# The Best Man: The Final Chapters
**The Best Man: The Final Chapters** is an American comedy-drama limited television series that premiered with all eight episodes on the streaming service [Peacock](https://www.edgepedia.org/peacock-streaming-service) on December 22, 2022, concluding the story of the college friends first introduced in [Malcolm D. Lee](https://www.edgepedia.org/malcolm-d-lee)'s 1999 film *The Best Man*.[1](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-best-man-the-final-chapters-stars-say-goodbye-to-their-beloved-characters/) Created by Lee and writer Dayna Lynne North, the series is based on the Universal film franchise that Lee wrote and directed, comprising *The Best Man* (1999) and *The Best Man Holiday* (2013).[2](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/rapid-fire-best-man-final-chapters) The series revisits Harper, Robyn, Jordan, Lance, Quentin, Shelby, Candace, and Murch while their relationships change and old wounds come back to light, in what the show's synopsis describes as "midlife crisis meets midlife renaissance."[2](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/rapid-fire-best-man-final-chapters)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Format | Eight-episode limited series; all episodes released December 22, 2022 on Peacock[1](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-best-man-the-final-chapters-stars-say-goodbye-to-their-beloved-characters/) |
| Creators | Malcolm D. Lee (director, executive producer) and Dayna Lynne North (writer, executive producer)[2](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/rapid-fire-best-man-final-chapters) |
| Franchise background | *The Best Man* (1999) and *The Best Man Holiday* (2013) together earned more than $100 million worldwide[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man) |
| Principal cast | Morris Chestnut (Lance), Taye Diggs (Harper), Nia Long (Jordan), Sanaa Lathan (Robyn), Regina Hall (Candace), Harold Perrineau (Murch), Terrence Howard (Quentin), Melissa De Sousa (Shelby)[4](https://epguides.com/BestManTheFinalChapters/) |
| Reception | 91% Tomatometer on Rotten Tomatoes (11 reviews) and 92% audience score; Metascore 60 on Metacritic; 8.1 on IMDb[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters) • [6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/) |
| Rating and runtime | TV-MA; individual episodes run roughly 41 to 56 minutes[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1) |
| Afterlife | Lee extended the franchise into a book trilogy, *The Best Man: Unfinished Business*, after the series[8](https://www.blackenterprise.com/malcolm-d-lee-the-best-man-unfinished-business/) |
## Spoilers
### Premise and characters
The series revisits the friend group from the 1999 film as they face midlife challenges of marriage, parenting, health, romance, work, and identity while they revisit and redefine their friendships.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters) Each principal character carries a distinct arc. Harper ([Taye Diggs](https://www.edgepedia.org/taye-diggs)) gets the opportunity to turn his book *Unfinished Business*, the thinly veiled novel about his friends that caused so much tension in the first film, into a movie as he aspires to elevate his literary standing and lifestyle.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man) Quentin ([Terrence Howard](https://www.edgepedia.org/terrence-howard)) gets married and struggles to take over the family business from his obstinate father; the identity of his intended, left unclear in the earlier films, is revealed at the start of the series, giving the show a wedding.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters) • [3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man)
The other arcs follow the women and remaining men of the group. Lance ([Morris Chestnut](https://www.edgepedia.org/morris-chestnut)) discovers new passions while facing difficult parenting challenges. Jordan ([Nia Long](https://www.edgepedia.org/nia-long)) struggles to find a work-life-love balance on her journey toward self-care. Candace ([Regina Hall](https://www.edgepedia.org/regina-hall)) and Murch (Harold Perrineau) reframe their relationship as she pursues higher education and he fights for respect. Robyn (Sanaa Lathan) searches for peace and her true place in the world, and Shelby (Melissa De Sousa) struggles to be taken seriously as more than a Real Housewife.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters)
### Episodes
All eight episodes, titled as "Chapters," were released on December 22, 2022.[4](https://epguides.com/BestManTheFinalChapters/)
1. "Chapter 1: Paradise" (53 min): Harper is Quentin's best man and seeks everyone's approval to turn his first book into a film.[4](https://epguides.com/BestManTheFinalChapters/) • [7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
2. "Chapter 2: The Wedding" (54 min): the friends face big life choices at Quentin's wedding.[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
3. "Chapter 3: Brown Girl Dreaming" (42 min): Harper wants to level up his life and career; Jordan gets creative at work; Lance seeks purpose.[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
4. "Chapter 4: The Invisible Man" (50 min): Lance makes a comeback as he encourages LJ; Quentin confronts his father over the family business.[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
5. "Chapter 5: The Party" (41 min): the [New Year](https://www.edgepedia.org/new-year) offers surprises for the group.[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
6. "Chapter 6: An American Marriage" (45 min): Harper's movie premiere stirs up old memories and creates new conflicts between friends and family.[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
7. "Chapter 7: Things Fall Apart" (42 min): after the premiere, the friends explore "what ifs" as they contend with unexpected realities.[7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
8. "Chapter 8: The Audacity of Hope" (56 min): the friends confront and support each other as they face life-altering work and family challenges.[4](https://epguides.com/BestManTheFinalChapters/) • [7](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
## Background and production
The franchise began with *The Best Man* (1999), a romantic comedy about a group of college friends, which Lee wrote and directed. A sequel, *The Best Man Holiday*, arrived in 2013 with the entire original cast, and the two films together grossed more than $100 million worldwide.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man) Twenty-three years after the first film, Lee concluded the story on a streaming platform rather than in theaters.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man)
**Why a series.** Lee had initially envisioned the franchise concluding with two movies, but adapting it to television allowed a different scale of storytelling; he noted that an eight-episode series is an entirely different enterprise from film, and that he adjusted his approach accordingly.[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man) Dayna Lynne North joined as co-showrunner, and Lee described television as "a different beast" from his film career.[1](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-best-man-the-final-chapters-stars-say-goodbye-to-their-beloved-characters/) On ending the franchise, Lee said, "You got to leave them wanting more... I feel like this is a good way to end the series and end the franchise. And I think it's on a good note."[1](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-best-man-the-final-chapters-stars-say-goodbye-to-their-beloved-characters/)
Lee framed the story's appeal as universal rather than narrowly categorical: "I wanted to make a universal love story... People want to fall in love, feel secure, have friendships, and these things are not specifically Black."[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man) Morris Chestnut, who plays Lance, described the core of the franchise as brotherhood and family: "Despite getting into knock-down, drag-out fights, we knew they were going to be okay."[3](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man)
## Reception
Critical response was mixed to positive. On Rotten Tomatoes the limited series holds a 91% Tomatometer from 11 reviews and a 92% audience score.[5](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters) On Metacritic it received a weighted average score of 60 out of 100 based on five critics, classified as "mixed or average," with three positive and two mixed reviews and none negative.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/)
Reviewers divided largely along the line of ensemble versus execution. Variety's Joshua Alston scored it 70, writing that not all of the series works, particularly when it flirts with topicality, but that it fares better with race, a subject seldom addressed in the Black rom-com subgenre yet impossible to leave out of this expanded story, successfully funneled into Murch's arc.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/) Decider's Joel Keller, also at 70, praised the cast as "a well-oiled machine" despite the years between sequels.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/) [The A.V. Club](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-a-v-club)'s Max Gao (67) called it "a fitting enough sendoff for a group of characters who are each given the opportunity to write the next chapter of their story," while noting that Regina Hall's Candace felt underserved with a graduate-student storyline largely disconnected from the other main characters.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/) • [9](https://www.avclub.com/peacocks-the-best-man-final-chapters-review-1849918880) More critical voices included [The Hollywood Reporter](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-hollywood-reporter)'s Lovia Gyarkye (50), who wrote that the series promises a kind of character development it only partially delivers, tending to tidy up big conversations with pat remarks and swift expository dialogue, and [The Daily Beast](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-daily-beast)'s Kyndall Cunningham (40), who found a frustrating lack of imagination in a nonchalant conclusion.[6](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/)
## Availability and aftermath
The series streams on Peacock Premium and Peacock Premium Plus in the United States and can be purchased digitally on Amazon Video, Apple TV Store, and Fandango At Home.[10](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-best-man-the-final-chapters) It is not available on Netflix.[11](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6rSKzj4DGVhohzTyKtE4S5/where-to-watch/)
Although the series was positioned as the franchise's farewell, Lee subsequently extended the story into a book trilogy, *The Best Man: Unfinished Business*, saying he had long fantasized about writing a novel and that the characters and story dictated that the narratives continue.[8](https://www.blackenterprise.com/malcolm-d-lee-the-best-man-unfinished-business/) • [12](https://www.audible.com/blog/malcolm-d-lee-the-best-man-audio-interview)
## References
1. [The Best Man: The Final Chapters Stars Say Goodbye to Their Beloved Characters, Rotten Tomatoes Editorial (December 22, 2022)](https://editorial.rottentomatoes.com/article/the-best-man-the-final-chapters-stars-say-goodbye-to-their-beloved-characters/)
2. [Rapid Fire: The Best Man - The Final Chapters, NBCUniversal Media (December 14, 2022)](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/rapid-fire-best-man-final-chapters)
3. [Love Lessons from The Best Man, Television Academy (December 21, 2022)](https://www.televisionacademy.com/features/news/features/the-best-man)
4. [The Best Man: The Final Chapters, a Titles & Air Dates Guide, epguides.com](https://epguides.com/BestManTheFinalChapters/)
5. [The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Rotten Tomatoes](https://www.rottentomatoes.com/tv/the_best_man_the_final_chapters)
6. [The Best Man: The Final Chapters Critic Reviews, Metacritic](https://www.metacritic.com/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/critic-reviews/)
7. [Watch The Best Man: The Final Chapters Season 1 Streaming Online, Peacock](https://www.peacocktv.com/watch-online/tv/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6502156380794950112/seasons/1)
8. [The Best Man Is Coming Back To Wrap Up Unfinished Business, Black Enterprise](https://www.blackenterprise.com/malcolm-d-lee-the-best-man-unfinished-business/)
9. [The Best Man: Final Chapters review: Nostalgic appeal is the best part of this series, The A.V. Club](https://www.avclub.com/peacocks-the-best-man-final-chapters-review-1849918880)
10. [The Best Man: The Final Chapters - streaming online, JustWatch](https://www.justwatch.com/us/tv-show/the-best-man-the-final-chapters)
11. [The Best Man: The Final Chapters - Where to Watch, Moviefone](https://www.moviefone.com/tv-shows/the-best-man-the-final-chapters/6rSKzj4DGVhohzTyKtE4S5/where-to-watch/)
12. [Why Malcolm D. Lee decided to expand The Best Man universe with a novel, Audible](https://www.audible.com/blog/malcolm-d-lee-the-best-man-audio-interview)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Film and television › Series and fictional screen worlds › Scripted television and comedy series › Adapted and franchise screen series › Television series based on films › Live-action series based on films*
*Initially written Oct 3, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 15, 2026; Oct 25, 2026; Nov 1, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license