Parents' Guide to The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air Reunion

Filmed 30 years after its pilot episode, this one-off reunion episode provides the audience with a nostalgic trip down memory lane, and the cast with a chance to reminisce and even make amends. It's easy to forget how pivotal The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air was to pop culture when it aired between 1990 and 1996. This was a show that if you missed an episode -- this was a time before catchup TV -- you needed to be prepared to be left out of the conversation in the schoolyard. It was also one of just a few primetime sitcoms to boast a predominately Black cast. And, of course, it introduced the world to Smith, who went on to become one of its biggest stars.

It's no surprise that Smith takes center stage with this reunion. This is his party, and it's a role that both he and his former cast members are happy for him to take on. Smith provides the energy and anecdotes, meaning the pacing never drops. That's not to say the rest of the cast aren't given their own chance to relate their favorite Bel-Air stories. Alfonso Ribeiro (Carlton) and Tatyana Ali (Ashley), in particular, are most at ease with their chance to reminisce. Plenty of tears are shed, particularly when the cast are shown clips of the late James Avery, who played Uncle Phil throughout the show's entire run. But the most memorable moment comes when Smith goes alone to meet Janet Hubert, the original Aunt Vivian. The two had an acrimonious falling out, which -- at least in part -- led to Hubert leaving the show after season three. The setup is staged, but the way the two discuss the situation from their individual viewpoints feels honest and, hopefully, provides some closure. A heartfelt get-together of old friends, this will have you seeking out old episodes of this iconic '90s sitcom.