The spin-off of Full House, Fuller House premiered Friday on Netflix and proved to be a mediocre, predictable sequel of one of the most beloved sitcoms of the ’80s and ’90s.
“Full House” first aired in 1987 and ended in 1995. The show was home to an array of actors that are still recognized today. Jesse Katsopolis (John Stamos), Joey Gladstone (David Alan Coulier), Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie Tanner), Candace Cameron Bure (DJ Tanner-Fuller), Andrea Barber (Kimmy Gibbler), and most of the original cast reunite to give life to the new show.
Twins Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen, who played one character together (Michelle Tanner) are the only original cast members that decided not to participate in the revival.
“Ashley said, ‘I have not been in front of a camera since I was 17 and I don’t feel comfortable acting,’” Executive Producer, Bob Boyett, told People magazine. “Mary-Kate said, ‘It would have to be me because Ash doesn’t want to do it. But the timing is so bad for us.’”
“That was a giant bummer, but their participation was never a precondition for doing that show,” creator Jeff Franklin explained to Vulture.
Their absence was referenced in the first episode as Danny briefly states that Michelle is not present because she is “busy running her fashion empire in New York” while he and the clan look directly at the camera amidst laughs from the audience.
In Full House news anchorman Danny Tanner’s wife dies, and his brother-in-law (Jesse) and best friend (Joey) move in to help raise his three young girls. In this new series, the plot is similar.
Danny Tanner’s daughter, DJ, is all grown up now and has three boys: Max, Tommy and Jackson Fuller. DJ confides in the help of her younger sister, Stephanie and best friend, Kimmy, to help raise the boys in the same home she was raised, in San Francisco, California, after her husband dies.
With two of the main characters portraying single moms, Fuller House relates to the audience that grew up watching them that now have kids of their own. The women constantly share parenting tips, relationship advice, and struggle to make the right career moves. The plot has a “been there, done that” feel to it. It lacks its own unique concept, given that other shows, like “Jane the Virgin,” have already premiered episodes along the same storyline.
Stephanie is supposedly a world famous DJ, which is extremely hard to believe because of her living and financial situation. Kimmy moves in after a divorce, but continues to see her husband even though he cheated on her with several women. The girls bump into famous singer, Macy Gray at a nightclub who happens to know Kimmy through work. The writing is poor and too far-fetched to take the show seriously.
In addition, the references to its predecessor are too numerous. The intro is almost identical, using the same song, and side by side pictures of the actors in the past and present, making it somewhat confusing to anyone who never seen Full House.
After a few episodes it becomes apparent that DJ, Stephanie and Kimmy are the main characters but for some reason they keep the original actors in the intro even though they only make a few appearances throughout the series.
New faces attempt to make the show somewhat fresh and interesting. Max, DJ’s second-oldest son, played by Elias Harger entertains the audience with his adorable speech, his humorous case of cleaning O.C.D. and overall charisma. So far, he is one of the few reasons people seem to keep watching.
In an attempt to connect to today’s youth, the characters are more culturally diverse. They introduce Kimmy’s daughter, Ramona Gibbler who is Argentinean, and Ramona’s best friend, Lola, who is Asian. However, the show will have a hard time staying connected to today’s generation if it continues to ride on the coattails of the original show it instead of making its own way.
“Fuller House” has been approved for a second season.