Hit or Miss: Peacock's 'The Best Man: The Final Chapters'

Malcolm D. Lee, the writer and director of The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday, is returning to the much-loved franchise to lead a limited series with the vast majority of the original cast members returning to their roles. Peacock’s The Best Man: The Final Chapters is an eight episode comedy drama limited series that follows the characters from the original film and its sequel as they find themselves reunited in midlife for a wedding that brings up past grievances and new conflicts but also strengthens enduring ties of friendship. In the series’ latest trailer, returning fans and first time viewers alike get a taste of the challenges and triumphs in store for the beloved characters involved. 

The trailer opens with Quentin Spivey— one of the ensemble cast’s returning main characters and portrayed by Terrence Howard (Empire, Crash)— announcing his engagement to be married, much to the surprise of his old friends Harper Stewart and Lance Sullivan, played by Taye Diggs (Murder in the First, Rent) and Morris Chestnut (Rosewood, Boyz n the Hood), respectively. Quentin’s wedding sets off a chain of events that leads the friends that fans fell in love with from the movies back together again. “It’s going to be just like old times,” predicts Harold Perrineau (Claws, Romeo + Juliet) as Julian “Murch” Murchinson before adding, “Only better.”

Next, a title card tells viewers that the series comes “From the creator of The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday and executive producer of Insecure.” The attributions are followed by a short clip of Diggs’ Harper in conversation with his literary agent. The agent tells him that a Hollywood studio is looking to adapt a film based on the book that made him famous, Unfinished Business, the publication of which became the catalyst for much of the drama in the original film. 

Harper’s friends have mixed reactions to the news. Jordan Armstrong, played by Nia Long (Made in America, NCIS: Los Angeles), celebrates the announcement and encourages him by musing, “Our carefree college days on full display. I love it!” Harper’s wife, Robyn, played by Sanaa Lathan (The Affair, The Perfect Man), is less enthusiastic, cautiously reminding him “That book caused a lot of drama.” Diggs, Chestnut, Howard, Perrineau, Long and Lathan are joined in the new series by fellow returning cast members Regina Hall (Girl’s Trip, Nine Perfect Strangers) and Melissa De Sousa (Ladies of the Law, Miss Congeniality) who play Candy Sparks and Shelby, respectively. 

Throughout the trailer, viewers are given sporadic glimpses of the friends enjoying each other’s company in various settings. Harper and Jordan chat over drinks at an elegant New York restaurant, the group toasts to each other upon reuniting, and the guys discuss plans for the future over a spirited game of poker. Hinting at things to come, Shelby mentions to Candy excitedly, “Get your popcorn ready.” 

At one point, Harper and Murch are shown trying to convince a defeated Lance to get back on his feet and turn his life around (the second film in the franchise concluded with the death of his wife, Mia, whom Lance originally married in the first intallment). Harper beseeches his friend, “You need a change of scenery. So come with us to Quentin’s wedding.” Murch also offers encouragement, promising that attending the event is “Guaranteed to put a smile on your face.” 

Eventually, the trailer shows viewers that the friends do indeed make it to the destination wedding. On a yacht, Jordan pops a bottle of champagne and Harper and Robyn share a loving kiss on board. A title card then flashes that reads “They’ve had good times,” followed fairly soon thereafter by another one that reads, “And bad times.”

Next, the trailer cuts to Jordan and Lance discussing the latter’s future prospects as a former pro-baller and current rudderless retiree. “Find something you’re passionate about,” Jordan advises him. “Redefine your purpose.” The sequence then cuts to a scene where Lance, Harper, Quentin, and Murch  sit around a poker table. In response to Jordan’s advice, Quentin jokingly replies, “I thought you found your purpose with that perfume commercial.” Quentin’s comment which is followed by a montage of outtakes from said commercial that sees Lance continuously fumble his lines while trying to exude sexiness. 

The men aren’t the only ones with the quips. De Sousa’s Shelby is depicted trying to comfort Hall’s Candy by relating to her struggles as a mother. “I know what it’s like to be a tired, overworked, exhausted Mom,” the affluent Shelby proclaims. “Wait,” Candy replies, “Don’t you have like three nannies?” Shelby’s face drops and she shoots back challengingly, “It takes a village.” 

Returning to title cards, the trailer promises audiences that “The best times are yet to come.” Subsequently, the eight principal cast members are credited one by one. Through voice over narration, Harper can be heard reflecting “Life doesn’t always go the way we expect. But if we’re lucky, we end up where we’re supposed to.” 

Near the end of the preview, viewers are given another taste of the comedic hijinks to come in the comedy drama. Candy and Murch sit across from Harper and Robyn at a restaurant when Candy confesses she’s looking forward to some husband and wife time with Murch. “Are you two going to have sex?” their elder daughter asks tauntingly. “What’s sex?” their younger daughter retorts to which Murch quickly responds by saying it’s “A really yummy dessert.” “Can I have sex?” The youngest wonders aloud, leaving Murch speechless and Harper and Robyn chuckling. 

A final title card announces that The Best Man: The Final Chapters is a Peacock original and will be available to stream starting Dec. 22. Before the trailer concludes, a final scene is shown wherein Jordan discusses Harper’s book adaptation and says to him, “Do you know who I want to play me?” 

“Who?” Harper asks. “Beyonce,” Jordan says with a twinkle in her eye, “Get you coins together brother.” 

Ultimately, the new limited series inspired by The Best Man and The Best Man Holiday seems like it will give fans a worthy follow-up to the first part of the franchise. While the characters and their dynamic will have to readjust to the limited series format, given its impressive powerhouse cast, the series should have no problem delivering solid performances and striking the right balance between both its comedic and dramatic elements. Without giving away too much, the trailer seems to boast the makings of a hit. 

The Best Man: The Final Chapters was developed for television by Malcolm D. Lee and Dayna Lynn North and was inspired by characters created by Lee in the franchise’s original film and its prequel. Lee directed and wrote both 1999’s The Best Man and 2013’s The Best Man Holiday and in more recent times helmed 2017’s Girl’s Trip, 2018’s Night School, and 2021’s Harlem. North is a writer and producer known for her work on Veronica Mars, Insecure, and One Of Us Is Lying.The Best Man: The Final Chapters will premiere on Peacock and is available to stream on Dec. 22.