PREVIEW: Bel-Air Season 3: Now This Is A Story All About How

The first three episodes of the new season of Bel-Air were made available to media and we were able to watch the advance screening. Two years ago, there was great anticipation for Bel-Air, the dramatic reimagining of the beloved classic comedy The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Originating as a fan film by Kansas City native Morgan Cooper and uploaded to YouTube in 2019, it quickly gained attention, leading to Will Smith joining as an executive producer. The show's first season was a success, praised for its portrayal of class tensions and innovative character developments such as Hillary as a culinary influencer and Carlton as a struggling, undercover addict. This positive reception has paved the way for a second season and now a third.

However, the most recent season takes a slightly different direction from the previous two. Instead of being set during the school year, Season 3 unfolds during the summer, placing Will (Jabari Banks) and Carlton (Olly Sholotan) in a country club environment typically associated with young white children on television. In this new setting, Will finds himself even further removed from his familiar life in Philly. His admiration for Quentin (played by rapper Vic Mensa, known for his role as Jamal on “The Chi” set in his hometown), an innovative entrepreneur who has achieved success without compromising his culture or community, prompts Will to consider, perhaps for the first time, a life where basketball is not his sole focus. If you recall in the original series, the Country Club played a role throughout the run of the series.

Will appears to have endless possibilities, while Carlton's future seems to be diminishing. Revealing his addiction publicly could jeopardize his long-awaited Ivy League prospects. Furthermore, his history of deceit has caused distrust from both his mother Viv (Cassandra Freeman) and sister Ashley (Akira Akbar). Despite its complications, his potential relationship with Amira (Alycia Pascual-Peña), a daring young woman, shines as a positive aspect.

Based on the three episodes available for review, there is potential for an explosive season, particularly with Carla Banks Waddles ("Good Girls", "Truth Be Told") stepping in as showrunner following previous season changes. This season offers her the opportunity to leave her mark on the show. The challenge may lie in Bel-Air being overly ambitious and potentially lacking focus on core storylines. However the show seems more inclined to explore themes through its characters, such as Black entrepreneurship, the effects of gentrification, and, with Lou's (the excellent Marlon Wayans from Season 1) return, the scars of an absent father which works.

While these are important and meaningful topics to address, the execution is crucial. Let's hope that the remaining season's writing does not falter and that the character arcs do not lack authenticity and grounding. Given the scarcity of quality Black elite representation in the media, Bel-Air is a captivating show that is sure to leave a lasting impression. It would be unsurprising if the show is renewed for a fourth season.

The third season of "Bel-Air" begins streaming on Thursday, August 15, on Peacock.