Bel-Airis a powerful series that explores the challenges a group of young Black Americans face in growing up around the wealthy and powerful, even when they are technically a part of that group.Bel-Airis a modern retelling of the popular Will Smith series,The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but the series has a much more authentic and intense tone. Where the original show often touched on deeper emotional beats, and serious storylines, it was first and foremost a comedy series intended for laughs and light-heartedness.
Bel-Aircontinues to have a strong and defined sense of humor, especially when itcomes to young Will Smith, but the show is not afraid to dig into darker themes. And while this expands on the dramatic side of the story, it also allows more of the other characters to have their stories explored in greater detail. And unexpectedly,Carlton has grown to become the new beating heart of the seriesas his journey and character arc have provided incredible depth and meaning to the series in a modern era.
Carlton Displays Tremendous Growth In Bel-Air
InBel-Air, Will is sent to live with his distant family, the Banks', in Bel-Air, California. Coming from a community that was rife with crime, drug abuse, and gangs,Will is relieved to finally get away from the world he knows, and see how the other side lives, but it isn’t long before he recognizes that, in many ways, home isn’t so different from Bel-Air. This is explored through the eyes of his privileged cousin, Carlton, who studies hard, plays lacrosse for the high school, and his big plans for the future.
Bel-Air Season 4 Has To Finally Fix The Biggest Ashley Banks Problem That Fresh Prince Began 34 Years Ago
Bel-Air has done a spectacular job exploring the lives of Will Smith and the Banks family, but one member keeps getting overlooked in the show.
However, beneath that exterior of having his life in order,Carlton is struggling to fit in, live up to expectations, and achieve the things he believes he needs to do in order to be accepted in the place that he was born. Carlton’s school is full of white upper-class individuals whose parents run in powerful circles, and while Carlton’s dad ranks among these elites, Carlton stands out. This leads to intense anxiety, and a hardcore drug habit that effectively dominates his life. However, in just three seasons, Carlton is doing incredible things to shape up, and accept himself, rather than looking to others for acceptance.
Bel-Air’s Carlton Is Very Different From His Fresh Prince Counterpart
This Is Not The Fresh Prince’s Carlton Banks
InThe Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, there was no real nuance for Carlton.Carlton was a wealthy, spoiled brat, like his modern counterpart, but he was also seen as a goofball and comic relief. He may have been jealous about sharing his wealth and possessions with Will, but this was played for cheesy humor, rather than digging into deeper grievances and a feeling that what he worked so hard to earn was simply being handed out to another kid. The reality is that both characters shared these contradicting characters, but one was a parody, and one was an authentic portrayal of a young man being torn between two worlds.
Both are effective at delivering their intended messages, and making the audience engage, but they engage in very different ways. Carlton fromThe Fresh Princequickly sees the value a friendship with his cousin, Will, can have, and he turns to Will as a guide for popularity and advice, whileCarlton inBel-Airremains headstrong and hesitant for longer, when he sees that he can use his cousin, he does so with less genuine interest in their developing relationship, and more of a business quid-pro-quo mindset. But the outcome is similar with both characters learning and growing by embracing the things outside their comfort zones.
Carlton Being A Controversial Character Means Bel-Air Did Something Right
Carlton Was Not Well Liked At First In Bel-Air
This considerable departure from the original was potentially one of thebiggest changes inBel-Airfrom the source material. While all the tones and themes being updated and adjusted, Carlton is one of the most noticeably altered characters. And, as a result, it made himone of the least liked characters in the first couple of seasons. Carlton was a corny and fun character who may have been annoying, but underneath everything, he was well liked. Early on in this version, his dark and aggressive tendencies made him far less likable, and he ended up being a source of irritation for viewers.
Bel-Air’s 9 Best Callbacks To Will Smith’s Original Fresh Prince Show
The reboot of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, Bel-Air, has made several callbacks, references, and Easter eggs to its original show in its 3 seasons.
However, the actor behind the character, Olly Sholotan, recently spoke toThe Hollywood Reporterto discuss how that relationship with the audience has changed. Thanks to this starting point, Carlton has grown from a universally despised character, to one that now garners empathy and compassion from fans ofBel-Air. And this development is essential for characters appearing in a TV show. Otherwise, they stagnate, and the story feels like it goes nowhere whatsoever. However,Carlton’s progress is undeniable, and that change is so much more rewarding for having come through the darker times that came before.
Carlton Proves That Bel-Air Is More Than Just A Fresh Prince Reboot
Bel-Air Has Its Own Unique Storytelling Style
Carlton Banks could have been a light-hearted, goofy eccentric, similar to his role inThe Fresh Prince, butBel-Airchose to do something bigger with the character. It’s clear that these two figures have been developed from the same concept, and beyond a name, they share many aspects of their lives in common, butBel-Airimagined how that lifestyle and these events could have impacted and altered the character’s life. The result is a more authentic and realistic impression of a man struggling to live between two worlds, and failing to find connection in either one.
Bel-Airread between the lines ofThe Fresh Prince.
HadBel-Airdecided to be more faithful in its adaptation, it could have been a great series, with lots of humor and contemporary jokes, but these changes make it more than the sum of its parts.Bel-Airread between the lines ofThe Fresh Prince, and it delivers a representation that feels genuine, heartfelt, and meaningful. As a result,Bel-Airstands up as a show in its own right, without relying on the reputation, popularity, and nostalgia of the original. And ultimately, that makes it a better show in terms of character exploration and emotive storytelling, with characters whose lives have meaning and depth that exceeds the original, especially Carlton Banks.
Bel-Air
Cast
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 to embrace his future.
