do hope they don’t actually drag it out that long.
Problem: Fans think Jane is only with Raf because Michael is dead.
Solution?
Bring Mikey back so Jane can pick Raf over him once and for all. Full circle.
I’m calling it now y’all.
In agreement with this.
I’m good with this plan – sign me up!
I hope they don’t. Jane and Michael belong together. You can’t just stop loving someone
I wonder what will come of this storyline if Brett Dalton’s pilot at CBS gets picked up…
.
Haven’t watched season four yet (waiting for it to be put on Netflix for a binge), but not at all surprised they pulled this.
CBS owns CW or something like that. They’re ruin by the same company, that’s why when CBS dumped Superbowl, they have it to CW. So, it mightt not be a problem if CBS picks up his pilot.
It may not be a problem for an episode or two, but Brett is the lead of the potential show. That could cause problems, regardless if CBS owns half of the CW. The only way this could work is if Brett’s show is held to mid season.
Michael over Raphael. Raphael started out as a verbally abusive douche the first time around, I never forgot that. Team Michael forever. Raphael deserves Petra.
And Michal started out committing a federal crime so that Jane wouldn’t keep her baby (not to mention an unsupportive boyfriend regarding the whole pregnancy thing), I never forgot that.
In general I think Michael’s actions showed his as a pretty terrible person. Especially if he really is alive and has put Jane through hell for three years, only acceptable explanation for that in my eyes is being held captive with no way of contacting the outside world.
(I am not trying to do a pro-Rafael rant or support Rafael and Jane or anything like that. I’m just saying that I think Michael is a pretty terrible person…)
I genuinely don’t know how anyone who watched this show came away with the view Michael is/was a terrible person. That opinion genuinely makes no sense to me. I’m not saying he was perfect but he was unarguably a good guy IMO. And I don’t like either guy for Jane. Rafael I prefer with Petra and Jane and Michael were meh to me.
I totally agree with you, Sarah, about the above commenter not watching the show if they believe Michael was a terrible person. When he found out Jane was pregnant, he was shocked at first, but shortly thereafter, told Jane that he loved her still and would support her in her pregnancy and could accept that the baby was not his. He loves her unconditionally. LOVE, Michael and Jane much, much more than Raf and Jane. I was hoping for this twist to happen.
Not that he didn’t change, but Michael was pretty terrible at the beginning. He hid evidence of a crime (Petra’s necklace) so she would not be under suspicion for her lover’s murder. He didn’t know one way or the other if Petra did it, but he didn’t care because his goal was to make Jane think Petra would be a good mother to her baby. He wanted Jane to give the baby up so he tried to make Petra look like a good option & not someone arrested for murder. I don’t see how that is a defensible act.
Your missing the point, Sarah. It’s the fact that his first option when he found out Jane was artificially inseminated was to help get rid of it. Who the eff cares how long ago it happened, the point is it happened. He was pretty darn selfish for doing that. Yes raf has done some things, and Michael and Jane still loved each other, but that doesn’t mean he really should end up with Jane. Rafael gave her the courage to write that book, not Michael. And honestly, Michael Couldn’t have possibly given her that type of inspiration that way that Rafael did. So in my opinion I think Rafael and change should end up together because he was there for her when she had the most hardest times and once again I don’t think Michael would’ve been all the way up for her that I think the way that Rafael would couldn’t have possibly given her that type of inspiration that way that Rafael dead. So in my opinion I think Rafael and Jane should end up together because he was there for her when she had the most hardest times and once again I don’t think Michael would’ve been all the way up for her that I think the way that Rafael would have was. They became bff’s.
I have never been team Michael but let’s be real here: you’re grasping at straws. Michael is not, has never been a “pretty terrible person” at his core. His reaction regarding the pregnancy was actually normal, and I don’t know any man in RL who would happily support his virgin girlfriend having the baby of her former hot crush. In telenovela world, I’d go for Rafael but in RL, I’d choose Michael a million times. The guy has integrity, a value some people have never heard of.
Team Michael! My heart broke when he was killed off..the wedding,how he learned vows in Spanish…I hope the real Michael is back and ends up with Jane!!!
Yes!!!!
I’m #teamrafeal since day one and I’m not worried about Michael. I just hope each character keeps his/her growth.
That Michael reveal had me laughing out loud. This show! I was very worried the lovely Rosario Dawson would get shot for the ‘who shot JR?’ tag. Apart from a brief worry Petra might get killed off, the ‘JR shot who?’ Was a nice twist!
This show makes me crazy. I knew that there would be a whole lot more drama with Petra and JR. It is a telenovella, and it is Petra. I just hope that they can work things out. Of course, they brought back Michael. It would have been a surprise if they had not!
Often I’ll accidentally post my comment forgetting to click to sign up for notifications first. Then I have to post something again :-P There should be a way to sign up for notifications without posting…
This show jumped the shark. Good night.
That’s the points it’s using telenovela tactics
If it’s even possible for telenovela to jump shark it has to have been done when Rose could put on super realistic masks that not only changed her entire face (including eye color) but her height, voice and body type. Michael not really being dead seems perfectly reasonable in comparison to that.
I thought it had been established that this was the last season, but based on Jennie’s comments in post-finale interviews, I guess not.
I really hope they figure a way to get Petra and JR back together – that was disappointing to realize she’d been lying all this time. Who wanted to kill Petra this time??
I actually think the fact Petra really killed Anezka was the surprise of the night for me. I really thought she was telling the truth. I’m very happy Michael is back but I was surprised I kind of figured the show would eventually find a way to bring him back (although I wasn’t sure if it would be as Michael, a long lost twin or a doppelganger)
Someone said some days ago, after Yael´s interview, it only can be “Michael´s back from death” cause it is a typically twist in the telenovelas, and it hasnt taken place yet.
I love Michael, and i love Jane and Michael´s love story, but hey, Raf has been so great, and i like Raf and Jane as a couple now… that i don´t know how it will be all tied up…
Anyway, it was one of the most boring chapters in the tv-series, but the last two scenes, three… JR unfolding the truth about Aga´s death, JR saving Petra and Michael back… save the chapter