Review: Netflix unsuccessful with ‘Full House’ sequel 21 years after original’s finale

Twenty-one years after the beloved family sitcom Full House debuted its last episode, fans get to experience the Tanner family in a new way. Though the show has had quite a big build up, it was bitterly disappointing, and doesn’t satisfy those expectations of the original show.

On Wednesday, Netflix kicked off the premiere of their new show Fuller House. The show follows DJ Tanner (Candace Cameron-Bure) and her new life as a single mom. With the help of her younger sister Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin) and her best friend Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber), they all move back into the Tanner family home to raise the kids together.

Based off the original TV series Full House, the audience is reintroduced to beloved characters such as Uncle Jesse (John Stamos), Danny Tanner (Bob Saget), Joey Gladstone (David Alan Coulier), Steve Hale (Scott Weinger), and Becky Katsopolis (Lori Loughlin).

Though Full House was a hit and continues to be popular long after its finale, Fuller House does not seem to walk in the same footsteps.

The two shows have plenty of similarities such as being set in the same city and in the same house, but the storyline seems to be lacking that special Tanner family feel.

Full House was such a success because it followed a family that was always willing to help each other and love each other. Viewers watched as DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle grew up in a house that was unconventionally run by three men. Fuller House lacks that same special element.

Similar to the show Full House, Kimmy and Steph decide to move in with DJ and her three sons to help with everything now that her husband is gone; and we get another Gibbler added to the mix. Kimmy and her husband are separated, but her daughter also lives in the house. Even with two of the Tanner sisters and Kimmy back in the house, there is definitely something missing.

Fuller House’s storyline tries to mimic Full House too much. For example, instead of three men raising three girls (and later, twin boys), it’s three women raising three boys – and an additional girl. The show’s dialogue is weak and over the top; in the original show, people would watch a somewhat realistic family go through realistic problems and challenges.

Though viewers still get to see older characters like Jesse, Becky, and, the now older, Alex and Nickie, it is still quite disappointing because they aren’t featured as often as the trailer initially let on.

The first few episodes are a little off putting, but it does get significantly better toward the end of the first season.

Though the show had lots of hype and build up, overall it was a bit of a let down. Netflix, however, has already announced that there will be a second season, and viewers should hope that the second season will continually get better.