Jennifer Banks

Elizabeth Lail as "Jenny" in Ordinary Joe

### Relatives

"Dr. Douglas Banks" (father), "Joe" (Husband "Nurse Joe" timeline), Ray (Husband "Officer Joe" timeline), Darren (Husband "Musician Joe" timeline), Megan (daughter "Musician Joe" timeline), Lindsey (daughter "Musician Joe" timeline)

### Occupation

Paralegal ("Nurse Joe" timeline), Law Firm Partner ("Musician Joe" timeline), Assistant District Attorney ("Officer Joe" timeline)

## Appearances

### Debut

Way Leads on to Way

Jennifer Banks is a childhood friend of Joe. She dreams of pursuing a legal career. In the "Nurse Joe" timeline she's married to Joe and working at a law firm. But in the "Musician Joe" timeline she's married to Darren and a partner at a law firm. Meanwhile in the "Officer Joe" timeline she's married to Ray and an assistant district attorney.

## Character Biography

Jennifer is born in 1989 to Douglas Banks.

When Jenny was a child is inspired to become a lawyer like Ruth Bader Ginsberg.

Jenny and Joe met at an undisclosed time and became close friends. In college at Syracuse University the relationship turned sexual and they began dating. But they agreed that it would not be an exclusive one.

She develops a "10-year plan" to become a lawyer in 2020. While studying for her LSATs Joe brings her a cake and sings “First Day of My Life” by Bright Eyes outside her window and she stops studying.

Jenny discovers she's pregnant with his child. She decides to tell Joe by the beach after his graduation from Syracuse University. After the ceremony she asks him to go with her.

### ”Musician Joe” Timeline

Joe decided to ask Amy out and Jenny never got to tell him she was pregnant. She carried the baby to term but decided to put their son up for adoption to Family Circle Adoption Agency . She doesn’t list a father on the birth certificate making it a closed adoption.

Jennifer became a partner at a law firm. At some point she marries Darren and has twin girls Megan and Lindsey. When the 10-year reunion at Syracuse comes up she decides to go.

After hearing Joe sing at the event she tells him about their son. He is incredulous and decides to look for him but Jenny tries to convince him to leave the matter alone. She didn't want to upset her family with the past.

Joe goes looking for the adoption records but discovers that he’s not listed on the birth certificate and can’t request the records. He goes to her birthday party to convince her to release the records to him but she refuses. He threatens to sue her and make the pregnancy public if she doesn’t give in to his demands.

### "Nurse Joe" Timeline

Jenny told Joe she was pregnant and the two married. The child was born with a birth defect and requires a lot of medical care. They name him Chris after his grandfather Christopher . The two raised the child together and were close.

Jennifer pursues her dream of a career in the legal field and gets a job as a paralegal at a law firm.

Joe decides that he needed to make more money to pay for the medical expenses and begins working nights. The two spend less time together and drift apart.

She gets frustrated by the distance and the emotional detachment her husband has. Jenny decides they need a trial separation for six months and Joe moves out.

After six months she decides the relationship still isn't working and draws up divorce papers. Jenny tells Joe he has 40 days to respond .

The annual 9/11 commemoration is coming and she’s frustrated that Joe refuses to be a part of them (“Requiem”). Their son asks to go to the ceremony but he refused. Eventually he surprised everyone by agreeing to go with Chris. She tells him that him opening up to her is helping the marriage. Around the same time her coworker Barrett tells her she can finish her final year of law school and become a partner at her law firm but has to move to Atlanta.

Joe and Chris prepare a birthday cake for her. She knows about it but pretends to be surprised. But Joe surprised her by singing “First Day of My Life” with Christopher. After the dinner she decides to turn down the promotion and stay in New York.

### Officer Joe Timeline

Joe decided to go to dinner with his family and Jenny never got to tell him she was pregnant.

She has the baby and pursues a relationship with Ray while in law school. The two decide to raise her son, now named Lucas, and never tell the boy Ray isn't her biological father. Jenny gets her juris doctor degree and passes the bar association exam in New York. Eventually she becomes an assistant district attorney.

Ten years later she decides to go to the college reunion and takes her son. While there she runs into Joe and Amy and introduces Lucas. They have no idea they're related.

Joe, investigating the shooting of Congressman Diaz asks for her help. During her birthday party she gets a call and finds out that Wayne Coleman died. Jenny calls Joe and lets him know.

## Behind-the-Scenes

Jennifer Banks is played by actress Elizabeth Lail. Her casting was announced In March of 2021.

## References

1. ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Happy Birthday Jenny
2. ↑ 2.0 2.1 Way Leads on to Way
3. ↑ Requiem
4. ↑ https://www.tvline.com/2021/03/31/ordinary-joe-nbc-series-order-james-wolk-parallel-lives-photos/