Being Mary Jane aired it’s 5th episode last Tuesday and I finally got around to checking it out.

[Sidebar: Is it me? Or has Mary Jane Paul (Gabrielle Union) recovered from her horrific facial injuries at the speed of light???]

Anywhoo… this week’s episode is titled ‘Hot Seat‘ and starts where we left off last week with Mary Jane Paul fighting for her position at SNC with the help of Jessie Jackson’s Rainbow Coalition.

[FLASHBACK: RECAP: Being Mary Jane Season 3, Episode 4 + Watch Full Video]

BET Synopsis:

When SNC decides to keep Marisol in the Primetime seat, Mary Jane’s tenacity will lead her to explore unconventional methods… as Niecy’s rift with Patrick continues, she’ll reach out to her mother…

Let’s see what we learned this week from episode 5 of Being Mary Jane….

Read recap + watch full episode below…

VIDEO: Being Mary Jane, Season 3, Episode 5 ‘Hot Seat’

Hostile Negotiations…

Being Mary Jane’s Episode 5 starts with Mary Jane confronting her boss, Greg, about when she can return to work. Mary Jane quickly points out that it is her show and her audience but Greg reminds her that it is not her show but SNC’s show and Marisol stays. Mary Jane claps back: Alright, you make your move, I’ll make mine.

Mary Jane decides to play her “black card” and makes a sizeable contribution to the Rainbow Push Coalition before calling to speak with the its founder, the Right Reverend Jesse Jackson. We then see Mary Jane and Rainbow Push’s reps at the bargaining table with Greg, who immediately explains that his decision is not a racial issue. After a lot of blah blah racial – this, we would love to discuss our position – that, the Rainbow Push guy said that they wanted Mary Jane back on the air between 3 and 6 weeks. Oh, naw, this was not what MJ paid for!

The Rainbow Push guy explains that it is a process and it takes time. “I gave you $5,000 for the cause!” Mary Jane wanted her job back immediately. As a result of their ineffective negotiation tactics, Rainbow Push had $5,000 less for the cause, as MJ stopped payment on the check.

“So what? We just join hands and sing We Shall Overcome and hope they give us a seat on the bus? Who has time for that?” – Mary Jane Paul

Mary Jane walks out of the building and tells the paparazzi that she will be back on the air on Monday and Monday she was back on the air. With no scar I might add….  But I digress.

“The question isn’t who is going to let me; it’s who is going to stop me.” – Ayn Rand

Introducing Mama Jackie aka Nicki Minaj’s dancer’s hairstylist aka Jill Scott…

It seems that Niecy has started feeling herself since she is now gainfully employed and there is tension between daughter and daddy.

After a tense father/daughter disagreement, we see Niecy on the phone with her mother who says she is on the way.

Niecy’s mother, Jackie (Jill Scott) is revealed. Jackie starts to see that Niecy still has a lot of growing up to do and finds very common ground with Patrick.

“Just because they hit it once they can hit it again” – Mama Jackie

Mary Jane Makes ‘Love in The Club’…

Mary Jane meets Mark in what looks like an ‘anything goes’ kinda nightclub.  She passes all types of activity on her way to the bar, cocaine snorting, pill popping, bumping and grinding… All of which causes Mary Jane’s mouth to fly open. “Are we in a sex club?” she asks.

Mark explains that it’s just a club free of paparazzi and everybody feels ‘safe’ to do whatever they please…  you know, like those ‘after hours’ spots downtown? (I wouldn’t know tho…)

Mary Jane confides in Mark about how faithful and reliable her “cutty buddy” has become and Mark quickly shoots her down and reminds her that “Cutty Buddy” is strictly for sex!  Adding that she needs to work on herself and let ‘Mr. Right’ find her.

After a deep inquiry about gay sex preferences, we find out that Mark is a Top and NEVER a bottom; Mark also schools MJ on ‘NSA’ (no strings attached) sex and explains how easy it is for gay men to get their rocks out without an emotional attachment.

Mark asks MJ that if she would consider a one night stand and we see a brief flash of a desirable Caucasian gentleman sitting at the bar. (Personally, I think it was a play on the subliminal because I didn’t see him at first. Did you? I had to rewind…. But I digress.)

Fast forward to the same paparazzi free club days later… MJ and Kara plan a  girl’s night out in celebration of Mary Jane’s return to the airwaves, but Kara can’t make it.  In walks the desirable Caucasian guy that was sitting at the bar the first time MJ visited the club. Remember him? ‘Subliminal man’?

This time, MJ takes Mark’s advice.   She and the desirable caucasian stranger get well acquainted at the paparazzi free club!

“Come on girl, you know you just want a man to just blow your back out! Boom!” – Mark

While Mary Jane’s love life seems to be picking up, her career is still at a questionable stand-still as Kara reveals the ratings for her television return… they came in dead last!

Kara seems to think their right on target with their demographic, but things aren’t looking too good.

This week’s episode ends with Mary Jane actually reflecting on her issues alone at her pool.  All things considered, things are going pretty well with or without a man in her life.  MJ reflects on the weeks events (and probably ‘Cutty Buddy’ too) as she enjoyed a cuban cigar as the credits rolled.

What did you think of this week’s issue of Being Mary Jane?