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As long as theres been TV, the family has been one of its favorite go-tos.
All week long, Vulture is exploring how its been represented on our screens.
The competition is fierce.
But there is no better family on TV right now thanJane the Virgins Villanuevas.
Theyre also the best illustration of how to tell stories about being a family who actually know one another.
Throughout much of the series, Jane, Xo, and Alba live together in a small house.
They ride the bus.
They work in service jobs.
They love grilled-cheese sandwiches and telenovelas and one another.
TV families have been banking on the what if a regular American family, but theyre different!
formula forever (cf.The Brady Bunch,The Addams Family,Grace Under Fire,Mr.
The Villanuevas are an insurance against that storytelling cliff.
This also feels like standard TV-family fare of course they regularly have heartwarming moments with one another.
They hug, and sometimes there are some tears, and everyone comes away feeling better.
When you come down to it, whats the difference between that and the end of aFull Houseepisode?
ButJaneis also relentless in demanding that love be honest.
They criticize one another, as generously and compassionately as possible.
Jane is perpetually frustrated with her mother, who often embarrasses her and tends to be less practical.
These things come up in their conversations, again and again.
They call one another out.
They see each other.
Most TV families have at least one kid who everyone looks at and just shrugs.
And thats probably as true to life as anything else about most fictional families.
