Persons Report filed by Portia A . Cosby
If you ’ ve been an avid watcher of BET ’ s Being Mary Jane , you may know where I ’ m going with this . I ’ d like to know where I must go to file a Missing Persons Report on Mary Jane Paul . She ’ s been missing since the end of last season , and I ’ m concerned .
As a lover of the written word , I appreciate great writing whether it is within the lyrics of a song or the pages of a novel or screenplay . No television show can be great unless its writing is relatable and purposeful . This is true whether we ’ re talking about a drama or comedy . From Episode 1 of Being Mary Jane ’ s first season , I was all in . I related to her as a Black , single , professional woman living in Atlanta . Mary Jane was flawed , successful , witty , and in search of love . She made bad decisions , but they were within the context of where she was at that point in her life .
Week after week , I tuned in to see what happened next with her latest relationship or what hilarious conversations she would have with her girlfriends . I grew to love and sometimes hate some of the supporting cast and was interested in what they were up to . But about halfway through Season 3 , the show felt ... different . The heart and soul was missing . The storylines felt rushed or incomplete and I stared at the television screen after the season finale like , “ Um . That ’ s it ?”
Enter Season 4 , which is airing now . I don ’ t know who this woman is , but I want Mary Jane Paul back – the one who had a good heart but occasionally had cuddle buddies , fell for a married man , read her best friend for filth , and provided financial help to her struggling family members through gritted teeth . This woman that shows up on my screen now is not her . What pains me most is that she may never return . The absence of the show ’ s showrunner / writer / producer , Mara Brock Akil is surely felt . This show was her baby , her vision ... wait . . .
I think I ’ ve solved my dilemma ! I don ’ t need to file a report . The real Mary Jane Paul left with Mara Brock Akil .