Is Dwayne Ellington’s dad? A Different World ending theory has a seriously gross problem

The ending of A Different World – specifically, a phone call Dwayne makes in secret – has led to speculation over whether he is actually Ellington’s real dad. But there’s a very gross reason why we hope it’s not true. 

Netflix’s new sequel series returns to Hillman College more than 30 years after the original sitcom finished. We’re introduced to a new generation of students led by Deborah Wayne (Maleah Joi Moon), the daughter of OG favourites Whitley Gilbert (Jasmine Guy) and Dwayne Wayne (Kadeem Hardison).

In the finale, Ellington (Vincent Jamal Hooper) makes a shocking reveal: his mother is, in fact, Denise Huxtable, Lisa Bonet’s character from the original series. And showrunner Felicia Pride has even teased that they’d be open to her returning if season 2 goes ahead. 

Why people think Dwayne could secretly be Ellington’s dad

So, what does Dwayne have to do with this? Well, right at the end of A Different World, while Whitley is sleeping, he receives a call and answers it. “Hey Denise, thanks for calling me back,” he says. “I really need you right now.”

Some viewers think something may have happened between Dwayne and Denise, who have a long history in the show. In the original, Dwayne had a huge crush on Denise, although his feelings were largely unrequited. 

Lisa Bonet left the series after season 1 when she became pregnant with her daughter, Zoë Kravitz, but she did reprise the role for a season 3 crossover episode, where we found out she married Lieutenant Martin Kendall.

Although Ellington’s surname is Kendall in the Netflix series, he explains in the finale that his mum is back to being Denise Huxtable, implying she and Martin got divorced. 

Dwayne and Whitley’s marriage hasn’t exactly been smooth sailing either. They start off the sequel series separated, but by the finale they’ve reconciled and Dwayne asks Whitley to move to Richmond with him.

However, given the secret phone call to Denise and Dwayne’s surprise about Ellington, it’s led to the theory that maybe something happened and Dwayne is secretly Ellington’s real father. 

As one Redditor wrote, “I’m still thinking about what that finale could mean for season 2. Why did Dwayne react that way when Ellington revealed he was Denise’s son, and why did he call her? I’m praying Dwayne did not cheat on Whitley with Denise. It will really ruin the show for me. I really hope there isn’t an affair storyline.”

Another said on Threads, “So like is Dwayne Ellington’s father cause that call with Denise was very weird right.”

But as many others have pointed out, that would make another season 1 plot point very icky indeed…

There’s one very gross reason Dwayne probably isn’t Ellington’s dad

The problem is that Netflix has spent much of A Different World season 1 setting up a romance between Ellington and Dwayne’s daughter, Deborah, culminating in them kissing in the finale. 

So if Dwayne really is Ellington’s father, that would make Ellington and Deborah half-siblings. And it’s highly unlikely that the series would want to go down the accidental incest route. 

As you can imagine, people discussing the theory have already pointed this out, with one writing on Reddit, “That would make what Ellington and Deborah did nasty (obviously unbeknownst to them, but still). I don’t think they will go there.”

Another more bluntly replied, “You really think that they’re doing an incest plot on A Different World? Really? Good grief.”

While fans aren’t buying this particular theory, they do find the mysterious phone call at the end interesting. And there are some considerably less horrifying theories that would make more sense. 

You see, Hillman is facing the possibility of a wrongful termination lawsuit following everything that happened with former dean Dorothy Davenport (Jenifer Lewis). Separately, Dwayne finds out that the board might be considering someone else for the position of Hillman’s president.

As Denise’s mum Clair Huxtable and sister Sondra Huxtable are lawyers, some viewers reckon he could simply be calling Denise to get legal help.

“I don’t think it would be that. I think he is calling Denise to get in contact with Sondra or Clair because of the lawsuit. Also Ellington looks exactly like Martin,” said one. 

Another commented, “I think that they either need to get in touch with Clair for help with the president position and he goes through Denise to get it, or they gave the position to Clair and Dwayne needs to go through Denise to talk to her or talk her out of it.”

Given Netflix has already ended the season with Deborah kissing Ellington, let’s really hope the Clair link – or something other than Dwayne being the father – is the explanation.

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Featured image credit: Netflix