Plot: Bel-Air Season 4 (the final season) wraps up the series with Will facing senior year pressures, Carlton questioning college (Princeton vs. Morehouse), Hilary navigating life after LaMarcus’s tragic death and her public brand, Ashley exploring her identity, and Uncle Phil & Geoffrey dealing with past dangers and shifting power dynamics, all culminating in a bittersweet farewell as Will heads to UPenn and the family embraces new futures in Baldwin Hills, ending with hope and new beginnings for everyone.
This final season of Bel Air was great.
Pros: It succeeded wrapping up everything building up from the previous seasons. Will and Carlton each grew as individuals throughout their relationships. Each moment was genuine and engaging. Everybody bought their A-game to this last season. Will Smith’s cameo was lovely and the finale was bittersweet.
Cons: I did skip through major plotlines. I thought how the Geoffrey’s London gang storyline ended abruptly. The finale was structurally very similar to the old fresh prince finale. A lot of people are going to miss out because there are not many places to see this.
Genre: Drama
Created by Andy Borowitz & Susan Borowitz
- Based on
A story
by Andy Borowitz & Susan Borowitz - A format
by Benny Medina & Jeff Pollack
Developed by Morgan Cooper & Malcolm Spellman & TJ Brady & Rasheed Newson
Showrunners: TJ Brady & Rasheed Newson, Carla Banks Waddles
Starring: Jabari Banks, Cassandra Freeman, Jimmy Akingbola, Olly Sholotan, Coco Jones, Akira Akbar, Simone Joy Jones, Jordan L. Jones & Adrian Holmes.
Music by Terrace Martin, Robert Glasper, Jacob Yoffee, Roahn Hylton
Opening theme: “Deja Vu” by Easy McCoy featuring TYuS
Executive producers: TJ Brady & Rasheed Newson, Morgan Cooper, Will Smith, Terence Carter, James Lassiter, Miguel Melendez, Malcolm Spellman, Benny Medina, Quincy Jones, Andy Borowitz & Susan Borowitz, Carla Banks Waddles, Anthony Sparks, JaNeika James & JaSheika James
Producers: Jeff Rafnes, Douglas S. Ornstein, John Vohlers
Cinematography: James Hawkinson, Christopher Soos, Keith L. Smith, Andrew Strahorn
Editors: Jennifer Barbot, Christopher S. Capp, Angela Latimer, Shoshanah Tanzer, Mark Heiliger, Marc Wiltshire, Kendra Pasker, Nicole Vaskell, Stefanie Visser, Alex Wills
Production companies: Arbolada Roads, Ra Shines Inc., Cooper Films, The 51, Westbrook Studios, Universal Television, Babycakes Productions, Blasé
Network: Peacock
Casts & Characters:
Main
- Jabari Banks as Will Smith, a 16-year-old from West Philadelphia who is sent to live with his aunt and uncle in Bel-Air by his mother, Vy
- Cassandra Freeman as Vivian Banks, Will’s aunt, wife of Philip and sister of Vy
- Jimmy Akingbola as Geoffrey Thompson, the House Manager of the Bankses, originally from Jamaica before moving to London as a child
- Olly Sholotan as Carlton Banks, the lacrosse-playing middle child of Viv and Phil and Will’s cousin
- Coco Jones as Hilary Banks, a social media influencer, excellent chef and eldest child of Viv and Phil and Will’s cousin
- Akira Akbar as Ashley Banks, the 12-year-old youngest child of Viv and Phil and Will’s cousin
- Simone Joy Jones as Lisa Wilkes, a potential love interest of Will, and Carlton’s ex. She is also on the swim team.
- Jordan L. Jones as Jazz, a taxi driver Will met and bonded with when he arrived at LAX. He also owns a record store and has a crush on Hilary.
- Adrian Holmes as Philip Banks, Will’s lawyer uncle, husband of Viv
Recurring
- April Parker Jones as Viola “Vy” Smith, Will’s mother
- SteVonté Hart as Tray Melbert, Will’s former best friend in Philadelphia
- Tyler Barnhardt as Connor Satterfield, Carlton’s best friend during season 1 but later stopped the friendship due to Connor’s behavior
- Joe Holt as Fred Wilkes, Lisa’s father and the Chief of the Los Angeles Police Department
- Charlie Hall as Tyler Laramy, Will’s friend and basketball teammate at Bel-Air Academy
- Wendy Davis as Joan
- Jon Beavers as Kylo
- Michael Ealy as Reid Broderick
- Karrueche Tran as Ivy
- Brooklyn McLinn as Doc Hightower (seasons 2–4)
- Jazlyn Martin as Jackie (seasons 2–4)
- Nicholas Duvernay as Drew (seasons 2–4)
- Diandra Lyle as Erika Baker (seasons 2–4)[10]
- Alycia Pascual-Peña as Amira (seasons 3–4), Carlton’s rehab classmate turned new girlfriend
- Michael Govan Hackett as Eli (seasons 3–4)
In addition, Aimee Li and Andi Rene Christensen costar as Phanta and Monica (two of Hilary’s influencer housemates), with Al-Shabazz Jabateh also costarring as Hudson for the second season.
Special guest stars
- Marlon Wayans as Lou (seasons 1, 3, and 4), Will’s father who he thought abandoned his mother
- Caroline Chikezie as Dominique Warren (season 4) the crime boss of Geoffrey’s former London gang
- Tyra Banks as Regina Baxter (season 4), Vivian’s former sorority sister, a former congresswoman, and the current 31st national president of the Delta Pi Gamma
- Janet Hubert as Iris (season 4)
- Will Smith as older Will (season 4)
I recommend watching this season where you can find it.
Rating: 9 out of 10 Stars
Ryan Balkwill:
Resident TV reviewer,
Level Best Art Cafe