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Diff'rent Strokes

1978·Show
189Episodes in8Seasons·TV-PG

Where to watch

Links go to licensed services. Data from JustWatch and TMDB.

What's your score?

Your score

Diff'rent Strokes fingerprint

Big heart, funny, low-key.

Energy

Calm and low-key

  • Fast Pace6
  • Tension2
  • Adrenaline1

Heart

Heartwarming and hopeful

Much of it is about family and growing up.

  • Wholesome9
  • Family Dynamics9
  • Hopefulness8

Humor

Plenty of situational comedy and slapstick

  • Situational Comedy9
  • Physical Comedy7
  • Wit & Wordplay6

World

Family, growing up, and society

Holds up on a rewatch.

  • Dialogue Centrality8
  • Rewatchability8
  • World Immersion7

Craft

Standout performances

  • Acting8
  • Dialogue Quality7
  • Character Depth7

Style

Functional look and sound

  • Music Composition7
  • Cinematography6
  • Editing6

Who it's for

AdultsFamily Movie NightFriends NightParty VibeIntergenerationalKidsPartner WatchPublic Viewing SafeSolo WatchTeensBackground WatchBinge-FriendlyComfort WatchDrop-in FriendlyPure Escapism

Skip it if

You want dark or edgy material

Find more like it

Based on the GoodWatch fingerprint: our scores for 70+ attributes of every show. Select a row to see all of them.

Episode ratings

IMDb rating of every episode, one row per season
SeasonEpisode 1Episode 2Episode 3Episode 4Episode 5Episode 6Episode 7Episode 8Episode 9Episode 10Episode 11Episode 12Episode 13Episode 14Episode 15Episode 16Episode 17Episode 18Episode 19Episode 20Episode 21Episode 22Episode 23Episode 24Episode 25Episode 26
IMDb rating of every episode, one column per season
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Episode 9
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Episode 13
Episode 14
Episode 15
Episode 16
Episode 17
Episode 18
Episode 19
Episode 20
Episode 21
Episode 22
Episode 23
Episode 24
Episode 25
Episode 26

About

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.
Classic SitcomFamily ComedyHeartwarming SeriesSocially ConsciousFish-Out-of-WaterFound FamilyEpisodic Storytelling1970s TelevisionIconic Characters

Sequels and Prequels

No sequels or prequels available

Media

Questions about Diff'rent Strokes

Quick answers from GoodWatch data.

Where can I stream Diff'rent Strokes legally?

You can watch it free with ads on Tubi TV. All links in Where to Watch go to these licensed services.

Is Diff'rent Strokes worth watching?

74
GoodGoodWatch score

Mostly. It's well received, with a GoodWatch score of 75/100 (IMDb 6.7). The GoodWatch score combines critic and audience ratings.

What is Diff'rent Strokes rated?

TV-PG

It's rated TV-PG in the United States.

How many seasons does Diff'rent Strokes have?

8 seasons

It has 8 seasons with 189 episodes of about 30 minutes each.

When did Diff'rent Strokes air?

It ran from 1978 to 1986 and has ended.

What language is Diff'rent Strokes in?

English

It was made in English. Produced in United States.

In how many countries can I watch Diff'rent Strokes?

8AUBRCAGBGGINJPUS

GoodWatch finds legal streaming, rental, or purchase options for Diff'rent Strokes in 8 countries. Pick any of them in Where to Watch to see the local services.

What tropes does Diff'rent Strokes use?

Ballet EpisodeHe Who Must Not Be SeenCrossoverReplacement GoldfishPrenup BlowupDark Horse VictoryNot Allowed to Grow UpCaught Up in a RobberyFood SlapCousin OliverBorrowed Catch PhraseSpin-Offand 111 more

TV Tropes lists 123 storytelling tropes for Diff'rent Strokes, including Ballet Episode, He Who Must Not Be Seen, Crossover.