Summary
Superb writing mixed with strong performances from Jabari Banks and Olly Sholotan makes Bel-Air Season 2 a notch ahead of the first season.
Bel-Air season 1 broke onto the scene with many doubts on whether or not it would capture the magic that Fresh Prince of Bel-Air did. However, season 1 proved to be something that could stand on its own. Critics and audiences rewarded it with a great score leading to a renewal for Season 2. Can they capture that magic twice?
Bel-Air Season 2 Review and Plot Summary
Bel-Air Season 2 follows the journey of Will as someone new steps into the picture, causing him to question many things since he has come to Bel-Air. Will also seeks to try and restore things with the Banks family after the aftermath of season one.
The stakes heading into this season were high because we saw Will have a falling out with most of the Banks family. So walking into the series, we see Will quickly try to make amends with everyone but let Phil do it at his pace because he feels that he owes him an apology. After they clear, we see that a new guy in town, Doc, is someone Will wants to impress. Doc is an AAU coach who has turned hundreds of High School players into College players.
READ: Bel-Air Season 2 Episode 1 Recap
We see Will given the opportunity to impress Doc. Then, once he does, Doc is eyeballed by Phil, who comes in and puts the Thor hammer on him. After much back and forth, Phil agrees to step up and let Will do his thing with Doc. Throughout the season, we explore the relationship of Will and Doc (and the Banks), Jazz and Hilary flourishing as a couple, and Carlton attempting to deal with his demons on his own without his medication. Each story was handled perfectly, which ensured there was never a dull moment.
Throughout the first season, I felt like the writers were scratching the surface of what was ahead for Will and the Banks family. Of course, you know the show is honed in on Will, but for me, the stand-out from the writing perspective saw Olly Sholotan deliver some solid emotional beats as Carlton. At the end of episodes three and four, he has an entire dialogue that will completely floor you. This isn’t your childhood Carlton; Sholotan delivers some of the most impressive work of his career.
As with season one, the entire vibe of the series is very well done. From the music to the production design to the atmosphere, you are engulfed in the world of Bel-Air. Furthermore, I am impressed with the technical aspect of the series because of the layers of what they shoot within it. The directors are tasked with shooting everything from basketball games to fights to dramatic sequences, and each is delivered precisely.
Is Bel-Air season 2 good?
Season 2 of Bel-Air is better than Season 1. Season 2 did a great job building the relationship between Will and the Banks’s, but Season 2 took that and Will’s arc to another level. The layers of trust and mistrust provided intense twists and turn that made for an intriguing journey. I am a massive fan of this series and hope we get a third season.
What did you think of Bel-Air Season 2? Comment below.
The 1st episode was very good. I’m looking forward to the rest of the season. I wish I could binge watch, the 1 episode at a time thing is a pain, but I’m going to continue to watch