When the news first broke that Peacock was reviving Saved by the Bell, a lot of us rolled our eyes. Let’s be real. Reboots are usually just tired nostalgia cash-grabs that lack the soul of the original. But then the show actually dropped in 2020, and it was... surprisingly sharp? It wasn't just a carbon copy of Zack Morris’s schemes. It was a meta-commentary on privilege, and at the center of that shift was Dexter Darden.
You probably know Dexter from The Maze Runner series where he played Frypan. Or maybe you've seen him more recently portraying Muhammad Ali in Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist. But his turn as Devante Young in the Saved by the Bell revival is where he really showed off his range. He wasn't just the "new kid." He was the reality check Bayside High desperately needed.
The Devante Young Factor: More Than Just a Transfer Student
The premise of the revival was a bit of a "Zack Morris is Trash" fever dream. Zack, now the Governor of California, closes down a bunch of underfunded high schools and sends the students to wealthy districts like Bayside. Devante is one of those kids.
Honestly, Devante could have been a one-dimensional "tough kid" trope. That’s how a lot of shows in the 90s would have written him. But Dexter Darden brought this quiet, soulful vulnerability to the role that flipped the script. Devante is a guy who just wants a fresh start. He’s tired of being judged before he even opens his mouth.
There’s this great scene in the pilot where A.C. Slater (the legendary Mario Lopez) tries to "bro out" with him. Slater does that classic move where he sits in a chair backward to look cool. Devante just looks at him and basically says, "I saw you drinking melted ice cream in your car earlier, man." It was the perfect way to signal that the new generation wasn't buying the old Bayside BS.
Breaking the Mold with Musical Theater
One of the coolest things about Devante—and this feels very specific to Dexter’s own talents—is his secret love for musical theater. In the show, Devante is a talented singer, but he’s hesitant to join the drama club because he doesn't want to be "that guy."
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It added a layer of depth we rarely saw in the original series. Dexter Darden actually has a background in music; he’s a triple threat who can sing and dance, which he also showcased in the movie Joyful Noise. By weaving that into Devante’s arc, the showrunners let him be a multifaceted Black teenager who didn't have to fit into a tiny box.
Why Dexter Darden Was the Heart of the Revival
The show relied heavily on the chemistry between the "old guard" and the "new class." While the original stars like Elizabeth Berkley and Mark-Paul Gosselaar brought the nostalgia, it was actors like Darden, Josie Totah, and Haskiri Velazquez who made the show relevant for 2020 and beyond.
Darden, who was actually 29 when he started playing the high-school-aged Devante, brought a level of maturity to the set. He’s mentioned in interviews that he felt a sense of responsibility. He wasn't just playing a character; he was representing a specific experience—the kid who gets a "second chance" in an environment that wasn't built for him.
- The Humor: His deadpan delivery was easily some of the best in the series.
- The Chemistry: His friendship with Aisha (played by Alycia Pascual-Peña) felt grounded and real, not like a "TV friendship."
- The Commentary: He navigated the show’s discussions on class and race with a subtle grace that kept the show from feeling like a lecture.
What People Get Wrong About the Reboot
A lot of fans of the original Saved by the Bell skipped the reboot because they thought it would be "too woke" or "too different." They're kinda right about the different part, but they're wrong about why that’s a bad thing.
The original Bayside was a fantasy land. No one ever really failed a class for long, and systemic issues didn't exist unless they could be solved in 22 minutes with a pop song. Dexter Darden’s character, Devante, was the bridge between that fantasy and the real world. He allowed the show to keep its zany, over-the-top humor while acknowledging that, yeah, the world is a bit more complicated than Zack Morris made it look.
Life After Bayside: Dexter’s Rising Star
Even though Peacock unfortunately canceled the series after two seasons (a move that still bugs a lot of fans), it served as a massive showcase for Dexter. Since then, he’s been everywhere. He played John Lewis in Son of the South and JR in the 2024 Half Baked sequel.
His career trajectory shows he’s not interested in just being "the funny guy" or "the sidekick." He chooses roles that have a bit of weight to them. Whether he’s playing a civil rights icon or a high schooler with a hidden talent for show tunes, there’s an authenticity he brings to the screen that you just can't fake.
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How to Follow Dexter Darden's Career Today
If you’re a fan of his work in Saved by the Bell, here is how you can actually keep up with what he's doing next:
1. Watch "Fight Night: The Million Dollar Heist"
This is a massive shift from Bayside. He plays Muhammad Ali, and the physical transformation alone is worth the watch. It shows he’s moved into a new tier of "prestige" acting.
2. Dive into his filmography on Peacock and Hulu
Most of his recent work, including the Saved by the Bell revival and The Binge, is still streaming. It’s worth a rewatch just to see the nuance he puts into Devante now that we know where his career has headed.
3. Look for his musical projects
Dexter hasn't given up on the music side of things. He often shares clips of his performances or behind-the-scenes looks at his projects on social media. It’s a great way to see the "triple threat" in action outside of a scripted role.
4. Check out his advocacy work
Growing up in Camden, New Jersey, Dexter has been very vocal about giving back to his community. He often works with organizations that support arts education in inner cities, mirroring a lot of the themes we saw in Devante’s storyline.
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The Saved by the Bell revival might have been short-lived, but Dexter Darden’s impact on it wasn't. He took a character that could have been a footnote and turned him into the soul of the show. If you haven't given the series a chance yet, do it for Devante. You'll stay for the jokes, but you'll remember the heart Dexter brought to the hallways of Bayside High.