Netflix announced last summer that there would be a new Netflix original series called "Fuller House," a remake/update/nostalgia-thon of the old TGIF sitcom "Full House." Nostalgia was promised, and well ... that’s what they tried to do, as "Fuller House" is an exact replica of "Full House" except in reverse (and with an "er" at the end of "Full," but that's getting real nitpicky).
21 years have passed since the original sitcom went off the air, but the majority of the original cast has returned, along with the classic sayings ("Cut-it-out!," "How rude!"). It was no secret that Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen would not be returning for the series reboot for obvious reasons, like currently running their own fashion empire and not having acted in years.
Unfortunately, "Fuller House" opened pretty early with an obvious jab at the twins for their lack of return, one of the many moments of the show's premiere episode that made one say, "Have mercy!" After the cast managed to once again all gather into the all too familiar kitchen, Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) asked where little sister Michelle was. Go figure; she's off running her own fashion empire in New York. Cue the cast staring into the camera for way too long, sending the Olsen twins a shameful look of disapproval.
"Fuller House" also features complete role swaps. DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron Bure) is now a mom of three whose husband was a firefighter and recently died. She very obviously takes the role of Danny Tanner (Bob Saget) this time around. Meanwhile, Stephanie is also a world traveling DJ, who goes by the name DJ Tanner (original!). Does this remind you of anyone (other than, yes, DJ)? Say Uncle Jesse, the musician and Elvis fanatic?
DJ cries for help because her family all has very legitimate, unrealistic reasons for leaving San Francisco to other parts of the state, country and world. But don't fret! When DJ cries for help in secret, the family overhears, and her sister Stephanie and Kimmy Gibler (Andrea Barber) come to the rescue. Stephanie gives up her world travels, and Kimmy gives up event planning to step in and help. Of course; another role swap! Stephanie and Kimmy are obviously taking the parts of Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier) in this new edition. It's truly uncanny.
The other family members continue with their plans to move away though. Danny and Becky have moved on from the classic "Good Morning Saaanfransico!" and are moving on to much bigger and better things – say, their own "Good Morning America" show in Los Angeles. Uncle Jesse wouldn't separate from Becky either; of course he is still playing music and sporting that beautiful mane of hair, now just in Los Angeles as well. And then there is Joey, who would be doing nothing other than his very own comedy show in Las Vegas. Even though these characters no longer hold a main role, they do make sporadic appearances throughout the show.
Regardless of the role swaps and unrealistic profession achievements though, the characters hold true to their original personalities – including Kimmy Gibler who has truly gone unchanged, besides her age. She even has a child now and is raising her in true Gibler fashion (re: obscene behavior and mouthing an attitude). Joey is even still running around with Mr. Woodchuck, the age-old hand puppet.
The show’s parallels are completely obvious – sometimes scene for scene and sometimes literally done with a split screening showing the original clip with the remade one. A split screen was used as the family got together around the crib to sing to DJ's son, showing that scene on one half and the original scene with Michelle on the other half of the screen. Surely this was done just in case the viewers couldn't place this scene with the original, although the parallels happened too many times for people not to catch on.
Indeed, you can probably expect everything from the original series to somehow tie back into "Fuller House" as it is now, and the nostalgia itch that viewers have will hopefully be satisfied – until they want season two, which Netflix just gave the greenlight this morning.
So no, "Fuller House" is not the most of original series ever made, but that, of course, was not the point. The show tried to fill millennials' desire of reliving their childhood, and by doing so, they made a series full of dated, overused puns and classic sayings. Some things are best left as they were, and it seems "Full House" was probably one of those things. But for millennials and any "Full House" fanatics, horrible or not, there is something about seeing old characters come back to life – a fascinating, somewhat fulfilling and yet still creepy something.
There's no telling what a second season will bring, but the good news is, from here, it seems "Fuller House" can only get better. As viewers and lovers of the original "Full House," let's hope.
