My Pen Is Mighty
Why Peacock’s Re-Imagined ‘Hilary Banks’ Is Winning on ‘Bel-Air’
Coco Jones’ rendition goes beyond “Black Valley Girl” persona, exploring social justice issues while whipping up delicious feasts.
Like most people, I was quite hesitant when I first heard that Will Smith was rebooting the early 1990s classic sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air.”
The show spoke to a generation of Black teens and young adults, myself included, who needed an escape from the harsh realities of growing up in a world that wasn’t enthusiastic about us embracing our authentic selves. At the time, we needed that laugh track.
With “Bel-Air,” the re-imagined version starring Jabari Banks as Will Smith, there are very few laughs — and no laugh track. It’s serious business as to how he escaped the rough streets of West Philadelphia to live with his wealthy relatives in a mansion in the gated community of Bel-Air.
Upon arrival, he’s warmly welcomed by his cousin Hilary Banks (Coco Jones), the eldest child of Aunt Viv (Cassandra Freeman) and Uncle Phil (Adrian Holmes). I’m obsessed with her storyline. There’s definitely something different about this version of Hilary, who proves immediately that she has strong…
