Current Events > I'm a 90s kid who has never seen The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.

(+) Yeah! (+)

Season 1 has 25 episodes.
Black History Month has 28 days.

Let's do this thing.

If anyone cares to keep this topic bumped, I will be giving my thoughts day by day. There may be a day where I watch multiple episodes. There may be a day that goes by where I don't watch any episodes. So it's not like I have a set schedule of when I'm going to watch it.

Here we go, starting Episode 1 now...

How did you grow up in the 90's and miss out on the Fresh Prince?

That show was tough to avoid. I didnt watch regularly but certainly saw my share of it. Was pretty good from what I recall.

Sweet AOL, was this ever 90s. I feel like I've got a Walkman on, I'm wearing my baseball cap backwards, and I've got a can of Surge in my hand.

Episode 1: Pilot
Free-spirited Will moves in with his rich uncle and attends a formal dinner

I think Jeffery (or is it Geoffrey?) may have replaced Alfred as my favorite fictional butler. It has the trappings of most pilot episodes, i.e. it doesn't have room for plot because they have to do all of the character introductions, but it was a pretty good episode overall. I laughed out loud a couple of times. It also showed early on that it has a hear behind some of the laughs. "You have a poster of Malcolm X on your wall. I heard the brother speak."

Overall, a very solid start.

It definitely gets better as it goes along

If Fresh Prince were updated, Will would slap Carlton.

Tag.
I recently showed my 14 year old BIL the entire thing plus reunion special and it's now one of his favorite shows. He's already asking me for a rewatch.

Yo home to bel-air!

SizeDoesMatter posted...

If Fresh Prince were updated, Will would slap Carlton.

...you missed the updated version?

For shame

SizeDoesMatter posted...

If Fresh Prince were updated, Will would slap Carlton.

I don't know if they did it on purpose as a running gag, but I seem to remember Carlton always winning the few altercations they do get into on the show.

And Will Smith eventually got into action movie shape, but Alfonso Ribeiro was definitely more built than he was back then too.

Tag

https://youtu.be/1nCqRmx3Dnw

Foppe posted...

...you missed the updated version?

I guess.

I'm 38 and never watched it until it was on Nick at Nite. It's a really good show.

StarDestroyer posted...

How did you grow up in the 90's and miss out on the Fresh Prince?

I don't know. I was watching Family Matters.

Episode 2: Bang the Drum, Ashley
Ashley gives up the violin in favor of the drums, much to her family's dismay.

Okay. Nice twist with this one: Ashley didn't want to play the drums either. She just wanted to make Will happy. It's an interesting episode on personal wishes against family expectations. It's nice that they're able to show the conflict between Will and Phil without it being a straightforward "he's right, he's wrong" affair. I hope the series maintains this evenhandedness.

I think I liked the pilot episode better, but I appreciate the much more organic way the family was represented instead of the, "Hi, I'm the geeky one" / "Hi, I'm the stuck-up one" trappings that accompany debut episodes.

Geoffrey remains the funniest character so far.

FortuneCookie posted...

I don't know. I was watching Family Matters.

Ironic. I'm also a 90s kid but although I watched Fresh Prince, I didn't watch Family Matters until it started to air on Nick At Nite in 2008 IIRC.

Might be an unpopular opinion but I almost skip Season 1 on rewatches. The acting isn't very good outside of James Avery, and their house looks like a cheap set. There are two or three legit classics in Season 1 though.

This show gets so much better for me in Season 2-5. Then in Season 6 it gets weird.

Turtlemayor333 posted...

Might be an unpopular opinion but I almost skip Season 1 on rewatches. The acting isn't very good outside of James Avery, and their house looks like a cheap set. There are two or three legit classics in Season 1 though.

It's like Simpsons season 1. It looks and sounds a lot different than what it would become.

Is it on a streaming service?

Turtlemayor333 posted...

Might be an unpopular opinion but I almost skip Season 1 on rewatches. The acting isn't very good outside of James Avery, and their house looks like a cheap set. There are two or three legit classics in Season 1 though.

This show gets so much better for me in Season 2-5. Then in Season 6 it gets weird.

thats actually pretty common
season 1 shows tend to still be finding their identity and the actors are still getting used to their characters
season 2 is usually where shows get into their rhythm. the actors are more comfortable in their roles and the writers know better what works and what doesnt for this setting

fresh prince, friends, charmed, buffy, hannah montana. all had weak first seasons but got better over time

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]

Season 1 Will is pretty obnoxious at times. Still doesn't hurt the season enough for me to skip.

StarDestroyer posted...

How did you grow up in the 90's and miss out on the Fresh Prince?

yeah man like.

even my racist ass gramps that would throw a racist tantrum about how "black shows are the REAL racism!" couldn't find it in himself to say no to Fresh Prince.

Hayame_Zero posted...

It's like Simpsons season 1. It looks and sounds a lot different than what it would become.

Angry Homer > Stupid Homer

[LFAQs-redacted-quote]


I thought him being an asshole was intentional. Like, the opening shows him getting caught graffitiing a wall.

FortuneCookie posted...

I thought him being an asshole was intentional. Like, the opening shows him getting caught graffitiing a wall.

Interesting. I can see that. It can be explained that he's more of a troublemaker cause he just arrived in Bel Air from Philly. Still his back story paints it like he isn't a troublemaker and that his mom sent him away for his own protection.

I think it's just the writers didn't do a good job balancing the likeability with mischievous aspect of his personality in some episodes. Hell it can also be cause Will wasn't even an actor in the first season. Just a rapper they built a show around. His delivery was just shit.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Interesting. I can see that. It can be explained that he's more of a troublemaker cause he just arrived in Bel Air from Philly. Still his back story paints it like he isn't a troublemaker and that his mom sent him away for his own protection.

His mom sent him away because there were criminals like killers around. Will wasn't Carlton, he liked high jinks, and had some issues. But nothing like he gang members his mom was trying to get him away from.

cjsdowg posted...

His mom sent him away because there were criminals like killers around. Will wasn't Carlton, he liked high jinks, and had some issues. But nothing like he gang members his mom was trying to get him away from.

Yeah that's why I said he was sent away for his own protection, not to scare him straight.

pegusus123456 posted...

I don't know if they did it on purpose as a running gag, but I seem to remember Carlton always winning the few altercations they do get into on the show.

And Will Smith eventually got into action movie shape, but Alfonso Ribeiro was definitely more built than he was back then too.

Yeah, I think they made the joke/allusion a few times about the contrast between his personality and the fact that he was built like a brick shithouse.

Episode 3: Clubba Hubba
Will sets his sights on a woman, but must first impress her fath- Holy shit! Is that Richard Roundtree? Shaft has come to Bel-Air!

I see that they've amended the opening to omit the plane flight where Will looks down the steward's blouse. Disappointing, but understandable.

I did not expect to see Shaft star Richard Roundtree guest starring in this show. His appearance was brief, more or less an extended cameo, but the show made good use of him whenever he was on screen. Also, I never realized that Will Smith was actually playing a fictionalized version of himself. He gives his full name in this episode.

This was a funny episode with a little bit of social commentary about push-and-pull social expectations. The dad wants a doctor for his daughter. The daughter wants a dangerous man of the streets. Will is just Will.

This is probably my favorite episode so far.

pegusus123456 posted...

I don't know if they did it on purpose as a running gag, but I seem to remember Carlton always winning the few altercations they do get into on the show.

The first physical altercation went to Will. Carlton got choked out in Episode 3.

Omg. I hope you enjoy it. Great show.

dj1200 posted...

Omg. I hope you enjoy it. Great show.

Thanks. It's pretty fun so far.

Will's acting is a little rough to start, as some have said, but his natural charisma makes up for it. It'll be interesting to see his progression.

You should watch the Bel-Air reboot on Peacock.

Episode 4: Not with My Pig, You Don't
Uncle Phil receives a prestigious award but finds himself embarrassed when his humble origins are leaked to the press.

It suddenly dawns on me how easily this show could've been about Uncle Phil and Geoffrey. Will Smith is entertaining, but he's felt like a guest star in every episode so far -- including this one. I wonder if this is the reason some people are saying that the first season isn't as good as the show would go onto be.

This was a pretty good episode overall. I kinda feel like they leaned a little heavily on old timey stereotypes with Phil's parents, but I get where they were coming from with this one. Oh, and I gotta give props to the shoutout where Phil tells Will that, "Sometimes, parents just don't understand." Yeah, sue me. That got a laugh out of me.

As someone who misses his dog nine years later, it kind of bugs me that Phil seems to treat his pig with total embarrassment and with none of the warmth that a childhood pet deserves.

FortuneCookie posted...

It suddenly dawns on me how easily this show could've been about Uncle Phil and Geoffrey. Will Smith is entertaining, but he's felt like a guest star in every episode so far -- including this one. I wonder if this is the reason some people are saying that the first season isn't as good as the show would go onto be.

They probably did that to hide his lack of acting skills. Allowing the others to be the focal point of the episode let's them do the heavy lifting at the end when the story is emotionally wrapping up. Frees up Will to just help the story along while cracking jokes along the way.

The first season isn't as good because the family isnt as down to earth as later seasons. They still have that high class air about them. Also the set for the house looks better in later seasons. They even remodel the living room after Season 1 and put in a staircase.

If you were excited over that cameo then you'll be happy to know it's the first of many many cameos in the show.

I cant wait until they change Aunt Viv The show is still good, but not as good.

TC do not look at this until season 4

I always really liked the scene in that episode where granny pulls the food out of her purse and the rich white couple just compliments the food and asks if they have any biscuits lol.

Episode 5: Homeboy, Sweet Homeboy
Don Cheadle guest stars as Will's friend from the hood

Today, I learned that Don Cheadle was once a young man. <_<

This was not the best episode. It had a few laugh out loud moments. In the episode, Will has a copy of Crime and Punishment and Icetray reads his notes on the book's "intriguing duality." I think that's a nod from the writers on their character motivations because, if there's one thing the series handles well, it's character duality. No one is a saint. No one is a devil. There are several arguments, but almost never have a character who is solidly right or solidly wrong. Viv comments that Hillary is her daughter while Will answers back that Icetray is his friend. It doesn't carry the same weight, but it is the kind of thing a teenager would say. The conversation continues to show how Icetray, a lounge-about and petty criminal, is the reason Will was able to continue his intellectual pursuits when others were antagonizing him for trying to better himself.

Also, I gather that Will Smith must've been a fan of A Nightmare on Elm Street. This is the second time that Freddy Krueger has been referenced -- plus Will did that unofficial tie-in song A Nightmare on My Street.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

The first season isn't as good because the family isnt as down to earth as later seasons. They still have that high class air about them. Also the set for the house looks better in later seasons. They even remodel the living room after Season 1 and put in a staircase.

I haven't noticed any deficiencies with the set. I'm sure the improvement will become obvious if and when I move onto the next season. It'll be nice if the characters become less typecast in later seasons -- especially Hillary -- but I hope Phil and Geoffrey remain unchanged.

k1zzl3_82 posted...

I cant wait until they change Aunt Viv The show is still good, but not as good.

TC do not look at this until season 4

I know about the recasting from it being referenced in other shows.

pegusus123456 posted...

I always really liked the scene in that episode where granny pulls the food out of her purse and the rich white couple just compliments the food and asks if they have any biscuits lol.

Yeah, that was great.

Man I remember hating it when I was a kid, but now a I can't remember a goddamn thing about it.

Might be worth giving a fair shake now.

Episode 6: Mistaken Identity
Will and Carlton are arrested for driving while below the speed limit

It took a different turn from the setup. We're led to believe this is going to be about Will as an uninvited guest at a resort, but he and Carlton never make it there. This unfortunately means we never get to see the women in the dental-string bikinis.

I caught the tail end of this episode on rerun several years ago. I was surprised to find it so early into the series. There wasn't much to this episode beyond the twist and the social commentary. Uncle Phil had a great moment where he told the police officers off. The singing inmate was great.

Will must've really been a big fan of Freddy Krueger. After multiple references in earlier episodes, he flat out dresses up like him to scare Carlton in this one.

FortuneCookie posted...

I know about the recasting from it being referenced in other shows.

Excellent, that means I can say that dude is wrong as hell, the second Viv is such a fucking snooze compared to the first.

pegusus123456 posted...

Excellent, that means I can say that dude is wrong as hell, the second Viv is such a fucking snooze compared to the first.

Yeah the second actress plays her character well and I do like her in her own right. It's just the fact that they change Vivian's character completely. She was this outspoken powerful character that was included in plots with the first actress. With the second actress, she became the warm loving housewife background character.

Yeah, like the scene in this last episode TC watched where the cop tells her to sit down because they're busy and she pulls her earrings off and says, "Oh, it's about to very busy up in here."

The second Viv would never do that.

BlazinBlue88 posted...

Yeah the second actress plays her character well and I do like her in her own right. It's just the fact that they change Vivian's character completely. She was this outspoken powerful character that was included in plots with the first actress. With the second actress, she became the warm loving housewife background character.

pegusus123456 posted...

Yeah, like the scene in this last episode TC watched where the cop tells her to sit down because they're busy and she pulls her earrings off and says, "Oh, it's about to very busy up in here."

The second Viv would never do that.

That's a shame.

Episode 7: Def Poet's Society
Will joins a poetry club to meet girls and is asked to invite a street poet whom he made up.

In terms of the show's quality so far, this episode was right in the middle. Which is still high quality overall. It probably got the most laughs out of me up until this point and it's probably the first time when Will actually feels like the central focus. The twist with who "De la Ghetto" was going to be was pretty obvious early on, but the payoff was still pretty funny. On a side note, Christina was FINE. They never mention the character's age, but A. J. Johnson was 27.

There's a part of me that hopes Phil throwing Jazz out on the lawn is a running joke.

Episode 8: Someday Your Prince Will be in Effect Part 1
Will and Carlton look for dates at the mall whether the rest of the family get sidetracked looking for Halloween costumes.

I was surprised to see the return of the extended intro. Halfway through the episode, it made perfect sense as to why it returned. Eight episodes in and we're at a clip show. Did I say clips? They literally show four uninterrupted minutes from the second episode. If I had to guess, I'd say that the mall setting was more expensive than the usual episode and they had to pad it out with clips from earlier episodes to compensate. There's maybe 16 minutes of new footage in total.

On the plus side, Will displays some impressive athleticism when cartwheels over a wet floor sign and leap frogs a standing man. You see Will's face while it happens, so it's not a stuntman. Also, continuing with the Freddy references, the closing credits play the instrumental portion from A Nightmare on My Street. It doesn't have any tie-in to anything from the episode. I just thought it was interesting that they played it.

Do you mean like, born in the 90s? If so well ... yeah ... it started airing in 1990.

So, like, when they start to explain something to someone and they go into a clip from a previous episode, does that mean they're explaining everything in detail to the person they're talking to?

So, there I was, driving my father's business partner Mr. Firth's Mercedes Benz, singing I've Got a Gal in Kalamazoo, naively forgetting that my cousin Will sat crouched and unbuckled in the backseat of the car. I sang, "A-B-C-D-E-F-G-H, I got a gal in Kalamazoo
Don't wanna boast
But I know she's the toast
Of Kalamazoo-zoo-zoo-zoo-zoo,"
swaying my head back and forth with each utterance of zoo.

I pulled out my personal recorder and began to take notes. I said to myself, "Plans for Palm Springs: 1) Work on golf swings. 2) Review SAT practice book. 3) Ask Mr. Firth about a summer internship." All of the sudden, Will lunged out at me with a Freddy Kruger mask and glove shouting, "FOUR. TAKE THE STICK OUT OF YOUR BUTT." I swerved back and forth across the road. He laughed and laughed, but I didn't find it funny. I told him, "Way to go, Will. You almost made us crash," but he continued to laugh...

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