TV OBSESSION: Jane The Virgin

Loosely adapted from a Venezuelan telenovela of the same name, Jane the Virgin is a delightful new dramedy on Sony Channel.

Jane Villanueva (Gina Rodriguez) has been convinced of two life truths owing it all to her overbearing grandmother Alba – first, that telenovelas are the highest form of entertainment; and second, that all women must protect their virginity at all costs. Now at 23, she is a driven young woman studying to become a teacher and a writer while supporting herself with a job at a new hotel in Miami.

All the years of watching telenovelas with her mother Xiomara (known as “Xo”) and her devout grandmother gave Jane a slightly unrealistic view of love – Her sexy, young-at-heart mom Xo was an unwed mother at 16 who continues to live her life as a performer at local clubs while looking for a new man. Her grandmother Alba on the other hand is a devout and prayerful lady with religion at the center of her life. Both women share a special place in Jane’s life and continue to root for her as an ambitious and compassionate woman despite their conflicting influences on Jane.

All of Jane’s meticulous life plans are turned upside down during her life-changing routine check up when she is accidentally artificially inseminated with a specimen meant for the patient in the next room. Unbeknownst to her, the specimen belongs to Rafael (Justin Baldoni), a reformed playboy and cancer survivor who is not only the new owner of the hotel where Jane works, but also a former summer crush of hers.

A few weeks later, the unsuspecting Jane is faced with the most important decisions of her life. Will she continue with the pregnancy? How can she explain the situation to her fiancé and family? And what should she do about the wishes of the biological father, Rafael, and his scheming wife Petra? At the same time, Jane’s mother Xo is facing a life-changing decision of her own: after years of letting Jane and Alba believe she didn’t know the identity of Jane’s father, the time has come to admit the truth – Jane’s father is Xo’s former boyfriend Rogelio. Making the situation even more surreal, Rogelio is now a huge telenovela star, and he definitely wants to meet his unsuspecting daughter. 

The series also stars Brett Dier (“Ravenswood”) as Michael, Andrea Navedo (“Law & Order: Special Victims Unit,” “Golden Boy”) as Xiomara, Yael Grobglas (“Reign”) as Petra, Ivonne Coll (“Switched at Birth,” “The Bold and the Beautiful”) as Alba and Jaime Camil (“Devious Maids,” “Que Pobres Tan Ricos”) as Rogelio.

Catch "Jane the Virgin"every Sunday at 9:05 PM only on Sony Channel Philippines.