Sitcom characters don't always transcend the limits of stereotype, but the main characters on The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air each have their own incredible journeys. The series might be the story of a young Will Smith navigating life in Bel-Air after growing up in West Philadelphia, but the characters in his life each undergo considerable transformations as a result of his presence in their lives.
From his youngest cousin Ashley and his Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian to even the butler Geoffrey, all of the main players in Will's life change a lot from their first appearances to their last. In most cases, these journeys are perfectly reflected in their first and last lines.
Jazz
"You got that right. Man, you're loaded." / "I know that look. You're not getting any younger. This isn't good for your back ... I brought this on myself."
When the mysterious Jazz is introduced, he is Will's new friend and Ashley's potential drum teacher. He comes from a much lower class background than the Banks family does, and he doesn't hesitate to express his awe at the splendor on display in their home. Over time, Jazz and Will become closer friends, even if he never grows on Uncle Phil very much.
Jazz makes his final appearance in the first half of the series finale. Before he is thrown out of the house by Uncle Phil one last time, Jazz gets a little meta. He tries to reason with Uncle Phil as to why it's a bad idea, but ultimately realizes that he "brought this on [him]self." Jazz doesn't develop much across the series, but at least he develops some self-awareness in the end.
Geoffrey Butler
"I am not your Uncle Philip." / "Goodbye, Master William ... Goodbye, Will."
As the family butler, Geoffrey witnesses most of what goes on in the Banks home and offers his unique brand of snarky wisdom. In his first moments in the series, he is portrayed as prim and proper, shocked by the hearty embrace Will gives him when Will believes he is, in fact, his uncle.
Although he is initially relegated to the stereotype of the British butler, Geoffrey eventually receives incredible character development, particularly through his paternal relationships with Ashley, Hilary, and Will. It's fitting, then, that Geoffrey's journey is bookended by moments with Will. In his final moments, Geoffrey finally lets down his guard, softens, and calls Will by his name for the first time, instead of his title, "Master William."
Vivian Banks
"Willie!" / "You're gonna love the Plaza."
Vivian Banks undergoes a significant change as a character halfway through the series when Janet Hubert was replaced by Daphne Maxwell Reid. In the first half of the series, Aunt Vivian is a proud and passionate woman, driven both by her love of her family and her academic passions. In her opening moments, she is defined by her love for her nephew, Will.
When Maxwell Reid takes over in season 4, Aunt Vivian becomes more of an airy figure, defined by her love of high society and events. This is reflected all the way through to her final moments. In her farewell scene with Will, her final words are an assurance that he will love staying at the Plaza Hotel when he visits the family in New York, a marked change from the warmth with which she embraced Will in the pilot.
Hilary Banks
"Dad, I need $300." / "Geoffrey, could you help me with my bag? Just kidding."
Hilary Banks might consistently come last when ranking Fresh Prince characters by intelligence, but over the course of six seasons, her character does develop in terms of emotional maturity. In her first scene in the series, Hilary is shown as a superficial young woman who doesn't care about the arrival of her cousin and is only interested in repeatedly asking her father for $300. She loves to shop and to party and not much else.
Over time, Hilary works her way up from socialite to talk show host, even if she sort of lucks her way into one job after another. Through her deep bonds with her cousin Will and the family butler, Geoffrey, Hilary learns about what really matters in life, and what it means to take care of herself. In her final scene with Geoffrey, she playfully lapses back into the selfish brat persona, just for old time's sake.
Ashley Banks
"Hi, mom. Hi, dad ... He's cute." / "I love you, Will."
When Fresh Prince begins, Ashley Banks is an impressionable middle schooler who quickly comes to revere her cousin Will as a hero. Prior to Will's arrival, Ashley's life was driven by schedules and social expectations. With Will in her life, Ashley learns how to break free of what her parents' world expects from her.
Key points in Ashley's journey include her foray into a music career, her secret efforts to attend a public school without parental approval, and her desire to attend an art school in New York. None of these would have been possible without Will's influence in her life. Will and Ashley have one of the best relationships in Fresh Prince, so it's fitting that her final words are an expression of her gratitude and love for her cousin.
Carlton Banks
"How's it going there, Will?" / "Hey! Who turned out the lights? Where is everybody?"
Carlton exists primarily as a foil to Will's character. The more strait-laced of the two cousins, he is introduced at his most prim and proper, complete with a sweater tied artfully around his shoulders. Will and Carlton clash right away over differences in culture and their beliefs, and they continue to do so for most of their high school years.
Over time, Carlton begins to loosen up a little bit, thanks to Will's influence and help. He is allowed some serious storylines, such as his desire to attend Princeton, his accidental overdose, and his desire for revenge after Will is shot saving him during a holdup. But Carlton still primarily functions as a comic relief character all the way to his final moments in the series, when the Banks family briefly leave him behind in their empty home.
Philip Banks
"It is amazing. You certainly have grown, Will." / "Sunday."
Just as Carlton is introduced in a very proper way, so, too, is Philip Banks. The patriarch of the Banks family is very strict and no-nonsense in his early interactions with all members of his family. When Will first arrives at his home, he is less than thrilled with the arrangement. But in time, Uncle Phil comes to rely on Will and learn more from him than he ever could have imagined.
Although Philip is remarking on Will's physical growth when they first reunite, it is Will's emotional growth that Philip gets to witness across the span of the series. Through the strength of this unconventional father-son relationship, Phil's single word last line - "Sunday" - is one of the most moving in the series, as it signifies that Phil and Will's bond won't end just because of the geographic distance between them. Philip Banks is one of the best dads on television, even when he's parenting his nephew.
Will Smith
"Hey, Uncle Phil! How you doin'?" / "I am definitely gonna miss you, C."
When Will arrives in Bel-Air, he is a teenager who doesn't take many things in life seriously. He embarrasses his family at an important dinner on his first night and frequently balks at the rules that Uncle Phil and Aunt Vivian enforce. He clashes with every part of the Bel-Air culture at first.
Yet over time, Will begins to mature. He develops strong relationships with every member of the Banks family, even those he clashed with the most, like Carlton, who becomes his best friend. And though Will deserved a better ending in Fresh Prince, he is much better off at the end of the series than he was when it started. Will has a great life ahead of him thanks to his time with the Banks, and they are all changed for the better, too.