The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air
monish ! This article contains spoilers forBel - Airseason 1 , episode 9 .
Bel - Air ’s cameos of the second Aunt Viv and original Viola Smith are the thoroughgoing fashion for the iconic sitcom to come about the torch over to a novel generation in reimaginingFresh Prince ’s important story . While it ’s easy to point out thatBel - Air ’s interlingual rendition ofFresh Prince ’s charactersare drastically different , there are inevitable comparisons to the original figures , specially since they have such a significant role in pop polish . Bel - Air ’s reboot claim a new whirl onFresh Prince ’s iconic character , but not without continually paying tribute to those who came before .
The firstFresh Princecameos in 2022’sBel - Airoccurred in season 1 , episode 9 , “ Ca n’t bump the Hustle , ” when Aunt Viv get at her consultation for the art companionship . The repay actor are Vernee Watson - Johnson , who play Will ’s mom Viola “ Vy ” Smith , and Daphne Maxwell Reid , who play Vivian banking concern from seasons 4 through 6 ofThe Fresh Prince of Bel - Air . The two women cameo whileBel - Air ’s newfangled Aunt Vivinterviews for a esteemed graphics fellowship , with the iconicFresh Princeactors unwrap that they already decided to accept her before she came in for the coming together .
relate : Bel - Air Stopped Short Of Recreating Fresh Prince ’s Most Important Scene
As far as show from originalFresh Princeactors go , Vy and the second Aunt Viv are two of the least expected to cameo first in the reboot . WhileBel - Airhas already set up a possible Will Smith cameo or appearances from the original Banks kids who seem conspicuously in all sixFresh Princeseasons , the reboot surprisingly brings back a recurring ( albeit significant ) character and the recast Aunt Viv . all the same , these player ’ cameos are on the nose whatBel - Air ’s rebootneeds to proverbially spend the torch on handling these characters , as their presence legitimizes the unexampled series as its own important and profoundly dissimilar entity .
The very first present moment that the original Vy and second Aunt Viv appear onBel - Air , they greet the new Aunt Vivian ( Cassandra Freeman ) by cheekily gloss on her surprise at seeing them . When the original Vy inquire , “ you did n’t wait us ? , ” she may as well have been talking directly to the consultation at home . While this is a fun gag forFresh Princefans , their unexpected presence is also substantial withinBel - Air ’s instalment as a more calming presence for Aunt Viv , who expects a way full of white men interview her . Being presented with theoriginalFresh Princeactorsis already a comfortableness to fans at home plate , which makes it even more extra in that they are integrated into the reboot as a way to make the newfangled Aunt Viv find more confident in herself .
Vernee Watson - Johnson and Daphne Maxwell Reid’sBel - Aircameos are the best pick to first bring the series full circle , as their appearances elicit the perfect dose of nostalgia without distract from the new character and story . As a dramatic play , the fun of a cameo in Peacock’sBel - Airneeds to function a purpose beyond body fluid or fan servicing , which would become more unmanageable if the very firstFresh Princecameo was by , say , Will Smithor Alfonso Ribeiro . Fresh Prince ’s Vy and Aunt Viv cameos are also typeset up to be more pregnant than just a one - off visual aspect , as their lieu at Aunt Viv ’s art society reach the door to succeeding opportunity for their cellular inclusion in herBel - Airstory .
More : Bel - Air Is Set Up To annul One Of Fresh Prince ’s Weirdest plot line
newfangled episodes ofBel - backwash Thursdays on Peacock .