Looking to take a hit at a new show while Broad City is between seasons? MTV’s Mary+Jane may be exactly what you have been craving. Created by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont, who also worked together on 2001’s girl cult classic Josie and The Pussycats, and produced by the one and only Snoop Dogg, this show follows two women in their 20s working to make it big in Los Angeles' legal marijuana industry. The show stars Jessica Rothe as the hesitant and innocent Paige and Scout Durwood as the explicit and raunchy Jordan, and follows them on their quest to top the green 15, a list of L.A.’s top weed dealers. Filled with witty lady banter and satirical hipster clichés, Mary+Jane is a truly top shelf show. Not sure if this show will meet your high expectations? Here are five reasons why Mary+Jane will be your new best buds.
1. Feminism is a Central Theme Throughout the Show
This show is absolutely jam packed with feminist puns and themes. In particular, during the second episode “Girl on Gurl” Paige encounters a biking feminist literature delivery woman who sheds light on internalized misogyny by requiring Paige to give her a quarter every time she apologizes or uses the word “just” to put down another female. Later on in episode 2, Paige gets so high that she begins experiencing hallucinations and has a sex dream about being fingered by Susan B. Anthony. In the following episode, the pair head to a bridal shower but not before getting their vaginas high with a mysterious THC enriched lubricant. In true comedic fashion, the pair apply way too much of the lube, despite receiving warnings, and soon discover that they are able to communicate with their own vaginas and hear the thoughts of other women’s lady bits. Hilarity soon ensues as secrets are spread through slippery lips but in the end, Jordan realizes that the only way to get back on her cooch’s good side is to convince other women to respect their own vaginas first. Therefore a show that explicitly centers on vagina humor and dismantling the patriarchy should be at the top of everyone’s list.
2. It Sheds Light on Polyamory and Sex Positivity
The character of Jordan may remind fans of Ilana Wexler from Broad City, however, even Ilana would blush over Jordan’s sex life. The character of Jordan identifies as a bisexual (or pansexual/queer, the jury is still out) and polyamorous woman who engages in sexual activity with men, women, and couples. In the second episode, Jordan is in a sexual fling (not a relationship, she makes that clear) with a married couple, whom soon begin to compete to see who can please Jordan more with multiple orgasms and expensive gifts. Jordan doesn’t filter her sexual behavior with her partners or her friends in the show, instead embracing her sex positivity with full feminist force. Get it girl!
3. It Pokes Fun at Hipster Culture
If you ever wondered what would happen if Broad City, Portlandia, and Weeds had a three-way? It would result in Mary+Jane. The show is built around insulting hipsters, particularly bougie white stoners. There countless satirical jabs at hipster culture, from trendy pop-up restaurants to street artist/ DJ heartthrobs, it’s a runny mess of exaggerated imitation of millennial culture.
4. It Portrays Women in the Marijuana Industry
CAN I GET AN AMEN FOR LADY STONERS! Finally, after the long awaited hiatus from Weeds, it’s about damn time that someone made a show for women who smoke weed. Although Weeds was fantastic and introduced the world to the badass and beautiful Mary Louise Parker, her character Nancy wasn’t much of a pothead, just a fierce businesswoman. Men already have so many ganja icons, from Tommy Chong and Cheech Marin to Seth Rogan and James Franco, but where are all the female potheads? It’s insane that in 2016 there is still somewhat of a stigma that women shouldn’t be stoners and that smoking, in general, is not a ladylike activity, and I think it’s about time that more ladies stepped up to the plate...bowl.
5. It Shows a New Side To Stoners
It’s time for everyone to get out of their heads that stoners are lazy, unmotivated, and unfunny. Or just let the ladies of Mary+Jane convince you otherwise. Sure, the cast runs into their fair share of antics, however, as stoners, they are also motivated entrepreneurs and budding feminist role models. It’s time that stoners stop being portrayed in the media as low life because that stereotype couldn’t be further from the truth. Just look at some real-life stoners — Woody Harrelson, Natalie Portman, Seth Rogan, Rihanna, Whoopi Goldberg, Brad Pitt, Morgan, Freeman, and James Franco, just to name a few — who are killing it and enjoying a toke or two. We are entering into a new era where stoners are slowly beginning to shed their bad wrap and it’s about damn time!
So stay tuned in for new episodes of Mary+Jane which air at 10pm EST on MTV, you won’t want to let this show go up in smoke.
Photos Courtesy of MTV
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