"The Best Man: The Final Chapters": One For the Books

I have been a big fan of The Best Man film series since the first film in the series was released back in 1999. I saw the first two films in the series in theaters when they first came out and this series has been one of my favorites ever since.

The series comes from one of my favorite screenwriters, Malcolm D. Lee, the cousin of one of my other all time favorite screenwriters, Spike Lee. When I heard that Malcolm Lee was working on his closing project to conclude the series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters I was very excited. When the series premiered on December 22, 2022 for the network Peacock, fans were given a true gift for the holidays that not only sent the year out with a bang, but The Best Man series as well.

The series picks up one year after the events of The Best Man: Holiday (2013). The tight-knit friend group of acclaimed author, Harper Stewart is slowly learning how to find their respective footings in the aftermath of the death of their near and dear to the heart friend, Mia Sullivan. A lot of this plays out in the form of Mia's widow and best friend to Harper Stewart, Lance Sullivan, falling back into his former playboy ways which predated his relationship with Mia, while also struggling to raise and understand his children as a single father. Harper Stewart and his wife Robin are coming into their own as parents and start to learn just how different they are from one another. Quentin Spivey has seemingly found love with a woman named Xiomara Amani, but cannot get over his attachment to former fling, Shelby Taylor who is also very much still attached to him.

Julian "Murch" Murchison and his wife Candice continue to thrive in their careers as educators, but struggle with their securities as individuals while trying to maintain composure in their family life. Jordan Armstrong, the former love interest and close friend of Harper Stewart is coming to terms with her addiction to being a work-o-holic when it starts to take a toll on her health and at the same time she is struggling with an unhealthy romantic life. As we witness the impending journey of the core group of friends we also get to watch their children's journey as well. Through the eyes of both the parents and the children we are brought closer to the children as we watch them come of age and deal with issues related to responsibility and identity.

These final chapters definitely did not pull any punches. As the audience we witness heartbreak and discord among Harper Stewart's chosen family like never before. Relationships are tested and bonds are wounded in ways that are genuinely heartbreaking. I truly felt like I was watching friction between some of my own friends with the challenges that unfolded between one of my favorite fictional circle of friends. Perhaps the most interesting reality that we as the viewers have to come to terms with is the flaws of Harper Stewart himself. The first two films in the series gives us an impressionable demonstration of Harper's self centered ways, but in these final chapters we get a more broad exploration of how his self centered ways have impacted his inner circle. I am not saying this series will love you any less, but you may want to smack him and tell him you wish he made better choices.

Though these final chapters pack an entertaining sense of drama, one cannot leave out how equally heartwarming this series is with its positivity. The factor that makes these final chapters so triumphantly heartwarming is not the finality of eradicating every conflict that exist, but just simply learning to smile through all the pain and misery, not as an act of endurance, but overcoming the rain you cannot stop. There are so many great moments where the characters may not always agree, even on the heaviest of problems, but they still agree to meet each other half and find common ground out of love. This bond of love also expresses itself best with moments of the characters standing by each other, not with the capability of being able to solve each other's issues, but with the declaration of letting it be known that they will always be there to comfort one another no matter how bad the storms of life may seem.

The final chapters of The Best Man may very well be it's most defining. Malcolm Lee sends the series out with a bang of healing and love through conflict and amazing story. As a lifelong fan of The Best Man I can definitely say this is one for the books.