Description

This affectionate adaptation of a telenovela offered much-needed representation of Latinx lives on US television.

Jane the Virgin (CW, 2014-19) remains one of the most well-known television shows of the 2010s in the US and abroad. Revisiting key moments in the arc of the show's plot alongside its social context, scholar Paul Julian Smith unpacks this cultural phenomenon. Smith relates how the show's affectionate and complex portrayal of a Venezuelan American family tackling important themes--such as immigration, legal status, racism, and reproductive healthcare--made it a palatable vehicle for progressive representations of the lived experiences of Latinx immigrants. The show's hybridity of genres, including romance, drama, and comedy, and its innovative narrative strategy are distinct strengths, making it an important precursor to the comedies and dramas that followed.