O’ Pauletta “Mary Jane” Paul
How will I miss thee?
Let me count the ways…
The series finale of BEING MARY JANE aired tonight, Tuesday, April 23 at 7 PM ET on BET and included an all-star cast featuring Michael Ealy, Morris Chestnut, Lisa Vidal, Richard Roundtree, Margaret Avery, Richard Brooks, BJ Britt, Raven Goodwin, and Nicholas Gonzalez. This concludes the final chapter of a woman I’ve grown to love during the past four seasons of Mary Jane Paul’s existence. Which proves throughout life, there will be women whether fictional or in reality that resonates with you in a way that is strikingly similar to the life you inhabit. After watching the show on Tuesday night, My BFF and I would often greet each other with the statement, “Girl, did you see the latest episode of Being Mary Jane?!”
Knowing the BEING MARY JANE series must bid us all farewell with a final bow and venture off into the television sunset is a bittersweet moment. The finale writing team of Devon K. Shepard, Patrik-Ian Polk, and Alyson Fouse had a huge undertaking to fit this jam-packed roller coaster drama within a two-hour timeframe. There are scenes that pop out at you and stories that must move quickly to reach the other side of a conclusion. In other words, there is still a lot of meat on these television bones that had me wishing for more on the individual storylines. However sadly I get it, the show must end.
So now I shall count the ways the BEING MARY JANE characters had me feeling some type of way about their chapter ending:
1. New Number, Who Dis?
Justin and Mary Jane sitting in a tree, K-I-S-S-I-N-G is not the ending I hoped for. Mary Jane should not allow her heart to be a revolving door with a man that can’t make up his mind. Am I the only one who feels that her husband is a sneaky no good charming dude? If a man walks away more than once from a relationship, what gives him the right to get mad when a woman makes crucial decisions about her life in his absence?
Mary Jane stayed committed to her authenticity and had a baby by any means necessary. We know who Mary Jane is but who is Justin? The audacity of a blue-eyed bandit to disappear because he’s scared to raise a child that doesn’t contain his DNA when he was nowhere around to give thorough input is foolery. But he loves her, right? This relationship frustrated me to no end since their first introduction and I feel Mary Jane deserves better. I’ll give him a few points for cooking a cajun gumbo though 😉
2. Where Is The Love?
Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway sang 1972 classic “Where is the Love” and their sentiment of being left out in the cold when you love someone rings true for Bo (Morris Chestnut). Physically Morris is MJ’s ideal mate but she just wasn’t attracted to her childhood pal. For some reason, their spirits did not intertwine and it was heartbreaking to watch. There was potential yet the moment slipped away when the fight between Morris and Justin occurred at the news office.
That same energy Morris used when he showed up at MJ’s Lamaze class, is the same vitality he needed to push through that debacle of Justin testing his ego. This leads me back to Justin not wanting anyone else to have Mary Jane so he throws a wrench in the game. Justin is a unicorn fairytale and Bo is considered a homie lover friend.
3. A Hard Head Makes A Soft Behind
Niecy (Raven Goodwin) is hard headed and better off being her own boss. At first, I was thinking, how in the world is she going to run a business and she can’t sit under authority and learn? The connection of her father being an entrepreneur and Neicy having the same drive to pursue her dreams makes sense. Too bad we won’t be able to watch her fall on her soft behind and then transition into the courageous leader that is hidden within.
And did you all see her new boo Mike? Alright now, Miss Neicy. Being a single mother is a job all by itself however, having a supportive and loving beau is just what she needs at this moment in her life. I’m going to miss Neicy and all of her dramatic shenanigans.
4. Thank You For Being A Friend
One thing I will agree with that Justin said is the fact of Mary Jane being loyal to her ride-or-die chica Kara (Lisa Vidal). Choosing your friend over a wanna-be love relationship is impressive which proves, she doesn’t know this man named Justin! Kara finally opening up and being vulnerable to love despite her insecurities was great to witness.
The devastating experience of Kara going through a bilateral mastectomy but having Mary Jane at her side spoke volumes of their friendship. I will certainly miss this dynamic duo and hope to see them reunite together once more on screen. The “Golden Girls” television theme song is the perfect descriptor to explain how I feel about these two characters and the sentiment expressed below is my thank you.
Of course I will miss Pauletta’s wacky family and all of the embarrassing moments they would bring to the show in various episodes. I was relieved to see MJP’s parents work it out in the end and give love a try. Then again, maybe Pauletta will use their example to help her marriage with mystery man Justin.
In closing, thank you to Mara Brock Akil for creating another television hit that had us all talking and excited to see the genius imperfections in Pauletta “Mary Jane” Paul. Thank you Gabrielle Union for being a badass chick that wasn’t afraid to push the limits in love and your career. Bond farewell BEING MARY JANE. Peace.
