"Bel-Air" ends with a full embrace of Philly culture
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"Bel-Air." Photo: Courtesy of Peacock
This season of "Bel-Air," the gritty reboot of "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air," is rich with Philly flavor — right down to a cheesesteak from Ishkabibble's.
Why it matters: The series pays homage to the City of Brotherly Love in ways its predecessor never did, even down to the final scene (this is your spoiler warning).
Catch up quick: Premiering in 2022, "Bel-Air" shares the same plot as the hit sitcom it's based on — a troubled kid from West Philadelphia is forced to live with his wealthy aunt and uncle in the titular Los Angeles neighborhood.
State of play: The fourth and final season of the Peacock series follows Will (played by Jabari Banks) trying to prepare for life after high school.
The first set of references comes in the fourth episode titled "Brother's Keeper."
- Will is trying to get a spot on the University of Southern California's basketball team and connects with a player on its roster, Gavin White (played by Devin Brown), who also happens to be from West Philadelphia.
When they meet at a party, Will mentions they've crossed paths at basketball tournaments at Strawberry Mansion and in the Sonny Hill League.
- White puts our protagonist to the test, asking, "Pat's (King of Steaks) or Geno's?" to which Will replies that it's a trick question and he prefers "the Papi store on 55th for their Adobo seasoning or Ishkabibble's."
By episode 7, titled "Soulmates," a series of events leads Will to choose to return to his hometown and attend UPenn — a place where he can play basketball and learn at a top business school.
A Bel-Air Academy classmate named Teedra (played by Alexis Brown) tells Will she will also be attending the Ivy League university and shares she's excited to visit the Liberty Bell, Max's (Famous) Steaks and Johnny Brenda's.
- The Philly native chuckles and retorts: "Did you just get [these places] off of the Creed tour?"
- He recommends Harriet's Bookshop, block parties at Malcolm X Park and concerts at The Dell.
What they're saying: "When you leave a place where you're from, there's always something kind of pulling you back," creator Morgan Stevenson Cooper tells Axios.
- "As Will looks towards his future after graduation, all of a sudden, his world has opened up again, but he's reentering this world with a brand new set of tools, more insight, a different perspective, and that's really valuable and to bring that back to where you're from is how we ultimately build communities."
In the show's final scene, the original Fresh Prince himself makes a cameo.
- Will Smith, also an executive producer, plays an imaginary, future version of the main character.
- Cooper says Smith was originally supposed to play the fictional Will's father, "Lou," but scheduling was an issue and the role went to Marlon Wayans.
Looking out over the Los Angeles skyline, Smith's character gives his younger counterpart advice about facing the future.
- In one more nod to Philadelphia, he says: "Live, laugh, cry and eat a cheesesteak," but "not every day, because cholesterol is real."