https://whatculture.com/tv/10-tv-episodes-nobody-was-ready-for?page=4

7. Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse - The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air

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For a show that was meant to be a fish-out-of-water sitcom about a young kid from Philly moving in with his rich relatives, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air seriously overachieved.

Not only did it display rich and affluent Black people on TV in a way rarely seen before, but it also provided some deeply moving moments (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IysYd4-WhbE). Perhaps the most famous came in the show's fourth season, more specifically the episode Papa's Got a Brand New Excuse.

After 14 years out of his life, Will's father Lou makes a comeback. Then, just when it looks like all is right with the world, Lou leaves his son again.

This prompts Will to go on a tirade against his old man, yelling about how he got this far without him and how he'll continue to live a good life. All the while though, you can tell he's heartbroken.

Contrary to popular belief, this scene was not ad-libbed by Will Smith, but he does put in a brilliant performance as a young man scorned by his deadbeat dad. It would be a brilliant scene in any TV show, but in this one? It was transcendent.

Phil was acting too much as a financial supremacist on Will's father, Lou. You know, any type of supremacy involved is really worse than bad for many serious reasons, TBH, IMO...

i find it depressing that this is the episode commonly used to define the show. it was a comedy, not a drama. while it was good to learn of will’s origins, there was never any closure by the end of the episode.

i find it depressing that this is the episode commonly used to define the show. it was a comedy, not a drama. while it was good to learn of will’s origins, there was never any closure by the end of the episode.

Glad he didn't end up in soaps that way, tbh, IMO...