Morgan Cooper and company proved several critics wrong with the first season of Bel-Air. Led by Jabari Banks, the series paid homage to its predecessor while still managing to keep things exciting and new. In season two, Banks, Coco Jones, Akir Akbar, Cassandra Freeman and the entire cast will look to keep things on an upward trajectory. Not to mention, there show will add a few new characters like Ms. Hughes, played by Tatyana Ali, and Jackie, played by Jazlyn Martin. To top it all off, Will will embark on the next stage of his basketball career, Hilary will step into her business venture with Ivy and Aunt Viv will figure out the next stage of her career in the art world. As the season premiere draws closer, here are just a few questions that we need to be answered in season two of Bel-Air.
Can Phil rectify his relationship with Will?
One word encapsulates the end of Bel-Air’s first season — explosive. Will, played by Jabari Banks, comes face to face with his father, played by Marlon Wayans. At first, it appears that Will and his father have the potential to build a fruitful, friendly relationship. Then, things take a turn for the worse when Will’s father makes a few personal comments about his loved ones, specifically his mother. By the end of their brief meeting, all hope is lost and both men leave the house separately. The Banks family has no idea where Will has run off to. Meanwhile, the Philly native finds refugee riding shotgun with his friend, Jazz. The season closes out with Will wanting to take control of his future.
Heading into season two, it’s unclear how the events of the season finale will play out. Most importantly, Will’s sudden meeting with his father severely damaged his relationship with his Uncle Phil, played by Adrian Holmes. As Will learns more about his father by way of Geoffrey, played by Jimmy Akingbola, he discovers that his Uncle Phil, Aunt Viv and his mother have all been standing in the way of him meeting his Dad. The manner in which Will ended season one leads many viewers to believe that their relationship is beyond repair. As a result, it brings into question Will’s relationship with the rest of the Banks family. What does the Banks’ mansion look like if he and Uncle Phil are in a constant state of distrust? More importantly, Will was shipped off to Bel-Air in hopes of bringing more stability to his life. Somehow, the exact opposite has happened. Thankfully, Will isn’t behind bars, but his mental and emotional health aren’t the best at the moment. Repairing himself and his relationship with the adults in his life will definitely be focal points of the upcoming season.
Will Lisa and Will be able to keep their relationship afloat?
At the start of season one, sparks were constantly flying between Will and Lisa. By the end of season one, the two were seemingly in love, but things have become a lot more complicated. Will’s uncle and Lisa’s father just engaged in a pretty heated political battle. More recently, Lisa was left thinking she was stood up on a date, only to learn that Will had gone MIA after meeting his father. Heading into season two, it’s clear that the emotion is still there, but will it be enough to get them back on the right track? If these first-look images are any indication of what’s to come, it’ll be a long road back to romance at Bel-Air Academy.
Is Geoffrey out of the Banks household for good?
One of the more interesting storylines heading into season two involves Geoffrey, played Jimmy Akingbola. In season one, Uncle Phil, played by Adrian Holmes, and Geoffrey came to blows after Geoffrey gave Will information about his father that Uncle Phil told him not to. Ultimately, Geoffrey’s actions led to the explosive meet-up between Will and his dad. Not to mention, it revealed that Geoffrey has a child that he doesn’t see as often as he should. In the end, Geoffrey and Uncle Phil respectably part ways. As expected, Geoffrey’s departure raises questions within the Banks household and leaves Lisa, Ashley and Aunt Viv pushing Phil to reach out to Geoffrey.
In season two, Geoffrey is expected to return to the show at some point. However, it’s unclear if he’ll return for a good time or a long time. In the parent series, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Geoffrey was a pivotal character that had important relationships with everyone in the family while offering comedic relief from time to time. In the reimagined series, Bel-Air, Geoffrey is a smooth, forceful “fixer” of sorts for Uncle Phil. Thus far, Morgan Cooper has shown that he’ll take risks and pave a new path forward for Will while paying respect to the parent series. Is eliminating Geoffrey from the show a bridge too far or a risk Cooper is willing to take?
Can Hilary create a healthy business relationship with Ivy?
When she’s not busy dropping one of the best R&B albums of the year, Coco Jones is making waves on Peacock’s Bel-Air as Hilary Banks. In season one, Hilary is out to prove that she is an independent entrepreneur who doesn’t need to rely on her parents to succeed. Through this journey, she becomes a social media influencer, grapples with what she wants her social media brand to be and lands in a house with other social media pioneers run by an exploitative tyrant. By the end of the first season, she breaks free from a poorly constructed contract, forms a business partnership with her friend, Ivy, and buys the influencer house using Ivy’s capital.
In season two, things will certainly become more interesting as Hilary attempts to manage the influencer house and more importantly, manage her relationship with Ivy. Ivy brings the capital while Hilary brings the vision, but those two minds have the ability to clash throughout the season. Will Hilary put her foot down with Ivy or will she let her have her way because she is the one providing the capital?
What Can Ms. Hughes Teach Ashley Banks?
The most overlooked story arc of season one is Ashley’s. Throughout the first season, Ashley begins to explore her emotions, builds friendships and speaks out about issues that are important to her. In season two, she’ll continue to grow into who she hopes to become as she enters the class of Ms. Hughes, played by none other than Tatyana Ali. As Will figures out his life, Lisa forms her own identity and Carlton ventures into new territory, the current Ashley Banks will learn directly from the previous Ashley Banks.
