Bel-Air: It Might Not Be The Original, But That Doesn't Matter

If you’re going into Bel-Air looking for the same show you watched when you were younger, you will be disappointed. However, if you keep an open mind you might find yourself presently surprised. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air took a lot of chances and so does Bel-Air. For those looking for a reboot or a remake, this isn’t close. It’s more of a reimagining. A reboot would follow a similar tone and structure, but there’s a totally different feel.

From Peacock:

The journey of a talented teen whose life is forever transformed when he moves from the streets of west Philadelphia to live with his relatives in one of LA’s wealthiest enclaves.

What is there to love about the show? First, to start, the actors in it do a phenomenal job. Jabari Banks’ version of will has all the same energy and charisma that Will Smith did with the Fresh Prince. None of the rest of the cast feels like they’re stepping out of their comfort zone and forces their character or dynamics. More importantly, each has to have a sense of reliability with not just the audience but the relationships with each other.

The hardest part for long-time fans will be overcoming the fear of more modern storytelling. It does have music that fits the time, there is the use of social media to advance a character’s personality, and it doesn’t have the same brand of humor. So if you’re looking for the same old show, then Bel-Air won’t be for you. For instance, a major difference will be the comedy. You won’t get the fat jokes at Uncle Phil’s expense. Nor will you get the short jokes about Carlton. Bel-Air takes these characters past that and it works, so don’t nitpick that.

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Bel-Air sticks to the original by taking some risks though. There are subtle changes to the characters but they still honor the original cast. Obviously, they make some updates to the show to be a bit more modern but the changes don’t feel too forced. The one character dynamic that rubs me the wrong way is Carlton. There’s so much of the original plot that was driven by the relationship between Will and Carlton that subtle changes will make all the difference.

When it comes to the duo, their relationship was built on a mutual jealousy. The friction between the two as they realized that they hated one another for representing everything they couldn’t be. Will was the cool, popular, suave character that everyone wanted to be around. Carlton was the smart, head of the class, focused, and driven character with a future that came first. Will wanted to rise above his Philly roots and was challenged to fit in with an upper-class society. Carlton wanted a future, but wanted the respect of his peers and the popularity that Will soaked up. Ultimately they bonded when they realized they were two different sides of the same coin in sharing their struggles.

However, in Bel-Air they’ve gone a different route. They chose to make the two characters so similar and that’s where their rivialy comes to it’s head. While they’re both from different backgrounds, they share too many similarities. It’s still early on in the show but hopefully the characters start to show their differences. Right now they’re both popular, play sports, and is fighting for the attention of the same girl.

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Even then, it doesn’t throw off the show’s dynamic. If that’s the line you draw then you’re not giving the show a fair chance and in that sense, save your opinion. Don’t spread the word how bad it is, you’re not being honest. Is Bel-Air everything you want out of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air recreation? No, but it doesn’t have to be. The acting is good, the story follows a similar path, and it pays homage to the original. Everyone complains about reboots because no one can come up with a fresh idea. The way they tell this story is a fresh idea, no pun intended. Go into Bel-Air with an open mind and you just might find a show you enjoy.