6.9
Viewer Rating
Combines user and critic ratings from four sources
Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
Diff'rent Strokes (1978)
Overview
The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.
Starring Cast
Rating & Dimensions
Bias Rating
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Political: Center
Diversity: High
Trans: Negative
Christianity: Positive
Viewer Rating
6.9
Overview
The series stars Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges as Arnold and Willis Jackson, two African American boys from Harlem who are taken in by a rich white Park Avenue businessman named Phillip Drummond and his daughter Kimberly, for whom their deceased mother previously worked. During the first season and first half of the second season, Charlotte Rae also starred as the Drummonds' housekeeper, Mrs. Garrett.
Starring Cast
Detailed Bias Analysis
Analyzing...
Leans Progressive
Primary
The show addresses social issues such as race and class disparity but champions solutions rooted in individual responsibility, the strength of the family unit, and universal moral lessons, rather than advocating for systemic change or specific political ideologies.
The series 'Diff'rent Strokes' features a central premise built around racial diversity, with a white man adopting two Black children, which was an intentional and prominent casting choice for its time. The narrative, while addressing social issues, generally portrays traditional identities in a neutral to positive light, focusing on the integration and challenges of the diverse family unit rather than critiquing traditional roles.
Secondary
The sitcom features a transsexual character in the episode 'The Bicycle Man,' whose identity is problematically linked to predatory behavior towards children. This portrayal reinforces harmful stereotypes, presenting trans identity as a source of danger and confusion rather than with dignity or empathy, resulting in a net negative impact.
The show consistently portrays general Christian values such as charity, forgiveness, and moral uprightness in a positive light, often using them as a foundation for its family-oriented moral lessons. The narrative aligns with these virtues, presenting them as beneficial for character development and societal well-being.
Diff'rent Strokes, a sitcom from the late 1970s and early 1980s, did not feature identifiable LGBTQ+ characters or themes within its narrative. The show focused on other social issues prevalent at the time, but LGBTQ+ representation was not part of its storytelling.
The movie does not contain any action or adventure elements.
Diff'rent Strokes is an original television series from 1978. Its characters were created for the show and do not have prior canonical, historical, or widely established genders from source material or previous installments. Therefore, no gender swaps occurred.
Diff'rent Strokes is an original television series from 1978. Its main characters were created for the show, and there is no prior source material or historical record establishing them as a different race. Therefore, no race swap occurred.
Viewer Rating Breakdown
User Ratings
6.7
7.1
Critic Ratings
N/A
N/A
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