During the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special, Will Smith states that the show's relevancy in 2020 is unfortunate. The HBO Max program features candid interviews from the actor, who headlined the series from 1990 to 1996 before transforming into a blockbuster movie star. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air changed the rules of network television over the course of six seasons, and the most challenging concepts still apply to modern culture three decades later.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special chronicles the thematic evolution of the series. Smith remembers being recruited by Quincy Jones for the lead role without a proper audition, and later reveals that he and James Avery (Philip Banks) were the original focus of the show. After the Will-Carlton dynamic showed comedic promise, the concept changed and the writers collaborated with the cast to incorporate timely issues. The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air season 2 ended just as the 1992 Los Angeles riots began, which ensured that future episodes would include even more narrative depth as the main characters confronted the dark realities of being Black living in America.
According to Smith, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air remains so impactful because of the powerful messages under the jokes. He said, "It is as relevant today as it was 30 years ago, unfortunately." Smith also cites the season 2 episode "Cased Up" as a prime example, as Jazz (DJ Jazzy Jeff) takes the stand during a court case, raises his hands before an armed court officer, and jokes about getting "six warning shots" in the back. Moments later, Jazz kicks up his feet on the stand, with his Air Jordan sneakers clearly in view; a blatant nod to pop culture trends. "Cased Up" is just one of many episodes in The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air that feels both nostalgic and painfully timely, certainly in 2020 after the murder of George Floyd forced many people around the world to think deeper about the day-day-day experiences of Black people.
The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air reunion special acknowledges the outstanding performance of the original Aunt Vivian, Janet Hubert, who left the show after three seasons. Her fiercely-independent and well-educated character steadily challenged the main protagonist Will about his actions and words, forcing him to think about the bigger picture. Hubert famously left The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air after season 3, presumably because Smith had labeled her as a "difficult" actress. In the HBO Max special, the former castmates meet for the first time in 27 years and resolve their differences while celebrating their achievements. Hubert speaks passionately about what she lost over the years, but also seems to understand that her contributions will continue to inspire and educate a new generation of fans.
All of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air cast members honor the legacy of the late Avery, their creative collaborator who passed away in 2013. Philip Banks is indeed the grounding force of the series, and the actor himself served as a father figure on set. As a result, there was more camaraderie amongst the cast and crew while deciding which cultural issues should be addressed, and why. In the special, Smith acknowledges that he was always living in the future while making the The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, but now admits that he masked his true emotions to avoid the pain of the present moment - a concept that will always be relevant for far too many people in the present.