In part 3 of The Upshaws, Bennie attempts to keep a steady job and please Regina while she continues her efforts to get an MBA. The series is streaming on Netflix.
Story
Bennie Upshaw continues to have issues at the garage and does his best to support his family, especially Regina, who is on the lookout for a job herself while still dreaming of getting her MBA.
Lucretia is conflicted about having a healthy relationship with Frank in Atlanta or staying behind in Indiana to be close to her family who constantly depend on her.
The Upshaw children have their own issues to deal with as Bernard goes through a patchy relationship, Aliyah learns who her true friends are, Kelvin grows closer to his father, and Maya continues to learn as she grows.
Regina goes through a rollercoaster of emotions and an air of sadness envelops her as she reconsiders her dream of going to college. Bennie and Lucretia do their best to cheer her up but realize that what she needs is space.
Performances
Mike Epps’ character continues to be the bumbling fool who occasionally steps up for his family and Epps settles into the role effortlessly. He’s funny when he needs to be but his more serious moments don’t always have the required intensity.
Kim Fields puts as much work into her character as Regina puts in to take care of her family and it definitely deserves plaudits. Fields showcases a range of emotions and her depiction of a person going through depression is understated.
Wanda Sykes has got flawless comedic timing and she continues to display that in this series. She is also required to get serious on occasion and she passes the test with flying colors.
Khali Spraggins, Jermelle Simon, Journey Christine, and Diamond Lyons have their own minor arcs in this part and they perform with varying degrees of merit
Positives
Part 3 of The Upshaws continues to broach subjects relatable to the general public such as depression, parenting, and relationships among other things, and gives the audience a slightly different perspective due to its cultural approach.
The jokes sneak up on you with surprising wittiness and deserve to draw a chuckle or two from the audience for their quality.
Negatives
There is a mismatch of tone in the series throughout and even though they cover some intense human emotions, it is terribly offset by the humor at other points. The follow-through on some of the plotlines isn’t always comprehensive.
On the subject of plotlines, there are one too many characters to juggle around and as a result, some of their stories are found lacking. Bernard’s love life, Kelvin’s relationship with his father, and Davis and Bennie’s friendship, all feel like an afterthought when placed beside the main story.
Verdict
The Upshaws Part 3 is perfect for a casual watch and offers a pleasant experience without truly impressing the audience. The series tentatively treads water with the more serious subject matter but doesn’t commit fully to it, leaving you mildly disappointed.
Also Read: The Upshaws part 3 ending explained: Does Bennie fix things with Regina?
