WARNING: The following contains spoilers for Bel-Air Season 1, Episode 10, "Where To?", streaming on Peacock now.
Peacock’s retelling of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air includes many major departures from the source material -- and they were to be expected. After all, unlike its predecessor, Bel-Air is a drama; this drastic tonal shift made many of the original’s iconic, goofy moments impossible to integrate. The more serious take has allowed the series to improve on many of its core characters. However, for the vast majority of Bel-Air’s first season, one major exception to this was Carlton Banks.
Both Carlton's sisters Hilary and Ashley received appropriately updated, and largely well-received, characterization. The former ditched her predecessor’s Valley Girl persona in an effort to take social media by storm and the latter quickly became a fully realized queer activist. But Bel-Air’s version of Carlton left a lot to be desired. Rather than forming an instant and loving relationship with his cousin Will, Carlton saw this new addition to the family as a threat... thus removing the beloved friendship that had been at the core of Fresh Prince.
Bel-Air's Carlton was struggling with anxiety and snorting excessive amounts of medication to cope. When he wasn’t warring with Will over the protagonist’s long-time sweetheart Lisa Wilkes (now depicted as Carlton's ex-girlfriend) he was looming in the shadows like a soap opera villain. Fans loathed this take on the character for his petty jealousy, his violent impulses and his malicious intent to expose the “real” reason Will entered their lives.
However, toward the middle of Season 1, viewers saw a subtle change in Carlton’s antagonistic status. Season 1, Episode 4, “Canvas” had Will and Carlton reluctantly work together to aid Uncle Phil’s campaign for District Attorney; while they bonded throughout, this was seemingly undone in the following installment. Carlton uncovered the truth about what Phil had done to get Will out of Philadelphia, and assumed that Phil’s willingness to bend the rules for Will meant he was being cast aside.
But in Season 1, Episode 6, "The Strength to Smile," Carlton and Will's persistent tension was set aside when they found comfort in each other after an event for Lisa’s family goes awry. After Will confronted Carlton in his drug-addled state for abandoning Lisa at an emotional time, Carlton broke down and confided in his cousin about his struggles. The two embraced each other, and their long-standing feud appeared to end.
While Will and Carlton’s iconic friendship now seemed inevitable, viewers were worried that this heartwarming moment would subsequently be overshadowed by another of Carlton’s outbursts that the character had become known for. But despite some further bumps in the road, the finale had Carlton’s selfless actions cement Will’s place in the family and in his cousin’s heart. “Where To?” also included elements of Fresh Prince’s most poignant episode.
“Papa’s Got A Brand New Excuse” was among the classic sitcom’s darkest. Detailing the broken relationship between Will and his absentee father Lou, the episode saw Lou make an insincere effort to connect with his son and ended with a stellar, beautiful and utterly heartbreaking monologue by Will Smith. Hinted at for the entire season, Bel-Air’s version of Lou finally made an appearance in "Where To?" But rather than be fooled by a shoddy attempt at bonding this time around, the modern Will saw through his father’s ruse right away.
Nonetheless, Will remained heartbroken at not only his failed relationship with his father, but the circumstances that surrounded it. He was furious at Phil and Vivian for denying him the right to know Lou for himself. The heartbroken Will made the decision to leave the Banks house, but not before he told his cousins that he loves them. While Ashley and Hilary remained silent in their grief, Carlton begged Will to stay, slipping a money clip into his pocket.
Unconvinced by the emotional appeal, Will stormed out -- and the end of the episode further offered proof that Carlton had been redeemed. The heartbroken Carlton was determined to find his cousin and went to Lisa for help. Though she was initially upset at Will due to a missed coffee date, Carlton explained the situation on Will's behalf before explaining all that Will had done for him, tearfully telling her “I need him.” With emotions running high and Will’s fate undecided, the Bel-Air finale finally gave fans the Carlton Banks that they had been waiting for all season.