Like many others, I grew up in the '90's with FULL HOUSE. It was a big deal then, but we all know today how hokey and sappy it was. Episodes filled with corny jokes, cutesy moments of kids mugging to the camera, lame dialog and overused catchphrases, sentimental lessons, any serious subjects introduced were always resolved happily by the end of the episode without any consequences, and most infamously, the kids never got punished for anything they did. And let's not forget some truly ridiculous episodes, such as Michelle visiting the history museum and breaking the dinosaur. It's a series that I think even the fans will nostalgically poke fun at.
When we heard Netflix was doing a continuation of the series, I think we all collectively groaned. When we heard it was going to be called FULLER HOUSE, I think we all groaned again at possibly the laziest title in history. But, having now watched all 13 episodes, I found the new series fun and cute. It's wholesome entertainment with a slight self-aware tone and a retro '90's feel. They didn't do anything new or even really try to be different: they just went back to what worked the first time. In short: it is what it is.
As others have pointed out, the very first episode is terrible. It's really a reunion special that offers no purpose other than to see all the original cast members again, and takes a self-indulgent 35 minutes before finally setting up the new series. Nothing against John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, and Lori Loughlin, but the show gets A LOT better once they leave and it can grow into its own. I almost flat-out recommend skipping the first episode entirely. The second episode is the real pilot.
FULLER HOUSE is guilty of all the same sins as the original series; you'll find the same types of lame jokes, the same sappy moments, and everything always being unrealistically happy again at the end of each episode. But it also has a lot of heart. And I've found that it's a big hit with young kids, some of whom considered the original series an old classic and binge-watched this new one in a single weekend. And if the show is a hit with kids, which are the true target audience, then it's doing something right.
The new cast feel like a family and work well together. I don't really like Candace Cameron, who is a bland and boring lead. However, the real surprise is seeing how well Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber have turned out as adult-actresses, considering their long absence from acting. I had heard that Barber had completely given up acting and was working an administrative job at a university while Sweetin had a drug problem she fortunately got over. Both these actresses have recovered well and made a fine comeback. They're both talented and frankly, deserve better material than this. The new child actors are fine: my favorite new character is Ramona, Kimmy's half-Argentinean daughter, played by Soni Nicole Bragas. I like that Kimmy would have a daughter who's just as snarky as she is but also smarter and more rational than either of her parents. And just in general I like having a Latina character represented on the show. I predict Bragas has a good career ahead of her.
So, at the end of the day, I would say FULLER HOUSE is neither a better nor worse show than FULL HOUSE was; it's exactly the same. If you liked the original, you'll like this and if you thought the original was corny, you'll find this one corny. But at least FULLER HOUSE is honest and knows exactly what it is, and I will say it made me smile a few times. Accept the show for what it is and just have fun with it.
When we heard Netflix was doing a continuation of the series, I think we all collectively groaned. When we heard it was going to be called FULLER HOUSE, I think we all groaned again at possibly the laziest title in history. But, having now watched all 13 episodes, I found the new series fun and cute. It's wholesome entertainment with a slight self-aware tone and a retro '90's feel. They didn't do anything new or even really try to be different: they just went back to what worked the first time. In short: it is what it is.
As others have pointed out, the very first episode is terrible. It's really a reunion special that offers no purpose other than to see all the original cast members again, and takes a self-indulgent 35 minutes before finally setting up the new series. Nothing against John Stamos, Bob Saget, Dave Coulier, and Lori Loughlin, but the show gets A LOT better once they leave and it can grow into its own. I almost flat-out recommend skipping the first episode entirely. The second episode is the real pilot.
FULLER HOUSE is guilty of all the same sins as the original series; you'll find the same types of lame jokes, the same sappy moments, and everything always being unrealistically happy again at the end of each episode. But it also has a lot of heart. And I've found that it's a big hit with young kids, some of whom considered the original series an old classic and binge-watched this new one in a single weekend. And if the show is a hit with kids, which are the true target audience, then it's doing something right.
The new cast feel like a family and work well together. I don't really like Candace Cameron, who is a bland and boring lead. However, the real surprise is seeing how well Jodie Sweetin and Andrea Barber have turned out as adult-actresses, considering their long absence from acting. I had heard that Barber had completely given up acting and was working an administrative job at a university while Sweetin had a drug problem she fortunately got over. Both these actresses have recovered well and made a fine comeback. They're both talented and frankly, deserve better material than this. The new child actors are fine: my favorite new character is Ramona, Kimmy's half-Argentinean daughter, played by Soni Nicole Bragas. I like that Kimmy would have a daughter who's just as snarky as she is but also smarter and more rational than either of her parents. And just in general I like having a Latina character represented on the show. I predict Bragas has a good career ahead of her.
So, at the end of the day, I would say FULLER HOUSE is neither a better nor worse show than FULL HOUSE was; it's exactly the same. If you liked the original, you'll like this and if you thought the original was corny, you'll find this one corny. But at least FULLER HOUSE is honest and knows exactly what it is, and I will say it made me smile a few times. Accept the show for what it is and just have fun with it.