Best-bets for July 24: Nearing the finish, “Jane” soars

1) “Jane the Virgin,” 9 p.m., CW. At the end of a terrific episode. Jane’s mom quietly asks: “How do we say goodbye?” Good question; after five seasons and 98 episodes, we hate to see “Jane” end. It started well (including a Golden Globe for Gina Rodriguez and a best-comedy-series nomination), stumbled a bit, but is ending with humor and warmth. This episode manages to settle most of the plot points, even providing some warmth for ex-spouses Rafael and Petra, shown here. In fact, one problem is disposed of quite spectacularly. We’re not sure what will be left for next week’s two-part finale. Read more…

1) “Jane the Virgin,” 9 p.m., CW. At the end of a terrific episode. Jane’s mom quietly asks: “How do we say goodbye?” Good question; after five seasons and 98 episodes, we hate to see “Jane” end. It started well (including a Golden Globe for Gina Rodriguez and a best-comedy-series nomination), stumbled a bit, but is ending with humor and warmth. This episode manages to settle most of the plot points, even providing some warmth for ex-spouses Rafael and Petra, shown here. In fact, one problem is disposed of quite spectacularly. We’re not sure what will be left for next week’s two-part finale.

2) “Archer,” 10 p.m., FX. Like “Jane,” this show concludes next week; unlike “Jane,” it will be back next season … and it makes no pretense of warmth. This season has put Sterling Archer and his cynical colleagues on a space ship. Now they find a cube that may or may not create delusions. It’s a very funny episode (rerunning at 11:01, with other episodes rerunning at 10:30 and 11:30), that has “TV’s Michael Gray.” Actually, Gray left TV 43 years ago, after starring in the Saturday-morning “Shazam!”

3) “Ancient Skies,” 8 p.m., PBS. Last week, with the moon landing anniversary, the world seem gaga about space. hat’s nothing new. Some 4,500 years ago, this hour says, a pyramid was neatly aligned to compass points; 5,000 years ago, the Stonehenge was “a giant solar calendar.” This is one of two well-crafted PBS series. “The Planets” has an overview at 9 p.m. and an oft-gorgeous look at Mars at 10.

4) “Florida Girls,” 10 and 10:30 p.m., Pop. Even in its bad moments – and there are some tonight – this remains interesting. There’s an everyday charm to its characters – drop-outs, with no money and few prospects. In the first episode, a good one, they see the opposite world of a rich family. In the second, Shelby (series creator Laura Chinn) is inspired by a book about feminism; that soon turns one-note.

5) “Snowfall, 10 p.m., FX. People head to sharply different places. Franklin is on a private plane to a luxury hotel …. Gustavo is stranded somewhere near the California/Mexico border … And Teddy is in a haze in the Costa Rican jungle. The Franklin portion is so-so, but the others are excellent.

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