MovieChat Forums > A Different World (1987) Discussion > Whitley Was Better with Julian

Whitley Was Better with Julian

posted 9 years ago by tooclosetothetv
18 replies | jump to latest

Just watched the episode where Whitley and Julian first meet. He was such a better match for her than Dwayne Wayne.

She was part of Richmond's black aristocracy, but she marries a bus driver's son? In the real world she would have totally gone for the diplomat (Julian) or even the Senator (Byron, who was also a better match.)

Julian kept her on her toes, challenged her ideas and he was fine. Byron offered new worlds, taught her things and was handsome. Dwayne Wayne criticized, hurled childish retorts and was not good looking.

Of course, that's the fantasy, that the ugly nerd with no money can get the pretty rich girl. But when I try to imagine them years down the line, I can't picture Dwayne and Whitley having a life together.

[–] Hazeleyes84 9 years ago

I agree. I really liked Julian and he is very attractive. I just feel at the end of the day like it wouldn't have worked in the long run. Then she probably would've ended up cheating on him with Dwayne. I say that because she was still young and wouldn't had appreciated Julian.

[–] SmokyBrownEyes 9 years ago

Makes you wonder why the show wanted Whitney and Dwayne together in the end so badly. I can see them dating for a minute but definitely not getting married. Guess they wanted to give the nerdy guys some hope. Go to college, make something out of yourself, and you too can marry a pretty rich girl.
Kind of reminds of how on some sitcoms you see big, obese men with hot, thin wives.

[–] dionnelee1 9 years ago

Ummm I guess beauty is in the eye of the beholder because I don't think dewayne was ugly at all and his confidence was a huge plus and turn on. Plus he was smart and he didn't put up with Whitley's crap. Now to me Whitley wasn't pretty at all. She looks like Michael Jackson to be honest so its all about personality and theirs catered to each other. Byron was ugly as heck too. Julian was boring so Whitley and dewayne was much better for each other

[–] womenofbocc 9 years ago

First of all, my daddy used to say, "the darker the berry, the sweeter the juice!" Dwayne was fine...he had SWAG. Julian was too pretty boy. Reminded me of a yuppie from the Valley or somewhere. Byron was just straight up too old.

[–] tooclosetothetv 9 years ago

They made Dwayne ditch the glasses and gave him some nice clothes to make him seem hot. But he was cast as a goof none of the girls would touch with a ten foot pole. Same part he had in School Daze. He improved, but he was too skinny!

[–] dionnelee1 9 years ago

Exactly Julian was way too metrosexual and pretty. Byron was old and boring. Dewayne was someone you could have fun with and he didn't take much

[–] 9 years ago

[deleted]

[–] tooclosetothetv 9 years ago

Well, she dated Chip St. Charles at the beginning. Preppy/Yuppie/Bougie/Metrosexual was her type.

I'm thinking in terms of what her CHARACTER would do. Her reason for breaking up with Julian was he criticized her. But Dwayne criticized her, too. Yet she had no problem giving up her power to run after him, fighting with Kinu, even working as his maid. Like, WTH???

Imagining the characters 20 years out, Byron would be Barack Obama (young senator who becomes POTUS) which would have made Whitley First Lady!

Julian would be an international powerbroker, diplomat or business titan, moving in similar circles to the President, maybe being an advisor or member of a cabinet.

From Dwayne's perspective, tech geniuses tend to marry smart women. (Bill Gates' wife majored in computer science and economics, Mark Zuckerberg's wife is a medical doctor). Imagining Dwayne and Whitley 20 years out is a lot murkier for me.

The dramatic moment at the wedding made for great television. But the Season 6, broke newlyweds who bicker all the time storylines were a let down.

[–] ixfireprincessxl 9 years ago

She came from money so it's easy to say she would've stuck with money, especially after she was cut off financially but she went for the guy that made her feel the best. Dwayne was immature but then again so was Whitley. But in the end he challenged her ideals and made her a person all around, were as Julian only challenged her enough to try to make her stop playing mind games.

he ran into my knife. he ran into my knife ten times.

[–] MacsDuster 9 years ago

One thing I love about the show is that they showed what could have been if Whitley or Dwayne ended up with people that matched their personalities a bit more. Julian would have been perfect with Whitley from season 1. She had a very narrow world view, and her expectations of what her future husband would/should be were not based on substance. Julian was smart, enterprising, handsome, and successful, but he often was condescending towards Whitley. Dwayne would criticize her, but only when she doubted her potential. More often than that, he encouraged her and tried to make Whitley believe in her ability to succeed on her own. Dwayne saw a lot in Whitley and loved her for who she was.

On the flip side, Dwayne could have ended up with Kinu; someone who was more grounded, intelligent, and shared many of Dwayne's interests. However, when you have someone who is just like you, there is not much to find interesting or compelling about them.

Whitley and Dwayne were perfect for each other. Dwayne made Whitley more independent, strong-willed, vulnerable, and opened her world to new things. Whitley challenged Dwayne and allowed him to take risks. Throughout each season they helped each other grow up. Whitley and Dwayne were the best written/performed couple I have ever seen on tv.

Some of us prefer illusion to despair.-Nelson Muntz

[–] scorpiascorpio 9 years ago

Well said MacsDuster.

[–] simba122504 9 years ago

Whitley is Dwayne's woman. Haters will deal.

Clark's destiny = Superman, LL &LL.

[–] blaque108 9 years ago

So true Simba I do like how "opposites attract" phrase fitted with Dwayne and Whitney they were total opposites of each other.

[–] Gokuvswhitepanther 8 years ago

White or black self hate

[–] phynesse72 8 years ago

Whitley & Julian had much stronger chemistry on screen and made for a more convincing couple. Dwayne was too needy and available.

[–] jackbnimbleharvardblue 8 years ago

Julian only wanted to live with Whitley and ended being engaged to somebody else. He probably always felt he was too good for Whitley.

[–] EssentiallyA 8 years ago

There's no explaining attraction. Although she may have been more compatable on paper with Julian and Byron (I am a Byron/Whitley fan btw) she had a connection with Dwayne that she didn't have with the others. And that's what really matters.

SN: I thought all three of the men when were attractive, just in different ways. And as handsome as Julian is I had a bigger thing for Dwayne. There's just something about him.