The acclaimed drama series Bel-Air has returned to Peacock for its fourth and final season, prompting its cast to reflect on a journey that saw the show step out from the long shadow of its beloved source material to build a powerful legacy of its own.
Launching on Monday 24th November 2025, the season marks the conclusion of an ambitious project that expanded the landscape for Black-led prestige television. The cast, including Jabari Banks and Coco Jones, now look back on how the reimagined series found its unique voice and resonated deeply with audiences.
A Show Finds Its Own Identity
For Olly Sholotan, who portrays Carlton Banks, the moment the show established its own identity came from a powerful, unexpected encounter. After the first season aired, a young boy approached him at a flea market. “He looked up at me and said ‘You are the first Black boy I’ve ever seen cry on TV,” Sholotan recalled. That poignant comment made him realise that viewers were embracing the drama's new, more emotional depth, allowing it to carve out a distinct identity separate from the original '90s sitcom, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.
Simone Joy Jones, who plays Lisa Wilkes, noted that the characters began the show “in the shadow of the original,” but that the culture profoundly showed up for them. Grammy-winning singer Coco Jones, starring as Hilary Banks, echoed this, stating, “I think people saw themselves in these characters. That's carried all the way into this season.”
The Factors Behind the Final Curtain
Behind the scenes, the show's high ambition came with significant production costs, which industry reports cite as a key factor in the decision to end the series after four seasons. The production involved a long roster of executive producers, including creator Morgan Stevenson Cooper, Will Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Benny Medina, the late Quincy Jones, and the original sitcom creators Andy and Susan Borowitz.
Showrunner Carla Banks Waddles explained that sustaining the large-scale production required constant coordination between the writers’ room, Westbrook Studios, and Universal Television. “Every episode meant bringing all those people together under one vision,” she said. “It takes collaboration, communication and compromise.”
However, Waddles emphasised that the team never envisioned Bel-Air as an open-ended series. “We never wanted to run on forever to the point where people asked, ‘Is that show still on?’” she said. Lead actor Jabari Banks, who plays Will, confirmed this, adding, “From the start, we didn’t want to be a show that dragged on. By the time you reach the end, it really does feel like a complete story.”
Character Arcs and Lasting Impact
The final season pushes each member of the Banks family into pivotal turning points. Will grapples with the pressures of senior year, while Carlton confronts fallout from past choices. The dynamic between Phil and Geoffrey faces an unexpected power shift, testing Geoffrey's loyalty.
Meanwhile, Viv, played by Cassandra Freeman, re-evaluates motherhood and her own identity. “She starts off as a politician's wife, but by this season, she lets herself take centre stage in her own life,” Freeman revealed.
A key theme the drama championed was redefining Black masculinity on screen. Jimmy Akingbola, who plays Geoffrey, stated, “Black men being vulnerable is a superpower, not a weakness.” This sentiment was shared by Jordan L. Jones (Jazz), who noted, “There’s not one way to be masculine. Showing insecurity, showing care. That’s part of the power too.”
As the series concludes, it has served as a formidable springboard for its cast. Coco Jones saw her music career soar, winning a Grammy in 2024 for “ICU” and releasing her debut album. Jabari Banks starred in the feature film “Bad Genius” and said the show “opened every door,” even allowing him to buy his mother a car.
Reflecting on the legacy she hopes the show leaves, showrunner Carla Banks Waddles pointed to timeless values. “Love, redemption, forgiveness and family,” she said. “Loving each other through it. That’s what we wanted to leave behind, and I’m proud of that.”
