In this episode, the family is in for a surprise when Aunt Vivian's sister Janice arrives for her wedding at the Banks residence.
The series is known for addressing real-world issues, and this premise was very progressive for its time. Although he does end up learning his lesson, Will's path to this realization is riddled with plenty of hilarious misfires. Not to mention the many comedic moments through Will's failed attempts of gaining Aunt Viv's favor. The episode is a great reminder of how cool and commanding Aunt Vivian's character was in the early seasons. Every other student is charmed by her teaching methods while her own son and nephew dread these classes. However, the bold Vivian has no interest in playing favorites, instead making Will and Carlton pay for their lazy attitude. It spares a significant part of its runtime to the emotional aspect, as Will matures into being his own man and shares a heartfelt farewell with his family.Īfter convincing the school to teach classes about black history, Will thinks he'll skate by the subject when Aunt Vivian takes up the role of teacher. The episode makes callbacks to the funniest recurring gags as a way of reminding viewers of all the best times. The most significant of Will's relationships - with Uncle Phil and Carlton - are given their special moments. This episode sees Will's attempts to find a place to stay when the Banks' departure is right around the corner.
The last episode deserves praise for bringing a sense of closure to the story while keeping things focused on the characters’ endings. The episode makes sure to refer to Will's sensitive side as well, setting him up as the lead. Of course, the banter between Uncle Phil and Will remains evergreen and it's always fun to see where it all began. The episode is also significant in hindsight since it reflects the character development the family undergoes in later years. The clash in personalities is played up to hilarious effect, as the fast-talking Will is too street smart for his upper-class family to match. Will's arrival at Bel-Air shakes things up for the family, causing Carlton to see him as his rival and Uncle Phil to try and discipline him.
The first episode kicked things off by establishing the status quo for the rest of the series. Which episodes did you think were unforgettable? Let us know in the comments. Since this covers the stories of the episodes extensively, here’s your one and only Spoiler Alert! We’re excluding episodes only notable for certain scenes in favor of those that were packed with comedic and emotional depth. Welcome to MsMojo, and today we’re counting down our picks for the Top 10 Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Episodes.įor this list, we’ll be looking at the episodes that brought the complete experience for any fan of this classic sitcom.