Why We Love "Being Mary Jane"

   Ever since I first saw the first promo for the hit show "Being Mary Jane" I had a feeling that I would love it, but i had no clue that I (or seeing others live tweet on twitter) would have so many personal connections to her in this hit television series. For those of you that don't know, Gabrielle Union, is the main character in this Drama. Gabrielle Union plays a young news anchor by the name of Mary Jane Paul, and Pauletta to her family. Mary Jane is a very driven and successful woman who seems to have it all together. I mean, she comes from a middle class family, she has her masters degree, independent, beautiful, as well as an news anchor on primetime. However, all dreams cost something right? No matter how much money she has, how successful she is, or whatever materials she owns, she is still very lonely, and unhappy. This blog post dedicated to Being Mary Jane  and what makes this show so relatable to so many people. 

First things first, The Men. 

Lets start with  Mary Janes choices in men. Now, I am not going to go into every man she has had an encounter with. But only the ones that are important to the show. We all have that one specific guy we have the most history with, the one that causes the most drama and heartbreak. However, no matter how much problems this "dude" will bring, and how much you may even hate him, you will forever give him chance after chance. The most interesting thing about a "David" that we all share is you can even find yourself into another relationship with another guy, but somehow that "David" will find himself in your world again. Usually no matter how many chances we may give to "David" he always seems to run out of chances as well as Mary Jane showed us. We at that moment learn to stop opening closed doors. 

Let's not forget about that time MJ decided to try something new. Here we have "Eddie". Eddie was also a rebound for MJ (remember she was getting over David and his drama, and the passing of her friend, Lisa). Anyways, Mary Jane had fun with Eddie, and he was super sweet. But she then later ended the relationship because she always wanted "black love". 

How could anyone forget about Andre? He made his debut the very first episode of Being Mary Jane as MJ's fiance'. However this man came off too good to be true, as some people are. Andre the whole time was married with children. The interesting thing about this relationship was that after MJ found out he was married, and broke up with him, she took him back and said that she still loved him. This was a super messy situation, considering that MJ and Avery (Andre's wife) knew about each other and were very aware what was going on. The goal was that Andre was going to leave Avery for MJ, but it never happened. Mary Jane became sick of the lies, and knew deep down she was wrong and ended that relationship. MJ even at the end decided to go talk to Avery to take her husband back. I think the beauty in this disaster was to show that if God gives you a sign about a person after you ask for it, you better listen to it and not question it!

Lets talk about Friends!

Mark was my absolute favorite friend to MJ! Mark was so loyal and truly cared for MJ. At times, he seemed like her only friend. He was there for her while she was heartbroken, stressed about her family issues, and even when she was recovering from her car accident when she couldn't return to work right away. He even would help her with her fashion crisis. It was such a shame when he left to go to Africa. 

 Kara and MJ have a love/ hate relationship. But, hey, that's what happens when you work with one of your friends. MJ is the on air talent, and Kara is the producer. They both are demanding, and passionate about what they do. While MJ battles with finding love, balancing her career, and family issues, Kara lives a different type of struggle. Kara strives in her career so much that she has no time for her family. She is divorced, and a single parent of two boys, while her ex husband gives her a hard time. Kara lost custody of her kids in season 2, but in season 3 she makes a comeback. She decided she wanted to be a better mother to her children but realizes that trying to raise kids as a media professional and to strive in her career is extremely difficult. Kara even breaks down in front of MJ and says "I know you want kids, but this isn't fun" and "raising children and loving them are two different things".

What I find significant about their relationship is they put each other in check, and I honestly believe that they show each other what the "other" life is like to each other. Think about it. Mary Jane is single, with no worries, and she is pretty whealty, but she really wants to find love so she can have children. Whereas, Kara, has been married, divorced, she has a career she always wanted, and two children she is having a difficult time rasing while trying to be persistent in her career. I personally believe the comparison to their friendship is the true meaning of "the grass is always greener on the other side". However, they will always remain good friends  because of their drive in their workforce, and how they are always there for each other despite their differences. 

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Lisa taught us quite a lot in her time on Being Mary Jane. First, Lisa is that one childhood friend who comes from a broken family, that your family just happens to "adopt". However, that friend is always tricky. Lisa made it very clear that she was very jealous of Mary Jane for the fact that she was wealthy, her relationship with David, and even her family. That one childhood friend we will soon outgrow, but we still go through the motions with this "friend" only because it "seems right" and it is more than obvious that friendship just isn't there anymore. Mary Jane made that obvious in Season 3 when Lisa showed up at her house to talk after she was released from the hospital. MJ asked her "If we met today, would we still be friends?" That statement has made me rethink a lot of my friendships because there is a lot of people that we consider "friends" however, we go through the motions, but there is no connection there. It seems as though those friendships are just obligations. 

Lisa's life ends on Season 3 of Being Mary Jane. Lisa was molested by her step- father as a child, and has battled with a serious case of Depression ever since, and into her adulthood. She committed suicide by overdosing while drinking wine. I was never really a fan of Lisa on the show, but what was significant of her role was how the show showed how depression is really a serious issue and a disease. It also addressed the myth that "black people are not depressed" when in reality that is not true and something to be taken seriously. 

Why MJ is so respected. 

Clearly this show is for entertainment purposes, but the biggest reason why I connect with this show is seeing Mary  Jane sit at her anchor desk. I love her personality, and how she does not take no for an answer. I am an aspiring reporter/ anchor and I have had experience interning at a local news station, however, I have never seen someone built so strong. No matter what personal problems this fictional character is facing, she never, ever, lets it interfere with her career and what she has been working her whole life  while staying so selfless and gracious! Mary Jane Paul empowers me to want to be better for myself,  to stay focused when it comes to my media career, and that no matter when things are not going my way, to always keep it professional at the workforce. There is also a lot of truth she shows as being a black media professional, and down to how you can't have it all no matter how hard you work and sacrifice.