I’ve been a fan of Being Mary Jane since its first season. I am not a fan of the long hiatuses in between seasons, but somehow, I stay hooked. The new season began earlier this week and is chock full of professional and personal goodness a career writer like me can’t ignore.
The latest season starts off with Mary Jane Paul relocating from Atlanta to New York City, the number one market in the country, to a cushy gig at Great Day USA. She meets with a matchmaker in order to solidify her plans for being a wife in addition to her professional duties, but can’t shake off her fast-gal tendencies after taking home a chocolate Londoner for a one-night stand.
The episode centers around Mary Jane possibly being catapulted from correspondent to top anchor, as her older counterpart is subjected to ageism (or is MJP being played?). We also see the re-appearance of her London one-nighter, who may want to stay around a little bit longer.
She’s then dumped by the matchmaker for red flags on her entrance assessment paperwork. Of course she has some issues and baggage, but who doesn’t?
The duration of the episode sees Mary Jane being courted by the Executive Producer of the morning program for the top spot, but it may just be a game. Politics as usual.
Being Mary Jane is a huge case study on being a working professional woman in our society. Many of us have put off marriage and families for the sake of our careers, climbing the upward corporate ladder towards success. Once we get there, it can be lonely at the top.
Many relationships can’t thrive because our attentions are split—so we give into temptation to half-assed romances that are doomed before they start. Then we find our biological clock ticking, and suddenly, there’s a rush for the wedding, the baby carriage, and the white picket fence.
Mary Jane Paul on the surface has it all together. She’s gorgeous with impeccable style and fashion, and has a stellar career. A pretty fat bank account and a pretty dope personality to boot. But she’s still lonely, still undateable (according to the matchmaker), and wants to be loved so much, she’s willing to jeopardize everything.
We never ask men if they can have it all. It’s assumed that they can. It’s us ladies that get pigeonholed into having either a great personal or a great professional life—neither can combine.
I think as we continue to strive for greatness in every facet of our life, we shouldn’t be asked to choose a side.
Gabrielle Union is awesome as the top-notch newscaster and work in progress heroine in Being Mary Jane. I have a feeling that this season is going to be really good.
Being Mary Jane airs on BET Tuesday nights at 9pm EST.
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