Peacock’s “Bel-Air,” a dramatic reboot of the iconic sitcom “The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air,” rarely misses an opportunity to pay homage to its predecessor, so fans were hardly shocked when Aunt Viv found herself pregnant in the show’s final season, just as the OG Aunt Viv welcomed Baby Nicky midway through the comedy’s run.
Then came the mother, or rather daughter, of all curveballs: the penultimate episode of “Bel-Air” finds Vivian gives birth to a healthy baby… girl! (We hope she and Uncle Phil get a refund on that gender reveal cake, which was definitely blue.) Vivian decides to name her new baby Nicolette, after her own mother, still giving fans a version of the “Baby Nicky” they were expecting.
So, what went into the decision to gender swap the youngest Banks family member? According to showrunner Carla Banks-Waddles, it was all about keeping viewers on their toes while also honoring the series that inspired “Bel-Air.”
“Once we decided that Aunt Viv was going to be pregnant, and that it wasn’t a false positive — because we weren’t sure if we were going to have a baby this season or not — it just felt like the Banks family needed that new energy, they needed a baby,” Banks-Waddles tells TVLine. “And of course we always try to give a little nod to the original series in a way that fans don’t always expect. Everybody was expecting Baby Nicky, and they got Baby Nicky, just with a little twist.”
The fact that Vivian went into labor while doing the iconic Aunt Viv dance move in a TikTok was “another nod to the OG series,” the showrunner confirms.
Baby Nicky being a girl fits perfectly with Vivian’s personal journey, Cassandra Freeman says
To say that the cast of “Bel-Air” supported the show’s Baby Nicky twist would be an understatement.
“Of course we were excited!” Coco Jones (Hilary) tells TVLine. “Another girl in the family? Like, hello! It all makes sense.”
Vivian’s portrayer, Cassandra Freeman, was also fully on board with the idea — that is, after she and Banks-Waddles kicked it around a bit.
“Carla and I kept going back and forth,” Freeman tells TVLine. “Is it a girl? Should it be a boy? And I was like, ‘It’s got to be a surprise. Make it a girl.'”
Freeman ultimately appreciates the twist because “Viv is transitioning to a new life, and now she gets to start again with a new girl,” the actress says. “She’s totally redefining what it means to be a woman, even for herself. So I think that’s good.”
Having a new little sister to look after is also an appropriate development for the Banks’ no-longer-youngest daughter Ashley (Akira Akbar), whose fearlessness and activism will make her a strong mentor for Baby Nicky.
Cassandra Freeman says working with Janet Hubert was ‘exactly as you’d imagine, except even better’
Beyond the Baby Nicky of it all, Vivian’s pregnancy also allowed for the return of an original “Fresh Prince of Bel-Air” cast member. Janet Hubert, the first-first Aunt Viv, guest-stars in Episode 7 as a doula named Iris. In a beautifully full-circle meeting, Vivian and Iris form an instant bond, one that serves Vivian well when she finally gives birth.
Freeman tells TVLine that working with Hubert was “exactly as you’d imagine, except even better.” Looking back on Iris’ introductory scene, Freeman says, “It felt like that moment in ‘The Matrix’ where time suspends. It was a great acting lesson just to work with her. She really taught me what it meant to live moment to moment. She’s a consummate actress. She’s amazing. It was a perfect role for her, and it was very emotional to have her on set that day for everyone. The whole set was transformed when she came on.”
“Bel-Air” fans, were you surprised by the Baby Nicky twist? And what did you think of the show’s final two episodes? (Speaking of which, get the story on Will Smith’s series finale cameo here.) When you’re ready, grade the ending via our poll below, then drop a comment with more of your thoughts.