Although original series star Lisa Bonet is nowhere to be seen in the opening episode of A Different World's second season, stalwart costars Jasmine Guy (Whitley Gilbert) and Kadeem Hardison (Dwayne Wayne) do a nice job taking up the slack. As a bonus, former recurring characters Walter Oates (Sinbad) and Ron Johnson (Darryl M. Bell) have been promoted to "regular" status. As the trendy Whitley begins her junior year at Hillman College, she finds herself saddled with new roommate Kim Reese (Charnele Brown), a nerdy, fashion-challenged medical student. Meanwhile, Ron develops a crush on free-spirited freshman Winifred "Freddie" Brooks (Cree Summer), who unfortunately only has eyes for Dwayne--who in turn finds himself facing a new and terrifying academic challenge in the form of much-feared calculus professor Col. Clayton Taylor (Glynn Turman), better known as "Dr. War." ~ Hal Erickson, Rovi