Bel-Air Review: Dreams and Nightmares / Keep Ya Head Up / Yamacraw (Season 1 Episodes 1-3)

When Bel-Air was first announced – it was (rightfully) met with some skepticism. Peacock sure seems to believe in it though, as it has already picked up Bel-Air for two seasons.

After the first three episodes, Peacock does have some reason to be optimistic. 

On Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 1, “Dreams and Nightmares,” viewers are treated to a modern, dramatic version of “the story all about how” one teenager (Will, played by Jabari Banks) has his life flipped upside down in an instant and goes to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air. 

There are clear similarities to Bel-Air‘s predecessor, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Jabari Banks’ version of Will is just as charismatic and, well, “fresh.” But the mixed reception he receives from his extended family differs from the original quite a bit — which is both necessary and off-putting. 

For instance, some of the physical similarities between new and old characters are striking. The actors playing Jazz, Geoffrey, and Tray bear striking resemblance to their original series counterparts. They inhabit their roles well, but it takes some getting used to as a viewer. 

Will: Got in one little fight. My mom got scared.

“Dreams and Nightmares” has one major problem, which is that it feels contrived. Some of the changes and modern updates to the fish-out-of-water story are both necessary and make sense — like Hillary being an influencer, or Will and Carlton being at odds. 

But other stories like Carlton’s drug problem feel far too heavy handed. It’s possible to tell a story about jealousy like the one between Will and Carlton without some of the edgier elements. 

Fortunately, as the three episode premiere continues to unravel, the stories start to feel a bit more grounded. 

On Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 2, “Keep Ya Head Up,” Will searches for a place to belong so that he can survive his time in Bel-Air. Akin to the original story, that place is on the basketball court. 

While the more ridiculous elements of the series still exist beyond the first episode, “Keep Ya Head Up” is more consistent with its characterizations. Will is shaken by his friend Tray’s injury, and his decision to put his head down and make it work in Bel-Air is far more compelling than his resistance. 

Jabari Banks truly begins to shine on “Keep Ya Head Up” as Will’s determination overcomes some of his challenges. Bel-Air seems to be at its most compelling when Will is riding the waves instead of resisting them. 

“Keep Ya Head Up” also shows more of the Uncle Phil that fans of the original series know and love. Phil’s tough-but-fair parental attitude and his willingness to tackle Will’s brokenness head-on works. His patience truly pays off for Will. 

Finally, Bel-Air Season 1 Episode 3, “Yamacraw” is the most compelling of the three premiere episodes. “Yamacraw” leans fully into the exploration of some of the non-Will main characters, like Phil, Vivian, and Hillary. 

Many of the stories on “Yamacraw” are similar or share backstory with the original series, Phil’s North Carolina roots and Hillary’s failure to launch among them.

Woven between the compelling backstories is a seed that could become Carlton’s villain origin story. It’s hard to be sympathetic with Carlton, but it’s easy to root for he and Will to get along. 

Ultimately, Bel-Air‘s three episode premiere shows some promise. The shift from comedy to drama and 90’s to modern day is jarring at times, but the performances are compelling. There’s something here — hopefully they figure out exactly what. 

A few stray thoughts:

• I’m very upset that there is very little Ashley on the first three episodes. 
• As a super fan of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, some of the Easter Eggs are fabulous. Like Geoffrey and Phil playing pool, or the original Uncle Phil’s sweater in the background of the party.
• Many of the actors on Bel-Air bear resemblance to their Fresh Prince counterparts, but Tray’s resemblance to Don Cheadle is striking.
• In true reboot fashion, I long for actors from the original series to make cameos. Give me an Uber ride from DJ Jazzy Jeff — stat!

What did you think of this episode of Bel-Air? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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New episodes of Bel-Air stream Sundays on Peacock.

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