WARNING: The following contains major spoilers for the first five episodes of Bel-Air, now streaming on Peacock.
In the Bel-Air retelling, it’s safe to say the shift from comedy to drama has changed a lot of the characters fans knew from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Carlton (Olly Sholotan), for example, is more of an alpha male who bullies Will, while Hilary (Coco Jones) is less superficial and actually interested in using her social media popularity to push Black culture and identity like Will did in the old series.
Another major change has come with Jazz (Jordan L. Jones), who’s less of a joker and more of a responsible friend to Will. And shockingly, as the series turns him into a sage, he actually dons the role James Avery’s Uncle Phil had decades ago.
Now, the old Phil was experienced and willing to dispense wisdom to all the kids. It helped that the show didn’t bog him down with his law career, allowing him to be a father to all, especially to Will. This new Phil (Adrian Holmes), however, is busy running for district attorney, so he doesn’t have as much free time.
It’s quite ironic Jazz has taken on this role, especially because the old Phil butted heads with him so much in the ’90s sitcom. This time, Phil only had one run-in with him, ensuring he wouldn’t help Will escape back to West Philly. But since that, Jazz has been profound, helping Will not just settle in, but grow his ambition.
He educated Will on racism and drugs, while also showing him how to get his mojo back on the basketball court. They discussed crime and such, and how this was a second chance out in LA he needed to make the most of. In addition, Jazz inspired Will to work with Carlton on Uncle Phil’s campaign, because it’d be the only way Will could secure voters to get Aunt Viv to fly his buddy, Ice Tray, out. Will realized that while he’d always have that gap with adults, Jazz was someone he could now lean on consistently.
To top it off, Jazz chatted with Hilary, flirting but also proving how resilient he was in the business field. Apart from his cab, he inherited his uncle’s record store and was working with musicians, hopeful of building a musical empire.
It’s a massive change from the goofy DJ Jazzy Jeff, made even sweeter by Hilary crushing on this new Jazz. This convinced her to leave the mansion, become independent and start her own business, hoping she could emulate his hustler mentality. Ultimately, Jazz is now a more relatable character, smart beyond his years, and as a millennial, the show’s using him to speak to a new generation rather than the overdone arc of an elder disseminating advice.
To see Jazz’s journey, the first five episodes of Bel-Air are available to stream on Peacock.
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