Nothing ever goes away until it has taught us what we need to know. - Pema Chodron
When I first started watching Being Mary Jane, I enjoyed it. The show felt like a more grown Insecure. You have a main character who seems put together outwardly, but is a hot mess internally. She is surrounded by interesting characters who support her. That seemed real. It had a sense of authenticity.
At the onset, Mary Jane was already in these fraught romantic relationships. There’s David, the tarnished penny that keeps turning up, and Andre, the married man. As the show progressed, you see her fighting her way out of those relationships, but instead of learning from them, she hauls around the unresolved emotions, ruins a couple of potentially healthy relationships, and runs in heels towards unhealthy relationships. She not only sabotages her romances, but her friendships and family, too. Sabotage seems to be her method of operation.
Of all the relationships MJ sabotages, I’m most upset about Sheldon, played by Gary Dourdan in season 2 and Lee played by Chike Okonkwo in season 4. How could you Mary Jane?!
In season 3, one of Mary Jane’s close friends commits suicide and the season ends with a lot of issues unresolved.
Season 4 was terrible. The script was awful compared to the other seasons. It seemed like that authentic character interaction was lost in the writing. It was more “put together.” Characters were finishing each other’s sentences, there were silly comedy tropes and techniques, and I really hate silly comedy music. No matter what she did that was reprehensible, people were forgiving Mary Jane left and right. I hate-watched the season because I was hopeful for season 5. Lo and behold, they only finished one episode of season 5 and gave up, like I should have at the end of season 3.
I listened to the Therapy for Black Girls Podcast episode (search for session 3) analyzing BMJ, and it brought my attention to how much in transition MJ is at the beginning of season 4. Note that she’s living in a hotel and having a hard time finding a permanent place to live while her position at work is also fluctuating. And then when she gets a permanent residence, she kicks her love-interest to the curb!
If they ever think to revive BMJ, or maybe if they want to make a made-for-TV-movie to finish it off, I’d like to see the movie fast forward into MJ’s future and show her lying on a couch, being analyzed by a therapist (An idea put forth by Dr Shivonne Odom on Therapy for Black Girls). They can go through her past relationships, and flashback what happened after her friend died in season 3, since that is yet to be resolved for viewers.
I think Being Mary Jane seasons 1-3 are worth watching with your full attention, but pull out the ironing board, a jigsaw puzzle or feather duster so you don’t feel like you’ve wasted your time watching season 4. FYI: I heart Gabrielle Union. I have listened to both of her memoirs twice.
I binged this series on Hulu.
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