After three seasons of a loveless Mary Jane Paul (Gabrielle Union), the writers of the BET show clearly heard our cries to see the high-powered television anchor happy. And, episode six was filled with a lot of happy.
It started off with a thrown ice ball that gave MJ the perfect motivation to get out of dodge. Kara (Lisa Vidal), in her metaphorical producer’s cape, saves the day with the perfect opportunity: covering the Racial Justice Coalition’s annual Thurgood Marshall event in Atlanta.
Kara locked in the coverage thanks to her budding relationship with Orlando Lagos (Nicholas Gonzalez) that’s translating into office perks.
To Atlanta they go!
MJ is welcomed by the family and instead of staying at the Ritz Carlton, she opts to spend the weekend at home to help with her nephew Treyvion (Matthew Johnson). Niecey (Raven Goodwin) notes that he’s still having nightmares and has progressed to biting kids in school.
Not long after MJ drops her bag, Lee surprises her by showing up at her front door. The family welcomes him, but (as many of us can relate to) he’s relegated to sleep in the living room. And at the dinner table, Niecey grills him on his intentions with MJ and her parents share what “sidity” and hog head cheese is.
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While MJ gets press credentials, Lee continues to bond with the family. After, MJ takes him to the drive-in theater where she had many firsts. Later that night, a secret hook up goes south when Mrs. Patterson (Margaret Avery) catches him naked. It’s a classic meet the family vibe that gives us the feels.
Mrs. Patterson thinks this is a good time to question MJ on her relationship with Lee, who she finds out is serious about being with her daughter. Meanwhile, Lee bonds over making hog head cheese with Mr. Patterson (Richard Roundtree).
“That’s why I make this,” he says, explaining the family tradition of hog head cheese to Lee. “My kids think it’s nasty. But it reminds me of my papa and all the things he went through to give us a better life.”
Lee also helps Niecey with Treyvion by sending out a funny tweet —that’s liked by Beyonce— and suggesting therapy.
At the main event, MJ interviews Andrew Young, Dr. CT Vivian and Mayor Kasim Reed before coming in and betting that she can sit with the rumored new Supreme Court nominee. Lee helps her get a sit down with the judge, that angers her old station rival Vlad.
Vlad, the perturbed rival, proceeds to tell Lee that MJ is selfish and only dates ballers. “They do change. But not for very long,” he says in his attempt to scare Lee. MJ loses the judge’s attention to Vlad but gets his wife instead, who will convince judge to give MJ an exclusive. After, Vlad comes over, throws money at MJ and says, “She’s tough, she can take it” while licking his lips.
Lee punches him in defense of MJ, who we’ve never seen so proud of her man.
They head back to ‘the parking lot of firsts’ and recreate their first sexual encounter, where Lee asks, “Tell me what you want?”
“I want you to tell me you love me,” MJ says.
“I love you,” he says.
“I love you too,” MJ responds.
While sharing old mementos, Mrs. Patterson tells MJ that she should cherish Lee. “This Lee, he just might be the one. Just don’t mess it up,” she says. “You can have it all. Remember that.”
The episode closes with Lee inviting the family to his show, where he asks Mrs. Patterson to sing in honor of a friend who passed. It all feels perfect. Hopefully this feeling continues.