Bel-Air: Season 1

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Mixed or average reviews based on 27 Critic Reviews

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USER SCORE

Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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2.9

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2.9	User Score Generally unfavorable reviews based on 20 Ratings

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Bel-Air: The Strength To Smile

Now Playing: Bel-Air: The Strength To Smile

Season Details & Credits

Peacock | Season Premiere Date: February 13, 2022

Summary: The dramatic reboot of NBC's 1990s sitcom "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air" follows Will (Jabari Banks) as he moves from West Philadelphia to the Bel-Air mansion of his uncle and aunt (Adrian Holmes and Cassandra Freeman).

Genre(s): Drama

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Season 1 Episodes

tbd
S1:E10. Where To?
Air Date: March 31, 2022
tbd
S1:E9. Can't Knock The Hustle
Air Date: March 24, 2022
tbd
S1:E8. No One Wins When The Family Feuds
Air Date: March 17, 2022

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Metascore

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Mixed:

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Critic Reviews

Kellee Terrell

Feb 9, 2022

If you’re willing to carve out space for both the original and its timely successor, you’ll find promising, innovative storytelling that pays off, and then some. Read full review

The Independent Nicole Vassell

Feb 9, 2022

Even without it looking back, Bel-Air’s slick confidence makes it a compelling series in its own right. Read full review

Zaki Hasan

Feb 9, 2022

This new take bucks the odds and plays for audiences new and old, proving the resilience of a premise that works even when the approach is “flipped turned upside down.” Read full review

Judy Berman

Feb 9, 2022

Bel-Air doesn’t feel distinct enough from TV’s many rich-people soaps to become a classic. The dialogue can sound stiff, and constant references to both the original show and Cooper’s video get tiresome. Yet it does have all the makings of a solid drama. Read full review

Radio Times Abby Robinson

Feb 14, 2022

While the intention remains the same – to entertain – how they go about that varies vastly. But where Fresh Prince succeeded tenfold, Bel-Air is mostly so-so. Read full review

Alan Sepinwall

Feb 9, 2022

The reality of Bel-Air has its moments, especially whenever it stops trying to draw attention to the story’s sitcom roots. But once you take away the nostalgic link to a beloved series from decades past, the end result is just a decent approximation of a CW drama like All-American, which has a very similar culture-clash premise. Read full review

Angelica Jade Bastien

Feb 14, 2022

Bel-Air strives for authenticity in the most thinly drawn manner possible. ... The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air [had] the exuberant chemistry of a cast that felt like a living, breathing Black American family. Bel-Air lacks such chemistry, curdling the dynamics meant to enliven the series. Read full review

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2.9

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User Reviews

f4h1dul

Mar 20, 2022

Refreshing spin on the show. Extremely well made, and the changes in certain characters feels very accurate to a 2022 kind of world.

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Qhasi

Feb 16, 2022

I wanted to hate this so much. But having watched it I see why they felt the need to make it.

The part I'm not keen on is Carlton being the villain. One of the coolest things about the original show was how unbothered Carlton was by Will. For all his goofiness, he knew who he was This newI wanted to hate this so much. But having watched it I see why they felt the need to make it.

The part I'm not keen on is Carlton being the villain. One of the coolest things about the original show was how unbothered Carlton was by Will. For all his goofiness, he knew who he was This new insecure Carlton ruins the show.… Expand

0 of 2 users found this helpful02

Jagkings5

Mar 13, 2022

This review contains spoilers, click expand to view. I loved the original Fresh Prince, so I tried going into this reimaging (I didn't say reboot, for reasons I'll get into) of the original show with some optimism. Reboots aren't inherently bad but they're inherently lazy, so there has to be some good effort made to make it interesting.

Pros: The show is pretty much tossing subtext out the window and it's far more surreal in its portrayal of Will's background, Uncle Phil and Aunt Viv's relationship, and the overall portrayal of Will shifting from two different households. Geoffrey is essentially a partner with Phil and goes much further than just being a butler (think of Doug from House of Cards, he goes around collecting information and stomping out anything threatening Phil's political campaign and family), which I really like.

Cons: Carlton is rewritten so drastically from the original there's no comparison. He's insecure, obnoxious, manipulative, with no regard for his family unless it's advancing his own goals. Plus he has a drug addiction (to xanax), but the show doesn't really delve into his drug addiction. It's brought up in scenes, and in the first episode, but it's only shown briefly, and not even Uncle Phil/Viv talks about it. Maybe a later episode would address this, but I wish it wasn't glanced over so easily. Hilary is a bit annoying when she's a typical social media influencer, but off social media she is portrayed pretty well.

But the big con is the show isn't original enough. There are millions of shows that talks about drug addiction, unhappy marriages, racism, police brutality, etc. Not to mention it's originating from a format that isn't even original, considering the original Fresh Prince can easily be streamed on HBO Max. If the show wants to surprise me, it needs to bring something unique, which I just keep finding missing on the show. Say all you want about Euphoria, but at least that show had a realistic portrayal of the struggles a drug addict go through, something completely glanced over in Bel Air.

The show keeps me enjoyed and it's by no means bad, but there's just a lack of originality with it. Only Carlton turning into a villain on the show surprised me.… Expand

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

Slygunsnroses

Feb 21, 2022

Les voy a decir la verdad desde un pricipio no me encanto la idea y despues dije porque no hay que darle una oportunidad es una mierda la vi por la nostalgia y espero que esto no arruiene la serie original

1 of 1 users found this helpful10

mulkster77

Oct 10, 2022

Will Smith is a hypocrite. I will not have my children watching anything endorsed by this violent man. Bad father,bad producer. "That's how we do" said Jaden when his dad punched an innocent man. Will ruined his son's chance for a peaceful life, don't let him ruin yours.

0 of 0 users found this helpful00

UncleWillard

Feb 14, 2022

Fresh Prince was not that good. Certainly not good enough for a remake. Now a dramatic retelling? Without Will Smith to helm? C'mon. Money grab.

3 of 4 users found this helpful31

redhawk

Feb 15, 2022

What a horrendous abomination. Why make this with the Fresh Prince IP (as opposed to an exciting and interesting new story). A disgrace to the memory of the 90s show. Terrible money grab and poorly done. Shame.

4 of 4 users found this helpful40

SEE ALL 11 REVIEWS

Seasons & Episodes

60

Series Overview
Season 2

71
- Season 2 Overview
  Air Date: February 23, 2023
Season 1

58
- Season 1 Overview
  Air Date: February 13, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E10. Where To?
  Air Date: March 31, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E9. Can't Knock The Hustle
  Air Date: March 24, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E8. No One Wins When The Family Feuds
  Air Date: March 17, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E7. Payback's A B*Tch
  Air Date: March 10, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E6. The Strength To Smile
  Air Date: March 3, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E5. PA to LA
  Air Date: February 24, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E4. Canvass
  Air Date: February 17, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E3. Yamacraw
  Air Date: February 13, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E2. Keep Ya Head Up
  Air Date: February 13, 2022
- tbd
  S1:E1. Dreams and Nightmares
  Air Date: February 13, 2022