In the 1999 film 'The Best Man', Mia Morgan (played by Monica Calhoun) is set to marry Lance Sullivan (Morris Chestnut). However, in the 2013 sequel 'The Best Man Holiday', Mia is terminally ill and dies at the end of the film. This plot twist proved controversial among fans of the franchise, but writer and director Malcolm D. Lee defended his decision, explaining that he wanted to tell a story that would resonate with Black audiences and allow them to express their emotions. Despite Mia's death, Calhoun reprised her role in the limited series 'The Best Man: The Final Chapters', which aired in 2022.
Characteristics | Values |
---|---|
Name | Mia Morgan |
Played by | Monica Calhoun |
Film | The Best Man |
Year of release | 1999 |
Sequel | The Best Man Holiday |
Year of sequel release | 2013 |
Character status | Dead |
Cause of death | Cancer |
What You'll Learn
Mia's death in 'The Best Man Holiday'
In the 2013 film The Best Man Holiday, Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, dies from cancer. The character's death occurs at the end of the film, leaving her husband Lance (Morris Chestnut) grieving.
Mia's death casts a shadow over the events of The Best Man: The Final Chapters, in which Lance continues to mourn his wife. In the first episode, Lance is shown burying his feelings with a string of one-night stands while celebrating his friend Quentin's impending nuptials. Lance's mind frequently drifts back to Mia, and he experiences a dream in which the couple are relaxing by a pool, expressing their love for each other.
Mia's death also impacts the other characters in The Best Man: The Final Chapters. In one scene, Lance's friends try desperately to stop him from telling his parents that his wedding is off. The film also features flashbacks to the previous film, in which Lance learns that Mia slept with his friend Harper in college to get back at Lance for his infidelities.
The decision to kill off Mia was made by writer and director Malcolm D. Lee, who explained that he wanted to tell a story where Black characters could emote and grieve on screen. Lee also revealed that he and his wife had both lost parents to cancer, and he wanted to explore that grief through the story.
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Mia's illness and death affected the plot of 'The Best Man: The Final Chapters'
Mia's illness and death significantly impacted the plot of "The Best Man: The Final Chapters." Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, was a beloved character who passed away from cancer at the end of the previous instalment, "The Best Man Holiday" (2013). Her absence created a bittersweet tone for the friend group's reunion in the final chapters.
The show's first episode picked up with Mia's husband, Lance (Morris Chestnut), still mourning his wife's death and suppressing his feelings through casual relationships. As the friends gathered to celebrate a wedding, Lance's thoughts frequently drifted to Mia, triggering flashbacks of their wedding day. In the second episode, Lance dreams of a perfect moment with Mia, only to wake up and realise it was just a dream, highlighting his ongoing grief.
Mia's death served as a reminder of mortality and the fragility of life, prompting Lance to re-evaluate his career choices and how he treated his eldest child, who was following in his football footsteps. The loss of Mia also influenced Lance's interactions with a hotel manager, Jasmine, who helped him open up during his stay at the villa.
Mia's absence in "The Best Man: The Final Chapters" not only impacted Lance's character development but also added depth to the overall narrative. It brought an emotional layer to the story, allowing the characters and audience to reflect on the value of their relationships and the importance of cherishing loved ones.
While Calhoun's character Mia passed away, the show found a way to include her in the final chapters through flashbacks and dream sequences, paying tribute to both the character and the actress.
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Mia's husband Lance's grief and behaviour in 'The Best Man: The Final Chapters'
In "The Best Man: The Final Chapters", Lance (Morris Chestnut) is grieving the loss of his wife, Mia (Monica Calhoun), who passed away from cancer at the end of "The Best Man Holiday". Lance struggles with his identity as he is no longer connected to football and is still processing the death of his wife. He tries to cope with his grief through sex with random women, but this no longer provides him solace. He also avoids his home and his four children as they remind him too much of Mia.
Lance's grief is portrayed as raw and unresolved, and it affects his relationships and decision-making. He has an unsuccessful stint as a sports analyst and decides to return to football, pushing his eldest child, who is training to follow in his footsteps, to do the same. Lance's grief also leads him to connect with Jasmine, a hotel manager, who helps him begin to process his emotions.
Lance's behaviour in the series reflects his struggle to come to terms with Mia's death and his attempt to find new purpose in his life. He is shown to be lost, depressed, and in need of a new direction. His journey in "The Best Man: The Final Chapters" is one of self-discovery and learning to accept and move forward after loss.
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Mia's character in 'The Best Man'
Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, is a central character in the 1999 film The Best Man and its sequel The Best Man Holiday (2013). In the original film, Mia is set to marry Lance Sullivan, a running back for the New York Giants, and the film centres around their wedding. The film also features flashbacks to their college days, revealing that Mia slept with Harper, Lance's friend, in college, to get back at Lance for his infidelities. Despite this, the film ends with the wedding going ahead, and Mia and Lance getting married.
In the sequel, Mia is terminally ill and dies at the end of the film. Her death is a pivotal moment in the film and has a huge impact on the other characters. In the subsequent limited series, The Best Man: The Final Chapters, Lance is still grieving his wife's death and struggling to move on. Calhoun reprises her role as Mia in dream sequences and flashbacks, and the series also features tributes to the character.
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The impact of Mia's death on the friend group
Mia's death had a profound impact on her friend group, and their reactions to her passing varied. Some of her friends struggled to come to terms with her death, while others found ways to honour and remember her.
Mia's husband, Lance, was particularly affected by her passing. He was grieving and mourning the loss of his wife, often thinking about her and the memories they shared. Lance tried to bury his feelings with one-night stands and struggled to figure out his career path as a retired NFL star. He even went hard on his eldest child, who was following in his football footsteps. Mia's death caused Lance to reflect on his past and question his future.
Other friends in the group also felt the loss deeply. One friend, Harper, gave a heartfelt speech at Mia's funeral, praising her and Lance's love, which earned him Lance's forgiveness. Another friend, Quentin, caught the garter at Mia's wedding, symbolically honouring her memory. Additionally, Mia's death brought the friends closer together, and they supported each other through the grieving process. They all agreed on how special Mia was and tried to be better people in her honour.
Mia's death also had a lasting impact on the dynamics of the friend group. With one of their members gone, they had to navigate their relationships and experiences without her. They found comfort in shared memories of Mia and tried to keep her spirit alive within their circle. Mia's passing served as a reminder of their shared mortality and the importance of their friendship.
The friend group also had to adjust to the absence of Mia's presence at their gatherings. They missed her deeply and felt a void that couldn't be filled. Mia's death made them more appreciative of their time together and the value of their friendship. They cherished their memories with Mia and honoured her legacy within their circle.
Overall, Mia's death had a profound and lasting impact on her friend group. They navigated their grief in different ways, but ultimately, her passing brought them closer together and reinforced the importance of their friendship. They found comfort in shared memories and honoured Mia's legacy by trying to be better people.
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Frequently asked questions
Mia, played by Monica Calhoun, passed away from cancer at the end of 'The Best Man Holiday' (2013).
No, Monica Calhoun is alive and well.
Yes, Mia's death had a huge impact on the other characters and brought them closer.