Bel-Air, Season 3 Review by Enyjé Sandoz
Let me start by saying that Season 3 was intense in more ways than one, and it does not even include LaMarcus collapsing on the field. By far, the most intense season, and I thought season one kicked it off strong.
Where do I even begin?
Episode One – Baby, I’m Back
The season kicked off with some lapse of time since we last saw the Banks family. It is now Summer — Will’s new hangout is the country club, and he’s trying to step out of his comfort zone while grappling with his past, particularly involving his father. Carlton is out of rehab and coping with his new reality of being sober and his newfound friend; Hilary is back from her getaway with LaMarcus and has some exciting (unless you are me, Jazz, and Ashley) news, Aunt Viv and Uncle adapting to their ever-changing household, and so much more.
We are introduced to a few new faces — mainly Amira and Quentin. Quentin is a great addition to the show (not solely for oogling purposes) as his Young, Gifted, & Black program further contributes to the idea of Black Excellence. Also, he seems like a great role model for Will — who seemingly struggles to relate to Uncle Phil due to their lifestyle differences and viewpoints. Moreover, Quentin was once an athlete (an MMA fighter) turned business mogul, which is ideal as Will wants to branch away from limiting himself to only being a successful basketball player. Will was already on the trajectory of expanding his horizons, realizing the opportunities his new environment afforded him. However, his decision to take a hiatus from basketball was heavily influenced by his conversation with his father. Perhaps each season only being ten episodes prompts these drastic, instantaneous shifts, though I would have loved to see Will’s internal struggle highlighted a bit more. He walked away from it without much of a battle, which is a bit odd due to his genuine love for the game.
For Carlton, the Young, Gifted, & Black program seems to be fitting. The program is a step to propelling Carlton from the victim to the victor. Quentin encourages Carlton to shift his perspective on his situation, and the program seems to assist in the restoration (or improvement) of his self-perception, especially after the cancellation of his meeting for the Princeton summer program. Also, his participation in the program addresses the battle he faced during Season 2 with the concept of his blackness and others questioning it due to his friend group, his (lack thereof) involvement in their school’s Black Student Union (BSU), and the stance he took involving the firing of a Black teacher who wanted to incorporate Black literature into the curriculum.
When it comes to Amira, caution signals rang. Aunt Viv’s approach to Carlton and Amira’s dynamic was understandable and should have been supported by Uncle Phil, as it is proactive. Aunt Viv’s maternal instincts are precise, but her lack of self-trust, partially due to the unraveling of her marriage — e.g., Miss Erika Baker (we’ll get to that) —prompts her to assume a passive position.
We see the subtle impacts of Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil's relationship as we peer into Hilary's. Much like Ashley (the only Banks that seemingly keeps it real), I was rooting for Jazz and Hilary, or #Jilary. Her chemistry with Jazz is evident, whereas with LaMarcus, you need a magnifying glass to search for it, and you still end up coming short. From the inception of her relationship with LaMarcus, it always seemed to be a matter of familiarity — they “fit” into each other’s worlds. But much like the Banks, their world does not align with their true desires, which would be Jazz in Hilary’s case. Her announcing her engagement to LaMarcus to the entire party while LaMarcus wanted to inform her parents first illustrated her running tendencies, as Jazz mentioned. It was evident that the announcement was to spite Jazz and his remarks.
Per usual, the most enigmatic award goes to Geoffrey. With Geoffrey, the ever-unfolding story of his past is enticing. It’s a slow burn, but it’s the one I am most interested in, as we get to see the un-layering of the complexity and mystery known as G.
Episode one was a gentle dip into the new progressions of the Banks' new realities, though none of us were prepared to be submerged in what was to come.
Episode Two – Pivot
At the onset of episode two, we witness the actualization of Will and Carlton turning new leaves — personally and within their relationship. The once competitive, bumping-heads tension we know of their relationship is replaced by collaboration as they brainstorm to settle on a business idea for the Young, Black, & Gifted program. As they navigate their new terrain while working at the country club (proposed by Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil), they face people who either wish to keep them confined to their boxes or offer bouts of sympathy to Carlton.
As the president of the #Jilary club, Ashley informs Hilary that she wants to visit Charlie’s Vinyl (Jazz’s record shop) as a part of their Sister Day. Like magnets, Jazz and Hilary cannot help but be attracted to one another, but the existing hurt from the ending of their relationship results in them repelling and becoming combative. Their desire for one another is palpable — Jazz referring to her engagement to LaMarcus as an arranged marriage (to which Hilary retorted that she and LaMarcus are rock solid — laughable), and Hilary snipes at his “Baddie of the Month club.”
While we get a blast of Uncle Phil’s past (and present transgressions and continual string of deceit) with Erika, we get a taste of what may be Aunt Viv’s future as she is introduced to a young chef named Shareef. Aunt Viv is on the prowl for a caterer to provide nourishment for Uncle Phil’s firm event, but she seemingly finds more than what she is looking for. Let’s just say the food was not the only thing that Aunt Viv found to be delectable.
Back at the country club, Will seemingly meets himself in Zaire. It’s almost like a mirror is held up to Will as Zaire reflects Will’s old disposition of when he first moved to Bel-Air. Both came from disadvantaged backgrounds and were granted new opportunities, all the while carrying a chip on their shoulder due to being in an unfamiliar environment. Compared to Zaire, Will is far more adjusted to the lifestyle of the wealthy. Through an unspoken acknowledgment and resonance with one another, we see a budding friendship.
Yet another familiar face appears as we become reacquainted with Jackie. Though I was anti-Jackie last season, I came around to liking her once she dropped her guard and mysterious persona, which allowed her personality to shine through. One thing that runs in the Banks family is the inability to seal off past relationships — it’s like the door is always open for someone to creep back in. Uncle Phil with Erika, Hilary with Jazz, and now Will with Jackie. Though never established as an official relationship, the two were an item in season two. The awkwardness between them is an indicator of that proverbial door being left ajar — what lies inside, a host of unresolved feelings.
While on the topic of unresolved feelings, I’d like to pivot (wink, wink) to unresolved issues. The walking red flag of Amira returns as Carlton attends an NA meeting in hopes of running into Amira, who has been ghosting him. Due to Amira and Carlton meeting in rehab, it is plausible for Carlton to feel as though Amira is the only person he can talk to about his struggles, as she’d be the only one who can relate. However, we see the manifestation of Carlton’s dependency on substances transfer onto Amira (something Aunt Viv wanted to avoid), as he states that he needs her. While Carlton lacks the wherewithal to catch a hint, Amira invites viewers into her chamber of unresolved issues as she mentions that Carlton is stalking her. I wonder how much she stretched to reach that far beyond.
Continuing with the theme of unresolved issues, bits and pieces of Geoffrey’s past glimmers through his sparring match with his son, Frederick. In true Geoffrey fashion, it’s vague and barely enough to formulate a picture. Despite Geoffrey’s lack of involvement in Frederick’s upbringing, he takes after his father as an enigma— hints at knowing more about Geofrrey than once told, mysterious, and private phone calls — very Geofrrey-esque.
Frederick is not the only one who takes after their father. Hilary takes a page of her father’s book as she and Jazz share a kiss despite her being engaged to LaMarcus. We continue to see the similarities between Hilary and her father through the rest of the season (tsk, tsk).
At the end of episode two, we are given a sneak peek into just how eventful the summer will be with Carlton and Amira’s reconciliation and Jackie’s new employment at the country club.
Episode Three – True Colors
In episode three, the apparent strain of Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s marriage is demonstrated through Aunt Viv soliciting Geoffrey’s opinion (putting him in a compromising position of personal and business relationships and loyalties) regarding Erika’s peculiar behavior at the launch party and Uncle Phil’s noticeable jealousy of Shareef’s gestures (sending flowers exclusively addressed to her) towards Aunt Viv, whose tacos he described as “not all of that.”
While showing Jazz their Blackccess merchandise at Charlie’s Vinyl, we meet a new face — Yolonda (a runner for City Council), who goes way back to high school with Jazz. Yolanda's interest in Jazz beyond old friends and professional terms is apparent and detected by Will and Carlton, who exchange glances.
Secrecy is the Banks’ specialty. Despite it being season three, we have yet to truly be immersed in Ashley Banks’ story (we begin to see snippets through her artistic expression in the form of music), but one thing that remains consistent is she’s the bearer of all secrets. First, Ashley was threatened to secrecy by Carlton, who she witnessed doing drugs. Now, it’s Hilary. While Hilary was lip-locking with Jazz, she was unaware of a set of precious eyes watching her — Ashley. As the youngest of the bunch, she’s seemingly overlooked yet somehow entangled in everyone’s mess. Though everyone seeks to protect her, they fail to see the detriment of their secrets and the ultimate impact it has on Ashley. Ashley may be young, but she’s not naïve. It can be assumed that being privy to her brother’s drug usage, her sister’s pre-extramarital kiss with a man that’s not her betrothed (even being #Jilary), and the unexpressed tension between her parents has diminished her innocence. In turn, she’s far more cynical.
Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s tension can go unnoticed if you aired on the side of surface thinking, but the friction between Jackie and Lisa is so potent that it can generate electricity. It was inevitable that the love triangle known as Liwackie (Lisa, Will, and Jackie) would have its bubbling moments, as for the better portion of season two, the trio operated more in a coupled fashions (Lisa and Will, Jackie and Will), but with everyone spending the summer at the country club, it requires two polarizing energies (Lisa and Jackie) to co-exist, while the grounding force (Will) is indecisive about which to attach itself to. There’s only one result — a combustion, as warned by Carlton.
A relationship whose tension was seemingly mitigated was Hilary’s friendship with Ivy. Since season one, there has been an obvious frenemy vibe between the two gals. Whether it be competing interests as two influencers, their once-influencer house, or Jazz’s attention, the two often engaged in a back-and-forth nature, which I found to be petulant, exasperating, and juvenile. However, this season, we experience more of their friendship — a refreshing approach. As a friend, Ivy’s concern is keeping Hilary on the path to success, even if it means lacking relationship integrity with LaMarcus and, more importantly, Ashley. A good friend (one could also argue, a true friend) would encourage Hilary to confess her bad deed. However, the nature of Hilary and Ivy’s relationship has always revolved around their careers.
The convergence of Jackie and Lisa highlights their personality differences as emulated while helping Will and Carlton market for Blackccess. Jackie is outgoing, while Lisa is reversed. Jackie seems adaptable (being able to connect with car showgoers and at the country club), while Lisa is seemingly more comfortable with her friends and people at the country club. One thing they share is their desire for Will. The growing feud between Lisa and Jackie is further ignited by the troublemaker, I mean — Amira, as she inserts herself into the situation (mentioning that Jackie was disrespectful with Lisa’s boyfriend — not knowing that Lisa and Will were non-exclusive), reconfiguring the triangle into a square but with an unwanted fourth party. The square implodes when Jackie invites everyone out to eat congratulatory burgers for winning the street race that allowed Jazz to keep his car and win thousands of dollars, thanks to Will and Carlton, and I guess Amira, too, since it was her car they used. Burgers were not the only thing that was sizzling as we saw a new side to Lisa — who not only calls Jackie a bitch, but also attacks her by saying that showing her ass to sell t-shirts was the only way to garner Will’s attention. Amira further incites the already heated matter as she tells Jackie to leave as if her presence was desired by anyone other than Carlton. To much surprise, Will did not jump to Jackie’s defense, which conflicts with his strong premise for standing on what’s right. In this situation, Lisa was in the wrong, and Amira was completely out of bounds. Not only is Will still caught between two worlds, but he is also stuck between two girls. While he does not seem to have a romantic interest in Jackie, it is evident he cares about Jackie and values their friendship. When it comes to Jackie and Lisa, Lisa seems to be grappling with her agreeableness — wanting to go with the flow despite the flow not being what she truly desires. Moreover, it can be assumed that Lisa is jealous of Jackie’s demeanor Jackie, on the other hand, seems to be herself, but it can be inferred that her interaction with Lisa and Aunt Viv at the country club (where Lisa defended her position in Aunt Viv’s life as her goddaughter), she tends to disregard Lisa as a whole (more so, ignore her) — either as a way of self-preservation, to get under Lisa’s skin, or both.
“If it is not one thing, it is another” should be the Banks’ motto as it rings true in every facet of their lives. Without an appropriate time to digest the dismantling of Liwackie, Will finds himself thrown into another fire involving Frederick and other car showgoers regarding a money dispute (Frederick is accused of shorting people their money). Just before a fight breaks out, the police arrive, resulting in Will, Carlton, and Frederick fleeing from the scene while the others disperse in another direction. As they regain their composure, we watch a layer of Frederick’s personality fall off as he reveals the money he was accused of taking. Something about Frederick’s accent makes his mischievous antics palatable compared to Amira's.
Would it be an episode of Bel-Air without Geoffrey appearing out of thin air? This quality of his further contributes to the greater question of, “Who’s Geoffrey?”
Towards the end of the episode, we gain clarity on the Liwackie triangle as Will explicitly states his intentions for Lisa, and they establish labels and exclusivity of their relationship, but the state of Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s marriage remains unclear as Aunt Viv confronts Miss Erika Baker.
At the end of episode three, the unthinkable occurs with LaMarcus collapsing on the field, leaving Hilary with having to carry her secret kiss with Jazz for yet another day.
Episode Four – Out All Night
While her love for LaMarcus is questionable, her care is evident as she remains by his side as he recovers from cardiac arrest and adjusts to the heart surgery due to his lifelong condition. LaMarcus, being her betrothed, explains her involvement in his care, but what fuels her is debatable. Is it her guilty conscience that leads her to overcompensate as just moments before he collapsed, she was about to reveal her big secret, is she accustomed to putting her all into her relationship as she witnessed her mother once did, or is it a combination of it all?
It is no secret that Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s marriage impacts their children, even in the most subtle ways. In Hilary’s predicament, when seeking advice from her father, Hilary is advised about being imperfect, which is a mere projection of his guilty conscience. Instead of further probing information out of Hilary to gauge and detect her dilemma, he assuages the conversation by ensuring her that mistakes do not negate one’s love for one's partner but that putting in the work and continuously showing up for one’s partner makes it all okay. In theory, his advice has its validity (to a degree). However, much like within his own marriage, his advice leans towards deflection or ignoring the “mistakes” instead of addressing the mistakes and addressing the underlying issues.
His advice is reflected in his approach towards Aunt Viv regarding the kiss with Erika. He insists he wants to discuss the matter but does not fail to assure Aunt Viv that it means nothing. If he truly desired to work through this “rough patch” of their relationship, he’d be open to Aunt Viv expressing her grievances without the need to placate her. His focus seems to smooth things over or stuff them under the rug, which does not address the larger themes.
Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s dishonesty with themselves and within their marriage seeps into parenting. While one child (Ashley) recognizes the façade, another (Hilary) is being led astray and mirroring her parents’ flaws within her relationship.
Episode Five – Getting Personal
In episode five, the cracks in Aunt and Uncle Phil’s marriage reveal the gaping holes in their household. After noticing their parents were not sharing a bed the night before (the night before their anniversary at that) and then audibly hearing them argue, when Will voices concern, Carlton defaults to the Banks setting of smiling and assuring him that they are fine and focuses on the teamwork they exhibited in cooking an anniversary breakfast. Per usual, nothing is discussed; they all usher into their respective corners and continue with their day. Carlton’s grand confession at the end of season two seemed to spark the parents of the Banks household to pay more attention to their children. While the intent is noticeable, the execution has its faults. Though the expectation is not for Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil to be perfect parents, one would assume they’d put further effort into the emotional and mental needs of their children. It’s far more than removing the doors of Carlton’s room, locking the wine cellar, or advising him not to engage in any sort of a relationship with Amira, but more about the things that go unspoken. If any issue arises (such as Carlton’s addiction), it’s glossed over or rushed to mend the immediate threat, but the lack of engagement in their daily lives while also trying to advise and guide creates friction because it’s from a surface viewpoint, and not an instinctual, intimate space that derives from one-on-one connections.
The children of the Banks household tend to be burdened with their parents’ relational issues, as illustrated by Carlton and Ashley offering their assistance in helping one parent make the day special for the other. The children are (unconsciously) made to be responsible for picking up the pieces of their household — whether it be Carlton believing it is his fault that his parents are experiencing difficulties and wanting to assure his father that he is managing the pressure of his new business venture (not overall in life), or Ashley wanting to avoid the unfathomable — having to face the confirmation that her parents are growing further apart.
It’s ironic how Uncle Phil can offer fatherly advice to Geoffrey regarding Frederick, “approach him like a father, not like Geoffrey,” yet he is devoid of emotion when speaking to his children, Carlton especially, almost like he is speaking to one of his associates.
Shifting gears, though Will and Lisa made it official (yet again), episode five highlights the genuine friendship between him and Jackie. Despite leaving off on bad terms, he does not hesitate to intervene and protect her against a perverted club member. Meanwhile, Jackie remains true to her desire to see Will succeed, as she intentionally leaves Pony Boy Rich (a rapper who Will and Carlton deem a marketing prospect for Blackccess) in Will’s presence so that he can pitch their business to Pony Boy Rich since Will was dismissed from the picket ball court due to defending Jackie.
The Banks are not the only family with issues, as Geoffrey’s dynamic with his son involves a series of intricacies. One minute, it seems as if the ambiguity surrounding the two has been disseminated, but in reality, it was just one door leading to the next. Things become further complicated as Geoffrey demands Frederick to come clean about the secret phone calls to London from his burner phone. As much as Geoffrey tries to avoid it, his past keeps catching up to him — yet another person from across the pond re-enters his life. This time, it’s Penelope — Frederick’s mother. Just as with anything related to Geoffrey, Penelope’s arrival is muddled with obscurity. Whether a friend or foe of Geoffrey is undetectable, one thing certain is a history with untold stories. Penelope’s revelation about Geoffrey’s old friend (who promised to look after Frederick and Penelope while Geoffrey fled) being incarcerated offered a glance at the vulnerability of Geoffrey, hidden behind his stoicism. For once, we see a falter in his laid-back persona and a slight expression of emotions as he theorizes and absorbs what led to Frederick being placed in the foster care system.
As mentioned before, it was the Banks’ anniversary. So, Uncle Phil showing up at Aunt Viv’s workplace with flowers as an invitation for lunch should not have been such a surprise for Aunt Viv, who basked in the attention of Shareef as they indulged in the lunch he prepared for them and arrived at her office unannounced. Despite the innocence feigned by Aunt Viv and Shareef’s inclusion of Uncle Phil — stating that there was plenty of food for him to join them as if Uncle Phil was the third party to his marriage, the lunch was inappropriate for many of reasons, which did not seem to bode too well with Uncle Phil.
The tables turn as Aunt Viv is the one to bring up the elephant in the room while also diminishing the lunch to “nothing.” Much like Uncle Phil reduced his kiss with Erika to “nothing.” Uncle Phil presents a secure approach to the matter, assuring Aunt Viv that she does not have to explain herself. One can assume that his stance is due to the playing field seemingly being equal between Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil, both stepping outside the bounds of their relationship in some way and to press the issue would make him hypocritical and require him to face his wrongdoing. It’s quite the contrast from the Phillip Banks of season one, who was determined to ensure that his relationship was respected and his position in Aunt Viv’s life was not open to fill when it came to Reid. Sneaky, ole fine Reid… whew. He doubles down by stating that he trusts Aunt Viv and is not going to overreact over a harmless moment. This comment is snide and laced with subtle manipulation — whether intentional or unintentional, the jury is still out on that one. True to Phillip Banks’ nature, he wants to smooth things out because he does not want anything to ruin his night.
Tension seems to topple over into the private dinner arranged to commemorate the Banks’ marriage. Uncle Phil cannot see how his lack of emotional expression and fusion into actions translates to an unauthentic relationship, or at least that is how it feels to Aunt Viv. Doing the right things does not negate the neglect that exists within their emotional bond as a couple.
In a for once honest moment, Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil admit to engaging in behaviors (even if not the initiators) that defied the boundaries of their marriage because they liked how it felt. Instead of addressing the intimacy issues within their marriage, they find solace and bond within the stresses of their lives, which is the one mutual thing that has remained consistent since season one. They make an effort to prioritize their relationship among the craziness of their lives, yet without a foundation that is not rooted in struggle, how can they equally fulfill their needs and wants? It’s almost like they do not know where their marriage exists without the chaos.
The lack of reaffirming the boundaries of their relationship and diving into the emotional impact of the situations with Erika and Shareef makes sense in an upcoming episode.
Episode Six – Baggage
We’ll get back to Will after a brief intermission.
As the writers and producers of Bel-Air have been known to do, they successfully bridge the gap between the drama re-boot, known as Bel-Air, and the original show: The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. They skillfully do so by seamlessly weaving cast members from the original show into the unfolding plot of the re-boot. First, it was the second Aunt Viv (Daphne Maxwell Reid) as a member of the Neeman Fellowship board. Then, it was old Ashley (Tatyana Ali) who acted as the new Ashley’s teacher. Now, the Geoffreys collide as we are introduced to Geoffrey’s old friend, Roman, played by the OG Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell).
This “oh shit” moment only thickens the plot to Geoffrey’s past transgressions as the old friends become reacquainted, though not so friendly. By far, this was my favorite moment of the entire season. Geoffrey is not one to lose his cool, especially in the face of danger or business, yet we see how his family is his Achille’s heel, or as Roman stated, “family compromises us.” We are also privy to Penelope’s involvement in Geoffrey’s past. It is plausible to assume that she was a bit of an outlaw like Geoffrey, considering her and Roman’s familiarity.
Though one can assume her pensive and emotional expression is due to being informed that her regaining contact with her son has alerted Geoffrey’s enemies, thus putting Frederick in danger, I am not too convinced that she was unaware and has to keep up pretenses. There’s always an air of untrustworthiness that lingers over the Banks and Geoffrey regarding their associates. I often ponder if it’s the writers’ way of creating suspense or the Banks and Geoffrey are surrounded by foes.
Now, back to the Smith Family…
During the meeting that Will arranged for himself and his parents, the lore surrounding Lou’s lack of involvement in his life is finally revealed. One gripe that I have had since season one is the anti-climactic discoveries involving Lou. The dirt thrown on Lou’s name does not equate to the extent of his story once the dust settles. Based on Aunt Viv, Uncle Phil, and Vy’s reaction to even mentioning Lou’s name, I’d expected more drama. The grand divulgence about Lou’s past is that he robbed an old man who promised Lou money for a job he completed but did not uphold his end of the bargain. Due to Lou being unable to provide for his family, who was without heat for three days, and Vy’s insistence on him rectifying the situation by any means, it resulted in him robbing the man. Thus, his incarceration. His actions are inexcusable, but nowhere warranted the villainization and character assassination led by the adults in Will’s family. If we are calling a spade a spade, then we should adjust our focus to Geoffrey, who’s seemingly no different than Lou in nature yet committed far more heinous crimes. Geoffrey is looked at as a hero, a once (I use the term “once” lightly) criminal who redeemed himself — despite him being an absentee father (because it was better for his son). Geoffrey is one of my favorite characters, but in terms of fatherhood, he and Lou are equals, no matter how they try spinning it. The actions of both led to their sons growing up without fathers, yet one is chastised and reminded of it.
It’s great that Will took the opportunity to learn more about the history before making an informed decision about his relationship with his father. He was equipped with the maturity to see past the slander he heard over the years and his abandonment issues and allowed himself to formulate his perception of Lou.
Vy, on the other hand, continuously rubs me the wrong way. In addition to her positioning when it came to Lou (basically allowing Will to live with a false idea of his father — who’s not a saint, and the demise of their family unit), she has the audacity to criticize Aunt Viv’s parenting skills when it comes to her son. I have already voiced my qualms about Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil’s parenting styles. However, it is unfair for Vy to label Aunt Viv as the “soft parent” because she “allowed” Will to quit basketball. As much as the Banks family has adjusted to Will’s arrival, it’s not like it was anticipated. For one, the parties barely knew one another due to the strained sister-relationship of Viv and Vy. The decision to uproot Will’s life and move him to Bel-Air (completely understandable) was sprung on them, yet they still attempt to parent him as if he were one of their own. Much like the rest of the Banks-Smith family, Vy lacks accountability. If anything, she should question why she was informed that her son quit basketball and was not included in the decision process. Just because Will lives in Bel-Air, it does not mean she is absolved of her motherly duties. She should be more involved with Will’s life if she wants to offer critiques. She has a habit of misspeaking or prioritizing her feelings and thoughts above Will’s but, in the end, seemingly gains clarity.
Throughout the season, we observe the peculiarities of Amira and what I foresaw… the untangling of her lies.
Episode Seven – Black Lotus
To each its own, but yet again, we see a drastic shift in nature — all within a matter of twenty minutes. Perhaps this was all a desperate plea or yet another way to engage in emotional avoidance, but surely it was bizarre, considering Aunt Viv’s discontent with Erika kissing Uncle Phil and Uncle Phil feigning unbothered to Aunt Viv being showered in attention from Shareef.
On a larger scale, there are not too many pillars of Black love in modern TV. Though Bel-Air has maintained its own identity (despite being a reboot) from the original Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, one thing I thought that would remain consistent is the portrayal of healthy Black love and the unity within a Black household. It does not mean that things have to be picture perfect (the new Banks are a perfect example as to why that should not be). However, media has its way of being influential. Much like the OG Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivs (yes, both) or Michael and Jay Kyle from My Wife and Kids — I can continue, these couples exemplified Black love and the imperfections of marriage. While I understand wanting to establish itself as a show that does not exist within the shadow of the original, I think this was a poor choice in the trajectory of their relationship. Moreover, it shines a light on character inconsistencies, as both seemed to be against the idea of stepping out on their marriage a season or two ago.
Back in Bel-Air, Amira continues to ensue chaos with a game that requires people to announce something that they are going through or answer a question. Her desire to encroach on others’ boundaries backfired as she learned that her newfound bestie, Lisa, once dated Carlton — not to mention the person he lost his virginity to. Out of pure curiosity, Zaire states that he’s the only person who has not engaged in relations with anyone in the jacuzzi. To deflect from her discomfort regarding Lisa and Carlton, Amira places the spotlight on Jackie and Will — and explicitly asks whether or not they had relations, which is confirmed. Amira continues down the path of troublemaking as she presses Will about his need to shift topics when things become too heavy, to which Will retorts that she enjoys chaos — finally, someone called her out. Will looks to Carlton to address Amira’s behavior, but Carlton fails to come to his cousin’s defense — too caught up in his attachment to Amira, or “trying to get some,” as Will put it.
All roads of chaos ultimately lead to destruction. Lisa finds a vial of cocaine in Amira’s purse (she was looking for lotion) and confronts her about it. Amira recommences spinning her web of lies as she retells Lisa the same story she told Carlton and Aunt Viv when she went MIA during their arranged dinner. Though Lisa does not struggle with addiction, she can empathize with grief as she lost her mother. Amira’s apparent sadness turns into panic as she begs Lisa not to tell Carlton about her relapse, as Carlton “gains strength from her.”
Yet another secret embedded into the fabric of a friendship.
Episode Eight – Gimme a Break
Ashley’s budding friendship with Eli captures the attention of her parents. One may attribute Ashley’s sassy and combative stance to her parents' questioning, to her being a teenager. However, it touches on the deeper issue of them trying to parent without knowing the full story or expressing a genuine interest or concern in her life. As Uncle Phil mentioned, he was under the impression that Ashley was romantically interested in girls, yet she is becoming close with Eli, who’s a boy. Though a parent may not know everything regarding their child, this illustrates the lack of involvement in their children's lives (because an involved parent would know certain things about their child) and the lack of comfort in asking questions for clarity or creating the space for their children to be open and honest with them.
With the season nearing an end, things pick up its pace. The intensity is at an all-time high. Due to the mature themes of Bel-Air, I often forget this show is a portrayal of teenage lives. Though every teenager’s life is not a scene out of High School Musical, the content of the show seems more aligned with young adults than soon-to-be seniors in high school. Hilary is the oldest of the bunch, yet does not experience as much turmoil as Will and Carlton — whether it be in her life, relationships, social spaces, and so on. I often wonder how this resonates with the teenage crowd — is it relatable? The show was never explicitly stated to cater to a teenage audience, all of today’s teenagers (and even some of the actors) were not even born during the primetime glory days of the original Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. However, considering the portrayal of high schoolers, one can infer teenagers may be attracted to the show. As a young adult, I am a fan of the show. In an age where there are not many spaces for teens to be teens — whether it be content consumption (social media contributing to that), social spaces, TV shows, and so on, I’d feel uncomfortable recommending this show to someone who is under the age of 18. Though I am not keen on drug-related issues within today’s teenage demographic, I think the depiction of a drug overdose was extreme. It is one thing to highlight Carlton’s afflictions, as drug awareness and strides towards sobriety are important, but there’s a fine line between educating and exposure. Much like with the concept of Black love, media can influence. By no means am I implying or stating that this season encourages drug usage. However, it is crucial to enforce messages of positivity to the youth, even if it’s just a TV show. If this season aimed to bring awareness to the matter, I would have liked to have seen PSAs, statistics, and resources — similar to how TV shows back in the day would touch on sensitive topics yet include educational information to help the cause; it creates a far more, well-rounded approach as opposed to a TV show made for consumption.
Episode Nine – Family Matters
Episode Ten – Save the Best for Last
As discussed in episode four, it is safe to assume that Hilary’s outlook on her parents’ marriage as an example is the reason she even married LaMarcus. If her parents had taken the opportunity to be honest with her and encouraged her to follow her heart, as opposed to jumping over a hurdle before she even walked down the aisle — because that’s just relationships, I strongly believe Hilary would have chosen Jazz. If, on her wedding day, she even remotely appeared interested in Jazz, she should not have exchanged I do’s with LaMarcus. It may be too soon to tell if LaMarcus will be making a lively return for season four, but I expected him to experience some form of complications due to Hilary’s reveal about her kiss with Jazz.
As mentioned before, Ashley is the bearer of all secrets. It was only a matter of time before she began to keep her own.
Aunt Viv being pregnant was a great surprise, especially since my initial reaction was, “By who?” Of course, it’d be Uncle Phil’s child. I am still curious to know why I had that reaction. Punta Mita served Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil well in one way but caused yet another complication in their marriage. A pregnancy, thus a child, is not something you can sweep under the rug, though.
Carlton being a literal distance from Amira is the best thing that has happened all season. I hope in the next season, he’s far more focused on himself than on a relationship. It’s often funny how the ideas and values of self-love are enforced on women of all ages (which it should), yet men are not often encouraged to do the same.
Uncle Phil creating a full-circle moment and bridging the gap between the people of South L.A. and Omar Campbell was great as it is all for the progression of the people. I wonder when we’ll see Uncle Phil do the right thing from the start and not be placed in compromising situations — such as his nephew being an accessory to a crime, forcing him to see things from a new perspective.
Though Geoffrey’s departure seems like an ending, I believe it’s a part of a greater plan of his. I do not trust Penelope or Frederick — I’m sensing that Geoffrey may be on the same accord, and with Will being kidnapped, I know that Geoffrey will be reappearing very soon.
This is my review of Bel-Air, Season 3; let me know your thoughts on Season 3!
Thank you for reading!
My Twitter Thread of Reactions to Previous Seasons of Bel-Air!
This Bel-Air series…I’m intrigued. pic.twitter.com/0aepHLzmng— Enyjé (@enyjemai) February 15, 2022
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