Essential Episodes of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air

Season 1, Episode 1

"The Fresh Prince Project"

An essential, in the guides for Will Smith and Philip Banks. Read the notes

Season 1, Episode 2

"Bang the Drum, Ashley"

• Ashley Banks: Will trades Ashley's violin for a drum set, and the noise drives the family crazy.

Season 1, Episode 4

"Not with My Pig, You Don't"

• Philip Banks: Will's stories about Phil's farm childhood reach the press, and Phil embraces his roots in his speech.

Season 1, Episode 6

"Mistaken Identity"

• Will Smith: Will and Carlton are pulled over while driving a Mercedes, sparking a debate about racial profiling.

Season 1, Episode 10

"Kiss My Butler"

• Geoffrey: Will sets Geoffrey up on a blind date for his birthday, and it goes better than anyone expected.

Season 1, Episode 17

"The Ethnic Tip"

• Vivian Banks: Vivian teaches the Black history class Will asked for and shows him how much more there is to learn.

Season 1, Episode 22

"Banks Shot"

An essential, in the guides for Geoffrey and Philip Banks. Read the notes

Season 1, Episode 23

"72 Hours"

• Carlton Banks: Carlton accepts Will's bet that he cannot last a weekend in Compton and takes it way too far.

Season 1, Episode 24

"Just Infatuation"

• Ashley Banks: Ashley lands a date with teen singer Little T after he performs at her birthday party.

Season 1, Episode 25

"Working It Out"

• Hilary Banks: Hilary works for a verbally abusive actress played by Queen Latifah.

Season 2, Episode 4

"PSAT Pstory"

• Geoffrey: Geoffrey quits over a tiny raise and is later rehired.

Season 2, Episode 7

"The Big Four-Oh"

• Vivian Banks: Turning 40, Vivian revisits her dream of becoming a dancer.

Season 2, Episode 14

"Hilary Gets a Life"

• Hilary Banks: After her father cuts up her credit cards, Hilary lands a catering job with Will's help.

Season 2, Episode 16

"Geoffrey Cleans Up"

• Geoffrey: Geoffrey falls for a wealthy neighbor he mistook for a housekeeper.

Season 2, Episode 23

"Be My Baby Tonight"

• Ashley Banks: After Will and Carlton bungle the talk, Philip and Vivian answer Ashley's questions about sex.

Season 3, Episode 2

"Will Gets Committed"

• Vivian Banks: Vivian announces she is pregnant.

Season 3, Episode 4

"Hilary Gets a Job"

• Hilary Banks: Hilary becomes a TV weather girl and develops a crush on the anchorman, Trevor.

Season 3, Episode 10

"Asses to Ashes"

• Philip Banks: After his election rival, Judge Robertson, dies, Phil is appointed a Superior Court judge.

Season 3, Episode 14

"Winner Takes Off"

• Geoffrey: Tricked into thinking he won the lottery, Geoffrey quits, and the boys must win him back.

Season 3, Episode 18

"The Alma Matter"

• Carlton Banks: Carlton copies Will's approach for his Princeton interview and is rejected.

Season 3, Episode 19

"Just Say Yo"

An essential, in the guides for Will Smith and Carlton Banks. Read the notes

Season 3, Episode 20

"The Baby Comes Out"

• Vivian Banks: Vivian gives birth to Nicky while the family is scattered across town.

Season 4, Episode 1

"Where There's a Will, There's a Way"

• Hilary Banks: Trevor dies while proposing to Hilary.

Season 4, Episode 9

"Fresh Prince After Dark"

• Hilary Banks: Hilary poses for Playboy, and Philip is furious.

Season 4, Episode 10

"Home Is Where the Heart Attack Is"

• Philip Banks: Phil suffers a heart attack, shaking up the whole family.

Season 4, Episode 24

"Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse"

An essential, in the guides for Will Smith and Philip Banks. Read the notes

Season 5, Episode 1

"What's Will Got to Do with It?"

• Ashley Banks: Will discovers Ashley can sing and lands her a record deal, until quick fame goes to her head.

Season 5, Episode 7

"Father Knows Best"

• Ashley Banks: Ashley confesses she secretly left Bel-Air Academy for public school.

Season 5, Episode 15

"Bullets over Bel-Air"

An essential, in the guides for Will Smith and Carlton Banks. Read the notes

Season 5, Episode 25

"For Whom the Wedding Bells Toll"

• Will Smith: Will and Lisa call off their wedding.

Season 6, Episode 8

"Viva Lost Wages"

• Carlton Banks: Carlton gets hooked on gambling during a trip to Las Vegas.

Season 6, Episode 11

"I, Ooh, Baby Baby"

• Hilary Banks: Hilary's talk show goes national, but she still feels something is missing.

Season 6, Episode 14

"Breaking Up Is Hard to Do: Part 1"

• Vivian Banks: Vivian leaves Philip after he makes a political decision without her.

Season 6, Episode 16

"I, Bowl Buster"

• Carlton Banks: Carlton finally earns a place at Princeton, then flirts with a pro bowling career.

Season 6, Episode 17

"The Butler's Son Did It"

• Geoffrey: Geoffrey's son, Fredrick, visits and turns out to be after his father's money.

Season 6, Episode 22

"Eye, Tooth"

• Ashley Banks: Ashley asks her parents to let her move to New York.