FiscalFusion

Olly Sholotan first realized that “Bel-Air” had stepped out the shadows of the beloved ’90s sitcom starring Will Smith when a young boy approached him at a flea market after the show’s first season and said, “You are the first Black boy I’ve ever seen cry on TV,” a moment that made Sholotan, who plays Carlton Banks, understand how the reboot was carving out its own identity; such moments helped establish “Bel-Air” as one of Peacock’s most visible homegrown titles and expand possibilities for Black-led prestige television as the series returns Monday for its fourth and final season, with cast members reflecting on its impact and evolution as they stepped out from “the shadow of the original,” as Simone Joy Jones puts it, while Coco Jones emphasized how deeply audiences connected with the characters; though popular, the show’s large-scale ambitions and high production costs contributed to the decision to end it now, with a long roster of executive producers requiring constant coordination and showrunner Carla Banks Waddles noting the series was never intended to run indefinitely, a sentiment echoed by Jabari Banks, who said four seasons complete the story; the final season pushes the Banks family into defining turning points as Will navigates senior-year pressures, Carlton faces consequences that could derail his future, a power shift strains Phil and Geoffrey’s bond, Viv reinvents herself, Hilary deepens self-exploration, and Ashley enters high school ready to challenge norms, with Cassandra Freeman saying Viv fully steps into her own life; the season also deepens the show’s theme of redefining Black masculinity, with Jimmy Akingbola noting the emotional range given to male characters and Jordan L.

Jones stressing that care and vulnerability are part of masculinity; meanwhile, the series has become a career springboard as Coco Jones’ Hilary role boosted her profile and music career—earning her a Grammy for “ICU” and leading to new film roles—while Jabari Banks starred in “Bad Genius” and said the show changed his life, and Sholotan continues expanding as both musician and actor; Waddles hopes the show’s legacy reflects the heart of the original: “Love, redemption, forgiveness and family… Loving each other through it.”.