Here's What Happened in Bel-Air Season 3
A refresher on everything that took place last summer.
Three years after The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air's dramatic reimagining premiered on Peacock, Bel-Air is entering its fourth and final season beginning Monday, Nov 24. Will and Carlton will return to the halls of Bel-Air Academy for the last time as they embark on senior year and decide what to make of their futures.
But before we start a new season of Bel-Air, let’s look back at the eventful summer everyone had in Season 3.
Warning! Season 3 spoilers ahead.
Will (Jabari Banks)
The Philly native’s initial excitement about his summer in Bel Air quickly soured when he discovered his father, Lou (Marlon Wayans), had been living in Los Angeles without any communication with him. After a hostile conversation with Lou, Will began to question his passion for basketball and why he wanted to play. It led Will to quit basketball for the summer, leaving him with more free time to pursue other interests.
Now that his hopes for basketball to put him on the path for college were temporarily put on hold, Will looked for a new way towards guaranteeing a better future. With their friendship no longer on the rocks, Will and Carlton teamed up to start a business for a prestigious entrepreneurial program under the guidance and mentorship of former boxer and entrepreneur, Quinten (Vic Mensa). They created Blackcess, a clothing company whose profits go towards supporting other Black-owned businesses. Between their caddie duties, the cousins spent the summer building their brand, selling T-shirts, and pitching to potential investors.
After Will finally processed his feelings about seeing his father, he asked his mother to visit and orchestrated a conversation for all three of them to talk about the past and how to move forward.
In the romance department, Will and Lisa decided to give love another chance, but their summer romance felt unseasonably cold and distant. Will’s former fling, Jackie, still lingered around thanks to her job at the country club and Aunt Viv, causing recurring riffs in Will’s relationship with Lisa. Luckily, by the end of the summer, Will and Lisa confronted their issues and became more open with their feelings, putting them back on the happiness track.
Despite a turbulent summer that didn’t always go as expected, Will dealt with his feelings and resolved the issues that plagued his various relationships. Plus, Will stepped outside his comfort zone and secured a problematic investor for Blackcess.
Carlton (Olly Sholotan)
After his 30-day stint at a rehabilitation center, Carlton returned home sober with a fresh perspective on life. Unfortunately, he quickly realized his time in rehab tainted his reputation with college recruiters, affecting his chances at getting into Princeton. Since Carlton was in the same position as his cousin Will — needing a new path towards college and a successful future — the pair naturally teamed up to found Blackcess.
While his parents tried to navigate and understand Carlton’s sobriety journey, they encouraged him to work at the country club for the summer, so he wasn’t sitting around doing nothing. They eventook the doors off his bedroom until he earned their trust back. Reluctant at first, Carlton decided it was in everyone’s best interest to go along with his parents’ requests and not create more problems for his family.
On the bright side, while in rehab, Carlton managed to find love with Amira. Although he firmly believed the relationship was a positive force in his life — and it was nice to have someone whounderstood addiction first-hand — their relationship was met with disapproval from his mom, Vivian, and his sponsor, Spencer.
Everyone’s concerns about Carlton and Amira’s romance came to a head by the end of the summer. Carlton discovered Amira had lied to him about her past and that she hid the fact that she was abusing drugs after rehab. Carlton encountered several moments where he struggled with his sobriety, but in the end, he proved his strength and didn't break his sobriety, especially after Amira’s overdose — fully accepting his family and friends’ continued support.
Hilary (Coco Jones)
After a whirlwind romantic vacation, Hilary started the summer engaged to her old sweetheart, Lamarcus. Despite being happy and in love, Hilary’s summer was far from blissful. Trouble in paradise started early when Hilary and Jazz exchanged kisses at Phil’s party. The old lovers clearly had unresolved issues and despite the hatred they presented towards each other, they couldn’t help but be drawn together.
Hilary’s complicated feelings towards Jazz drove a wedge between her and Ashley, who saw the kiss and pressured Hilary to tell Lamarcus. A guilt-ridden Hillary planned to tell Lamarcus about the kiss with Jazz, but the plan got derailed when he collapsed on the field after practice.
Amid wedding planning and taking care of Lamarcus, Hilary’s career took an unexpected back seat. Fortunately, Lamarcus didn’t want to see her lose herself or career to be his trophy wife, so he suggested they move their wedding up for an intimate ceremony in Martha’s Vineyard. They almost had the perfect wedding day —until Jazz made an unexpected arrival to return the engagement ring Hilary left behind on the day they were both “getting out of each other’s systems.” Lamarcus got upset, and everyone questioned if the wedding was still on until the last second. They eventually said “I do.”
Hilary’s only true moment of happiness on her honeymoon with Lamarcus took a turn for the worse when she found him unconscious in bed, unsure if he was still alive.
Ashley (Akira Akbar)
The baby of the Banks family entered her teen angst era over the summer. While everyone was trying to pretend everything was all sunshine and roses, Ashley saw through it all and wasn’t afraid to talk about it.
Upon Carlton’s return, she was fed up that no one wanted to talk about the impact his addiction had on the family and the betrayal she felt because he lied to her. When her parents hid their marital problems, Ashley got annoyed when they pretended they were one big, happy family. Ashley’s growing anger also created a riff with her new friend, Olivia, who tried her best to help her navigate her feelings but ultimately fell short.
On the bright side, Ashley spent the summer making music as an outlet to express her feelings. During her unsuccessful attempt at starting a band, Ashley met Eli, her nonbinary friend-turned-love interest. Her parents struggled to understand Ashley’s sexual identity and her new relationship with Eli.
Phil and Viv (Adrian Holmes and Cassandra Freeman)
Despite ending the season stronger than ever, the Banks patriarch and matriarch’s relationship was a sinking ship in the beginning. Vivian struggled to trust Phil after learning about his kiss with Erika. Phil tried to understand that Vivian needed space but soon realized she was only moving further away from him.
On their anniversary, the couple decided to lay it all out on the table, deciding to no longer let their marriage take a backseat juggling raising teenagers and balancing their careers. While on a weekend getaway, they entertained the idea of spicing up the intimacy in their relationship.
Phil started his summer intending to do something positive for the Black community, but when he took on Omar Campbell (Dulé Hill) as a client, he found himself at odds with the residents of South L.A. Omar’s plan to buy up land in Black neighborhoods sparked resistance and protests that turned violent, putting Phil in a tough position with his personal beliefs and career.
Between planning events and parenting teens, Vivian spent her summer scouting for an up-and-coming Black artist for the Neeman Fellowship. She struck gold with a rising young woman who admired the work Vivian was doing in the art space.
Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola)
The beloved house manager took a break from the Banks household to deal with his own family. Geoffrey’s troubled past from across the pond caught up with him, putting his son Frederick in danger. After snooping around and discovering his son had secrets of his own, Geoffrey realized Frederick had been in contact with his birth mother, Penelope. Geoffrey and Penelope’s reunion started off rocky, but after talking out their differences, the pair entertained a summer romance and the idea of being a unified family again.
Despite his best efforts to protect his family from criminals back in London, Geoffrey, Penelope, and Frederick ended the summer with no choice but to leave L.A. — at least for now.
Lisa (Simone Joy Jones)
Lisa's summer was supposed to be spent focusing on improving her swimming time, however distractions piled up on her plate. Her relationship with Will was turbulent, unable to lean on him for support because of his own issues. While Lisa’s dad was too busy focusing on being the district attorney, she had to manage a stepmother struggling with post-partum depression and taking care of her newborn baby brother. Amira’s overdose and accidental drowning made it nearly impossible for Lisa to want to get into a pool again, stunting her swimming progress.
Fortunately, Lisa was able to lean on her godmother, Viv, for guidance and support, leaving her feeling hopeful for what’s to comer.
Jazz (Jordan L. Jones)
Upon realizing he was behind on his taxes and at risk of losing his record shop, Jazz spent his summer trying to find solutions. Jazz and Will’s relationship was strained due to Uncle Phil’s involvement with Omar Campbell, who’s trying to tear down South L.A. neighborhoods, seemingly encouraging gentrification.
Jazz still had clear feelings for Hilary but didn’t actively want to interfere with her relationship with Lamarcus and tried to move on with new people.
What’s next in Season 4 of Bel-Air
What will senior year bring for Will and Carlton?
Senior year is a pivotal time, and it’s still undecided where Will and Carlton’s collegiate paths will lead. Carlton has to confront his classmates for the first time after his public admission to his battle with drug addiction.
Maybe Will reconsiders playing basketball now that he’s restored his relationship with his father, Lou. The cousins have endured a lot over the last few years, but hopefully they can move forward with optimism about their futures.
Will the Banks family welcome a new member?
In the Season 3 finale, we saw Vivian’s worried reaction to reading a positive pregnancy test. Vivian and Phil already have their hands – and home – full with their careers, raising three teenagers, and dealing with their own marital problems. The last thing they need is a newborn baby in the mix.
Is Hilary going from newlywed to newly widowed?
The series continues to pay homage to the original ‘90s sitcom, which could mean an unfortunate fate for Hilary’s husband Lamarcus, whose health has been in doubt throughout the series. In the last five minutes of Season 3, we’re left questioning if he’s still alive. If he’s not, what does that mean for Hilary?
What’s in store for Ashley’s budding romance with Eli?
Ashley’s relationship with Eli opens the door for her to explore and expand her sexual identity beyond her earlier revelation of being attracted to girls. There is a lot of room in Season 4 to explore the complexities and nuances in queer relationships through Ashley and Eli’s journeys as individuals and as a couple.
Catch up on the first three seasons of Bel-Air before the final episodes begin streaming Monday, Nov 24, only on Peacock.
