Life is all about adjusting your perspective and attitude.
There are many bumps in the road for all members of the Villanueva family.
For starters, Jane and Rafael cant afford a place together unless big steps are taken to save money.
Credit: Tyler Golden/The CW
Jane asks for extra shifts at the Marbella.
Rafael ditches his gym membership and uses heavy boxes as weights.
He even starts (gasp!)
After weeks of cutting back here and there, finally, they can see the results.
Jane daydreams about her family eating breakfast and leaving for work.
Thats not the case for Rogelio and River.
Theres trouble in paradise with the script.
The American producers completely side with River, agreeing to downplay many of the classic telenovela tropes.
River says the drama is cheesy.
Thats when the vein in Rogelios head almost pops.
He mulls it over and realizes that his opinion is extremely important because he is an expert at telenovelas.
Its supposed to be cheesy.
Its supposed to be dramatic.
Thats what romance is all about!
Jane weighs the pros and cons.
Theres Mateo standing in front of the remnants of a very old clock.
You break it, you buy it is a real thing in the world of retail.
Unfortunately, this particular clock must have come over on the Mayflower because it costs four thousand dollars.
Cue the perspective change.
Jane and Rafael are forced to move back in with Alba so they can pay off the clock.
Someone needs to go frame a white flower so Alba can hang it over Janes bed.
No one is having sex under Albas roof.
Jane completely ignores the rule and Alba walks in during horizontal playtime.
That was a small hiccup, sure, but Jane insists they keep their eyes on the prize.
She is in a writing zone and is excited about her next book.
He eagerly takes Jane to the property and asks her to ignore the trash and graffiti.
Then Rafaels dream starts popping up all around him.
He takes Jane on a virtual journey of what he hopes the hotel will represent.
Its a pretty cool perspective.
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Poor Xo is at her first chemo treatment wearing a cold cap.
Xo meets a fellow cold cap buddy named Donna.
In just seconds, Donna endears herself to Xo simply by understanding what it means to have cancer.
They discuss implants and hot flashes.
Donna suggests Xo try pot brownies for the pain, and encourages her to stay positive.
Cross the finish line strong.
Back at Albas house, all hell breaks loose when Alba spanks Mateo for reaching for the hot stove.
Rafael barks at Alba that they are not a hitting family.
Alba spouts, My house, my rules.
Rafael refuses to stay under her roof and marches out the door.
This puts Jane in an extremely awkward position.
As Jane power walks with her mother, Xo encourages Jane to give it some time.
Suddenly, the scene morphs into another day nine weeks later.
Jane and Xo are strolling down the same street.
Jane is cranking out her book.
Xo is excited for her, but doesnt want to read the book while suffering from chemo brain.
Cut to Xo shivering with her cold cap as Rogelio tries to distract her with tales of River Fields.
A nurse checks on Xo, and is encouraged by her great attitude.
Xo casually wonders out loud where Donna is and the nurses face drops: There was an unexpected recurrence.
She had some complications.
Donna passed away three days ago.
The nurse explains that it was sudden.
But Donna knew and asked the nurse to give Xo a card and her pot brownies.
Donna wants Xo to keep fighting.
For both of them.
Magda equals hook-eye hatred.
This storyline is lacking, in my opinion, especially when compared to Xos heartbreak or Rogelios drama.
Additionally, I think JR is sort of boring.
Magna swears that she saw Petra the night Anezka was killed.
The broken heel gives JR pause.
Her mother got in JRs head and JR now doubts Petra.
Trust is a big deal and Petra refuses to let her guard down anymore.
Id like to say, So long, JR, but it looks like shes here to stay.
In fact, shes a hero.
JR told the DA that she had been blackmailed.
As a result, the case was dismissed.
Oh, and she was disbarred.
They celebrate with a passionate embrace.
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Rogelios day isnt going as well as Petras.
Not so fast, Ro.
Well played, River.
No one knows where Xo has gone.
Rogelio finds her at the diner she and Donna used to visit after chemo.
Xo spills out every emotion shes been bottling up inside for the last few months.
Shes tired of being positive for the family.
She doesnt want to wear the stupid cold cap.
And shes afraid that her cancer will come back just like Donnas did.
The scene is moving, yet all I keep thinking is, Wheres Jane during all of this turmoil?
Well, Jane is with Alba who is breaking down herself in the kitchen.
I dont have control.
A lightbulb goes off in Janes head.
This isnt about Rafael.
This is about Xo and Albas fear that her daughter will die before her.
Later, Rafael comes over and everyone forgives everyone.
Rafael delivers some bad news to Jane as they sit on the porch swing.
The hotel is taking longer than expected.
Its going to be another six months.
Jane puts on a brave face and encourages Rafael to hang in there.
All he has to do is keep perspective and remember his dream.
Then she picks up her computer and types away.
Rafael notices Janes passion and he makes a decision.
He takes the real estate job with a timeshare guy because it has a good salary and health benefits.
He wants that apartment for Jane.
And hes ready to step back so they can bet on her dream.
Guess who leaked a blind item to the press about River being a diva?
Well played, Rogelio.
River is stressed and how does she cope with her stress?
She pounds junk food like any other emotional eater.
She grabs a brownie and stuffs it in her mouth, cursing Rogelio the entire time.
Xo begins to laugh and invites River to sit down to watch her first telenovela.
Someone is about to be as high as a kite because that was a pot brownie.
Rogelio barges in to find his wife and River entranced by what is unfolding on the television.
This should be fun.
Our narrator takes us back and forth between Xo and River watching a telenovela and Rafaels sentimental gesture.
Apparently, River turns into a valley girl when shes baked.
She wants to move forward with Rafaels original script.
Rogelio instructs River to pay attention because the last moments of a telenovela are often a cliffhanger.
Notice the scary music.
River leans in and the scene switches to Rafael receiving a phone call from jailbird Rose.
She has news that is going to change his life forever.
