Throwback Post: Being Mary Jane.

 

In my new found interest in revisiting old TV shows, I randomly thought about the incredibly emotional and powerful episode of Being Mary Jane when her friend Lisa unalived herself. After watching that episode and hearing Mary Jane eulogize her friend by saying we all need to be transparent about how we really feel instead of wearing an "I'm fine" mask reminded me of why I'm always honest when anyone asks me "how are you?". 

Please note that my rewatch was mostly a binge since HULU decided to remove the show from their platform in March. So while I didn't finish the entire series, I did make it to Season 4 episode 1. I stopped there on purpose because I remembered how I strongly disliked the Lee character. Who knows though, maybe I would've changed my mind about him had I kept watching, but I wasn't sticking around to find out.

I remember watching this show in 2013 when it premiered and then tweeting about it every Tuesday night in 2014. Now remembering how unhinged MJ was, I decided it was time to tap back into my girls life and refresh my memory on how it all went down.

Mary Jane Paul, a single 38 year-old on-air journalist, spent her time doing everything...literally. From her family drama and career success to having an affair with a married man then showing up at her exes house drunk begging for him back. The girl was all over the place, but aren't we all sometimes? 

This series really highlighted how even the most "put together" people really aren't put together at all. We saw a woman who wanted it all- husband, kids, career- and ultimately got it, but she went through A LOT to get there. 

The show explored so many topics like working mother's guilt, egg freezing, being an Ugly Black Woman, mental health, dating in your 30's, divorce, police brutality, and had so many real life references to situations and people these issues were affecting. I love a show that's so relatable you feel as if they're telling your story too. That's the beauty of authenticity and vulnerability being on screen!

The most surprising thing during my rewatch was seeing Loretta Devine play a hotep stud named Cece who was trying to get to the bag by any means necessary. One thing about Auntie Loretta is she gon' play a role and do it justice, okay!

What I learned most during my rewatch though was that Mara Brock Akil needs to keep making things. Even though Netflix has been trippin' lately I'm patiently awaiting her new releases through the platform.  If you want to revisit Mary Jane and her quotes, you can do so on BET+ or Paramount +.

Well that's all for now. Byeee!