Major Jane The Virgin spoilers ahead. If you caught the Feb. 6 episode, chances are, you're still reeling from the shock of Michael's death on Jane The Virgin. But don't worry, you're not the only one currently nursing a broken heart. Actor Brett Dier tells Bustle that he's equally upset about the loss of his character. "I was pretty stunned and felt really sad for this fictional character," Dier says. "It felt like a friend of mine was going to pass away. It was very strange."
Dier understands firsthand what a loss this is, and has a heartfelt message for all of the Team Michael fans who are still trying to wrap their heads around the news. "I would say honestly, thank you so much for supporting the character and me and this journey," he says. And if you processed your emotions by letting out all your feelings in 140 characters or less, it didn't go unnoticed. "All the tweets I was getting from everyone last night made my eyes water like 20 times because the amount of love that I got and that the show got last night was overwhelming."
In addition to this support, Dier thinks there's something positive to take from this tragic twist: an appreciation for the small moments with people you care about. "Michael wasn't prepared to go, Jane wasn't prepared for him to go, and it's important to always love every moment that you have," the actor says.
The scene in which Michael left for his LSATs and Jane was so supportive is a lesson in itself, Dier explains. "When you leave the house with people you love, always say goodbye and [be] loving. Because you really don't know what's going to happen. I'm not saying that you should assume that, but to have that gratitude for life is very important."
Like some astute fans, Dier knew Michael's death was on the horizon, but that didn't make it any easier. "The first time I had kind of a weird idea was in Season 1 when the narrator did make that hint," Dier explains, referring to the repeated statement that Michael would love Jane until his dying breath. "I had an idea then, but I didn't think it was real."
Then, near the end of filming Season 2, showrunner Jennie Snyder Urman brought Dier into her office and told him about Michael's fate. Ultimately, he knew it was best for the show. "I was kind of stunned, but also at the same time, I was mentally prepared for it, because I had an idea the whole time," he recalls. "And I knew that was kind of supposed to happen for the story to keep going forward."
And though the story will go on, Dier doesn't want fans to forget Michael. "I want them to remember him as a loving guy," the actor says. "He's grown so much since the first season. He's figured out a lot and learned a lot and became such a great person." In fact, Michael became the kind of person that Dier hopes fans can find in their own lives. "I want people to remember that there are guys like that out there," he says. "Look for guys that support you and love you like him."
There's no telling how long it will take fans to recover from this death, but Dier can provide some solace for our grief. "Michael will always be in everyone's heart if they keep him there," he says, before adding with a laugh, "But there's also Netflix, you can keep re-watching."
