Product Details

• Language: English
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Aspect Ratio: 1.33:1
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B000E0LLFO
• For more information about "DIFFERENT WORLD:SEASON 2" visit the Internet Movie Database (IMDb)

Editorial Reviews

A Different World - Season 2 marked the changing of the guard. After debuting at #2 throughout the inaugural season, Debbie Allen was giving the reigns of the show and history was made. For the next 5 seasons, the episodes were based upon Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy), the ultra-wealthy Southern Belle, Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison), Hillman’s smartest and funniest male student, Walter Oakes (Sinbad), the over-protective dorm director, "Freddie" Brooks (Cree Summer), the token hippie and Ron Johnson (Darryl Bell), Dwayne’s best friend. Much to the delight of the television audience, A Different World became a staple for NBC’s Thursday night programming, remaining in the Top 20 shows for the duration of its television run.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

50 of 53 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This season is when the series truly BEGAN..., January 8, 2006

By 

John J. Martinez (Chicago, Illinois, United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DIFFERENT WORLD:SEASON 2 (DVD)

(This is a review on the second season of "A Different World." I loved this show, and I've made it clear from my review of the first season that this second season improved the entire series by 100%!

Some people liked what I said, some people didn't. Please remember, though, I LOVE THIS SHOW. I watch it every day on the Oxygen chanel. I am it's NUMBER ONE FAN. I said what I said with love, not to hurt anyone's feelings. With that said, here goes...)

After the audience-popular (but critically panned) first season, Lisa Bonet's charecter was written out, the excuse being that she "dropped-out" and went back home. In reality, she had become pregnant by husband rocker Lenny Kravitz over the summer and chose not to return. Bonet returned to The Cosby Show although she would be in a more background role, showing up less and less as time progressed.

This was also the final episode for Marisa Tomei, who went on to other projects until in 1992 when she won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her work in the film "My Cousin Vinny." Now that's a huge leap!

As the producers were really left in a bind as to who the show's "stars" would be (and the show's future in general), they made the miraculous choice of hiring actor/director Debbie Allen of "Fame" fame to become a "mechanic" of sorts to repair what damage she could.

Her first choice was to get new writers and to take other smaller charecters and put them into the spotlight. No one officially was given the center spot, but as a whole the entire cast (with additions Charnele Brown as Kim, Cree Summer as Winnie, Glynn Turman as Col. Taylor, Darryl M. Bell as Ron and comedian Sinbad as house director Walter) shared the spotlight at one time or another durinbg the show.

(A note of trivia: From 1978 to 1984, Turman was married to Aretha Franklin, who began singing the show's theme song this season!)

It has to be admitted, though, that Jasmine Guy as Whitley and Kadeem Hardison as Dwayne as leftovers from the first season were thrust forward, and it is noticable as love blossomed between them, although one-sidedly. We would have to wait another season before they took the "next step."

Allen's second choice was to get the writers to make college life at Hillman more Afrocentric, as it was a primarily a southern Black college in the first place. It is reflected, and no pun intended, from Season 1 to Season 2 literally from night to day. There were very few White college students, and subsequently in later seasons the only times you would see them was when they visited from neighboring Avery college. I for one was glad that she went in this direction.

There have been so many shows that were on TV that featured college life, but in 1988, the Black experience in college was not portrayed in such an expansive form. This series from this point on began to reflect a truer sense of Black college life, and the season tackled some pretty serious subjects right out of the gate, from censorship (remember Dapper D's tape?) to date rape (Winnie and Garth Parks in his convertible) to college life's pressures (Kim having three jobs and getting burned out, Kim getting pregnant - maybe).

During this season, they also began to depend LESS and LESS on The Cosby Show to 'cross over' and 'promote' the series, as the series began to find it's legs (and favor from the critics). The Cosby clan only landed on Hillman's doorstep once during this season, when boy-crazy Vanessa wanted to see the college and Clair attends a seminar on campus. THANKFULLY, this is one of the last times they all appear like this. They also brought in seasoned veteran Black actors for re-occurring roles such as the venerable Roscoe Lee Browne to the tremendous Rosalind Cash, and to bring in a few other guest stars like singer Gladys Knight.

Jesse Jackson makes a memorable appearance (he had just missed out on the Democratic ballot for the Presidency), and for the first time we meet Diahann Carroll as Whitley's mother Marion (for her work in this episode, she was nominated for an Emmy as Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy).

(Another bit of trivia: The show finished for the year #3 in the Nielsen ratings behind 'The Cosby Show' and 'Roseanne.')

Now, as for the DVD itself, as of the date of this review they have not offered their contents, but I just HOPE that after the disasterous mistakes they made on the First Season's discs (from lousy packaging, misleading images on the cover - I mean, half the people on the cover WEREN'T EVEN THERE - and the 'lost episode' that they could have waited to show until the SIXTH SEASON where it belongs and keep it in chronological order), they re-package it correctly and feature the players that actually are in the season ! ! !

I am especially VERY afraid that Amazon is still showing the disclaimer of:
"Note on DVD sets: During shipping, discs in multidisc sets occasionally become dislodged without damage. Please examine and play these discs. If you are not completely satisfied, we'll refund or replace your purchase."

Let's face it - the packaging was lousy, and could be crushed if you just looked at it, and I wince at the cover because of the DECEPTIVE TRICKERY they used to sell the first series. It is a sad waste, especially for the price they were asking. This time around, this price is more reflective, since I think I'm going to yet again pay for a lackluster and simply SHODDY packaging treatment of a fantastic show, and that is a SHAME.

I've seen 50 year-old Norwegian bas-relief cartoon DVDs get better treatment ! ! ! GET ON THE BALL, FOLKS ! ! !

All in all, this season proved to me that there was hope yet for this series. I had faith in it then, and that I hope that even after almost 15 years, is still running another 15. I just hope the garbage-like DVD boxes they come in at least last the shipping process to my house so I can see it for myself.

34 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars New And Improved, February 7, 2006

By 

skyy - See all my reviews

This review is from: DIFFERENT WORLD:SEASON 2 (DVD)

This is when the show found it's stride. Memorable episodes, a talented cast and well written scripts made this a must see season.

Season two has 22 episodes

EPISODE 23
DR. WAR IS HELL
(Dwayne fears taking a calculus class from Colonel Taylor)

EPISODE 24
TWO GENTLEMEN OF HILLMAN
(Dwayne pairs up with Ron to write a philosophy paper, but instead of working on the paper, Ron would rather buy an old one)

EPISODE 25
SOME ENCHANTED LATE AFTERNOON
(Jaleesa agrees to go out with Walter on a date, even though she's involved in a long-distance relationship)

EPISODE 26
DREAM LOVER
(Dwayne becomes attracted to Whitley, while she daydreams about him)

EPISODE 27
THREE GIRLS THREE
(Whitley and Jaleesa audition to sing backup for Gladys Knight)Guest Star*Gladys Knight*

EPISODE 28
IF YOU LIKE PILGRIM COLADAS
(Whitley and Kim stay at the dorm for Thanksgiving, and end up going to a night club)

EPISODE 29
A STEPPING STONE
(Whitley choreographs Gilbert Hall's step routine and ends up insulting Freddie)

EPISODE 30
LIFE WITH FATHER
(Dwayne is falling in love with new girlfriend Suzanne, until he finds out her dad is Colonel Taylor)

EPISODE 31
ALL'S FAIR
(Whitley and Kim argue over the amount of time Kim's boyfriend spends in their dorm room)

EPISODE 32
RADIO FREE HILLMAN
(The students conduct a sit-in against censorship after Dwayne's radio show is pulled)

EPISODE 33
IT HAPPENED ONE NIGHT
(Kim thinks she might be pregnant, and receives support and advice from friends)

EPISODE 34
I'VE GOT THE MUSE IN ME
(Freddie has writer's block, and gets drunk at Dwayne and Ron's party in honor of the local rib joint, Ray Nay's final night in business)

EPISODE 35
RISKY BUSINESS
(Clair Huxtable conducts a seminar on business etiquette and brings Vanessa and a friend along)GUEST STARS*PHYLICIA RASHAD, TEMPESTT BLEDSOE AND MALCOLM-JAMAL WARNER*

EPISODE 36
BREAKING UP IS HARD TO DO
(Dwayne is dumped by his girlfriend Suzanne, and ends up going to a movie with Whitley. Jaleesa tests Walter, and Kim learns her boyfriend is cheating on her)

EPISODE 37
FOR SHE'S ONLY A BIRD IN A GILDED CAGE
(Whitley's mom, Marion comes for a visit and drives her crazy)GUEST STAR*DIAHANN CARROLL*

EPISODE 38
IT'S GREEK TO ME
(Ron and Dwayne pledge a fraternity and it may affect their friendship)

EPISODE 39
THE THING ABOUT WOMEN
(Jaleesa has dinner with her ex-husband, Lamar. The girls are charmed by him, while Walter acts indifferent)

EPISODE 40
HIGH ANXIETY
(Kim is stressed out by her hectic schedule)

EPISODE 41
TAKE THIS JOB AND LOVE IT
(Whitley takes a job at the pit to pay Mr. Gaines for damage she caused when she hit his car)

EPISODE 42
NO MEANS NO
(Freddie falls for a guy who can't take no for an answer, and tries to force his self on her)

EPISODE 43
CITIZEN WAYNE
(Dwayne runs for Student Council President, and gets encouragement from Rev. Jesse Jackson)GUEST STAR*REV. JESSE JACKSON*

EPISODE 44
THERE'S NO PLACE LIKE HOME
(Dwayne and Ron are forced to rent an apartment that's a dump)

18 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars getting better every year!, January 2, 2006

By 

C. F. Heim "Keen" (Nashville, TN) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: DIFFERENT WORLD:SEASON 2 (DVD)

When Lisa Bonet left A Different World, the show became 8 million times better. She was so whiny and annoying. I have seen every episode many, many times, and it seems like it just go better as the years went on. I can't wait for the next seasons to come out. I am saving my five stars for then. I love this show!