A Different World is back on Netflix, and early viewers are split on how quickly the new Hillman class becomes a group. The sequel arrived September 24 with 10 half-hour episodes. Maleah Joi Moon plays Deborah Wayne, daughter of original characters Dwayne and Whitley.

The show brings back Kadeem Hardison and Jasmine Guy while introducing Deborah’s friends and classmates. Those familiar faces are a draw for people who grew up with the original sitcom. The new students are supposed to give the series a life of its own.

Some viewers want the freshmen to slow down

In a Reddit discussion, one viewer said the revival blends the original cast with the new cast well, but hoped another season would have more episodes because the first felt rushed. Another viewer, who had only reached episode two, missed the old 22-episode sitcom format and wanted more time to get to know the students before their relationships changed.

Maleah Joi Moon as Deborah Wayne in A Different World.
Deborah arrives at Hillman with two famous alumni as her parents. · Credit: Netflix

Who's who

That criticism gets specific in the episode discussions. Some viewers say Deborah’s friendships and romances move ahead before the show has spent enough time with the people involved. Others have questioned choices made by returning characters. These are reactions from viewers in a few public threads, not a poll of everyone watching Netflix.

One fan who stopped after the premiere praised the cast and clothes but said the writing had not pulled them in. Another viewer reached episode six and said the story improved after a slow start. That difference is worth remembering: people posting after one episode and people who finished the season are reacting to different amounts of the show.

New Hillman students spend time together in A Different World.
The friendship stories have drawn both praise and complaints about pacing. · Credit: Netflix

Longtime fans are also defending the sequel

A longtime viewer wrote that younger fans may connect with Deborah and her friends in a way older fans do not. The same post asked original-series fans to give the new show a chance. Another person in the Netflix discussion said the returning cast felt well blended and hoped the series would be renewed.

Returning cast members from the original A Different World gather together.
Actors from the original sitcom return in the Netflix sequel.

Netflix has not announced a second season. For now, the first 10 episodes are available to watch. If you are coming back for Dwayne and Whitley, expect them to share Hillman with a new class rather than carry every episode themselves.