Bel-Air has been renewed for season 3, making history at Peacock. Leading up to its final episode on April 27, Bel-Air season 2 continues its dramatic take on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but it has changed things from its first installment. Rather than center conflict, the fictional character of Will Smith (Jabari Banks) is at peace with his relatives and his new life of wealth. That shift has allowed some tension to shift over to the show's other relationships, deepening the relationships and the character dynamics.
That will continue for the foreseeable future, as Peacock has announced that it has renewed Bel-Air for a history-making season 3.
Bel-Air's renewal is significant in many ways, as it comes just weeks after the premiere of the show's sophomore season. It's also the first scripted series to get a season 3 confirmation at Peacock. Peacock says that Bel-Air is its most-watched season 2 so far, and it joins other renewed Peacock originals like Poker Face and Pitch Perfect: Bumper in Berlin.
How Bel-Air Season 2 Continues The Show’s Success
Bel-Air's trick is in its premise, essentially taking the sitcom elements of Fresh Prince and delving into them for drama. However, in season 2, the show has struck a balance between its soapy elements and the lighthearted chemistry of a cast that includes Adrian Holmes as Philip, Cassandra Freeman as Vivian, Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey, Olly Sholotan as Carlton, Coco Jones as Hilary, Akira Akbar as Ashley, and Jordan L. Jones as Jazz. Carlton is visibly struggling with the pressures he puts on himself, but he's no longer at war with Will.
In addition, Hilary is nervously entering into a relationship with Jazz, but she doesn't seem to have the same fights with her mother, Vivian. Bel-Air season 1 could often increase the drama to the point where it overpowered the show's light origins, coming across as all conflict and mistrust. In contrast, the more recent episodes offer a bit of a course correction. That result could be due to a change in the creative team, as Bel-Air season 2 welcomed a new showrunner in Carla Banks Waddles.
But even with the newfound balance, Will faces some difficult choices ahead. Uncle Phil needs to remind himself to let Will make his own choices, which could lead to some trouble in the remaining Bel-Air season 2 episodes and the reopening of old wounds. Nevertheless, it's a bit of reassurance that the series will not end there.
Source: Peacock