Sequels filmed to complete our favorite shows years later inevitably become either successes or flops. As viewers, we develop a sort of special relationship with our favorite childhood actors, and that relationship must be preserved in the modern resurrection of their characters and shows. When the sequel to "Boy Meets World" was announced, I was ecstatic. But when I began to watch the new show, I was repulsed. The Disney Channel takeover of my favorite '90s show ruined it, leaving it infiltrated by walking, talking Disney-controlled kids, who of course just happened to be singers, too.
And although Cory and Topanga stayed true to their romance, the brilliant sub-characters so worshiped in the old show were only in a few episodes and are now currently nowhere to be found on the show. Instead, the show mainly focuses on Riley, Topanga and Cory’s daughter, and fails to feature any of the old crew. "Girl Meets World" was intended to be more of a spin-off as opposed to a sequel anyway, but that's not what the viewers craved. They craved to see a grownup version of Mr. Sweeney's favorite students, but that's not what they got. The main flaws in this sequel are the lack of a clear bridge in time that explained the backstory between the then and now, and the absence of the show’s other characters barely qualifies it as a sequel. I was unimpressed.
And so, when it was announced that "Fuller House" was to premiere on Netflix, my expectations were low, though I am usually impressed with the quality of Netflix as a producer. I modeled my expectations after the results of "Girl Meets World," but after recently finishing Season 1 of "Fuller House," I am proud to say that the show was much better than I anticipated.
For anyone who has not watched, the story goes as follows: D.J. Fuller (hence, "Fuller House") gets married, has children, and finds herself as a single mother juggling three kids after her firefighter husband dies on the job. She then is helped by Kimmy and Stephanie, her best friend and sister, in raising her three boys together. The story line makes so much sense, from the beginning of "Full House" to where Season 1 of the sequel has left off. The only “missing piece” is the absence of Michelle, which the characters have made work smoothly in light of Mary Kate and Ashley’s refusal to join the cast of the show.
Just enough new characters have been added to make the show interesting, but the appearance of D.J.’s high-school boyfriend (Steve), the twins (Nicky and Alex), and of course, Danny, Uncle Jesse, Joey, and Rebecca have helped to preserve the original show. I think that’s one major difference between "Girl Meets World" and "Fuller House": There were too many new characters introduced on "Girl Meets World" that it didn’t really feel like a continuation, or the next generation, of everyone's favorite '90s show; it felt like a spinoff using two beloved characters who now play mommy and daddy on a Disney show.
Lastly, what makes "Fuller House" far superior to "Girl Meets World" is simply the audience it attracts. The humor and adult situations of "Fuller House" make it appeal to those who watched "Full House" when they were younger. But "Girl Meets World" attracts teenage boys and girls who watch Disney Channel and have probably never even seen an episode of "Boy Meets World." This all roots back to who is producing the show. "Fuller House" has been successful because its producers have created a sitcom that appeals to viewers who have been watching the original show since the late 1980s. But "Girl Meets World" viewers are just trying to find a cute new show to watch on Disney Channel. Although some critics may disagree, "Fuller House" is a Netflix show totally worth binge-watching.
