Tonight's the anticipated 2-hour finale of Being Mary Jane! I'll be watching the last 4 hours of the season tonight by trying a Netflix binge approach!
Episode 9 "Line in the Sand"
I always appreciate how Being Mary Jane uses MJ's interviews to provide a platform to bring awareness on social issues many of us may be blind to. Those statistics on human trafficking are horrific, and even if not accurate, it is indeed happening in our country. And we need to be aware of it and do something about it.
On a more positive note, I want to bake like MJ when I grow up. She really is the total package, given no one is perfect. And woot, woot for the Emmy nomination! #TotalPackage
Also, I never understand why advertisers don't want to promote their items to Black audiences, as the producer kinda implied to MJ and Kara. We tend to be consumer-oriented, and we definitely consume a large amount of television when compared to other groups. And what is up with this tension between Kara and MJ? I need them to work together.
Can't believe MJ really tried to pick up Val w/o notice to go celebrate her Emmy nomination. Ha! Val wasn't about that life. She came out with a robe and then asked MJ if she'd been drinking. She was shocked when MJ admitted to one shot, noting she never drinks and drives. Hope that's not foreshadowing anything.
Cutty buddy is back. Still no name, as far as I can remember. After doing what cutty buddies do, he stays over for popcorn and work talk. Or I suppose I should say, she let him stay over, since it was her who bounced real fast last time.
A short visit home reveals MJ's father seems to think it's a good idea for her to focus on topics involving the Black community, but her mom warns her that she may mess around and lose her job.
Tracy's mom tries to get money off of Patrick for money she loaned Tracy, who's in jail for shoplifting. Even had the audacity to ask him if he could ask his family for money...really?? Did she even come to give an update, or just to get money? And SMH...to Deja being sent to school without a lunch for 5 months! Sheesh! Wow!! Later, Patrick finds out Tracy's bail is set at $3000, and you can guess who he runs to for help... MJ. I'd have to think about the fact that she's not my blood...and the attitude she had with MJ during the first season. But that would be me just being petty. SMH! MJ gave him a check to cash, and I was happy to see he decided to tell Tracy he didn't get the money!!! He needs to think about his daughter, and started by paying off that lunch bill. And errrr...is something being hinted at between Patrick and Vice Principal Harrison?? Shookey, shookey...LOL.
Back at the network the producer tells Kara Black people shouldn't be sensitive because of Obama and Beyonce. He said MJ should do the job and shut up...that's how he really feels? And perhaps Kara should reflect on that meme that says the real question is why they feel comfortable talking about me to you if you're my friend!
Then a man calls MJ an ugly...black...monkey over a parking space. <deep breath>...flash back to the Univision host and Michelle Obama... <another deep breath>.
Back at home, MJ has Valerie over for a glass of wine, after having an emotional moment due to that atrocious scene in the parking lot. While I appreciate the friendship between Valerie and MJ, because it does not have that underlying tension that was there with Lisa, why must she push Xanax on MJ? IJS. And OMG...I totally relate to going through the motion with family and friends without truly connecting. Ugh...lonely, but not lonely, and yet lonely.
Despite some backlash with her focus on the Black community, MJ goes with the Satoshi Kanaza Black Women's Beauty idea that Kara considers to be a dead subject. Hmmm...Black women invisible to Black men? Black women not worth Black men fighting for? Hmmm...Love the conversation. The beauty of the plethora of shades we have, and the things we can do with our hair, and so forth! Also, love that it touches on how Black women support, advocate for, and protect Black men, but it is not reciprocated. But this music at the end of it sure makes it seem like this episode may bite MJ in the butt! O and I appreciate them having MJ watch Bevy Smith on tv discussing the fact that some Black women have always loved the skin they're in. I definitely appreciate both stories being shared. This episode is so good!
And then...to complete a good episode..Sheldon invites her to dinner. Still love them together...awww... #NewRomance #Primetime Haha...chicken shack b/c "brother has to be real Black to date you." LMBO!
Okay...now for the next episode. Let the BMJ Binge Blitz continue.
Episode 10 "Primetime"
#RocktheBoat Who's coming over? Cutty Buddy or Sheldon? Booo...it's Cutty Buddy! I mean he's fine and all, but he and MJ aren't MJ and Sheldon. lol They confirmed he's an NFL player. Can't believe they actually gave us some information about him. Still no name, as far as I can recall. But then the convo switches up real fast...he asks about MJ's new guy. And I appreciate him bringing up their agreement to be exclusive physically, and also the fact that he asked for health reasons and not just out of jealousy.
When MJ goes shopping the name that I thought we left in season 1 comes up. Andre...but glad it was short and sweet. He's married. The end. BUT O SNAP, Natalie knows Sheldon. Awww... I know they aren't committed, and MJ has a cutty buddy...but...still. And no one wants to hear about their new beau being kinky from their saleswoman...and I don't know if it's worse that she said MJ isn't Sheldon's type b/c she's in her 40s or that he never stayed the night with Natalie b/c he probably has other women. Sheesh. You would think she would have stopped when she found out MJ was dating him. And honestly, maybe he didn't stay the night, and had other women, b/c he didn't take Natalie and those other women seriously. He still loses some points, but not all of them just yet! #StillTeamMJandSheldon
And I'm starting to think MJ doesn't want her show. Gangster gardening, MJ?? Really?? SMH! LOL. Yes, please dig deeper. I'm with Kara on this one.
PJ officially loses his first investor. Dangit David! But the investor offers him an opportunity to be a project manager for a real estate project in Inglewood, but it looks like it may be partially related to him being Black. And what's worse, it would require him to possibly do something illegal. SMH. Don't do it PJ! Later in the episode his dad tells him about another opportunity, but PJ claims to not be feeling a career with a base salary. Guess a safe 30k base w/ commission (supposedly upwards of 2-5 million) doesn't stack up to a risky 25 million. I'm going to need PJ to follow up with Jeff and listen to his daddy.
Meanwhile, Kara and MJ have officially grown apart as partners it seems. MJ sees it as her taking the lead, but Kara feels pushed out. Kara then essentially says she's planning on leaving the show. And aww... MJ offers to be nicer, but Kara is clearly over it. Though they both are tearing up, it seems they are breaking up (as MJ keeps referring to it).
Sheldon and MJ go to dinner, and the waitress is a bit friendly. So you know MJ had to ask him if he ever dated the waitress and then shares what Natalie shared with her about him. And then Sheldon asked for the name of the saleswoman who told MJ about him. I'm with MJ when she asked, "There was more than one?" Being the lawyer that he is, Sheldon gave some responses that really didn't alleviate the situation much but didn't make it worse either.
And nice try BMJ...having MJ look in the mirror and pull her face back. She's still beautiful with barely any wrinkles. But I see what you're going for. Hard to hear the man in your life used to only date 20 year olds.
Valerie and Lisa have lunch together. Lisa tells Val she wants to reveal something to MJ and be free from it all, but Valerie warns her that it's too much and won't help save her friendship with MJ. Hmmm...what does Lisa have all bottled up? Is it related to her suicide attempts?
Later at work, MJ ignores Sheldon's call. And Kara shares the news that she half-jokingly suggested to the network that they let MJ sub in for Cynthia on Primetime. She goes so far as to say forget what she said about wanting to leave. Mhmmm...yea ok.
Could this be MJ's big break? I was getting anxious myself just looking through the lens of MJ before this show! Sheesh! But she of course kills it in true MJ fashion. Well, that is, until she goes off script with the author she was interviewing. Not a good look after Kara already told her she disrespected the network and went against their wishes with choices for her own show. The author actually says she feels attacked. And when they tell MJ to get back to the questions, she takes the ear bud out of her ear! Then the author tells MJ that her problem is that she sees herself as an ugly, Black woman and thinks she is a victim...and adds she's a broken record. And MJ tells the author, a White woman, all women are trying to be heard and when she looks at the author she sees another ugly, Black woman. This interview went completely left! What's MJ's goal here? Definitely not to host Primetime again. And MJ knows she messed up, b/c her and Kara just sit there after the show not looking at their phones, which are going off with texts and emails.
When she gets home, MJ calls Kara saying she doesn't want to lose her house. Remember her mom's warning last episode. Then Sheldon calls saying he's an ugly, Black woman too, just wanting to be heard. He's so serious, silly...if that makes sense. But I love it. LOL. Then he tells her she's not like the other women (who were just for sex). He says he's engaged with her. But then the door bell rings...ummm...it's cutty buddy. She forgot he was coming over. But she stops him from coming in, saying they agreed to stop if they started something serious with someone else. So I guess that means Sheldon is a go! And she finally says cutty buddy's name, Brandon. Correct me if I am wrong. Had they mentioned his name before?
Anyway...awww...she tells Sheldon she likes him and they agree to go slow, but you know he had to ask for a definition of slow. LOL.
Okay...phew...all caught up! 10 minutes until the 2-hour finale begins! Excited! Liking this binge watching concept outside of Netflix!
Episode 11 "Season Finale"
The show begins with MJ being interviewed on Don Lemon's show on CNN for her interview of the author on Primetime on the last episode. Afterwards she has a conversation with PJ about their mom bragging about MJ making the big time. O...and the fact that they made an autotune song of the interview. SMH. LOL And beyond that...EVERYBODY is talking about MJ on social media. Maybe she really did make it big like her mom said! She even has fans waiting for her with signs outside of the network!
But when she gets to her office, Cynthia is waiting for her. Cynthia reveals that she was never sick. They told her she looked tired and should take a couple of days to rest. She says they are using MJ to push her out. Later Kara asked MJ about the conversation, and Kara agrees that they are probably going to ask MJ to take over for Cynthia. The network then indeed tells MJ and Kara they want them to replace Cynthia on Primetime. Kara is all gong ho, but MJ seems a bit concerned. Then the owner of the network asks to speak with MJ alone and proceeds to tell her to "tone down the all-Black agenda." Then after she leaves, the owner says to keep MJ on a short leash to avoid having an "ugly, Black woman" running around angry. The plan seems to be to use MJ while she's hot and then let her go if needed when it all dies down. But MJ and Kara seem to be aware that the network is using them. MJ begins to suggest it might actually be the perfect time to step out into something bigger with all of the new opportunities at the moment. Kara tries to convince her to stay, but MJ points out she has shorter time than Kara who is behind the scenes (pointing out what they are doing to Cynthia). Kara tells her to remember they are together whatever she decides, that wasn't what she was saying last episode though.
After work, she goes to Sheldon's place, where he has prepared dinner. MJ accuses Sheldon of playing games by suggesting they watch French films after their Moroccan dinner. In fact, she tells him it probably worked on the 25 year olds, and it is corny. It doesn't help that she made a crack at him dating younger women earlier. She says it's all a bit much. Then it cuts to her in her kitchen talking to Mark. Yea...Sheldon wasn't feeling her comment and sent her home! Mark tells her women don't realize the power of their words and suggests she reach out to Sheldon soon.
Kara goes home because of texts she was receiving from her mother. Her mother is concerned about her father and sister. Her father is talking about selling their house per her sister's advice. Her mom says she asked Kara to come, because she's tired of them ganging up on her and she's not selling the house. (Anyone remember when Kara's sister had a show on Nickelodeon? #80sBabies) Kara talks to her father the next day. He tells her he thinks she hates him, because she never comes around. Then Kara tells him they are so much alike, because they want to win no matter want. She then offers to give him however much he needs, knowing he must be in debt to a bookie and that's why he's talking about selling the house. But he had already signed over the deed to the bookie. He's been paying the bookie rent from their savings, but now it's just about tapped out. He doesn't want to have to tell her mother, so Kara decides to pay the rent for her father.
Back at the office, MJ keeps trying to type a text to Sheldon and has to get help from Mark. He suggests a simple apology. Then the wait game begins.
Later in the bathroom, MJ encounters Cynthia. Cynthia calmly reveals to MJ that she knows the network is planning on replacing her with MJ. Then she walks out. Later, Kara and MJ discuss MJ's decision to move forward with the Primetime opportunity. She just wants to enjoy where she's at instead of chasing another dream.
Then the wait game ends with a simple, "Thanks." Yep, 24 hours for him to reply with "Thanks." Men! So MJ decides to show up at his place unannounced to apologize again, and he's just as nonchalant as his text. He tells her He will call her tomorrow. Awww... :*(
Time for hour 2!!!
MJ is woken up by her house alarm going off, but the cops don't find an intruder when they come. She can't get back to sleep though. so she asks Sheldon if she can come over, because she's scared. Too soon? He lets her come over. He was up perusing his collection of love letters between slaves. (I want Sheldon for myself...does he exist in real life? LOL). She gets into bed, and he asks her to move to the other side of the bed. Then he proceeds to go back downstairs to finish reading. And when she wakes up he's not there. He left her a wrapped toothbrush (ummm...ok. How many does he have and why) with a note that says "Good morning." She places the toothbrush in his toothbrush holder and gets back in his bed. When he comes upstairs he behaves oblivious to her positioning in the bed for his attention. He just asks if she's hungry. While he's finishing up the food, he asks if she's checking on her alarm system, because he's concerned for her. Which leads to her asking if they are in a relationship. He said he's been operating as though they are, and she asks when he was going to tell her. He said he didn't think he needed to say it. Aww...And about that toothbrush...she asks him if he moved her toothbrush, and he tells her to get another one out of the cabinet. Yea, I'm still giving side eye to this toothbrush situation. Then MJ gets a call from Val about a restaurant. She then asks MJ if David called, because David put his dog down due to him being sick for a while. Sheldon asks if MJ was okay, and she tells him she found out her ex had to put his dog down and she knows it is devastating for him. Sheldon suggests she calls him to make sure he's okay, and MJ asks him why he would encourage her to call her ex. He asked why wouldn't he, noting she would feel better to know he's okay and her ex would feel good that she checked on him. Then once again, back to those toothbrushes, he has a jar full of them. See...I knew it!
The next day Cynthia goes to MJ to vent about the network not letting her leave with dignity. They won't let her sign off live. She has to do a taped sign off.
Back at her parents house, the family (and Lisa) is celebrating PJ's graduation. MJ is in the kitchen negotiating her contract after the warning she got from Cynthia. Patrick's other daughter, Naima, announces that she is engaged and moving to North Carolina with her girls. Patrick doesn't seem to take it too well. And Niecey doesn't seem too thrilled either. Then Lisa goes into the kitchen where MJ is. The conversation is barely cordial. MJ tells Lisa she's sorry her mom asked Lisa to get the cake, because she told her mom she could get the cake. Lisa asks MJ if she knew David's dog died. MJ gave a short affirmative response. And that was the end the conversation.
Back at Sheldon's, MJ walks in. Sheldon asks how she got in, and she said she used the code she saw his driver use. When she asks if it's a problem, he says no, but his tone suggests otherwise. Then MJ gets a call as she slips off her shoes. She tells Kara, on the other end, "I just got home." The look Sheldon gives her and her shoes...Then he picks up her shoes and purse, that she just left in the kitchen, and puts them away with an annoyed look on his face. Then it gets worse...she pees in his bed! He asks her if she has a medical or psychiatric issue. She says no, and he asks if it has happened before. She says no again. She claims it's about the dog, then she takes it back. And he tells her he knows it's not about a dog, it's about her still loving her ex. He then tells her she needs to talk to her ex before it becomes an issue in their new relationship.
Niecey and her grandma have a conversation about her feelings. She says she's happy for her sister, but she's crying. And her grandma tells her sometimes it's hard seeing others move on when you're stuck in the quicksand.
Back at Sheldon's, MJ finally asks Sheldon about throwing out her toothbrush every night. He says he's just particular and set in his ways. He says her toothbrush symbolizes something he doesn't believe in, cohabitation. And MJ asks him if he doesn't want to get married or have kids. And Sheldon said no to both! She asks what they are doing then, and he said he didn't think their relationship was at the place where they needed to have that convo. She then pointed out that he knew she froze her eggs! But he claims he thought it was just a tv gimmick. He said he thought he could introduce her to his lifestyle. He also states they haven't even had sex. When she counters with he hasn't made a move, he comes back with the question of when could he between her dealing with her feelings for her ex and her peeing in the bed. OUCH! MJ then speaks the truth...women can't ask men if they want marriage and kids, b/c then we are labeled crazy. But then we just dance around it hoping maybe he does want those things. Sheldon isn't willing to sacrifice his independence for marriage and kids, and she doesn't want to waste her time. He then hit her with what they had going had her coming back every night. And she goes on a mini rant about the limited options for older women. He then suggests she has a baby with a donor and they continue dating, or if things go well they get their own condos on the same floor, or he gets a compound...yea I'm with MJ...she might be in the Twilight Zone! He says his theory is the separate homes work b/c you know when you're together it's b/c you both want to be together and not b/c you're obligated to b/c you live together. I'm not going to lie, that does kinda make sense. However, I'm still with MJ and her decision to get her things and leave. Afterall, the point of commitment is to commit to stay even when you might not want to. No need to commit to stay if you want to stay, right? But did he have to say that she knows with her history with men what he is offering is probably the best offer she will get?! I don't know what's worse, that he's become such an ass and I was so #TeamSheldonandMJ, or that I know guys who are just like him! MJ let's him know she will never settle for anything less than what she wants and deserves. Take notes, ladies!
Back at home, MJ calls David and gets his voicemail. After a few attempts at recording a voicemail, she leaves a simple one saying she's sorry to hear about him having to put his dog down and was there if he needed to talk.
Cynthia tapes her farewell for her final show as MJ and Kara celebrate with champagne in the back.
Lisa goes to David's house to return some of his dog's things from when she watched the dog. His fiance is off flying somewhere.
Back at the office, MJ gets a phone call from Sheldon. He offers an apology, saying he knew what she wanted but thought he could show her his way. She tells him she doesn't want him to apologize, because one of the things she liked about him was that he was so honest. She sticks with what she wants, and it's almost like Sheldon didn't expect her to. He says the relationship started and ended on the phone. So guess that's it for #TeamSheldonandMJ. But at least MJ seems good with it.
Meanwhile, back at David's, Lisa is washing his dishes and cooking with an apron on. She tells him she's been officially diagnosed with depression and that he's one of her triggers. And he seems genuinely surprised and proceeds to ask her why he is a trigger for her depression. She talks to him as if he knows she has romantic feelings for him, but he seems like he never knew she had more than feelings as friends. His face though! LOL. She then tells him she wants to tell MJ. We still don't know what it is she wants to tell MJ...and David accidentally butt dials MJ (or "Her" as he has her labeled in his phone). Lisa and David go back and forth about how she gave him oral sex, let him crash with her after his breakup with MJ, took care of his dog while he was gone, and gave him $50,000 for his company. Wow! So Lisa isn't just obsessed with a friend who started dating a friend of hers, it looks like he may have led her on for his own benefit. She's convinced he knew about her feelings for him, and suggests he feels just as guilty as she does and that's why he's never told MJ about all of that stuff. Of course MJ now knows about all of that stuff!
Then a car starts honking at MJ b/c the light that she's at turned green, and when David and Lisa hear the horn they realize MJ was on his phone. MJ is then seen driving off and gets in a horrible car accident!
That's it! That's how it ends! Sheldon is gone. Lisa wasn't delusional. MJ is finally on primetime, but now she'll have to recover from a horrible accident.