Becoming The Muse

Bel-Air

Bel-Air is a dramatised reimagination of the 90s sitcom The Fresh Prince Of Bel-Air. Season 3 of the show premiered on Peacock on the 15^th of August 2024.

The series continues from where the previous season ended following the lives of Will Smith and the Banks Family drama, as they navigate life in the streets of Bel-Air where life can can get surprising messy real quick… Unlike the the other seasons, this season is set during the summer vacation and its the season for change.

The Good

Season 3 of Bel-Air sees more character development and introspection, which is short code for there’s going to be a lot of inner and outer turmoil that needs resolution, allowing for introspection, relationships and their entanglements…

The show offers social commentary on societal issues with Will trying to fit in with the opulent Banks family as well as find what he stands for in world that deals injustice to those with limited opportunities. It touches on Black Excellence, Priviledge, and other socio-economic themes including addiction, mental health and deadbeat dads.

Jabari Banks as Will Smith, is charismatic and channels the Fresh Prince’s energy that carries the show, coming a long way from being the impulsive teen to a level headed entrepreneur. Olly Sholotan who plays Carlton Banks has great screen connection with Will and for the most part doesn’t behave like a spoiled rich kid, and is instead battling his own demons.

The cinematography remains visually appealing, with vibrant shots that reek of the Bel-Air opulence. The soundtrack has an impressive catalogue which perfectly punctuates the atmosphere.

I was pleasantly surprised to see the Joseph Marcell who played Geoffrey in the original series in a cameo scene with the new Geoffrey.

The Bad

The show has a lot of drama in its sub plots but its like the characters are facing almost the exact same challenges and messy relationships, such that it becomes predictable and tedious.

The pacing is also erratic with episodes not flowing smoothly, an episode can end on a high and the next one will start on a low, as if the previous happenings didn’t happen or weren’t of significance… and there’s everyone having breakfast like one big happy family….

While the seaon finale does not get as hectic or messy as the previous seasons it still manages to switch things up and end on the sort of cliff hanger that will have you yelling at your TV for them to hurry up and bring a new season.

The Ugly

Bel-Air has gone its own way from the original series, moving away from the comedy sitcom to a hard hitting series trying to tackle serious social ills, and somewhere along the way, it lost its element of humour.. And the attempts at lightening the atmosphere tend to be awkward or jarring given the heavy tones.

The series seems to be struggling to find where its going as mirrored by the characters who also cant decide which side of the fence they are… Ashley’s character is one such that is all over the place without a proper story arc…

It can get triggering with its drug abuse storyline, for those who have battled addiction or have had people close to them suffer from drug abuse.

Final Thoughts

Bel-Air Season 3 is a mixed bag providing a strong and emotionally driven narrative, focusing on social issues and compelling character arcs. Nostalgic fans might feel the reboot doesn’t quite capture the spirit of the original series.

The verdict is still out on whether it will be renewed for another season.. Have you watched Bel-Air?