Bel-Air, modernized the fan-favorite ‘90s sitcom and introduces viewers to the new Will Smith with a brand-new cast. The new show is based on Morgan Cooper’s short film from 2019. Cooper received Will Smith’s approval, and now fans have a new breakout drama series.
“What we’ve done is we’re honoring the legacy of the original, but we are also kind of creating a show that can stand on its own,” Cooper shared with Indie Wire. Like most reboots, many things about the show have changed, but some elements have remained the same.
The Origin Story
Bel-Air starts by giving us a visual of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air’s theme song. Bel-Air makes the fight look much more significant than what was shown in the original show, but the premise is the same. Will got into one little fight and moved with his auntie and uncle in Bel-Air. But during the first episode of Bel-Air, Will gets arrested in Philadelphia for pulling a gun out during that “one little fight.” He moves to Bel-Air because a local drug dealer wants him dead.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air ‘s first episode starts with Will knocking on the Banks’ door to the rhythm of Soul II Soul's “Back to Reality” and it was instant comedy. There’s no mention of the fight that brought Will to Bel-Air, but the pressure Uncle Phil puts on Will is very similar. The original Uncle Phil told Will that he came to live with them “to work hard, straighten out, and learn some good old-fashion American values.”
The Adjustment Period
Will initially embraces his change of scenery but has a hard time fitting in upon his arrival to Bel-Air. Some of the Banks family expect him to act, speak, and dress a certain way to be accepted by their friends and colleagues. The growing pains are exposed in both shows, as Will adjusts to the new rules he has to follow.
Uncle Phil and Will have a challenging conversation about Will’s arrival in the first episode of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Phil says to Will, “From the minute you walked in that door, you’ve been a one-man wrecking crew trying to tear down what’s taken much hard work to build up.” In their first episode, Bel-Air had a similar scene with Uncle Phil telling Will, “I moved mountains to give you a second chance. Show some damn gratitude.” Both the original and reprised character believe that Will’s presence will threaten their careers. There’s room for Bel-Air’s Uncle Phil to become the father figure seen in Fresh Prince.
Focus On Family
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air wasn’t just about Will. It was also about the people who made him who he is. The show leaned heavily on the relationships he had with his family and Bel-Air hasn’t strayed from that. In fact, it gives viewers a deeper insight into the characters’ lives. The new Uncle Phil is a powerful lawyer running for district attorney, echoing the original Uncle Phil’s campaign run for superior court judge. Aunt Viv is more like the original character played by Janet Hubert. She is still the understanding, aspiring, and nurturing character fans grew to love.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air wouldn’t be the show it was without Will’s cousins, and Bel-Air makes sure that they added complexity to each character. Hilary is still a material girl trying to keep up with what’s popular, like the original character, but she approaches it differently. Fans know Carlton as a dorky and preppy sycophant whose hero is Bryant Gumbel. New-aged Carlton still has these character traits, but he’s grittier and less goofy. There’s still time to learn more about modern-day Ashley, but she resembles the original Ashely who was trying to find her place and on a self-discovery journey.
Important Issues
One of the things that made The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air a great sitcom is that it took time to focus on essential issues. The show is a fast-paced laugh-a-minute show filled with jokes that had serious moments. With an hour an episode, Bel-Air can expand on some of the issues that showed up on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Both shows have touched on mental health, drug abuse, racism, and interpretation of Black identity. The original series excelled at delivering moments of gravity, but there is a consistent tone of poignancy in Bel-Air.
“As funny as the episodes are, there was a whole other layer that you couldn't do. In a one-hour drama, you can do eight-episode arcs,” Will Smith explained in a video he posted. “The dramatic version of these ideas means that you can use existing storylines, but it’s not going to seem like you’re redoing an episode.”
Carlton And Will's Rivalry
Something that was a huge part of Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was Carlton and Will’s rivalry. In both series, Will is advised to follow Carlton’s lead to succeed. Both Carltons have a superiority complex. In Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Will and Carlton’s brotherhood is on full display, but that doesn’t stop Will from making jokes at Carlton’s expense. There were running gags and innocent banter.
Bel-Air amps up the rivalry by having Carlton do reprehensible things to Will. Although the Bel-Air rivalry is more dramatic, it has the same undertones. Initially, Carlton and Will can’t connect because of their different backgrounds. Bel-Air is starting to bring the two characters closer by having them work together and help each other. There have been hints that they’ll become best friends and see each other as brother figures, as seen in the original series.
Stayed The Same: The Friendships
DJ Jazzy Jeff and Don Cheadle were two of the Fresh Prince's favorite guest stars and Bel-Air has kept Will’s friendships the same. Jazz and Trey were Will’s closest companions in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. In both series, Trey visits Will from Philadelphia and keeps him grounded. Both Trey characters genuinely care about their friendships. Bel-Air’s Trey is more serious than The Fresh Prince of Bel Air’s “Ice Trey,” but underneath his anger towards Will, he is still a light-hearted figure who loves to crack jokes.
The original Jazz shares a lot in common with the new Bel-Air character. While almost all characters received a modernized wardrobe, Jazz’s style has remained the same. He is still wearing the eccentric button-downs with a pair of shades. Outside of the ensembles, the personalities of the characters are almost identical. Jazz is a laid-back, smooth talker who is musically talented. Will often goes to Jazz for advice, and their friendship is truly remarkable to see on TV again.
