These are what we call the 'YMMV items.' Things that some people find in this work. We call them 'your mileage might vary' because not everyone sees these things in the same way. This starts discussions in the trope lists, a thing we don't want. Please use the discussion page if you'd like to discuss any of these items.
YMMV: A Different World
Anvilicious: Especially after Debbie Allen took over the show in season two.
Some Anvils Need to Be Dropped: On the same token, the show was also praised for tackling issues that it's fellow sitcoms wouldn't touch.
Broken Base: There are some who didn't like Debbie Allen's Re Tool of the show. Season one surprisingly has a strong following.
It's not surprising. Season one had the highest ratings of any season of A Different World (12). Granted, the show was still popular after Debbie Allen took over, at least until season six, when the ratings took a serious nosedive, but the show went from being light-hearted to heavy-handed in the course of a season.
The only reason for the high ratings it scored in it's first season was because it was sandwiched between The Cosby Show and Cheers, which, of course were huge ratings juggernauts at the time. In addition, you can't simply judge success in ratings. If NBC did that, then Cheers, Family Ties, Hill Street Blues, and St. Elsewhere would all have been gone after their respective first seasons.
Hollywood Homely: Averted. The show featured men and women of varying skin tones and looks, yet all were treated as desirable and attractive. Most notably, the dark-skinned, full-figured Kim was openly adored by Freddie's white cousin Matthew and later, Ron.
Strangled by the Red String: Ron's romances with Kim, and later Freddie, both of which came out of nowhere with zero hint of a previous attraction between Ron and either woman. In particular, he and Freddie couldn't stand each other (this was NOT an example of Belligerent Sexual Tension), yet suddenly couldn't keep their hands off each other—at a time when he was involved with Kim!
