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The Best Episodes of A Different World

Every episode of A Different World ranked from best to worst. Let's dive into the Best Episodes of A Different World!

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A Different World is a spin-off series from The Cosby Show and originally centered on Denise Huxtable and the life of students at Hillman College, a fictional mixed but historically black college in the state

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Episode Rankings

  1. #1 Fan Favorite
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    A Different World Season 4 Episode 23 - If I Should Die Before I Wake
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #1 - If I Should Die Before I Wake

    S4:E23

    Whitley plans to sleep with Dwayne for the first time on his birthday. The public speaking professor assigns the students to write their own eulogies. A young woman named Josie stuns everyone with her speech, in which she reveals that she contracted AIDS through unprotected sex in high school. Gina and Terrence display their ignorance about the disease and are afraid to be around Josie. Kim and Mr. Gaines defend her and advise the duo to become more informed. Ron worries that he could fall victim to AIDS because of his history of casual sex. He and Dwayne decide to undergo HIV testing. Whitley, still shaken by the news of Josie's illness, decides that she just isn't ready for sex.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writer:Unknown

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  2. A Different World Season 6 Episode 7 - The Little Mister
    10.0/10(1 votes)

    #2 - The Little Mister

    S6:E7

    During their Halloween party, a drunken Dwayne responds sarcastically when Whitley and friends discuss women's rights and the ""Year of the Woman."" He falls asleep on the couch after the party, and dreams that all of the candidates in the upcoming presidential election are women (including incumbent Georgia Mush and eccentric Texas billionaire Rose Godot, who can't decide whether or not she is in the race). Whitley is the philandering Jill Blinton, who frustrates husband Hilliard (Dwayne) with her lying and infidelity. Hilliard agonizes over the fact that no one--including his own wife--has any respect for his opinions. Dwayne wakes up and apologizes to Whitley for his sexist comments.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writer:Unknown

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  3. A Different World Season 1 Episode 15 - Dr. Cupid
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #3 - Dr. Cupid

    S1:E15

    Dwayne uses his radio persona "Dr. Cupid" to find a Valentine's Day date, and Denise uses Dr. Cupid to reconcile Lettie and an old love.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  4. A Different World Season 4 Episode 8 - Love Thy Neighbor
    8.0/10(1 votes)

    #4 - Love Thy Neighbor

    S4:E8

    Dwayne helps Whitley with her marketing project, but turns her down when she offers to take him to dinner. Ron tells Dwayne that he is being stupid and warns that he will lose Whitley unless he lets go of the past. Dwayne surprises Whitley by showing up at her apartment with dinner (while she is cleaning the oven in sweats and a jheri curl cap). Dwayne asks her to explain some of her actions, such as refusing to answer his letters during the summer and kissing Ron right in front of him. He is still unsure about whether he should trust her. Whitley concedes that she was wrong to play games; she says that she has come to appreciate everything Dwayne has done for her, and just wants the chance to be with him. She admits that she is in love with him. They are beset by a constant series of interruptions, and must finally seek refuge on the fire escape. Dwayne tells Whitley that he loves her, and they celebrate their new relationship with a kiss. During history class, Ron derides the homeles

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Yvette Lee Bowser

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  5. A Different World Season 1 Episode 1 - Reconcilable Differences
    7.0/10(1 votes)

    #5 - Reconcilable Differences

    S1:E1

    During her first few days at Hillman College, Denise Huxtable finds herself at odds with her new roommate, Jaleesa, a 26-year-old freshman with a mysterious past.

    Director:Unknown
    Writers:Thad Mumford, Lissa Levin

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  6. A Different World Season 5 Episode 14 - Cats in the Cradle
    6.0/10(1 votes)

    #6 - Cats in the Cradle

    S5:E14

    Dwayne becomes jealous of Whitley's new beau, particularly after she leads him to believe they are sleeping together. Ron promises to take Dwayne's mind off the situation by taking him to the big football game between Hillman and Virginia A Ron then sells his ticket to a scalper and spends the game in his car. Three white students from A walk by, and one of them decides to start trouble. Ron bets them on the outcome of the game, declining to mention that their quarterback is out with the flu. With Hillman winning in a rout early in the fourth quarter, the guys come out and pay Ron without an argument. Ron taunts them and says that their team needs to recruit more black players. One of the guys wants to let it go, but his friends begin to spray paint a racial slur on Ron's car. Ron starts to fight them, and Dwayne comes out and jumps into the fray. They are all held by campus security, who threatens to have them arrested unless they explain what happened. Ron and an A student giv

    Director:Peter Werner
    Writer:Unknown

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    The 20 WORST Episodes of A Different World

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  7. A Different World Season 4 Episode 15 - Love, Hillman-Style
    4.0/10(1 votes)

    #7 - Love, Hillman-Style

    S4:E15

    As her marketing project, Whitley organizes a ""Men of Hillman"" calendar. Dwayne is offended when she doesn't ask him to participate; she doesn't consider him brawny enough. She finally lets him pose for the calendar, but superimposes his face on someone else's body. Ron finds himself juggling three Valentine's dates, as one of his girlfriends gets the night off from work and another returns early from an out-of-town trip. When he comes clean with the girl he likes the most, she is not as understanding as he had hoped. Jaleesa and Col. Taylor spend Valentine's Day together, until his bad back cuts the evening short. Matthew hopes to ease Kim's discomfort about being seen with him in public. Mr. Gaines tries to placate his wife, who complains that he is not as amorous as he was at one time. Freddie raves about a secret admirer, and is disappointed to find that it is Terrence.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  8. A Different World Season 6 Episode 3 - Interior Desecration
    1.0/10(2 votes)

    #8 - Interior Desecration

    S6:E3

    Whitley and Dwayne argue about which furniture should be kept for their new house. Freddie and Ron admit that they cannot stop thinking about each other, and nearly kiss again. Freddie, fearing that they will not be able to control themselves, recommends that he find somewhere else to stay. Ron feels uncomfortable about seeing Shazza with Freddie and decides to go. Kim snaps at Freddie; she believes that she forced Ron to leave because she hates him. Ron temporarily stays on the Waynes' couch, then rents a basement apartment from the eccentric landlord. As compensation for having to live with Ron, Dwayne agrees to let Whitley keep whatever she wants. Lena does not want to participate in Height Hall's coed stepping routine because she wishes to focus on her writing. Charmaine and Gina suggest incorporating her poetry into the routine. She agrees after learning that Dorian has joined the team.

    Director:Debbie Allen
    Writer:Unknown

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  9. A Different World Season 1 Episode 2 - Pilot
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #9 - Pilot

    S1:E2

    Denise's financial irresponsibility might get her and Jaleesa thrown out of the dorm.

    Director:Jay Sandrich
    Writers:Carmen Finestra, Matt Williams

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  10. A Different World Season 1 Episode 3 - Porky de Bergerac
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #10 - Porky de Bergerac

    S1:E3

    Questionable tactics abound when Denise plays dating games and Jaleesa is elected dorm monitor.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  11. A Different World Season 1 Episode 4 - Those Who Can't... Tutor
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #11 - Those Who Can't... Tutor

    S1:E4

    Denise's calculus tutor Dwayne is caught sneaking out of Whitley's window after curfew.

    Director:Kim Friedman
    Writer:Unknown

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  12. A Different World Season 1 Episode 5 - War of the Words
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #12 - War of the Words

    S1:E5

    Whitley's claim that women can't succeed at both career and family infuriates Lisa and Maggie.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Joe Gannon

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  13. A Different World Season 1 Episode 6 - Rudy and the Snow Queen
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #13 - Rudy and the Snow Queen

    S1:E6

    Rudy visits Hillman and becomes enchanted by Whitley, who tries to make her into the perfect little lady.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  14. A Different World Season 1 Episode 7 - Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #14 - Sometimes You Get the Bear, Sometimes the Bear Gets You

    S1:E7

    The girls plan Operation Yogi, a plot to steal the rival school's bear-head mascot, but a visit from Denise's grandfather makes a boo-boo inevitable.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Thad Mumford

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  15. A Different World Season 1 Episode 8 - If Chosen, I May Not Run
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #15 - If Chosen, I May Not Run

    S1:E8

    In the family tradition of "Combustible" Huxtable, Denise is chosen for Hillman's track team, but after a few practices she starts running out of steam.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Thad Mumford

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  16. A Different World Season 1 Episode 9 - Romancing Mr. Stone
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #16 - Romancing Mr. Stone

    S1:E9

    A geology professor has every woman in the class fighting for his attention.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Scott S. Gorden

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  17. A Different World Season 1 Episode 10 - The Gift of the Magi
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #17 - The Gift of the Magi

    S1:E10

    Whitley's secret Santa surprises her with a visit from her newly separated daddy, who walks in with his youthful girlfriend.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  18. A Different World Season 1 Episode 11 - Does He or Doesn't He?
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #18 - Does He or Doesn't He?

    S1:E11

    Tired of being hit on by men, a grad student decides to turn the tables and seduce Dwayne.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Thad Mumford

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  19. A Different World Season 1 Episode 12 - Advise and Descent
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #19 - Advise and Descent

    S1:E12

    During finals week, Denise's work suffers because she decides to be a peer counselor, and the girls' looks suffer under test stress.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  20. A Different World Season 1 Episode 13 - The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #20 - The Prime of Miss Lettie Bostic

    S1:E13

    Hillman alumna Lettie Bostic fills in as dorm monitor, but her strongly voiced opinions have the girls considering mutiny.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Thad Mumford

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  21. A Different World Season 1 Episode 14 - Wild Child
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #21 - Wild Child

    S1:E14

    Lettie pulls some strings to help a student who has been attending classes without enrolling.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  22. A Different World Season 1 Episode 16 - The Show Must Go On
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #22 - The Show Must Go On

    S1:E16

    Denise and Whitley both think they're the apple of the leading man's eye in a play about the Garden of Eden.

    Director:Kim Friedman
    Writers:Steven Peterman, Gary Dontzig

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  23. A Different World Season 1 Episode 17 - Mr. Hillman
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #23 - Mr. Hillman

    S1:E17

    In the name of sexual equality, Denise convinces Dwayne to run in the Miss Hillman Beauty Pageant against Whitley.

    Director:Matthew Diamond
    Writer:Unknown

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  24. A Different World Season 1 Episode 18 - Speech Therapy
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #24 - Speech Therapy

    S1:E18

    Whitley hides an illegal humidifier; Jaleesa sweats over her fear of oral reports; Maggie steams over the debt Denise owes her.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Unknown

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  25. A Different World Season 1 Episode 19 - Clair's Last Stand
    0.0/10(0 votes)

    #25 - Clair's Last Stand

    S1:E19

    Clair Huxtable visits Denise bearing motherly advice as well as news that conflicts with Denise's summer plans.

    Director:Unknown
    Writer:Thad Mumford

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Best Episodes Summary

"If I Should Die Before I Wake" is the best rated episode of "A Different World". It scored 10/10 based on 1 votes. Directed by Debbie Allen and written by Unknown, it aired on 4/11/1991. This episode scored 0.0 points higher than the second highest rated, "The Little Mister".