Bel-Air: 3 Characters Who Are Better Than On The Original Show

Bel-Air is in its second season on Peacock’s streaming service. While the show is still in the early stages, The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air lasted six seasons so they’re 1/3 of the way there. The difference, however, is TFPoBA was 20+ episodes in their season whereas Bel-Air is 10 episodes per season. Although the original has more episodes, there are still characters who stand out more in the reimagining than in the original show:

Geoffry:

Better known as “G”, the bond between Will and Geoffrey is apparent in both shows. While he was a good character to bounce comic relief off of in The Fresh Prince iteration, his story is more layered on Bel-Air. He might be Uncle Phil’s right-hand man, but his defiance in helping Will find his long-lost father only strengthens the bond between him and Will. They’ve even dug a little deeper into Geoffry’s past and his relationship with his son, or lack thereof. With this too, it is his failure that showcases the two’s friendship and mutual respect, rather than just being the household outcasts.

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Ashley:

While we all love Tatyana Ali’s Ashley Banks, Akira Akbar takes centerstage with her version. Ashley was always someone who looked up to Will with a cool older brother mindset. Ashley still looks up to Will on Bel-Air, but with a more dramatic tone, her character is highlighted with more modern troubles and storytelling. While the two don’t have a similar bond, it doesn’t diminish her character by not sharing as much screen time with the main character Will.

Carlton:

This one is painful to admit. Sorry, Alfonso. The dynamic between Will and Carlton in the original show was the heart and soul of the show. Whether he liked it or not, anywhere Will went, Carlton was close behind. There was comedic gold in so many of their scenes, but Carlton isn’t Will’s sidekick on Bel-Air. He’s a character that stands out more. What it boils down to between the two characters is the strength of the character.

Take Will out of both shows and where does it leave the character? Will changed the dynamic when he entered the Banks household, but Olly Sholotan’s Carlton would be a focal point if Will was there or not. The pressure to succeed, his anxiety, drug use, and constant fear of letting his family down highlight his struggles and make his character more relatable. He’d be the main character if they did a show about the Banks family. Carlton in the original show is the target of jokes and some bullying but the majority comes in direct reflection of just how much he doesn’t fit in with Will and his “cool guy” image.

What makes Bel-Air stand out more than The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is the characters aren’t centered around Will alone. The dynamic still shifts with his arrival but now it’s not just going from being a troubled youth from Philly fitting in with his wealthy family in Bel-Air. The show pulls back the curtain on just how much the Banks have their own issues while navigating how to build Will up as well. These problems might have been there in the original, but with a more dramatic approach, Bel-Air magnifies them and brings a better connection to each character.