Bel-Air: Season 3 Episode 3 – Review/ Recap (Written)

In the last of the three episode premiere, you could submit the investment in who gets good or run of the mill storylines doesn’t change, but there is still reason to remain committed to “Bel-Air.”

Storyline Recap

They Move Funny – Frederick, Carlton, Will, Amria, Lisa, Jackie, Jazz

With Will noting that Frederick moves sus to Carlton, they agree to keep him close just in case. This backfires on them as it is proven he isn’t to be trusted. He takes some money from someone and lies about it, and with Will and Carlton wanting to back him up, they almost got into a fight before Frederick reveals he is a thief. But, to make matters worse, Frederick would rather be a liar than just tell Geoffrey what is going on, and with Frederick seeing Carlton and Will street race, using Amira’s Hellcat to make Jazz some money, he ensures mutually assured destruction.

But, outside of the street race, Carlton, Will, Lisa, and Jackie were able to spread the word about Blackccess. Jackie got more traction, since she is bubbly and operates outside of high society, and with feeling like she is in a competition, Lisa gets a bit jealous and calls Jackie out of her name. This shocks everyone, but it seems to be what Will needs to get serious with Lisa.

As for Amira? While late, she does show up and offers her Hellcat for the aforementioned race. This helps build a solid relationship between her and Carlton and gives him a means to defend their critics.

A Woman’s Intuition – Vivian, Phil, Erika

Vivian knows something is up between Erika and Phil, and she decides, rather than snoop or use Geoffrey, to talk to Erika woman to woman, and she gets the truth. With that, she and Phil argue all night long, with Carlton forced to hear since they removed his bedroom door as punishment for all his secrets.

Speak Your Truth – Hillary, Ashley, Olivia, Ivy, LaMarcus

Ashley seems to be the catalyst for people telling the truth, and after seeing Jazz and Hillary kiss, she presses her big sister about how she really feels and oversteps. This causes Hillary to talk to Ivy, an adult, and Ivy is all about taking that to the grave. Unfortunately, Ashley is already in Hillary’s head, but before she can tell LaMarcus, he gets hit in a skirmish game, and while he gets back up, whether it is a concussion or something more serious, he ends up on the ground freaking everyone out.

Meanwhile, Ashley reveals to Olivia she is making a band and spits some bars for her.

Can’t Have Everything Handed To You – Geoffrey, Omar, Phil

Before his spot was blown up, Phil was working on creating some distance between him and Erika. Geoffrey had a lead, and Phil was pursuing a client. It is this man named Omar, who is building up an area and has gotten massive pushback from the locals. It’s a storyline likely to merge with Jazz’s, regarding raising taxes as people seek to revitalize the community for people who don’t live there.

New Character Descriptions

Akilah A. Walker As Yolanda

Yolanda is a friend of Jazz running for a position in local government.

Chelsea Harris As Nairobi

Nairobi is a swim instructor who is working with Lisa.

Dulé Hill As Omar Campbell

Omar is a real estate developer, trying to modernize parts of the city, but is getting notable pushback from locals. This leads Phil, after Geoffrey’s tip, to look him up to offer assistance.

• The actor is also known for their role in “Sleight.”

The Gist

Blackccess officially launched at a car show with Lisa and Jackie helping, and Frederick was invited to come along – and while the launch was successful, there was drama.

Between Frederick showing why it may not be Geoffrey who is in trouble to Lisa and Jackie getting into it, never mind Will and Carlton street racing to get Jazz money? A lot happens.

But, the good that comes of it is that Jazz has wiggle room, Lisa decides to be official with Will, and Amira shows Carlton that while she isn’t always reliable, she will make an effort for him.

Outside of them? Aunt Viv learns about the kiss, LaMarcus suffers a concussion, Ashley starts a band, and Uncle Phil begins to find work beyond what Erika passes on.

“Bel-Air,” in its three-episode premiere, continues to make it clear that if your storyline isn’t including Carlton and Will, it is somewhere between secondary and unremarkable.

Don’t get me wrong, relationships are a notable part of life, and from Phil and Vivian to Hillary wanting to confess to LaMarcus about the kiss before the concussion, if you like relationship drama, “Bel-Air” got you. | Dulé Hill As Omar Campbell

However, compare most of the Banks family to Will and Carlton and they are eclipsed by two characters who might be in a relationship, but that isn’t the start and end of their character. | Jazz and Akilah A. Walker As Yolanda

Review

Highlights

Phil vs. Jazz

In the pursuit of working with or for Omar, more than likely Phil and Jazz are going to bump heads. Phil is protecting the man who is changing the neighborhood in his image rather than actually investing in it. He is the one causing property taxes to rise, which pushes out people who have been in the area for generations, and a part of me hopes that Phil pushes on, damn what Jazz says or feels.

Mind you, not to make Uncle Phil the bad guy, but to push the type of drama that isn’t made for show but true to life. For while we won’t downplay Carlton’s storyline, Will’s life, or what anyone goes through, but sometimes it does seem the drama is made for entertainment rather than to tell a real story.

Frederick Will Get A Rise Out Of You

Seeing Connor go against Will and Carlton is one thing, but Frederick is different. Maybe it is because he is Geoffrey’s kid, because he is Black, or that he grew up without his dad, so he is built to have sympathy for. Yet, him showing himself to be an ass, never mind the type who is a pathological liar and schemer? It creates the perfect villain for “Bel-Air.”

The only question is, when Geoffrey realizes who his son is, what will he do?

People’s Secrets Coming Out

The benefit of Ashley pushing people to tell the truth or people asking questions is that it will allow “Bel-Air” to move on from storylines that aren’t working. Vivian and Phil’s relationship needs a major shift. The appearances don’t match what happens behind closed doors, and while they talk about the shift in their dynamic, much more needs to be done.

Add in Hillary’s secret, Frederick’s, and more, while these secrets may not hold value beyond this season, you have to have a mix of long-term arcs that require immense time, like Will and Lou reconciling, paired with short-term storylines, like Vivian finding the artist who made the mural in the last episode.

Low Points

Hillary’s Storyline Thus Far

I was hoping with Carlton and Will creating a company in which they are the brand, this would mean asking Hillary to advise and rebuild who she is outside of this love triangle she is in. Sadly, that wasn’t the case. Now, is it great that Ashley was pressing her to tell the truth? Yes. However, with LaMarcus having a concussion, at best, or something more debilitating going on, it seems she remains trapped in the most lackluster storyline on the show.

On The Fence

Wanting Better For Jackie

I’m not anti-Lisa, but I am anti-Jackie being made to be a bad person. Of the female characters on the show, she is the most interesting of them all, and I don’t know if it is because she isn’t from the suburbs or what, but even with limited screen time and revolving around Will, she stands out. Additionally, it seems Will is more in love with Lisa out of loyalty than passion, and it almost makes me wonder if, through Will and Lisa, we’re pushed to see what is going on with Phil and Vivian, just in teenage form.

General Information

Additional Information

1. Previous Episode: Season 3/ Episode 2
2. Series Page