Bel-Air season 4 episode 5, titled Gorilla Glue and Duct Tape, released on December 1, 2025. The episode brings new dilemmas for both Will and Carlton. The episode also lays the groundwork for several confrontations, with many lingering questions about what the future holds for the Banks family.
Disclaimer: The following article contains spoilers from Bel-Air season 4 episode 5. Reader’s discretion is required.
The episode focuses on Will and Carlton as they navigate pivotal moments in their lives. Tensions rise when they are faced with life-changing college decisions. Will and Carlton are left questioning their future choices—Will is second-guessing his scholarship to Stapleton University, and Carlton is unsure about attending Princeton, despite it being his dream school.
Both boys are forced to reconcile their fantasies with reality throughout the episode, delaying their judgments. Geoffrey’s allegiance to the Banks family and Phil’s legal issues are major issues for the family. Will and Carlton struggle with their choices as the episode ends, unsure of the future.
Will and Carlton’s college choices at the end of Bel-Air season 4 episode 5
The Will and Carlton college cliffhanger in season 4 episode 5 is the most significant moment. Will is excited to attend Stapleton University on a full scholarship, but a forthright talk with the coach dampens his enthusiasm.
The coach tells Will to focus on basketball and ignore his business degree dreams. Will reconsiders accepting the scholarship because he recognizes he may sacrifice his long-term aspirations for basketball. Ultimately, Will postpones his decision, unable to commit.
Carlton has different problems. He reconsiders his decision after meeting an alum who stresses the pressure of being a Black guy at Princeton. A prestigious institution’s continual desire for greatness overwhelms Carlton, making him question whether it’s suitable for him.
By the end of the show, Carlton has put off sending in his acceptance forms because he isn’t sure if he wants to go after his goal.
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Will’s dilemma: Stapleton or his dreams?
In Bel-Air season 4 episode 5, Will struggles to balance his love of basketball with his desire to develop a career. Will is excited to get a Stapleton University basketball scholarship. However, his campus visit and coach chat make him rethink everything.
Will feels conflicted because the coach doesn’t care about his academic goals. Will wants to be more than a basketball player, but he knows Stapleton may limit his growth outside of sports. Will delays his decision since this conundrum makes him think about what he wants from college.
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Carlton’s struggle with Princeton
Carlton’s Princeton acceptance was a dream come true, but it came with a price. His meeting with a Princeton graduate shows the difficulty of being a Black student at such a top school. The alum discusses his challenges and the drive to prove oneself and achieve great expectations.
Carlton questions whether he can handle Princeton’s pressure after this chat. He hesitates at the thought of four more years of striving for excellence without help. Carlton doubts Princeton, his ideal school, by the end of the episode.
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A looming crisis for Geoffrey and Phil
Geoffrey and Phil’s relationship is tested in Bel-Air season 4 episode 5 when Dom’s history resurfaces. When Geoffrey is offered a job with Dom, a sinister figure with a checkered past, his devotion to the Banks family is tested.
Though Geoffrey initially refuses the offer, the urge to return to that environment is overwhelming. When a federal agent investigates Phil’s dubious business operations at Jazz’s store, tensions flare. Federal participation raises the stakes, and Phil may be in trouble.
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The Federal agents’ arrival
The episode ends with a twist: federal agents raid Jazz’s store, where Phil invested. This indicates that Charlie’s suspicious business is about to go out of control. Pamela’s warning to Viv regarding Charlie’s overstated sales increases urgency.
Viv warns Phil, escalating tension between the Banks family and their unscrupulous practices. Phil and the family may face serious implications from federal participation, aggravating their already difficult lives.
Bel-Air season 4 episode 5 and all other released episodes are now available for streaming on Peacock.
Edited by Rajan Bhattacharya
