The Best Man: Final Chapters — My Take
The final installment of The Best Man comedy-drama series created by Malcolm D. Lee aired on Peacock in December of 2022, and what a fitting ending to a franchise that began 23 years ago. I enjoyed The Best Man: The Final Chapters so much that I went back and re-watched The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday before watching the series–again. It was frustrating, funny, and oh-so messy–like real life. And I was there for all the drama experiencing a range of emotions as I watched Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Julian, Candace, Shelby, and Quentin navigate their way through the twists and turns of life.
Harper was selfish from Day One. Julian/Murch was right when he told Harper that whenever Harper had a chance to do the right thing or choose himself, he always chose himself. Unfinished Business wasn’t just the title of Harper’s first book. It was the title of his life because he was always chasing more–more money, more clout, more space, more love even. And Robyn was never going to be enough for Harper because he loved the idea of Jordan. But Jordan and Harper were too much alike. Their careers always came first, so I doubt that they would have lasted as a couple even though they both tried to rekindle what they thought they missed.
Robyn was tired of slaving over the hot stove of commitment for Harper’s lukewarm love, so when the heat went out in the house, so did the heat in their marriage. And Robyn had to find her happily ever after which turned out to be in Ghana much to Harper’s dismay. I wasn’t mad at Robyn for letting go of what was, but I didn’t agree with her taking out Mia of the country without talking to Harper first. Robyn was dead wrong, and Harper had every right to file for joint custody.
Jordan was like so many successful women–smart in business, but dumb in love. Jordan drew a hardline with all of the men in her life–except Harper. Harper was married with a child and Jordan still allowed him to finagle his way back into her heart when she could have closed the door long time ago. Fortunately for Jordan, Shelby could see right through Jordan’s facade and forced her to be honest with herself even if she wasn’t being honest with anyone else.
Even though Shelby and Jordan were friends, Shelby also liked Robyn, and she didn’t condone Robyn sneaking around with Jordan which was ironic seeing as that Shelby solicited Candace’s help to lure Quentin away from Xiomara Amani when Shelby showed up uninvited to the wedding.
After the death of his wife, a heartbroken Lance reverted to his whorish ways while preaching to his son about being obedient to God. Lance was the poster child of toxic masculinity. He believed that there was only one way to be a man and he wanted that for LJ. His namesake; his legacy. LJ was not trans. He was nonbinary and lived along the spectrum of gender. His sexuality was not revealed.
It was a good storyline because it shined the spotlight on non-binary people. People who don’t fit neatly into the categories defined by society, belong to us. They don’t fall out of the sky. So, I appreciate the storyline opening up the conversation. I’m also glad that in the end, Lance found love again with Jasmine.
Julian/Murch was in many ways the opposite of Lance. He was more sensitive and less traditional than his buddies, and sometimes he struggled to find his place. Julian/Murch felt unseen and unheard. He was frustrated and angry and needed an outlet, and he found it.
Candace had a lot going on, but she managed to handle it all without being a stereotypical strong Black woman. I knew her adviser was up to no good, and I was afraid that given her past, Candace was going to just let the issue slide, but she pleasantly surprised me by standing up for herself. Some people are over the Me Too Movement, but girls and women are harassed daily, so kudos to the movie for addressing such a critical issue.
I loved Julian and Candace as a couple. Her goofiness was in perfect alignment with his quirkiness. The two of them struggled to find balance between running their schools, Candace’s Ph.D. work, raising their daughters, and finding time for themselves individually and as a couple, but they made it work.
Who knew I would be Team Shelby? Shelby was a selfish, self-centered egomaniac from Day One. She was in some ways, the female version of Harper because she wanted what she wanted with no regard for anyone else. But Shelby matured after being humiliated by Quentin. She just knew that that last stunt at the bachelor party would send him running back to her and not her slinking off to the airport in the wee hours of the morning.
Quentin was hilarious and also a keen observer who gave great advice when it came to everyone except himself. He was damn near standing at the altar when he realized that the woman he really loved would be gone from his life forever if he didn’t do something fast. Harper wasn’t feeling the relationship between Quentin and Xiomara so he had no issue whatsoever with taking Quentin to the airport to stop Shelby from getting on the plane. As toxic as they started out, Shelby and Quentin were made for each other. She was definitely the yen to his yang.
The Best Man Final Chapter addressed a multitude of issues such as identity, legacy, aging, sexual harassment, racism, and other issues not mentioned. Life happens that way with multiple things happening at the same time. I love the way they supported each other in good times and bad. It was a true testament to the necessity and the beauty of real friendship. We should all be so blessed to have friends like this.