Look, if you’ve been following the Duncans since they first rolled out of Duncan Motors in Jamaica, Queens, you already know they aren't your typical car dealers. But Carl Weber’s The Family Business Season 3 took things to a level of chaos that actually left a lot of the fanbase spinning. Honestly, between the introduction of a new drug called FIRE and the sudden arrival of Curtis Duncan, the third outing was a lot to process. Some people call it the best season; others think it’s where the show started getting a bit too "soap opera." Whatever your take, the facts of what went down are wild.
The Duncans were basically fighting a war on three fronts this time around. You had the internal family drama, which is a staple, but then you had the external threat of Alexander Cora. Cora wasn't just another rival; he was a billionaire with a god complex who wanted to replicate the family’s signature product, HEAT. He ended up creating FIRE, which sounds like a bad marketing pun until you realize it started snatching up the Duncans' allies like a vacuum.
The Chaos of HEAT vs. FIRE
Basically, the whole season revolves around the Duncans losing their grip on the streets. It’s kinda stressful to watch. You’ve got LC Duncan, played by the legendary Ernie Hudson, trying to keep his cool while his empire is literally being auctioned off in pieces. The "Table"—the underworld council they usually control—starts deserting them. Why? Because money has no friends. That’s actually the title of one of the episodes, and it’s a mood for the whole season.
The introduction of Alexander Cora changed the stakes. He didn't just want to kill the Duncans; he wanted to bankrupt them and make them irrelevant. He used Brandi (who turned out to be a scientist, which was a weird flex) to create FIRE. By the time we get to the finale, titled "Flipping the Script," the Duncans are actually sitting down to negotiate terms for selling HEAT. Can you imagine LC Duncan surrendering? It felt wrong.
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Why Curtis Duncan Changed Everything
One of the biggest talking points in Carl Weber’s The Family Business Season 3 was the arrival of Curtis Duncan. His entrance at the estate was... tense. Nobody really knew where he stood, and his presence immediately caused friction with Orlando.
- Curtis blames Orlando for a major tragedy (classic Duncan drama).
- He’s a wildcard who doesn't follow LC's "refined" rules of engagement.
- His subplot with Sasha in Miami added a different flavor to the season, moving away from the New York grime for a bit.
That Ending Explained (Kinda)
The finale, "Flipping the Script," was a mess in the best way possible. You’ve got Junior and Sonya’s wedding, which obviously wasn't going to go off without a hitch. Duncan weddings usually involve more gunfire than cake cutting. While the family is trying to celebrate, the walls are closing in.
Nevada finally takes matters into his own hands regarding Harris Grant. Now, Harris has been a "love him or hate him" character for a while, but his secrets finally caught up to him. Seeing Nevada—who usually stays a bit more on the periphery compared to the heavy hitters—step up was a highlight.
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The season ends on a massive cliffhanger with LC’s health. After twelve episodes of being pushed to the brink, the patriarch finally falters. It leaves the family in a position they’ve never been in: leaderless and officially "defeated" by Cora. Or so it seems.
What Most People Get Wrong About Season 3
People often complain that the production value feels "campy." And yeah, okay, the green screen in some of the Miami scenes or the occasionally loud background music can be a lot. But you’ve gotta understand the vibe Carl Weber is going for. This is a televised urban novel. It’s supposed to be high-drama, high-stakes, and a little bit over-the-top.
The acting is actually pretty nuanced if you look past the "action hero" tropes. Valarie Pettiford as Charlotte Duncan is the glue. When she's chastising Paris or supporting LC, she brings a groundedness that the show desperately needs when people are blowing up cars every twenty minutes.
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The Real Stars of Season 3
- Ernie Hudson (LC Duncan): Still the king. Even when he’s losing, he looks like he’s winning.
- Tami Roman (London Duncan): She had to make some brutal choices this season regarding her husband, Harris. Her arc was one of the most emotional.
- Darrin Dewitt Henson (Orlando): Watching him deal with the fallout of the FIRE distribution and his rivalry with Curtis was top-tier.
How to Actually Watch It Correctly
If you’re binging this on BET+ or Paramount+, don't skip the "Brother X" episodes. The hunt for Brother X (and the fact that Chippy and Curtis keep missing him) is the underlying tension that fuels the season's paranoia.
Honestly, the best way to enjoy Carl Weber’s The Family Business Season 3 is to stop comparing it to The Wire. It’s not trying to be a gritty documentary. It’s a crime soap. It’s about family loyalty being tested by billionaire villains and designer drugs.
Your Next Steps for the Duncan Saga
If you just finished the season and your head is spinning, here is what you need to do next to stay in the loop:
- Check out the New Orleans Spinoff: There is a whole new branch of the family in the "New Orleans" series featuring Lela Rochon. It fills in some of the lore about the Duncan's extended reach.
- Read the Books: If the show's pacing feels too fast, Carl Weber's original book series goes much deeper into Harris Grant's backstory and the true nature of the "Table."
- Watch for the Season 4 Transition: Season 3 ends with the Duncans at their lowest point. If you want to see the "get back," you need to jump straight into Season 4 to see how they handle the fallout of the wedding and LC's health scare.
The Duncans might be down by the end of Season 3, but if we’ve learned anything from LC, it’s that a Duncan is most dangerous when they're backed into a corner.
Actionable Insight: For the best viewing experience, watch Season 3 back-to-back with the first three episodes of Season 4. The transition is seamless, and it helps resolve the massive cliffhangers regarding Harris and LC’s medical emergency without the frustration of the original wait time between seasons.