Ep 7. Father Knows Best
- TVG
- October 24, 1994
- 22 min
-
7.6 (571)
In this episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, titled "Father Knows Best," Will's father, Lou, comes to visit him unexpectedly. Will is thrilled to see his father, but his excitement turns to disappointment when Lou tells him he has to leave again the next day. Will tries to get his father to stay longer, but Lou refuses, telling him he has important business in town.
Meanwhile, Carlton is excited to spend time with Lou, who he idolizes and sees as the father figure he always wanted. However, Lou pays more attention to Will and barely acknowledges Carlton's existence. This leads to tension between the two cousins, with Carlton feeling left out and unimportant.
As the episode progresses, it becomes evident that Lou's visit may not be solely for business reasons. Will starts to suspect that his father may be involved in some illegal activity, and his suspicions are confirmed when the police show up looking for Lou. Will is devastated and disappointed, feeling like his father has let him down yet again.
Throughout the episode, Will and Lou try to rebuild their relationship, with Will expressing his hurt and disappointment to his father. Lou eventually opens up about his struggles, revealing that he has been dealing with financial difficulties and felt like he had to resort to illegal means to provide for his family. Will is sympathetic but also angry, telling Lou that he should have come to him for help instead of breaking the law.
In the end, Lou decides to turn himself in and take responsibility for his actions. Will is proud of his father for doing the right thing, but also deeply saddened by the fact that their relationship is still strained.
Overall, "Father Knows Best" is a poignant episode that explores the complicated relationship between a father and son. It showcases the show's ability to handle serious topics with both humor and heart, and features standout performances from both Will Smith and Ben Vereen as Lou. Fans of the show will not want to miss this emotional and memorable episode.
