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
Diff'rent Strokes explores social issues like race and class through the lens of an interracial adoptive family. While acknowledging societal problems, the show champions individual compassion, personal responsibility, and the strength of the family unit as the primary solutions, leading to a neutral rating.
The television series 'Diff'rent Strokes' is founded on a premise of explicit racial diversity, featuring a white man adopting two Black children, which was a notable example of DEI-driven casting for its time. However, the narrative consistently portrays traditional identities, particularly the white male lead, in a positive light, focusing on family integration and overcoming differences rather than offering a critique.
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, a family sitcom, often subtly reinforces moral values and community spirit that align with Christian virtues such as compassion, forgiveness, and family unity. Holiday episodes (e.g., Christmas) are typically portrayed warmly, emphasizing generosity and togetherness, without critiquing the faith itself.
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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