Bel-Air Season 1 Finale: What lies ahead for Will?

Bel-Air Season 1 has reached its conclusion and left the audience with a shocking turn of events.

Just like its predecessor, Bel-Air’s story had seamlessly integrated Will’s father’s importance in it without ever showing him.

However, this changed in the show’s cliff-hanger of a finale. After Jabari Banks’ Will asking about his father for so long, the man finally shows up with Marlon Wayans portraying the character of Lou.

As it turns out, Vivian and Phil had told Will that Lou had abandoned him. But when Lou shows up in over a decade to finally meet his son, he explains that he’d been incarcerated and didn’t want Will to see him in prison.

Lou and Will reconnect over fond memories of the past. But their conversation goes south when Lou ends up insulting Will’s mom Vy and gives excuses when asked why he waited for so long, even after being out of prison for quite a while.

Will is furious and feels betrayed by both his father and the Banks, and storms out of the house, deciding that he’s done with Bel-Air. And that’s how the episode ends, with uncertainties of what lies ahead for Will.

Showrunners T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson spoke to TVLine about the season finale. Brady talked about how the finale will shape Season 2,

“He’s going to try and define himself in Los Angeles outside of Bel-Air. We can look forward to him seeing what else that city has to offer in terms of making him feel like he belongs, places and people where he can thrive, and just figuring out a future for himself. The incident with Lou, coupled with Jazz’s words and Will’s journey, are going to take him on that coming-of-age self-discovery that everyone can relate to.”

Newson added that the finale and cliff-hanger owed “much of its power to the fact that we know we’ve got a second season.”

As for the general theme of Season 2, Brady said he hopes to explore more about his identity, his past, and “how much of your past and where you grew up makes you who you are now? How much of it should affect who you are now?”

Newson added that as much as it is about Will’s individual story, it will explore more about the family,

“On the surface, it’s Will’s coming-of-age story, but the story is also the evolution of a Black family. They have an idea of who they should be and who the world wants them to be. That’s where the drama is going to come from, when you deviate from what’s expected of you because of the station you were born in.”

All episodes of Bel-Air Season 1 are now available to stream on Peacock.

About Bel-Air

Bel-Air is an American drama television series developed by Morgan Cooper, Malcolm Spellman, TJ Brady, and Rasheed Newson. It is a reimagined version of the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air . In March 2023, it was renewed for a third season.

The series stars Jabari Banks as Will Smith, with Adrian Holmes, Cassandra Freeman, Coco Jones, Olly Sholotan, Jimmy Akingbola, Akira Akbar, Jordan L Jones, and Simone Joy Jones.

The story follows Will Smith’s complicated journey from the streets of West Philadelphia to the gated mansions of Bel-Air. It dives deep into racial tension, culture shock, and black excellence.