Television Review-Fuller House Season 1
"It would be foolish to expect Fuller House, the punnily titled Netflix revival of Full House, to be something its predecessor never was."
"The women are caricatures. The dead-spouse tragedy and divorce turmoil are barely explored."
"There's a plot, but it's basically a series of entrances, exits, and signature bits designed to elicit roars from the studio audience. Even if you share the love, it's just bad TV."
The above quotes are from a very harsh review from Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen. When I first read this review for the beloved show Full House, I was furious but understandably everyone has their opinion. However if Mr. Jensen found this show, both Full House and Fuller House, to be bad TV, I would hate to see what he would consider good TV.
There are few shows that are wholesome family shows that teach about life lessons in a quirky but meaningful way. When I first heard John Stamos talk about bringing back this wholesome show but with a spinoff, I'll admit that the premise was far from impressive to me. We all know that the original Full House was based on a widowed father left to care for his three girls alone but then his brother in law and best friend move in to help him raise the girls. While the beginning of the series may have been similar to Three Men and a Baby, it was also quite different. These men were not just raising a single child but raising three beautiful girls who were at different points in their lives. Also during the series, the family grew. Jesse married Becky and they had two children of their own. If Full House did not live up to a particular standard as Mr. Jensen points out, then he missed the complete premise of the show. This serves the same for the Fuller House spinoff.
First comparing it to Girl Meets World is not appropriate. Gender swapped as that series may be as well as this series, both have succeeded because the shows, while the base premise is the same, the stories are continuations of the originals not a revival.
Now to demonstrate how harsh the EW review was and to comment on my take of the show.
The pilot of the series serves as a bridge between the original series and the present series. We learn a good bit in this premiere episode. DJ has been living back home for about a couple months. When we are reintroduced to these beloved characters we find Danny and Becky are about to embark on a new national talk show while Jesse is music coordinator/director for the popular soap opera General Hospital. Kimmy has her own party business and is helping DJ throw a farewell party for the three of them as they are about to move to L.A. Stephanie is a successful DJ named DJ Tanner which gives for a comedic roundabout. Nicky and Alex are grown college students about to graduate while DJ is a veterinarian. Michelle (absent from the series) is in New York working on her fashion line which the cast gives a comedic nod to.
The brilliance of the show is the technique they used to remind viewers why we fell in love with them in the first place. The opening credits sent chills down my spine. First the returning cast members for the pilot recreated their memorable scenes for the opening credits of the original show with the exception of our main three returning ladies. For Candace, Jodie, and Andrea we are show the first credit scene from the first season then a later season finally showing them presently. I love how they did this because we are reminded that this is the continuing story for them. Another brilliant technique in the show is toward the end of the episode where Jesse, Danny, Joey, DJ, and Stephanie try to calm baby Tommy (DJ's youngest). There is a split screen of the original series showing the same cast members singing the same song and making the same movements to calm a baby Michelle. This brought tears to my eyes.
Season One, I feel, was fantastic. There's a different feel to this series than the original because we see these girls grown up and also because Danny went through the same thing, DJ was able to connect with her dad and ask him about dating. The scene where DJ asks Danny when he knew it was okay to date again after the death of their mother, was touching because there is a special bond between father and daughter as DJ is the widow now, raising 3 boys. We get to see Kimmy in a more mature role though no less Gibbler-tastic. She struggles with being a good mom and she leans on DJ for advice just as DJ leans on her. A great turning point is the bond between Stephanie and Kimmy. As fans of the show are aware, Stephanie and Kimmy rarely if ever saw eye to eye. As adults, I feel they have a mutual respect for each other and their common love for DJ also helps them to bond on a more friendly level. The kids are amazing. Little Max is adorable with his catchphrase "Holy chalupas!" I thought "Chalupas? Where? Yes please! Those are great!" every time I heard him say it.
To address the "dead-spouse" comment from Jensen, they do address the father in the pilot and later in the season. The boys missing their father is focused on later but remember that the original series did not dwell on Pam's passing. (If I remember correctly, that was the mom's name.) When Max wants to ride the firetruck, it's a sentimental moment. I was tearing up on that episode as well as when DJ would talk about her husband. It was very touching.
My only complaint and suggestion is this, the new Mrs. Tanner played by All My Children's Eva LaRue, should have had more of a presence in the pilot. The only time we see her is during the farewell party. It would have been nice to see her interact with DJ and Stephanie as well as the kids. Danny's new marriage is not revealed until then. When did he marry? How do the girls feel about her? I think this part of the story is too vague. For season two I would really like more of that explained and the relationship between the girls and her, I feel is very important to see. Otherwise she just seems like an unnecessary accessory.
I would also like to see more of Nicky and Alex interacting with DJ, Stephanie, Kimmy, Ramona, Jackson, Max, and Tommy. It would be nice to see more cousin time in season 2 as well.
I give Jeff Franklin and John Stamos props for creating this new story and bringing it to life. It has a life of its own and I hope they keep it coming. I was amazed to finish season one so fast so now I think I shall watch it at least a few thousand times until season 2 comes out. After all, I did watch the trailers frequently until premiere day.
I love you Full House and Fuller House! I'm ecstatic that you're back!
"The women are caricatures. The dead-spouse tragedy and divorce turmoil are barely explored."
"There's a plot, but it's basically a series of entrances, exits, and signature bits designed to elicit roars from the studio audience. Even if you share the love, it's just bad TV."
The above quotes are from a very harsh review from Entertainment Weekly's Jeff Jensen. When I first read this review for the beloved show Full House, I was furious but understandably everyone has their opinion. However if Mr. Jensen found this show, both Full House and Fuller House, to be bad TV, I would hate to see what he would consider good TV.
There are few shows that are wholesome family shows that teach about life lessons in a quirky but meaningful way. When I first heard John Stamos talk about bringing back this wholesome show but with a spinoff, I'll admit that the premise was far from impressive to me. We all know that the original Full House was based on a widowed father left to care for his three girls alone but then his brother in law and best friend move in to help him raise the girls. While the beginning of the series may have been similar to Three Men and a Baby, it was also quite different. These men were not just raising a single child but raising three beautiful girls who were at different points in their lives. Also during the series, the family grew. Jesse married Becky and they had two children of their own. If Full House did not live up to a particular standard as Mr. Jensen points out, then he missed the complete premise of the show. This serves the same for the Fuller House spinoff.
First comparing it to Girl Meets World is not appropriate. Gender swapped as that series may be as well as this series, both have succeeded because the shows, while the base premise is the same, the stories are continuations of the originals not a revival.
Now to demonstrate how harsh the EW review was and to comment on my take of the show.
The pilot of the series serves as a bridge between the original series and the present series. We learn a good bit in this premiere episode. DJ has been living back home for about a couple months. When we are reintroduced to these beloved characters we find Danny and Becky are about to embark on a new national talk show while Jesse is music coordinator/director for the popular soap opera General Hospital. Kimmy has her own party business and is helping DJ throw a farewell party for the three of them as they are about to move to L.A. Stephanie is a successful DJ named DJ Tanner which gives for a comedic roundabout. Nicky and Alex are grown college students about to graduate while DJ is a veterinarian. Michelle (absent from the series) is in New York working on her fashion line which the cast gives a comedic nod to.
The brilliance of the show is the technique they used to remind viewers why we fell in love with them in the first place. The opening credits sent chills down my spine. First the returning cast members for the pilot recreated their memorable scenes for the opening credits of the original show with the exception of our main three returning ladies. For Candace, Jodie, and Andrea we are show the first credit scene from the first season then a later season finally showing them presently. I love how they did this because we are reminded that this is the continuing story for them. Another brilliant technique in the show is toward the end of the episode where Jesse, Danny, Joey, DJ, and Stephanie try to calm baby Tommy (DJ's youngest). There is a split screen of the original series showing the same cast members singing the same song and making the same movements to calm a baby Michelle. This brought tears to my eyes.
Season One, I feel, was fantastic. There's a different feel to this series than the original because we see these girls grown up and also because Danny went through the same thing, DJ was able to connect with her dad and ask him about dating. The scene where DJ asks Danny when he knew it was okay to date again after the death of their mother, was touching because there is a special bond between father and daughter as DJ is the widow now, raising 3 boys. We get to see Kimmy in a more mature role though no less Gibbler-tastic. She struggles with being a good mom and she leans on DJ for advice just as DJ leans on her. A great turning point is the bond between Stephanie and Kimmy. As fans of the show are aware, Stephanie and Kimmy rarely if ever saw eye to eye. As adults, I feel they have a mutual respect for each other and their common love for DJ also helps them to bond on a more friendly level. The kids are amazing. Little Max is adorable with his catchphrase "Holy chalupas!" I thought "Chalupas? Where? Yes please! Those are great!" every time I heard him say it.
To address the "dead-spouse" comment from Jensen, they do address the father in the pilot and later in the season. The boys missing their father is focused on later but remember that the original series did not dwell on Pam's passing. (If I remember correctly, that was the mom's name.) When Max wants to ride the firetruck, it's a sentimental moment. I was tearing up on that episode as well as when DJ would talk about her husband. It was very touching.
My only complaint and suggestion is this, the new Mrs. Tanner played by All My Children's Eva LaRue, should have had more of a presence in the pilot. The only time we see her is during the farewell party. It would have been nice to see her interact with DJ and Stephanie as well as the kids. Danny's new marriage is not revealed until then. When did he marry? How do the girls feel about her? I think this part of the story is too vague. For season two I would really like more of that explained and the relationship between the girls and her, I feel is very important to see. Otherwise she just seems like an unnecessary accessory.
I would also like to see more of Nicky and Alex interacting with DJ, Stephanie, Kimmy, Ramona, Jackson, Max, and Tommy. It would be nice to see more cousin time in season 2 as well.
I give Jeff Franklin and John Stamos props for creating this new story and bringing it to life. It has a life of its own and I hope they keep it coming. I was amazed to finish season one so fast so now I think I shall watch it at least a few thousand times until season 2 comes out. After all, I did watch the trailers frequently until premiere day.
I love you Full House and Fuller House! I'm ecstatic that you're back!
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