Regardless of what “Bel-Air” turned out to be, its premise alone was always going to raise questions. A bleak revamp of “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” for Peacock is reminiscent of a “30 Rock” joke about NBC’s attempts to make it 1990 again through science or technology.
Transforming the neon flair of the popular Will Smith sitcom into a glitzy drama may be the inevitable nadir of Hollywood’s recycling remake machine. But in 2022, there are far worse and stranger inspirations for shows than older ones that were successful, and “Bel-Air” proves to be far from the worst offender in its first three episodes.
Regardless of genre, “Fresh Prince’s” core premise — a plucky child from the “wrong side of the tracks” is thrust into the world of the wealthy, and shenanigans ensue — is an age-old narrative template that has been employed again for one simple reason: it works. Where (“Bel-Air” executive producer) Will Smith previously pandered to the “Fresh Prince” studio audience, newbie Jabari Banks anchors a coming-of-age drama that should feel familiar even if you’ve never seen an episode of the comedy that inspired it.
Isolating and dramatizing the clichés on which “Fresh Prince” relied is what made Morgan Cooper’s hypothetical, viral 2019 “Bel-Air” trailer so cutting in the first place, and it’s also what makes his full-fledged television series adaptation succeed regardless of whether you’ve seen “Fresh Prince.” In fact, it may be preferable that you have not.
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As envisioned by co-showrunners T.J. Brady and Rasheed Newson (“The Chi”) and Cooper, who co-wrote and directed the premiere episode, the lyrics of the classic “Fresh Prince” credits song that Smith once rapped with such hilarious charm transform into something considerably darker.
The “one little battle” that drives 16-year-old Will (newcomer Jabari Banks) across the country in “Bel-Air” is a genuine life-or-death confrontation with a West Philadelphia gang leader that goes horrifically wrong. Will’s mother (April Parker Jones) sends him to his Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes) in Bel-Air after he is arrested and his life appears to be in danger.
This structure, along with Phil’s concern that his “pulling strings” to get May out of trouble will backfire on his embryonic district attorney candidature, quickly raises the stakes to generate the required tension for the series’ purposeful departure from the original’s tone. “Bel-Air” is reminiscent of “The O.C.,” “Empire,” and even “Gossip Girl” due to the inclusion of Will’s new wealthy school and relatives, as well as a dash of corporate intrigue. (For example, “Bel-Air” contains “Empire” writer Malcolm Spellman on its executive producer roster and shares at least two writers, JaNeika and JaSheika James, with “Gossip Girl” on HBO Max.)
The dialogue can be quick, despite the fact that it insists on pronouncing the quiet parts aloud (i.e. rejecting subtext for much blunter text). As established by Cooper’s direction in the pilot, the camera is most at ease while in motion, whether on the basketball court, through the Bel-Air Academy corridors, or at the glamorous events that remind Will he’s no longer in West Philadelphia.
As Will, Banks has the arduous challenge of establishing Will’s past and personality in a manner that surpasses Smith’s unique introduction on “Fresh Prince” — and anytime he is able to break free of “Bel- Air’s” numerous plot devices, he kills it. In the first three episodes (which premiere on Peacock on February 13), Will is so overwhelmed by the cultural shock of moving from Philadelphia to Bel-Air that his true personality barely emerges.
The instances in which he can let loose, such as when he asks a catering chef for a Philly cheesesteak, hangs out with hustler Jazz (Jordan L. Jones), or shrugs that he’s “not a gangster, but a smart-ass,” are what prevent “Bel-Air” from plunging too deeply into its own gravity.
The remainder of “Bel- Air’s” funhouse mirror copies of the “Fresh Prince” characters are bewildering for viewers of the comedy, but they make perfect sense for the show’s modern melodrama of shifting dynasties. Phillip is more debonair than James Avery, with a killer smile and a keen eye for potential adversaries.
Freeman’s Viv, forthright and ambitious, errs more to Janet Hubert’s original than not, although Geoffrey the stuffy butler is transformed into a “house manager”/muscle man (Jimmy Akingbola).
As for the children, teen princess Hilary (Coco Jones) is now an aspiring cookery influencer who broadcasts Instagram Lives from the pool home, but the youngest sibling Ashley (Akira Akbar) is still essentially just thrilled to be here.
Will’s cousin and antagonist, Carlton (Olly Sholotan), marks the most blatant departure from his inspiration. “Bel-Air” transforms Alfonso Ribeiro’s character from a hopelessly out-of-touch dweeb to a lacrosse superstar and one of the most popular students in school.
The choice should be shocking, but certain characteristics of the original Carlton shine through this character’s apparent dissimilarity to make him even more intriguing. In “Bel-Air,” Sholotan’s Carlton is just as envious, condescending, and prone to gloating about his privilege as he was in “Fresh Prince.”
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The difference is that he now looks down on Will from the top of the mountain he’s climbed via assimilation into the predominantly white world around him, and he cannot endure to see Will climb the same mountain by refusing to assimilate.
Carlton cannot maintain such a tight grasp on his small power indefinitely, nor can he and Will continue to clash without the dynamic becoming tiresome. Cooper and crew should be able to find out how to not just reverse the “Fresh Prince” script, but also transform “Bel-Air” into something more distinctive with a two-season order. If the show is attempting to be different from what we’ve seen previously, it might as well continue to push the envelope.
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Bel Air trailer
FAQs
How Wonderful is the Brand-new Bel-air?
Bel-Air capitalises on the two trends that currently dominate television: harsh realism and nostalgia. As a dramatic reworking of the classic 1990s sitcom starring Will Smith, Bel-Air is entertaining enough.
is It Worth Watching Bel-air?
Bel-Air must be perceived as doing something distinct in every aspect. Or at least be so totally captivating that it is impossible not to watch. So far, so good. It is certainly worth attempting.
Why Can’t I See All Bel-air Episodes?
Fans who wish to view additional episodes of Bel-Air must subscribe to Peacock Premium or Peacock Premium Plus, none of which provide free trials.