Single All the Way: What Happens to James In the End? - Netflix Tudum

  • WTF

    What Happens to James at the End of Single All the Way?

    The director and the writer have a few ideas.

    By Maria Sherman
    Dec. 16, 2021

Though Single All the Way is a joyful rom-com romp, not all of its characters get a happy ending. A long con and a crush-worthy love triangle leave everyone’s favorite trainer, James (played by the very talented and very hot Luke Macfarlane), solo. So what happens to him once Peter (Michael Urie) and Nick (Philemon Chambers) finally realize they’re meant to be together? Is James going to be single forever?

Of course not. Screenwriter Chad Hodge wants viewers to know that James is probably, definitely, absolutely totally fine. “Either someone’s gonna have to move to this town that’s perfect for him, or he’s gonna have to find someone else somewhere else,” he explains. “You know, it’s definitely slim pickings [for him in New Hampshire]. But maybe there’ll be a sequel and we’ll find out what happens to James. I don’t know. But I’m not worried about James, though. He’ll find someone.”

That, or “Kathy [Najimy character, Christmas Carole], will be all over setting him up with someone else.”

What Happens to James at the End of Single All the Way?

Director Michael Mayer also has a theory. “Maybe he and Tag [Darren Barnet’s character in the Netflix holiday rom-com Love Hard] get together in Los Angeles, when James is a big influencer.” 

He’s mostly kidding. “[I think] the audience is sophisticated enough to know that [James will be all right]. In the case of Single All the Way, James is the one who recognizes that this isn’t a match. You can tell he’s disappointed about it, that he really has fallen for Peter. But by the same token, he’s such a good guy, he’s such a mensch, that because he likes Peter so much, he’s much more interested in making Peter see the truth of his own experience than he is in trying to manipulate the situation to his own benefit.” Ain’t that the truth.

Mayer continues, “But James doesn’t do that. He’s not just a hunk; he’s a really good human being. I have to believe that good people will have good things come to them. That the karma will work really well, and that he’ll have a fantastic career in Los Angeles [and] make a lot of money [as] the face of REI or something.” Ideally, with an equally hunky and righteous boyfriend.

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