NFL
By: Rick
Bel-Air is well into season 3, which is just long enough to have true opinions on not only the characters but also their story arcs. With most shows, season 1 introduces the characters and their backstories. Season 2 starts to show cracks in the armor and starts to shape their struggles. By season 3, you really get a sense of how their lives are affected by the decisions that they’ve made.
With that being said, Bel-Air is deep enough into its stories that we need to ask where it stands compared to its predecessor. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was one of the more influential shows growing up in the 90s. It showcased the struggles of young black men to fit into society’s expectations but did it in a way that was relatable to audiences of different backgrounds.
So when the remake was announced not only were fans skeptical in a world supersaturated with reboots already, the announcement of a more serious and dramatic tone worried fans even more. Fast forward to the now third season and it might be time to admit this show stands on its own almost toe-to-toe with the original, if not better.
While that might ruffle some feathers, Bel-Air has a right to the Prince’s throne. To admit to the success of the newer show is not taking away from the original. Contrary to popular belief in the entertainment world, more than one thing can be great.
By Rivea Ruff
Where does Bel-Air excel to stake claim to the throne? Every character in the show not only is cast brilliantly, but every single one of their stories stands on its own. None of the characters feel like their arc is a one-off episode or makes them seem like a background character. Will’s obviously the main character and fitting in with the Bel-Air crowd is at the forefront. The theme of what he’ll do when he gets out of college is still there as are the stories with the love interests.
Yet, other characters arcs are just as strong. Carlton isn’t just Will’s sidekick who tries to fit in with his cool cousins’ friends. His battle with addiction and being accepted and emerge from his family’s very large shadow. Hilary’s will-they/won’t they with Jazz is still present, but her intelligence opens opportunities for her in a world of fashion, not just a shop-a-holic. Geoffry isn’t just the charming butler and has his own backstory.
The elder Banks’ aren’t just a family trying to piece together parenting teenagers who occasionally make mistakes. Each has their own trials they go through that doesn’t just center around their kids. There is much more to the family that expands outside the household and school. With a sitcom, most stories are wrapped up by the end of each episode to keep the pace of the show lighthearted and funny. There are a few exceptions with the occasional season long story arc for callback jokes and themes, but for the most part you get closure by the end of the episode.
However, one of the best episodes of the original show featured Ben Vareen as Lou Smith, Will’s dad. Arguably it is one of the best episodes of not only the show, but arguably television sitcoms. We only got one episode of that powerful storyline, while Bel-Air seems to want to dive into it much more which is the strength of the show. Without Lou abandoning Will the main plot is gone. Not to mention, Marlon Wayans plays Lou in the newer show and does the character justice. Most people recognize Wayans from his comedy acting but audiences are treated to a more dramatic role out of him and so far he’s nailing it.
With modern television, seasons are cut to 10 episodes where the originals had 20+. The Fresh Prince ran six seasons and 148 episodes so Bel-Air has a long way to go to catch up. However, the pace of the show is fresh, the more modern approach doesn’t seem forced, and they’re diving deeper into characters the original only touched on. At the end of the day, Bel-Air deserves to be mentioned in the same sentence as The Fresh Prince when it comes to great story telling.
