Bel-Air: Season 3 Episode 8 – Review/ Recap

Storyline Recap

Sticking To The Right Side Of History – Phil, Omar, Will, Fred

For Omar, the protest have gone too far. They have set fire to his property, cost him a notable amount of money, and now the people who were funding the project want to negotiate to rather unfavorable terms. Now, Will is aware of what happened, but when questioned by Fred, the DA, Lisa’s father, he is sparse on details.

But, in the end it doesn’t matter. Omar, to get this project done, allows for his financers to remove all the protections and advocacy for the community that would be displaced and with that, Phil cuts ties. Leaving viewers to wonder if he’ll switch sides or just stay out of what’s going on.

Your Daughter Is Struggling – Vivian, Fred, Lisa, Will

Lisa, after Amira pushed her to, has opened up to Will about what she was going through, and he goes to Vivian, who decides to go to Fred. Lisa taking care of her little brother because her step mom has post-partum depression, or simply doesn’t want to take care of her child, is a lot on Lisa. Fred doesn’t appreciate Vivian coming to him about his family, especially since he knows how she feels about his new wife. So, he pushes back and reminds Vivian to worry about her own household.

Investor’s Day – Quentin, Will, Carlton

Investor’s Day, and the lead up, are a bit dramatic. Will and Carlton are beefing over Phil’s role in Jazz’s situation, with Carlton on his dad’s side and Will on Jazz’s. The back and forth only gets worse as Quentin tasks them with wrestling, featuring WWE Superstar Bianca Belair, and then Amira’s situation leads to Carlton needing a moment right before the big presentation.

Will nearly blows it when left alone, but thankfully Carlton gathers himself and helps Will ace the presentation. It isn’t made clear whether or not they got any investors, but at least they didn’t embarrass Quentin.

There For Everyone Else, But Who Is there For Me? – Amira, Lisa, Will, Carlton

Amira is going through it. She repeatedly says it is due to her sister’s passing, but whether or not that is true remains to be seen. What is fact, however, is that Lisa telling Will about Amira having cocaine, Will threatening Amira that he’ll tell Carlton, it is all too much. So, from what it seems, she gets high and nearly drowns.

Luckily, Carlton still has access to Amira’s location so he and his friends are able to find her, Lisa has Narcan, and Amira’s life is saved.

I Can Change My Mind – Ashley, Eli, Hilary, LaMarcus, Vivian, Phil

Eli and Ashley’s relationship raises eyebrows from Phil and Vivian. Note, Eli is dating a boy, but Ashley is very comfortable around him in a way that neither of her parents like. Add in Eli revealing he is single, and he has feelings for Ashley, and it seems Phil and Vivian were right to keep an eye on him.

Switching to LaMarcus and Hilary, with everything they’ve gone through, and with neither desiring to commercialize their wedding, they decide to push up their wedding to the following week. Damn how they could monetize it.

Review

Highlights

How The Season Is Highlighting Lesser Known Or Niche People

While we won’t pretend Bianca Belair isn’t one of WWE’s top stars, I do have to put her with the many other faces and name drops of the season which highlighted people, mainly Black people, in different industries doing it big. It reminds you of the benefit and burden shows like “Bel-Air” have in uplifting and showcasing different people, storylines, and walks of life.

Which, granted, does it always do a good job in? No. But sometimes effort matters more than execution.

Carlton Setting Aside The Personal For The Professional

Will and Carlton go back and forth with one another every other episode. There are multitudes of insecurities between them which, at this point, would require a therapist to get between to solve. But, seeing Carlton not blow up at Will, just push down his feelings to handle the task at hand was applaudable. It really showed his growth in times of strife.

Lisa’s Burgeoning Storyline

It isn’t clear if Lisa’s relationship with Fred and his wife may go anywhere, but it is bubbling. From Lisa compensating for someone with post-partum depression, trying to keep her swimming career going, paired with trying to be a good friend to Amira, Carlton, and date Will? She has a lot going on. I’d even say she is the perfect example of why it stinks that most new shows focused on Black characters rarely focus on young Black women.

On The Fence

Amira Spiraling

Do I appreciate the drama Amira stirs up? Yes. However, as a individual, she doesn’t really offer much. She keeps pushing something happened to her sister, but whether or not that is true remains rather hard to tell. Add in Carlton hasn’t entered Amira’s world, just had her come into his, it helps to remind you why the Jackie x Will situation didn’t last since the show is perpetually hesitant at making the girlfriend more than just that.

I mean, look at Vivian and Hilary. As much as they fight and have moments when they aren’t someone’s partner, getting to be a individual for them is a challenge.

Ashley and Hilary

One of the major issues we have with “Bel-Air” is that it often seems to have a limited plan or vision for some characters, especially over a season vs. just for a few episodes. Hilary’s romance with LaMarcus is not doing much for her character and I hope with the pushback she had to give regarding not monetizing her wedding and engagement, they tap into that. Also, with us getting to meet LaMarcus’ parents, there also being a push about legacy, the pressures of being a Black athlete, even when poverty isn’t hanging over you, and other avenues.

Then, with Ashley – I just need something. Her character seems built almost entirely on presenting the LGBTQIA+ community which is fine, but it feels superficial. With Ashley wanting to be a truth teller, explore her sexuality and find herself, it makes me wish she’d leave the mansion or the country club and really be out there. When Olivia came about, and what we saw in previous seasons, I expected Ashley to venture into South LA, maybe try to work with Jazz, and even be part of his protests.

Instead, they got her in lukewarm relationship storylines that make it seem the character is kept out of obligation than because they really have anything for her to do.

The Omar Story Ending As It Is

That’s it? What could have been a major storyline for Phil, that could have triggered a bunch of others in his household ends once Omar doubles down on who he long has made clear is who he is? REALLY?!

General Information

Additional Information

1. Previous Episode: Season 3/ Episode 7
2. Series Page

Episode Title

Gimme a Break

Release Date

August 29, 2024

Network

Peacock

Director(s)

Rachel Raimist

Writer(s)

Andy Reaser

The Gist

• With LaMarcus taking up a lot of time in Hilary’s life and sidetracking her career, he asks her to push up their wedding to the following week, and she says yes.
• As that happens, Eli reveals he has broke up with his boyfriend and that Phil and Vivian were right to give him the side eye for he has developed feelings for Ashley, who hasn’t verbalized if said feelings are reciprocated.
• But, the main focus is Investor Day which is complicated by Will and Carlton fighting, as usual, mainly due to what Amira stirred up.
• However, bad situations get worse as Lisa tells Will about Amira having drugs, Will and Amira’s beef leading to him mentioning he knows, and Carlton finding out right before the presentation.
• Thankfully, he pulls it together for the presentation but after, he is looking for Amira like mad and if she didn’t share her location with him, she may have died of an overdose, or drowning.
• Also it should be mentioned Uncle Phil and Omar break ties, just as it is discovered Jazz was at the arson situation and has been arrested.
• Combined, this was a dramatic episode but I can’t say if it was the best one. Mainly since the characters who more so bring fat than substance to the show came back.
• Which isn’t to downplay what Hilary and Ashley could give, but compared to everything else going on, even Lisa’s issues with her dad and step mom, they feel a bit lower tier.