PA to LA is the fifth episode of the first season of Peacock's modern-day reinterpretation, Bel-Air. It aired on February 24, 2022.[1]
Synopsis[]
When Will's friend Tray visits, his loyalty is tested; the Bankses host an influencer event.
Plot[]
Will picks up Tray from LAX after he is flown out by Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv. On the ride back to the Bel-Air mansion, they discuss how much fun they had the prior summer and how Tray hasn't been back to the park since the incident. Even with Rashad dead. Will is sorry he had to go through that, but it's in the past now.
Phillip helps Hilary pack up the pool house as she prepares to move into Kylo's influencer house. But first, she plans a dinner for her new house mates, which has proven to be a bit more difficult than she expected. Phillip suggests that Hilary asks her mother, but she doesn't think they have similar tastes. Phillip argues that they should cut each other some slack. She's always on Hilary's back because she loves her, but she also worries about Hilary. Although, seeing her thrive in her element tonight could go a long way.
Will and Tray arrive at his family's mansion, where Tray remarks it's going to be hard for Will to give it all up when he returns home now that Rashad is dead, though Will doesn't seem as certain that he will be returning home. He welcomes Tray inside, where he can't help but notices all the paintings as they head upstairs, bypassing Carlton, who Tray hasn't seen since he was eight years old.
Aunt Viv welcomes Tray to Bel-Air, who has brought her a gift, 4th Street Fudge-dipped cookies. When Tray mentions that Will could be returning to Philly, Aunt Viv questions if that's what he truly wants.
Phillip learns from his campaign manager, Steven, that he's up with voters, specifically black voters, meaning the community outreach program is paying off. They are joined by Will and Tray, who Uncle Phil embraces and sympathizes with given events. On a brighter note, he's got them VIP tickets for a D Smoke concert tomorrow afternoon.
Vy FaceTimes Vivian, who reveals that Will has been contemplating heading back to Philly, which has been on Vy's mind, as well. She was thinking he could come home for Thanksgiving, but Viv proposes that he remain in Bel-Air, where Will is exposed to a world outside of sports and Philly. He could have a number of opportunities, but Vy reminds her sister that their arraignment was only ever temporary and that she's not done raising her son. She's feeling as if Viv is trying to take that away, but Viv insists that is not the case and promises that she won't try to talk Will into anything, allowing him to come to his own decisions. But as his mother, Vy intends to tell him what is best for him.
Tray makes his way through Will's room, taking notice of the books, trophies, and even Bel-Air Academy jersey. Unfortunately, the team back home has been struggling without Will, though with him coming back, they should make an epic return. Will then grabs a couple of suits from the closet as dinner time approaches, though Tray is reluctant to adapt to Bel-Air's luxurious ways.
Hilary has turned the dining room into a room fit for an influencer event, with hidden cameras stashed all around to record the evening. Will asks if it was a bad idea for him to go back to Philly; it's his home and he misses it. Not to mention, his mom and all his friends are expecting him to return, but Hilary thinks Will should stay and advises him to do what's best for him.
Vivian joins Phillip in his office to inform him that it's time for dinner, which Viv is skeptical of, as she doesn't see the value in social media influencers, but Phillip would beg to differ, explaining what each influencer in Hilary's new home brings to the table, from Kylo, the head influencer who made over a million last year, to Phanta, who specializes in luxury travel, to Monica, one of the leading relationship advice counselors on social media, to lastly, brothers Jared and Nathan, stuntmen and pranksters, better known as "the Blackass Brothers."
All the guests have arrived, and the dinner is underway as the Banks family and Hilary's new roommates surround the table. Phillip prepares a toast in Hilary's honor. He simply wishes to let her know that she leaves their house with love and that she's destined for greatness.
While Will becomes acquainted with Jared and Nathan, who tell him the truth about one of their past acts involving a sedated lion, Tray drunkenly makes conversation with Carlton, noting how this is as much Will's goodbye party as it is Hilary's. Unaware that Carlton has no ideas about the real reason Will's in Bel-Air, Tray reveals that since Rashad is dead, Will doesn't have to hide anymore. He explains how Rashad sought to murder Will, who was facing a lot of time for the gun they caught on him, but Uncle Phil made the charges go away.
Phanta complements Aunt Viv's necklace, which is from South Africa, which she visited for four months when she was 19 during a cultural exchange program for artists. It changed the way she depicted light in her paintings, and she had the chance to meet President Nelson Mandela. Phanta proposes that Viv begin creating content about her travels, as she's producing a series about women who've been places the average person can only dream about, but Vivian doesn't think she's cut out for the social media world. However, Phanta argues otherwise.
Ashley asks Monica about the future of sexuality. Monica believes that coming generations won't torture themselves when they define their behaviors. They argue that some people may spend one stage of their lives as heterosexual, and another as asexual, and another as homosexual. Ashley wonders if it's worth making those distinctions at all. Only if those distinctions serve you, Monica replies. Some people feel that sexuality defines them as a person, while others don't. But both camps are correct, they add.
A drunk Tray approaches Will and tells him that he's about to talk to Phanta, but Will encourages him to have a seat instead.
Meanwhile, Uncle Phil has a chat with Kylo, who wonders if Phil feels as though Hilary should be a lawyer or at least something more professional than a social media influencer. Phil explains that Hilary was born two months premature and spent the first six weeks of her life in the NIC unit. He prayed for her to be healthy and have a full life, and his heart hasn't changed. He puts no other conditions on her, so long as she's happy. Kylo jokingly remarks that he wishes his father was understanding.
Towards the end of dinner, a silver dome is rolled out on a cart that begins shaking, as if something alive is underneath. But it is merely a prank by Nathan and Jared, the former then making a sudden nude appearance and dancing dead center of the party while his brother records.
Phillip retires to his office, where he is confronted by Carlton, who had learned that he pulled strings to get Will out of jail.
Meanwhile, Nathan checks in with Hilary to assure that she's not mad about his streaking, while Phanta further explains the nature of their jobs as influencers to Aunt Viv, and Will finds Tray sleeping at the table and helps him upstairs.
Phillip explains to Carlton that he essentially broke the law for Will, who would've gone to prison. If their situation had come to light, Will wouldn't be the only one suffering. However, as far as Carlton is concerned, his dad is a hypocrite and all his lectures about justice and doing the right thing were pointless. Phillip argues that people deserve a second chance after making a mistake. Carlton should understand that more than anyone, given his own struggles with his anxiety disorder. Carlton storms out, but he gives his word that he won't tell anyone.
Carlton confronts Will after learning the truth about why he's in Bel-Air. Will begs him not to tell anyone. He is willing to comply, but only so long as Will stays out of his way at home and at school, as well as from Lisa.
The next morning, Uncle Phil is preparing breakfast for the family, with Will and Tray at his side. He learned to cook after being stuck with Sunday morning kitchen duty in the fraternity house. Aunt Viv joins them, as does Carlton, who passes on breakfast as he has a busy day ahead with Lisa to plan her mother's memorial benefit. Meaning, Carlton won't be able to join them for the concert.
Will tries to avoid Carlton and Lisa in the garden, but Tray approaches to greet Lisa, who he reveals that Will often speaks of. Will apologizes for interrupting and heads off. Lisa takes notice of Will's odd behavior, but Carlton feigns ignorance.
Will and Tray arrive at the D Smoke concert with Uncle Phil, where they get the chance to meet D Smoke himself, who leaves Tray at a loss for words.
Per Joan's assist, Vivian meets with Reid Broderick at his art gallery, where they share their mutual love of the other's art. While Vivian is glad he enjoys her work, she's not exactly sure what he wants from her. Reid explains that he's always been enamored with her paintings, so when Joan told him that she was returning to the art world, he had to jump at the opportunity. However, she's not sure if she's ready to show any of her latest pieces. He then takes Vivian to an empty space in his gallery that is reserved just for her art work, but she hasn't even been able to tap into her creative flow. Reid tells her that there's never a right time. She just has to go for it.
Phillip meets with Fred and Congressman Turley, who have come to help Phil right his campaign, as they took personal offense to the comments he made about law enforcement and defunding the police. However, Philip refuses to allow the police force to continue to think they're above the law. They warn him that there will be consequences for this new direction he's taking, but Phillip won't be intimidated.
Hilary hands Ashley a gift from Phanta, who has created her own jewelry line. It's meant to help with good fortune, money, health, and love. Ashley reveals that she has a crush on her friend Lucia, leading Hilary to realize that Ashley likes girls. She's surprised that Ashley has feelings for someone, but not that she's gay. However, Ashley hasn't ruled out boys, which is why she hasn't told their parents, because she doesn't have it all figured out yet and doesn't want them to think it's a phase. Hilary reminds Ashley that she's only 12 and that she doesn't have to have it all figured out or tell anyone if she doesn't want to, though she is happy that Ashley decided to confide in her.
Will and Tray grab seats for the D Smoke concert, where Will mentions staying out in Bel-Air all year, which Tray doesn't take lightly and accuses Will of trying to turn his back on where he came from. Tray recalls Will calling him and telling him how terrible Bel-Air was, only for him to now say that he doesn't want to leave. Will retorts that there's not a single thing in Philly better than where they currently are, but Tray accuses Will of being a liar. All day he's been talking about coming home, but in reality, he had no intention of returning.
Carlton and Lisa continue to plan her mother's memorial benefit. Lisa settled on a Mardi Gras theme, as her mom used to visit her family in New Orleans during Mardi Gras when she was younger, and she loved everything about it. And so, Carlton offers to help in any way possible before hugging Lisa and going in for a kiss, but she pulls away and tells him that her feelings haven't changed.
Tray is no longer certain that he even wants to stay for the rest of the week, accusing Will of leveling up and leaving him behind while he goes off to be great. He reminds Will that he got thrown in jail and that the only reason he got jumped and Will had to grab the gun was because he accepted Darnell's challenge on the court. Admittedly, it was a bad decision, but Will learned from it. However, Tray sees it as Will got rich and he got shot. He shoves Will, and Will shoves him back before pushing Tray to the floor and telling him to get out.
Aunt Viv is working on a new painting when Will joins her and tells her that he and Tray got into a fight. Aunt Viv attempts to explain that they were sent on different paths the night Will was arrested. It was traumatic and they're both processing it differently. And while that may be, Tray wishes to go home.
Steven reveals to Phillip that he's the talk of the internet after his interview with Kylo went viral, the interview in question being the moment he shared with Kylo of how Hilary was born premature and all he wanted from her was a long life. However, there's also a smear campaign circulating, presumably funded by Congressman Turley and Fred, accusing him of being anti-police. This is because Phillip didn't heed Steven's warning and played it too far to the left. He was supposed to run a moderate, centrist campaign, but that advice wasn't working for Phillip. They're only attacking him now because they fear he could win. They can still turn out the vote, but Steven worries his donors may panic. Phillip has his own millions, fortunately.
Will waits in the driveway with Tray as an SUV pulls up to take him to the airport. Will tells him that he doesn't have to leave, but Tray doesn't see what he has to stay for. He can't buy into this Bel-Air life and return home soft. Will replies that he's not soft and that there's more to the world than West Philly. "Not to me, bro," Tray replies.
Hilary can tell from the tone in her mother's voice that she doesn't actually like Phanta's gift. Vivian questions if she always sounds so critical. Often enough, Hilary replies. Vivian admits that she shouldn't only say the critical things, as she feels so much more, like how she's proud of Hilary for forging a new path. Hilary embraces her mother, as this is all she's ever wanted to hear. When Hilary joins Kylo's crew, it's going to launch her career and make her mother proud, but Vivian is already proud of her.
Will calls his mom to tell her that he wants to stay in Bel-Air, as it has so much more to offer than Philly. She knows that he's come such a long way and feels grown, but he still needs her. He admits this is true, but, he also needs to figure out what more life has to offer, recalling his mother telling him that his crown is waiting for him as soon as he finds the courage to wear it. And now he's ready. Vy accepts Will's choice, wiping the tears from her eyes and telling him that she loves him.
Cast[]
Starring[]
|
Guest Starring[]
Co-Starring[]
|
Soundtrack[]
| Song | Artist(s) | Scene |
|---|---|---|
| We Gettin It | KikBak & Rick Vega | Will picks up Tray from LAX. |
| Get On My Level | KikBak & Enimeezy | Will returns to his family's mansion with Tray. |
| War & Wonders | D Smoke | Will and Tray arrive at the D Smoke concert with Uncle Phil. |
| Get It Everytime | SPKILLA, Julio Ceez & Antom | Will tells his mother that he wants to stay in Bel-Air. |
Gallery[]
Promotional Images[]
Episode Guide[]
| |
|---|
| Season 1 |
| "Dreams and Nightmares" • "Keep Ya Head Up" • "Yamacraw" • "Canvass" • "PA to LA" • "The Strength to Smile" • "Payback's A B*tch" • "No One Wins When the Family Feuds" • "Can't Knock the Hustle" • "Where To?" |
| Season 2 |
| "A Fresh Start" • "Speaking Truth" • "Compromised" • "Don't Kill My Vibe" • "Excellence Is Everywhere" • "Let the Best Man Win" • "Under Pressure" • "Pursuit of Happiness" • "Just Like Old Times" • "Don't Look Back" |