Nostalgia at its finest. That is what Fuller House, with its first season now on Netflix, brings to its viewers. From the first episode entitled “Our Very First Show, Again”, I knew it was going to pull at the heart strings of former Full House fanatics.
If you haven’t already seen it, the first episode begins with grand entrances from the past members of the cast. DJ now has three little boys and is widowed. Stephanie spent time in London where she became a DJ…now referring to herself as “DJ Tanner” much to the real DJ’s dismay. While most of the Tanner family has reason to be shipping off to LA, it is DJ, Stephanie and Kimmy that stay behind to help DJ raise her children during her difficult time.
The show is full of charm and corny jokes. No one can deny that Fuller House is quite campy, but that was to be expected. While the whole series is a blast from the past, the first episode in particular pulls out all the works. Iconic lines such as “How rude!” and “Have mercy!” come back into play. The updated theme song, sung by Carly Rae Jepsen, even parallels the present day footage of the cast with footage from the original Full House opening sequence. But what will really get you in the gut is Uncle Jesse serenading Becky with his classic song “Forever“. Now, I’ve always been a sucker for Uncle Jesse. There is something heartwarming about this man singing an original tune to the woman he is still madly in love with all these years later.
While it would be an enjoyable series if you did not watch Full House growing up, many lines and references might be lost on you. Direct references are made that explain where Michelle Tanner disappeared to, which ironically enough, is to NYC to explore the world of fashion—a not so subtle reference to the Olsen twins’ high-end fashion line. The dynamic amongst the Tanner family has not been lost, even with the absence of Michelle Tanner. They play off of each other well and it is clear that they are aware of the exact quirks that make their characters so special. Andrea Barber, who plays Kimmy Gibbler, still brings the gross charm with her love for odd objects and smelly feet. We are reminded why we fell in love with these characters in the first place. I was surprised to see a season 2 renewal for Fuller House so early on, but I can only hope that the next season will bring the same campiness and humor that this season delivered.
