What ever happened to predictability? The answer is nothing because the new Netflix series follows the footsteps of the original "Full House" a little too closely. In the first five minutes of the first episode, we were reunited with all the old characters and all their old corny jokes. While I appreciate the writers trying to keep the familiarity alive in this spin-off series, they over did it.
"Fuller House" follows DJ Tanner, the oldest Tanner daughter in her adventures as a newly single mom. Much like her dad, Danny Tanner in the original series, DJ is newly widowed. With three children, one of them a baby. Sound familiar? On top of that, her sister Stephanie and best friend Kimmy move in to help her raise her kids. Sound even more familiar?
While the idea was kind of clever to stay with the same story line a generation later, they even went so far as to stay with the same type of characters. DJ is the overprotective, career oriented and geeky mom, as Danny was in the original series. Stephanie is a traveling, famous deejay better known as "DJ Tanner." No, she isn't trying to steal her older sister's identity; she has made that her stage name. Because why wouldn't we add more confusion to the series? She has also spent the past decade of her life barely involved in the lives of her nephews. Sound like Uncle Jesse the aspiring musician in "Full House"? Which brings us to Kimmy Gibbler. They slightly differed from turning her into the beloved character of Joey Gladstone. While she is still the best friend living in the classic Tanner Family house and helping to raise the kids, she also has her own daughter, and a very annoying ex-husband, Fernando. Kimmy works as an event planner and owns her own company.
It appears the show must have received a lot of funding from Apple and FatHead in the creation of this spin-off. This is because every episode of the series is a huge marketing ploy for the two companies. In at least three episodes, Kimmy references FatHead in the advertisement of her company. She put one up on the wall of her new bedroom in the Tanner house, wore one on her shirt in another episode and waved one around at a Giant's game in another. The characters are also constantly taking selfies and the kids get yelled at for being on their iPhones. I understand they are trying to incorporate the new generation and their devices into the show, but it's a tad over the top.
The original cast members, Danny, Joey, Becky and Jesse make frequent guest appearances throughout the series. However, they have turned Becky into a baby-crazed weirdo. No, seriously. In every episode she guest-stars in, she won't leave DJ's baby alone. I'm honestly thinking she might kidnap him at some point in another season. Jesse is still a musician, Joey is working in comedy in Las Vegas, and Danny and Becky are still co-host's. Co-host's on the ever so creatively named, new show, "Wake Up, USA!" Apparently "Wake Up, San Francisco!" was such a raging success in the 90's it took 20 plus years for them to get a promotion.
DJ's high school boyfriend Steve is still creeping around. He just randomly appears and begs DJ to love him again. He also is the proud owner of Comet Jr. WhyJr., because we had to keep the dog in the cast too.
While the series improved as the season went on, it's going to need to try and find a little more originality if it's going to continue on Netflix. I appreciate the revival of one of my favorite childhood shows but I hope in future episodes, I won't be able to predict what happens next because I've watched the same plot line in a previous episode of "Full House."
