Still In Bloom

The record-breaking Peacock original has come to an end after four seasons.

Though I’ve waited over a year for this show to come back on, when it finally premiered in late November 2025, I didn’t want to watch it. After four seasons, one of my favorite shows was coming to an end.

It’s hard to say goodbye to a beloved show, and thus, I had to brace myself. So many shows lose momentum over time, so many fail to end on a high note. Thankfully, Bel-Air gave us good television until the very end, and kept it’s essence along the way.

Granted, I am a firm believer that not everything needs a reboot or reimagining. In fact, many reboots feel tired and like a money grab. But this was a great, refreshing take on a classic.

What started as fan-made trailer became the only original Peacock show to make it to four seasons. The show cleverly honors the old while establishing new takes on the beloved characters and their journeys. There’s more drama, higher stakes, and more specific cultural references.

As far as casting, I’m always a proponent for new talent, especially for roles where big shoes need filling. Jabari Banks, who plays Will, shares some essential similarities with Will Smith. He moved from Philly to LA to play this iconic role.

The Banks family is also full of fresh faces, highlighting a talented ensemble of a beautiful, fashionable, mostly dark-skinned family. The Banks family dealt with it all – addiction, racism, money-laundering, law enforcement, relationship strains, college admission, sibling rivalries and more, all while staying stylish and keeping it classy.

For four seasons we got good music, and transformative themes. Having a wholesome Black-led show on my screen meant the world to me. Though there were times the drama got heated, the show always circled back to what it meant to be a family, and what it meant to have integrity.

As Adrian Holmes (Uncle Phil) told the Hollywood Reporter, “We’re not defined by our struggle. We’re not defined by our trauma. We’re showing the joy, the ambition, the resilience. We’re showing the other side of the coin of who we are as a culture.”

My only real critique with this season is the Geoffrey/Uncle Phil storyline. Geoffrey (Jimmy Akingbola) and his UK gang was stressing me out! They were trying to ruin him and Uncle Phil and it was getting too messy for my liking. Geoffrey being a lowkey gangster was cute at first but started taking up too much of the major plot by the end.

However, it’s nice that Adrian Holmes got to work with his real-life wife Caroline Chikezie, who you may know as Noma from Power Book II: Ghost. Overall, I’m glad they cleaned it up, keeping Phil as an honest man and keeping Geoffrey a part of the Banks family and out of trouble. They even reunited him with his lover Penelope and gave him a renewed sense of self and purpose.

All the storylines felt closed with intention, and every character experienced some sort of catharsis. Though Ashley (Akira Akbar)’s character arc also took some time to find its footing, she came around to finding herself and exercising her voice in an impactful way. Her letter to baby Nicky was touching, and a tear-jerker.

We watched Jazz (Jordan L. Jones) and Hilary (Coco Jones) fall in and out of love, and eventually become business partners and business neighbors, each prospering as young entrepreneurs and getting over their issues.

Carlton (Ozzy Sholotan) had the best character arc, and his brotherhood with Will was really beautiful to watch unfold. His character really came into his own, and overcame so much. We watched Will mature over his time in Bel-Air, and become a new person. His graduation speech, which panned to the characters that inspired him as he mentioned their attributes, was perfect. The placement of Will at UPenn and Carlton at Morehouse a good plot twist.

Though Lisa (Simone Joy Jones) and Will are taking a break, they may still reconnect in college as they won’t be that far away (UPenn and Howard is a 90 minute commute by train). Thankfully, Amira (Alycia Pascual-Pena) and Carlton didn’t get married but they will both be together in Atlanta for school.

It was also nice to see Vy (April Parker Jones) putting herself first – a gentle reminder that more Black women should do the same – as she was glowing, dating, and dancing into her new timeline. Lou (Marlon Wayans) got a job back in Philly, and will be close to his son.

Though everything didn’t go according to plan, Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman) safely gave birth to baby Nicky, with the help of a comforting doula (played by OG Aunt Viv Janet Hubert). Thus, Aunt Viv and Uncle Phil get to start anew with baby Nicky, get Ashley in a creative school, and give back to Black families that were affected by the Altadena fires as they decided to move out of their Bel-Air home. This time, Uncle Phil is the last one in the empty house.

Overall, there were many beautiful moments throughout the series. There were several moments that gave nods to the original cast and iconic moments, including scenes featuring:

• both aunt Vivs (Janet Hubert and Daphne Maxwell Reid)
• Carlton’s dance – the briefest moment at the Blackcess party
• The “Jump On It” dance
• OG Geoffrey (Joseph Marcell)
• OG Ashley (Tatyana Ali)
• OG Vy (Vernee Johnson)
• a painting of OG Uncle Phil (RIP James Avery)
• Tyra Banks as Aunt Viv’s sorority sister
• the fight between Will and Lou (one of the best on-screen fights I’ve ever seen; but leads to eventual reconciliation)
• Will Smith as future Will

Janet Hubert’s guest role meant a lot to me, as she deserves her flowers. It was such a good full-circle moment to bring her back to help Aunt Viv give birth. That episode was very spiritual and a good reminder to release the negativity holding you back.

Seeing Will Smith come back was also very incredibly meaningful. Apparently, it wasn’t confirmed if Smith would be available to shoot this final scene, so they planned two different endings just in case. Thankfully, they made it happen.

Ever since I saw My Old Ass, I’ve found that talking things out with your future self can be more comforting than anything else. For me, it’s confirmation that everything will be alright, which is exactly what that scene between Wills embodied.

From the series finale, I was reminded that transitions can be scary but good. Beautiful, even. I took note of some lines (paraphrased) that serve as affirmations (and that may have made me shed a tear):

• Growth happens when we’re uncomfortable. And when we love people enough to love us through it. 
• Our crown is waiting for us. 
• Sometimes it’s about letting go of who you thought you had to be to become who you’re supposed to be.
• I’m not worried about losing who I was, but who I’ve become.
• Your crown looks good on you, nephew.
• Are you nervous about the future? No.. it’s just waiting for us to light it the fuck up!

While many feel like they could’ve stretched a couple more seasons, I understand a lot goes behind the scenes of making a show, esp. in post-strike and post-COVID Hollywood. Plus, it’s hard to transition to college-aged characters while different cast mates have other career pursuits. The Bel-Air cast is extremely talented, with Jabari Banks having recently released his debut EP, Ultra, and Coco Jones fresh off tour for her debut album Why Not More?.

With all these factors in mind, season 4 did feel a bit rushed, but it did not compromise the show’s substance. It still made me feel warm and safe, and I will miss my family! As Cassandra Freeman once described the show, Bel-Air is heart medicine. I’m not sure who my next supplier will be, but grateful for the time we had this medicine prescribed.

I applaud the cast, crew, writers, showrunner, creator Morgan Cooper (director of the fan-made trailer) and Will Smith for making it all happen, and doing it well.

The legacy of both The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and the reimagined Bel-Air will be considered classics and positive representation for ages to come.