The BEST episodes of Diff'rent Strokes season 2
Every episode of Diff'rent Strokes season 2, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of Diff'rent Strokes season 2!
Two orphaned brothers, Arnold & Willis Jackson, are adopted by wealthy Manhattan widower Phillip Drummond when their mother (Drummond's maid) passes away. Along with Drummond's daughter Kimberly & housekeeper Mrs. Garrett, this family sitcom covers topics such as wealth- & racial- inequality. This was Gary Coleman's breakout role as short but sassy Arnold, whose catchphrase "What'choo talkin' 'bout?" became a national trend.
#1 - The Election
Season 2 - Episode 16 - Aired 1/9/1980
Drummond puts his convictions on the line to run for city council, and rooting him on are Arnold, Willis, Kimberly, and an "unexpected" new addition to the household. Nedra Volz plays Adelaide Brubaker, the small but sassy housekeeper who helps Drummond mobilize the family for a "win."
#2 - Poor Drummond
Season 2 - Episode 18 - Aired 1/23/1980
A crucially important business deal keeps Mr. Drummond on edge and Arnold and Willis wondering whether they pack for a California vacation or move back to Harlem.
#3 - The Slumber Party
Season 2 - Episode 24 - Aired 3/12/1980
Leaving Willis in charge of the house for Kimberly's slumber party is a mistake Mr. Drummond soon regrets as the ensuing chaos disrupts his own date with a lovely lady. The Facts of Life stars Mindy Cohn, Kim Fields, Julie Anne Haddock, and Molly Ringwald guest star.
#4 - Arnold's Hero (a.k.a.) The Hero
Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 10/24/1979
Arnold's wildest dream is realized when he comes face-to-knee with "The Champ" -- special guest star Muhammad Ali. When the meeting arranged by Mr. Drummond between Arnold and his idol, Muhammad Ali, falls through, Kimberly and Willis concoct a wild scheme to insure that Arnold's dream will come true.
#5 - Return of the Gooch
Season 2 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/6/1980
The "Gooch" is back and this time he's terrorizing Arnold, but Arnold plans to be ready when the bully strikes. In building Arnold's confidence, Willis convinces him that his martial arts lesson has given him a "killer" foot.
#6 - The Adoption (1)
Season 2 - Episode 8 - Aired 10/31/1979
The Drummond family celebrates the day Arnold and Willis are supposed to be officially adopted until the visit of a "relative" leaves their plans in jeopardy. Whitman Mayo guest stars as Jethro Simpson, who sees his way to go from junk to jewels in a last will and testament leaving a fortune to Willis and Arnold.
#7 - Feudin' and Fussin' (1)
Season 2 - Episode 3 - Aired 9/28/1979
Arnold's well-intentioned endorsement of Larry Alder's hosting talents to a New York TV big-wig gives Larry the opportunity of a lifetime and brings the family to the big apple. Larry's try-out as a New York television talk-show house may be doomed from the start, one disaster follows another and not everyone on the Alder team may be rooting for him to win the job.
#8 - The Dog Story (a.k.a.) A Dog Story
Season 2 - Episode 15 - Aired 12/19/1979
Arnold saves a dog's life, is bitten and then the dog is needed to save Arnold. The Drummond household members frantically search for the ungrateful canine, while Arnold faces a series of rabies shots or death.
#9 - Friendly-Mate
Season 2 - Episode 17 - Aired 1/16/1980
Mr. Drummond is in "double-trouble" when Willis and Arnold decide to get him a date. Feeling a little lonely, Drummond tells the kids what he needs is a little companionship, so they decide to call a computer dating service.
#10 - Hot Watch
Season 2 - Episode 14 - Aired 12/12/1979
Discovered in the wrong place at the wrong time, Willis and Arnold become prime suspects when their neighbor's apartment is robbed and they're caught with one of the stolen items. Mr. Drummond is convinced of his sons' innocence even though Willis' fingerprints are all over the place.
#11 - Feudin' and Fussin' (2)
Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 9/28/1979
Arnold's well-intentioned endorsement of Larry Alder's hosting talents to a New York TV big-wig gives Larry the opportunity of a lifetime and brings the family to the big apple. Larry's try-out as a New York television talk-show house may be doomed from the start, one disaster follows another and not everyone on the Alder team may be rooting for him to win the job.
#12 - The Adoption (2)
Season 2 - Episode 9 - Aired 11/7/1979
It appears that Mr. Drummond's attempts to adopt Arnold and Willis will be aborted by a conniving junk dealer until the boys take matters into their own hands. Whitman Mayo guest stars as "long-lost relative" Jethro Simpson who has arrived with a letter supposedly written by the boys' father, leaving Arnold and Willis in his custody.
#13 - Valentine's Day Retrospective (a.k.a.) Valentine's Vigil
Season 2 - Episode 21 - Aired 2/13/1980
Arnold and Willis are trapped in the basement and while they await rescue they reminisce about their recent past...both the good times and the bad. Arnold insists he must wear his Superman outfit to the family's Valentine's Day trip to the circus; the resultant search leads to the basement and a locked door. This show highlights some of the best moments from the past episodes.
#14 - Skin Deep or True Blue (a.k.a.) Guess Who?
Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/20/1980
Kimberly's new beau, Roger, suggests pairing his sister with Willis for a double-date, until he finds out the color of his true love's brother. When Kimberly discovers her new friend is a bigot, her face burns red and then a far darker shade.
#15 - Father and Son Day
Season 2 - Episode 10 - Aired 11/14/1979
Willis' cut-throat competitiveness with another boy at his gym leads him to a decision that he will very much regret, especially after it hurts Mr. Drummond and gives Arnold the right to say "I told you so." Baseball great Reggie Jackson makes his acting debut playing a key, but unsuspecting role in Willis' questionable scheme.
#16 - Thanksgiving Crossover (1)
Season 2 - Episode 11 - Aired 11/28/1979
The Alders and the Drummonds are together again in New York, and Arnold, Willis and Kimberly plan a second Thanksgiving feast with friends Diane and Ruthie. But even the huge Drummond penthouse isn't big enough to hold the exploding tempers that threaten Phil and Larry's long-standing relationship, on a special one-hour episode featuring the stars of "Hello, Larry." Morgan and all the kids get caught up in the feud when Larry learns friendship doesn't necessarily make for good business.
#17 - Arnold's Girlfriend (2)
Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 9/21/1979
Arnold's life is endangered when the kids find out they can't share a room in the hospital and run away on the eve of Arnold's surgery.
#18 - Birds and Bees
Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 10/19/1979
Willis' fishy version of the facts of life leaves Arnold with misconceptions and Mr. Drummond on tender hooks. Arnold repeats his "knowledge" to a neighbor's daughter, but the girl's mother is not amused.
#19 - Big Business
Season 2 - Episode 19 - Aired 1/30/1980
Willis and Arnold scheme to make extra "dough" by selling brownies, only to discover they can't stand the heat of big business and may soon have to get out of the kitchen.
#20 - Thanksgiving Crossover (2)
Season 2 - Episode 12 - Aired 11/28/1979
The misunderstanding threatens Drummond and Larry's friendship.
#21 - The Rivals
Season 2 - Episode 13 - Aired 12/5/1979
Arnold and Willis' relationship is threatened when a fickle female classmate, the object of Arnold's affection, turns her attention toward Willis. Arnold's first love is also his first lesson in jealously as he competes with Willis for the same girl.
#22 - Teacher's Pet
Season 2 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/27/1980
Parent-teacher night leads Mr. Drummond to a romance with Arnold's teacher and poor Arnold to the jealousy of his classmates. Arnold tries every trick in the book to win back his classmates, including one which may have him expelled.
#23 - Mrs. Garrett's Romance
Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 10/12/1979
The Drummond household's curiosity over Mrs. Garrett's new beau turns first to surprise and then to alarm. Mrs. Garrett is in a dither over her first date with Leon, especially when it is followed by a very important question.
#24 - Arnold's Girlfriend (1)
Season 2 - Episode 1 - Aired 9/21/1979
Arnold has appendicitis and Drummond has to deal with the bigotry of Fred Tanner, a potential housing project investor whose daughter is the key to getting Arnold to sit still for the operation.
#25 - Arnold Faces Fatality (a.k.a.) The Will (a.k.a.) Drummond's Will
Season 2 - Episode 25 - Aired 3/19/1980
Arnold fears that his loved ones are checking out of his life when he stumbles upon Drummond's will and then uncovers the fact that his goldfish has given up the ghost.