In July 2013, BET took a major gamble in premiering their first ever hour long drama, 'Being Mary Jane'. Led by Gabrielle Union, the show follows news anchor, Mary Jane Paul, through her rising broadcasting career, complicated familial situations, and messy love life. It was refreshing at a time when there was only one other show led by a Black woman protagonist. (Olivia Carolyn Pope was just starting to storm through the White House.)

The show lasted four seasons and was able to wrap up with a series finale despite Mara Brock Akil's departure, a change in pace and setting from Atlanta to New York, and behind the scenes drama between Union and BET over compensation disputes. Things got messy up until the very end (that finale...)and HTMR looks back on the series which resonated with us.