While playing street basketball, Will misses a shot and the ball hits a group of gang members.

After hearing about the subsequent fight with them he got into, his mother sends him to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle (Vivian and Phillip Banks) in Bel-Air.

He often disagrees with his cousin Carlton, whom he sees as not quite "black" enough because he doesn't talk like other young African Americans.

The next day at school, Carlton and Will show up and after failing to talk the bully down and scare her, they bribe her to leave Ashley alone for $50.

Will and the Banks family vacation to Will's hometown in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where Will learns to his horror that he has a reputation as a chicken due to not fighting Omar, a local bully and instead going to live in Bel Air, Los Angeles.

Will chooses to stay home an extra week with Vy but later calls Uncle Phil to tell him that he's not coming back.

During one of Will's visits back to his old neighborhood in Philly, he confronts the old park thug, Omar, to restore his damaged reputation.

At the conclusion of the show's run, the Banks family decides to settle in New York, while Will remains in Los Angeles to finish his last year of college.

Will delivers the last line of dialogue in the series: "I am definitely going to miss you, C." The character and Will Smith's portrayal received near unanimous praise from television critics and audiences alike.