Towards the end of January, Black Entertainment Television (BET) released their smash hit three-night biopic, The New Edition Story, based on the eventful lives of the 80s and 90s boy band, New Edition.

The three-part miniseries stars Bryshere Gray as Michael Bivins, Luke James as Johnny Gill, Elijah Kelley as Ricky Bell, Aglee Smith as Ralph Tresvant, Keith Powers as Ronnie Devoe and Woody Mcclain as the bad boy Bobby Brown.

Part One of the movie starts off with an intense 1987 concert scene from the New Mexico leg of New Edition’s, “Home Again” reunion tour. Thanks to Bobby Brown’s bruised ego and years of built up tension between the members, the concert quickly turns into a fight and a gun comes into play.

Before we can figure out what could have led to this deadly brawl, the movie quickly moves back in time to 1980s Roxbury, Boston, where the five boys grew up in the projects and first put the group together. The young Bobby Brown, played by Tyler Marcel Williams brings together Michael Bivins (Dante Hoagland) and Ricky Bell (Caleb McLaughlin) for the group. Although a little skeptical at first, Ricky convinces Mike and Bobby to add a young Ralph Tresvant (Jahi Di’Allo Winston) to the group as well.

After jumping in front of his car and giving an impressive rendition of a Jackson 5 song, the four boys convince local manager, Brooke Payne to work with them. Payne named them “New Edition” claiming that they’re a new edition to the existing boy bands. Thanks to hard training, the new band was able to win local talent shows including the “Roscoe Talent Night” at the Strand Theatre which landed them a record deal with record producer, Maurice Starr. Maurice suggested that the band add a fifth member so Brooke brings in his nephew, Ronnie Devoe, making the line-up officially five members.

The young New Edition soon recorded their first song, “Candy Girl” which topped the charts. They went on tour and captured the hearts of young girls all around the world. But when they return from London, the boys-turned- young men discover that they only earned a total of $1.87 from the tour. Tired of being penniless, the five members and their mothers quickly fire Brooke and leave Maurice to sign to MCA Records through their new manager Gary Evans.

Part 2 of the biopic shows the tension building up with Ralph Tresvant expressing his dissatisfaction with having to do most of the song recordings while the other 4 guys leave the studio to have fun. To make matters worse, Mike and Bobby get into a brawl that results in Mike almost getting kicked out of the group.

It starts to becomes more apparent that Bobby Brown’s behavior and ego is out of control. He comes late to rehearsals, he is coked up half the time, and eventually gets a girl pregnant. His antics become so bad that he gets into an onstage fight. Fed up, the other four members vote him out of the group. Shortly after, Mike finds the source of the group’s never ending money troubles by discovering the group was signed to Gary’s Fast Break Productions and not MCA records. Gary is soon fired as a result and the band is now making the amount of money they deserve. The boys also decide to move into a new direction by adding the former solo artist, Johnny Gill into the group.
On the other hand, Bobby is approached by MCA Records to do a solo album as apart of his contract. This ultimately leads to the jumpstart of his successful solo career by 1987.

The final part of the biopic shows the five young men achieving successful solo careers/sub groups. Bobby Brown is still climbing the charts with his hit 1988 album, “Don’t Be Cruel.” Michael Bivins, Ronnie Devoe and Ricky Bell have now formed their own trio, “Bel Biv Devoe.” Johnny Gill and Ralph Tresvant are also working on their solo careers with their new singles, “My, My, My” and “Sensitivity.”

Even with all of their solo breakthroughs, there is still many unresolved issues behind the scenes. This becomes very apparent when the six young men are asked about a New Edition comeback in a 1990s interview. Although they promised it would come soon, it takes six years for them to go on tour for their 1996 “Home Again” album. Due to all six of their overgrown egos and need for more stage time, all six members get into the massive and deadly brawl that was foreshadowed in the first installment of the movie. This leads to the end of tour and a major split in their relationships.

Besides the tension being at an all time high, almost all of the members are dealing with their own personal drug addictions and major financial troubles. It’s not until Ronnie Devoe’s wedding that the six men reunite after ten years of separation. At the wedding they’re asked by a BET executive to perform reunite on stage for the BET 25th Anniversary Silver Concert. All six men accept and the final scene of the movie shows all six artists singing happily to their old hits and singing background for Bobby’s singles.

Overall, BET did a fantastic job of telling the story of the band, New Edition. Viewers were able to witness almost all of the detailed events in each of the member’s life. The real life members, who all had a hand in producing, weren’t afraid to share the intimate details of their lives, even when it showed their younger selves in the worst light. Although this isn’t the first time that the band has displayed their story for the public, The New Edition Story captures the true essence of New Edition better than any other documentary has. Whether you’re young or old, this biopic will make you a fan and wish that you were a “Candy Girl.”