Leona Lewis
Banned
I don't think the show can ever get back to its S1 heights. The central premise was just so tantalizing, and the writers masterfully squeezed out every inch of drama and intrigue they could from that conceit. Now, with Jane no longer pregnant, it's harder for the characters on her side of the tracks and on Rafael's side to have interactions that happen organically, which makes some of the storylines (like Jane and Petra becoming friends because of Petra's motherhood woes, or Michael investigating Rafael's brother) come across as stilted.My girlfriend and I fell out of love with the show after the snoozefest (thanks Michael) that was season 2. I honestly believe that the writing has taken a nosedive and lost all the nuance it once had. The premier didn't do much to change our thoughts on that. We're still sticking around, but I'm not sure for how much longer.
This incident was the perfect opportunity to shake up Jane's and Michael's relationship, and especially to explore new facets of Michael's character. Instead, he got out of this effectively unscratched, and the only ones suffering are Petra and soon Rafael, because you know the show writers love to kick those two in the gut repeatedly. After two seasons of crime lord hunting, that too has lost its charm, and there is not much plot to stand on otherwise. It's grown stale and predictable, the unpredictability of this show once being its strong suit.
Still great acting and writing, and still one of the most visually unique shows on the air. Just not as fresh anymore, and I think CXG will suffer the same simply because that show similarly did such a great job wringing out so much delightful juice from its freshman season's central plot, one that future seasons won't be able to replicate without a massive reboot.
On a related note, the narrator's suggestion that this is the "middle" of Jane's story sort of suggests a five-season plan, no?