Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird
I have a confession: I’ve never liked Full House. Even when I was a kid, I thought it was desperate and emotionally manipulative. Also, Uncle Joey’s (Dave Coulier) Woodchuck impression made me uncomfortable. For a long time, I thought I was in the Full House-hating minority, but the more I started to find my own like-minded (read: cynical) community, the more I realized I wasn’t alone. We all hated the show, and we were happy it was dead.
Fast forward to present day. Tomorrow marks the premiere of Netflix’s Full House reboot, Fuller House, and so far the series has been getting scathing reviews. According to Variety, “it’s simply odd for a show this derivative to frequently give the impression that it’s taking a victory lap simply for existing.” The A.V. Club’s review of the series was perfectly titled “Netflix’s ‘Fuller House’ is like a porn parody without the porn.” Indiewire actually gathered up some of the worst reviews, which are so terrible, they reach the comedy highs of The Full House Reviewed blog. And they’re right. Fuller House is a series that refuses to stand on its own, relying completely on your memory of the original show. (By the way, your memory better be flawless or you better have those DVD box sets because Full House is only available to stream through digital purchase.) But none of that matters, because Fuller House is going to be a victory for the service and for fans. For the most part, critics just aren’t part of that group.
Fuller House is the series incarnation of your one high school friend who won’t stop talking about how he scored the big game’s winning touchdown 26 years ago. The set ups for each character’s catch phrase are so self-inflated that each actor noticeably pauses before delivering their “How rude!” or “Cut it out!” The show watches like every live action Disney and Nickelodeon show, except, instead of focusing on the vlogging tween or a pair of mischievous hotel children, the spotlight is on the ridiculous parents. And then there’s the plot. Original cast members return to the show under the flimsiest of premises. The worst offender is Uncle Joey, who flies in from Las Vegas to babysit the kids for a single night. Apparently there are no acceptable babysitters in the Fuller House world. Just Danny (Bob Saget), Jesse (John Stamos), and Joey.
I had high hopes for Fuller House. When the reboot was announced, I imagined a modernized and smart reimagining of the live studio audience format that would respectfully nod at 90’s sitcoms while breathing new life into family TV. I wanted Undateable but as a family sitcom. Instead what I saw was an older Full House. I’ve watched the pilot of Fuller House four times now, hoping that with one subsequent watch, I’d find something I loved. Nope. At first, I was disappointed, but now I get it. This show was never made for me. It’s pure fan service, and that’s OK.
Fuller House is very clearly not an original series, but that doesn’t mean it won’t be relevant. Just like how Full House had a place in the pop culture sphere, so will Fuller House find its place. Fans of the original show will probably love this reboot and gush over all the callbacks (There’s a reappearance by The Rippers, if that’s your thing). God knows there are so very many. If Netflix rebooted one of my favorite shows beat-by-beat, I’d probably love it unconditionally, and that’s the audience Fuller House is targeting.
If you despised Full House, congratulations. You now have something to hate binge for 13 episodes. Create a hate-watching party and drinking game if you want. John Stamos just asks that you don’t #NetflixAndChill. Basically, if you loved Full House, you’re going to like Fuller House. The series follows the same beats as the original, and DJ and Stephanie (Candace Cameron Bure and Jodie Sweetin) are solid, though Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) unmistakably steals the show. Embrace your love of the series and get ready to start singing that iconic theme song. If you hated the original, skip it. It’s an older version of a show you didn’t like over two decades ago.
I will give Fuller House this — it is exactly what it promised to be, a Full House reboot. Sure, there are cringe-worthy modern references to twerking and social media, but the original Full House was essentially one eight-season dad joke. Embarrassing references are par for the course. In that regard, the series is as faithful a continuation as Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp tonally is to Wet Hot American Summer. As much as critics are moaning about the show (myself included), Fuller House indicates that Netflix continues to be the streaming champion of the reboot. The people who hate Fuller House probably hated Full House to begin with.
So before you press play tomorrow, ignore the critics and ask yourself one question: “Did I like Full House?” If yes, have fun. If no, there’s always the gloriously cynical BoJack Horseman.
