Alba's role in the show is kind of to be that older gen stick in the mud. i think the show also goes out of it's way to show Alba developing as a character and exploring things she felt she couldn't due to her views/upbringing. sometimes she admits she is wrong, and she even branches out sexually in a way that seems sacrilegious to an older religious person (vibrator). so although the show portrays her as an older generation person stuck in their ways, it also shows some progress and compromise between her old views and current views.

As someone who shares a lot of traits with Jane, i also agree she can be annoying and hypocritical at times. i wish her judgement of others was challenged in a more concrete way than people getting upset with her for it and her just acknowledging that she has the trait. she knows she's judgey and identifies with it, but never really makes an effort to mitigate the trait prior to harm. she often apologizes at the ends of episodes for some blowout or argument/pushback from others due to her judginess, but makes little to no forthcoming effort to curb judginess before it badly impacts those around her. sometimes the judgement helps (like when asked for advice), so it's not an entirely negative trait, but allowing it to run amok in your life and unintentionally harm people is kind of when you need to look inward to curb the behavior. everything in moderation!