Peacock's reimagined version of the Fresh Prince characters maintains the same premise as the original show but makes some significant changes to the beloved sitcom.
Both of the series focus on Will, but they have their own identity. Bel-Air takes everything that audiences love about Fresh Prince and puts a new spin on it. Although Bel Air has managed to include some of Fresh Prince’s most important storylines, not everything that happened in the original series will make it to the reboot, seeing as Bel-Air season 4 is the final season.
10 Bel-Air Is Darker Than Fresh Prince
A Grittier Reboot
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air is a sitcom, which explains why it has several light and funny moments. Bel-Air, on the other hand, is a drama, thus some parts of the show include grim elements. The Fresh Prince reboot doesn't shy away from delving into matters such as mental health, drug addiction, complicated family dynamics, and complex romantic relationships.
While Fresh Prince highlights weighty subjects like issues affecting the African American community, racial tension, or why Wil's dad wasn't part of his life, Bel-Air takes a deeper look into such themes because of the nature of the show. Bel-Air being a dramatic reimagining of Fresh Prince allows it to explore subjects the original sitcom couldn't spend too much time on. The dramatization of the reboot also means that it's easier to see the growth the characters are going through because although it has funny moments, it's not just there for laughs.
9 Ashley Is Bisexual In Bel-Air
LGBTQ+ Representation
One of the most important changes Bel-Air made to the 1990 sitcom is Ashley's sexual orientation. The Fresh Prince and Bel-Air's Ashley have several things in common. In Fresh Prince, Ashley is a teenager going through growing pains, which is also the case for Bel-Air's version of the character. They are both into music and have a close relationship with Will. However, there is one key difference between them. Bel-Air’s Ashley has to deal with being a teenager and also learn how to navigate her sexuality since she's bisexual in the show.
Ashley coming out to Hilary made for one of the best scenes on the show.
The difference between Bel-Air and Fresh Prince was one of the most significant changes that the show made to the original series. Fresh Prince was created during a time when there wasn't a lot of LGBTQ+ representation on television, with Bel-Air's Ashley adding to the show's more grounded and realistic take. Additionally, Ashley coming out to Hilary made for one of the best scenes on the show.
8 Jazz Has More Depth In Bel-Air
Complex Character Development
Fresh Prince's Jazz spent the majority of his time on the show being goofy and hitting on Hilary every time he had the chance. The characters in both shows have a lot in common, such as their love for music and sense of humor. However, Bel-Air's Jazz is portrayed as being more casual and laid back compared to the original character.
10 Stories Bel-Air Season 4 Must Wrap Up Before The Show Ends
Bel-Air will be returning for its fourth and final season, and there are some stories the show needs to wrap up before coming to a conclusion.
Given the dramatic nature of Bel-Air, Jazz isn't in the show merely as a running gag. Instead, there is more to him other than the guy who Hilary Banks constantly rejects. Since Bel-Air changes Hilary's story and personality, it tallies that the same would be true for Jazz because he ends up being a significant person in her life. It gives Jazz a chance to show that he is a multilayered character, as opposed to just being Will’s goofy friend.
7 Hilary Isn't Shallow In Bel-Air
Beyond Materialism
Hilary is almost completely reinvented on Bel-Air. The 1990s version of Hilary and the 2022 Hilary only have one thing in common, and that is that they both have impeccable taste in fashion. The original show initially portrays Hilary as a self-absorbed, shallow, college dropout. Bel-Air’s Hilary is a culinary influencer determined to make her own way. Having Hilary be less self-centered paved the way for her character growth on Bel-Air.
Instead of only caring about herself and what's next on her social calendar, Bel-Air's Hilary is there for her family whenever they need her.
She's more relatable because of how multidimensional she is. Although Hilary comes from money, her identity isn't defined by her wealth. She struggles with relationships, future plans, and love just like any young woman in her early twenties. The fact that she is capable of understanding that there is more to people than their social status is what makes it easier for her and Jazz to have a relationship despite their different backgrounds.
6 Hilary And Jazz's Relationship Is Better In Bel-Air
A More Mature Romance
Bel-Air gives Jazz and Hilary's relationship a real chance at actually working. Fresh Prince sees Hilary always rebuffing Jazz’s advances and looking down at him. However, Hilary, in Bel-Air, is interested in Jazz and has an on-and-off relationship with him until she gets married.
The difference in the relationship between Jazz and Hilary in Bel-Air and Fresh Prince speaks to the changes in who they are on the shows. Jazz isn't just a goofy man chasing after Hilary. And Hilary isn't just a self-centered socialite. The fact that Jazz is so different on the show is what makes Hilary view him in a romantic way. Since Hilary and Lamarcus' marriage might have a tragic ending, having Jazz as a serious love interest opens the way for them to be an endgame, given how well they are suited to each other.
5 Bel-Air's Geoffrey Is Different From The Fresh Prince Character
A More Complex Role
Fresh Prince's Geoffrey is famous for his funny one-liners, rudeness, and hilarious encounters with the Banks. One key change Bel-Air makes to Geoffrey's character is that he is a residential manager with mob ties and not a butler. He’s portrayed as a dangerous character who will do anything to protect the people he cares about. However, his Britishness and love for the family he works for are the same on the 2022 show.
Geoffrey and Phil have a much closer relationship in the reboot than they do in the original. He acts more as Phil’s confidant who he strategizes with and less like an employee, and it makes their dynamic work. The residential manager’s backstory creates an interesting subplot in the show that wasn't fully utilized on Bel-Air. Geoffrey's mob ties are something that becomes an integral part of Bel-Air’s premise in season 3 of the show.
4 Will’s Backstory Is More Fleshed Out In Bel-Air
Exploring Trauma
Bel-Air and Fresh Prince have the same premise, which is that Will moves to Bel-Air after getting into trouble in his neighborhood. Bel-Air doesn't just gloss over that part of the story but delves into it. Following his fight with a gang member that ended up with Will's life being on the line, hence his mother sent him to live with his aunt and uncle.
The fact that Will’s backstory is more fleshed out in Bel-Air helps audiences get to know the main character and what motivates him better. Since the first episode of Bel-Air focuses on why Will left Philadelphia, it shows up close how he and Vy are, something that the original series didn't have. It also explains why Bel-Air's Will is more mature than his Fresh Prince counterpart, seeing as he almost lost everything he had worked for over one mistake.
3 Bel-Air Has A Love Triangle
Complicated Love
Interestingly, Bel-Air includes a love triangle between Will, Lisa, and Carlton. In the original series, Will and Lisa have a less complicated relationship than they did in Bel-Air. In fact, Lisa doesn't appear on Fresh Prince until the fifth season, whereas she is introduced very early on Bel-Air. Instead of Will and Lisa’s relationship being portrayed in a manner that doesn't make it so easy to see that they are endgame.
The love triangle also shows that the two cousins are able to put their differences aside, given that Carlton got over Will and Lisa's relationship.
While the inclusion of a messy love triangle might initially seem like it complicates Bel-Air's story, it actually works out well for the series, given how antagonistic Will and Carlton are to each other. The fact that Will ends up with Carlton's ex-girlfriend gives more reason for him to detest his cousin, seeing as Will seemed to get everything Carlton wanted easily. The love triangle also shows that the two cousins are able to put their differences aside, given that Carlton got over Will and Lisa's relationship.
2 Carlton Is More Complex In Bel-Air
Beyond Stereotypes
Bel-Air makes several changes to Carlton that make him an unlikeable character. The Carlton in Fresh Prince isn't popular at school and is unlucky in love. On the other hand, Bel-Air's Carlton is popular, gets good grades, and is the captain of the lacrosse team. While Carlton and Will didn't initially get along in Fresh Prince, he didn't actively go out of his way to make his cousin's life miserable.
3 Seasons In, It’s Clear That Carlton Is The Best Thing About Bel-Air
Bel-Air took the source material and added a unique spin that really refocused the show on a new central figure, Carlton Banks, and his dual life.
Bel-Air's Carlton also struggles with an addiction to Xanax that leads him to damage his relationship with his family and future college prospects. The changes Bel-Air makes to Carlton in the series make him a more complex character. Although Alfonso Ribeiro’s Carlton was fun to watch, he often lacked substance. Given what Carlton goes through in Bel-Air, it makes it even easier to root for him as he figures out his life and he and Will learn to get along.
1 Will Is More Mature In Bel-Air
Growth & Maturity
Given that Fresh Prince is a sitcom, it makes sense that the show's main character is goofy. The Fresh Prince is just as charismatic and good with the ladies as he was in the original show, but he does show women more respect in the reboot. However, Bel-Air's Will has a level of maturity that was lacking in his counterpart. This might be because his backstory in the Peacock series is darker than in Fresh Prince.
While Will struggles with a lot of things after he moves to Bel-Air, it's his can-do attitude and never-give-up spirit that makes him the best and most likable character on the show. Although he has moments where his anger gets the better of him, he still manages to show a level of maturity that goes beyond his years.
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A gritty and more grounded reimagining of the '90s sitcom The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bel-Air stars Jabari Banks as Will Smith. After falling afoul of a drug lord and his gang in his native West Philadelphia, Will Smith moves to a gated community in Bel-Air with his wealthy Aunt Vivian (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes). Not only must Will adjust to his new environment, but he's also forced to deal with his past in order to embrace his future.
- Main Genre
- Drama
- Seasons
- 3
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The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
8/10- Release Date
- 1990 - 1996-00-00
Cast
James Avery
WHERE TO WATCH
StreamingBUY
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air follows Will Smith (Will Smith) after he gets himself sent away from the mean streets of his native West Philadelphia to the affluent Bel Air neighborhood. Living with his wealthy Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian, Will befriends his cousins and adjusts to a life that's the polar opposite of everything he's accustomed to. Even with a butler and an expensive education, Will finds that growing up isn't easy, regardless of circumstance.- Main Genre
- Comedy
- Seasons
- 6
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