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Bel-Air Season 2 Recap
Bel-Air Is Back for Season 3 So You Better Read This Recap
It's been two years since the series premiere of Bel-Air and the show returns TODAY with a third season. As teased in last season's finale episode, it’s time to prepare for Will’s first summer in Bel-Air.
Don't worry, we’ve got you covered in case you forgot everything that went down during the second half of the school year for Will and the Banks family.
Warning! Season 2 spoilers ahead.
Will (Jabari Banks)
Despite a turbulent end to the first season, Will finds himself optimistic about the future. His stint living with Jazz in Compton is short-lived after he reconciles his differences with Uncle Phil over the situation with Lou and returns to the Banks’ home after Ashely’s birthday party.
Will starts playing in street ball tournaments to earn some cash and get the attention of Doc, the owner of an elite AAU basketball team that promises D1 scholarships for its athletes. Uncle Phil is skeptical of Doc’s intentions with Will. Aunt Viv pressures Phil to let Will join Zenith after he's suspended from the Bel-Air Academy team.
As for Will’s love life, that’s a bit complicated. He finds love and basketball when he falls for Doc’s niece, Jackie. Of course, love is never easy for Will, when he discovers Doc is hiding something about Zenith, his relationship with Jackie becomes complicated.
Will and Lisa downgrade their romance to friendship, but there’s no denying the two have mutual strong feelings and find their way back to each other by the season finale.
Will and Carlton have a strong fresh start in Season 2. Their close relationship quickly turns sour again after they join the BSU. Will unwittingly becomes the face of the protest for Ms. Hughes, which secures him a nomination for the Founder’s Award.
Carlton (Olly Sholotan)
Like the high achiever he is, Carlton has his eyes set on winning the Bel-Air Academy Founder’s Award. Since he needs a nomination from the student body and faculty members, Will encourages him to rejoin the BSU for their support. This plan immediately goes awry when Will nominates him to lead a protest supporting Ms. Hughes. The grip Carlton once had over his anxiety attacks fades when he finds himself yet again torn between fitting in with his fellow Black classmates and trying to secure a faculty nomination for the Founder’s Award.
Not only is Carlton in competition with Will at school but at home when he notices his dad putting more effort into his relationship with Will over him.
Carlton crumples under familial and academic pressure and finds himself reconnecting with Connor for a drug-induced bender. Eventually, Carlton’s lies and deception catch up with him and despite successfully managing to win the Founder’s Award, he admits to his struggles with drug abuse during his acceptance speech.
Hilary (Coco Jones)
Thanks to Ivy’s financial contribution, Hilary takes over the influencer house. This new partnership hits a few bumps as they clash over sponsorship deals and who has the real decision-making power.
Despite a strong start, her romance with Jazz fizzles when jealousy and miscommunication arise after her ex-boyfriend, professional basketball star Lamarcus Alton, moves back to Los Angeles. Torn between two lovers, Hilary lets Lamarcus whisk her away to the city of lights in the season finale.
Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola)
Unable to stay away from the Banks family too long, Geoffrey and Phil reconcile their differences and return to business as usual – well, almost.
Geoffrey spends half the season sneaking behind Phil’s back trying to find his estranged son, Frederick. Eventually, Phil and Viv find out and help facilitate their reunion.
Apparently, Geoffrey has mob ties and his fatherly concern for Frederick doesn't wane when he discovers that his son’s life might be in danger when he returns to London.
Ashley (Akira Akbar)
The budding activist finds herself as the catalyst for the protest at Bel-Air Academy. Her budding relationship with Ms. Hughes abruptly ends when the teacher is reported for sharing books that aren’t “part of the approved curriculum” with students.
Ashley sparks up a surprising friendship with a classmate she suspected of reporting Ms. Hughes. After they are partnered together for a class project, they learn they have a lot more in common than they initially thought.
Phil (Adrian Holmes)
After dropping out of the L.A. District Attorney’s race, Phil returns to his law firm and becomes suspicious of one of the partners, James. With Geoffrey’s help, he soon learns that James has been having secret meetings to secure an acquisitions deal to save the law firm from losses they endured when Phil stepped away for his campaign.
Attempting to save the law firm and prevent the need for an acquisition, Phil connects with a new lawyer in town and an old romantic fling, Erika Baker. He ultimately decides to leave his current law firm and ends up making a deal with Erika’s firm as a senior partner who runs his own law firm. Erika’s sudden arrival doesn’t come without consequences as there are hints that her presence in Phil’s professional and personal life will start to affect his marriage.
And in case you forgot Phil is a lawyer, he once again steps in to save the day when the shady concerns he had about Doc and Zenith come to light, leaving him with no choice but to help and save Will’s future.
Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman)
The matriarch of the Banks household has entered her season of chasing her dreams and finding ways to make sure her voice is heard. Through her Neeman Fellowship, Viv puts together an art showcase with the main goal of highlighting newer artists who aren’t at the forefront of the art scene.
Following the successful art showcase, and despite the stress she endured to put it all together, Viv gets an offer to take over the Executive Director position and offer a refreshed perspective to the art world.
In romantic news, Viv isn't too excited to learn that her former best friend and sorority sister is closing in on her husband. The pair seem to have an amicable reunion and reconcile their differences enough for Phil to make the moves he needs to advance his career.
Lisa (Simone Joy Jones)
Having a long history with the family, Lisa maintains her role as the person who steps in and tries to keep everyone together behind the scenes.
Despite concealing their deep feelings for each other, Lisa and Will continue to support each other through tough moments during the season. So, there’s no surprise that “let’s just be friends” quickly turns into them not wanting to spend another moment pretending they don’t love each other.
When she notices Carlton may be struggling with anxiety attacks again, she urges him to open up and avoid suffering alone.
Lisa helps Aunt Viv plan her art showcase, where she runs into and seems to quickly get along with Will's new love interest, Jackie.
Jazz (Jordan L. Jones)
The Compton local opens his home for Will to stay with him until he patches things over with the Banks family. Jazz ultimately becomes the voice of reason that encourages Will to resolve his family issues enough to show up for Ashely at her birthday party.
Jazz's relationship with Hilary starts in limbo as they keep their relationship a secret. Their romance skyrockets to cloud nine after Hilary meets the parents, making a positive impression on them despite some cultural differences. Unfortunately, Jazz becomes a bit insecure in the relationship given their different backgrounds and the unexpected arrival of Hilary's ex-boyfriend, causing the pair to break up on not-so-good terms.
On a positive note, Jazz hosts his first "Meet & Greet" event at his record store, which ends up being a huge success. There could be more on the horizon for the store to grow in popularity thanks to Hilary's social media and marketing influence.
So, what now?
Is this really the end of the Hilary and Jazz love story?
It’s clear to everyone except Hilary and Jazz that they still have feelings for each other. Hilary may be headed on a romantic vacation with Lamarcus in Paris, but that doesn’t mean Jazz is no longer on her mind.
How will Carlton’s drug abuse confession affect his future?
When Carlton publicly announces his struggles with addiction, he ultimately tarnishes his and his family’s reputation. Luckily for him, summer is approaching, so he won’t have to miss class while he’s in rehab. Unfortunately, Princeton might not be too fond of the idea of accepting a future student who’s battling drug abuse.
Is the relationship between Phil and Viv as strong as they portray it to be?
Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil represent an ideal and genuinely loving relationship. However, trouble in paradise looms as Phil’s ex-girlfriend and Viv’s ex-best friend, Erika pops into the picture with questionable motives. Don’t forget, this isn't the first time infidelity dangled over their relationship.
Will Geoffrey be able to protect his son the way he does for the Banks family?
Geoffrey thinks his son is in danger, we’ve seen him go to great lengths to help and protect Will and the Banks family, will he do the same for Frederick?
Will clearly has some unresolved issues with Lou. What’s going to happen there?
Will can only ignore his unresolved issues with his father for so long. Will they ever be able to get over the mounting tension between them and finally build an amicable relationship?
Looks like Ashley has a new friend, is there something more there?
Ashley has mostly been a subtle lone wolf background character with big potential in the past two seasons. However, with the arrival of a possibly queer new friend, will we finally get to see more of Ashley exploring her identity?
Stream Bel-Air exclusively on Peacock.
