*This is a review of the whole season. There will be episode reviews, as well, so check back in!
Everywhere you look, everywhere you go…there’s new episodes of “Fuller House” streaming on Netflix! The show released its second season on December 9 on Netflix. The first season of the revival also released earlier this year and it has returned to give us the 80's and 90's feels once more.
To refresh your memory from season 1 before we fully dive into the second one:
DJ Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure): Moves into her childhood San Francisco home with her three boys — Jackson, Max, and Tommy — after her husband dies. Becomes entangled in a love triangle with childhood sweetheart Steve (Scott Weinger) and partner at her vet clinic Matt (John Brotherton). Rejects them both to figure out her feelings first.
Stephanie Tanner (Jodie Sweetin): Moves in with DJ to help raise her boys. She’s now a musician and DJ (the other “DJ” Tanner, if you will). We also find out she is unable to have children.
Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber): Also moves in with the Tanner sisters, finally, and brings her daughter Ramona along. She reunites with her ex-husband Fernando (Juan Pablo di Pace) and they try to figure out their relationship.
Jesse and Becky (John Stamos, Lori Loughlin): Still going strong, of course. They renew their wedding vows in the S1 finale. Their twins have only grown up physically, otherwise, they’re still much like children, which has given Beck some serious baby fever.
Danny Tanner (Bob Saget): He’s married again! Yay.
Joey Gladstone (Dave Coulier): He still does voices! And carries around Mr. Woodchuck.
The first season was met with mixed reviews — some loved it, some hated it. Personally, it’s not the greatest TV show I’ve seen. It’s not even out of the ordinary if you look at the competition, on it’s streaming platform alone. What works for the show, however, is our beloved characters and watching a family show from years ago that the millennials grew up on. It has heart, which is why it appeals to new viewers, especially families. They may have added gags that live up to the newer times, but it's when the show goes back to its original routes that it's at its mushy best.
There are flaws, of course. Season 1 alone had it’s share of controversies — especially thanks to the Bollywood and India-themed episode 11, which was picked on for cultural appropriation. Being in San Francisco, we’ve never seen people of color or from the LGBT community (season 2 works on this, but barely so). In the second season, the focus is most definitely the current residents of the Tanner household, unlike the first one which relied a bit too heavily on nostalgia to work for it. And, of course, the usual sitcom tropes when it comes to jokes are also heavily applied here.
However, the show became successful and we got two seasons in 2016 solely because of the already large fanbase, which is now growing. Whether you love it or hate-watch it, the show has left a mark.
We pick up season 2 a whole summer after we left off in season 1. DJ spent the last few weeks with herself, figuring out which of the two men she wants to be with. Just as she has reached her decision, both Matt and Steve announce they have girlfriends. We meet Kimmy’s goofy brother Jimmy, who becomes a wonderful love interest for Stephanie. Kimmy and Fernando are still a little crazy together, and they even get to do a little Lucy and Ricky duet.
Jesse and Becky struggle with an important life decision — adoption! Joey’s wife and kids make an appearance. The kids deal with issues in the same we the Tanners used to in the originals. This time, the bullying happens through social media, instead of in class. They get their first kisses and crushes and heartbreaks.
We see some cameos from the original series, which is a fun surprise.
The 13-episode run has its ups and downs, with some episodes and moments definitely standing out, while some being way too contrived to be believable, even by the show's standards (re: "New Kids in the House"). There's only one mention of Michelle, which comes in a kinda sorta meta way, breaking the fourth wall, although you don't feel her absence thanks to the crowded room. The "She-Pack" still lives. There's sister's night out, there' Danny hosting his show, there's some good ol' Jesse and Becky romance, there's Joey (and his kids) causing trouble. We see how DJ handles being a single mother even more, and she's growing to be much like Danny -- a little overprotective and always ready to help the kids.
As we finish the season, she is definitely with one of the men, but will it really last? Because there are signs it may not. Stephanie is honest with Jimmy about not being able to have children. Max aka the cutest kid in the whole world gets his first girlfriend.
All in all, season two of the show is an enjoyable ride, a guilty pleasure of sorts, even though the humor can get cringeworthy at times. It’s got family, it’s got laughs, it’s got romance, it’s got a whole lot of adorable (Max! Cosmo!), and it’s got familiar characters whom we’ve grown to love. It's not winning any Golden Globes or Emmy's but it’s a good break from the usual, terrific, and critically acclaimed shows we rave about.
Season Awards!
Best episode: “Doggy Daddy”
Runner-up: “DJ and Kimmy’s High School Reunion”
Best adult: Stephanie Tanner. Her character is definitely the one they’re written really well. She’s the most relatable one. I’m glad they gave her a love interest this season, focused on her musical career, and showed her as the dependable one in the house.
Best kid: Max Fuller. This kid is talented! Not to mention he is a cutie. His dialogue delivery is excellent for someone his age and he gels with the whole plot of the show very well. It only got better this season for him.
Runner-up: Ramona Gibbler.
Best returning/original adult: Rebecca Katsopolis. She’s still a great and dedicated co-host to Danny, although we don’t get to see the actual hosting. She wants to be a mother again. She understands why Jesse doesn’t want it. And of course, she gives a whole lot of great advice. She even throws out a “Have Mercy!” Plus, Loughlin hasn’t aged. She looked radiant!
Best new character: Jimmy Gibbler. Yes, we meet the goofiest member of the Gibbler clan. Played by Adam Hagenbuch (“Switched at Birth”), he’s a well-meaning guy who falls for Stephanie as soon as their eyes meet. He’s sweet, he’s funny, and an unexpectedly great fit for the middle Tanner.
Best season-long plot: Max’s One Kid Can Make A Difference project from school. It leads him to get pet chickens, give up meat, and even shows us a more selfless side of Fernando.
Worst season-long plot: DJ’s love triangle. It’s still going strong. Sigh.
Worst gag: The Gibbler Gallop. If I hear “and sparkle.. and sparkle…” once more, I might lose my head.
The cutest scene: Tommy and Cosmo’s friendship highlighted via Stephanie’s song and the video Kimmy makes for it.
Runner-up: The three men, Danny, Joey, and Jesse, chilling in the backyard and being angry but honest with each other only to patch up and hug it out. The feels!
Best original show cameo: Gia! Marla Sokoloff makes an endearing appearance as her Steph’s friend from high school in episode 7. She’s still kind of a bad influence and even gets into a fight with DJ, but hey, she’s a soccer mom, too!
Best new cameo: Alan Thicke (RIP!). His character, Mike, was brought in by Matt’s girlfriend Crystal, as a date for DJ in episode 2. Thicke was brilliant, and definitely the funniest part of the episode. His talent will truly be missed.
Runner-up: New Kids on the Block!
Best couple: Jimmy and Stephanie, no doubt. But it's hard to ignore just how great Jesse and Becky are. They're still so great together.
Worst couple: Steve and CJ (Vanessa Williams, “How I Met Your Mother”). After DJ rejected both the men in season 1, they began dating other people. Steve ended up with CJ, and as her name suggests, she’s pretty much like DJ. Clearly, he isn't over his first love. There are signs throughout the season that she’s still into him, as well, even though Matt is a pretty great guy for her. Instead of communicating with each other, they do a slow dance on their song at the high school reunion, only for Steve to get engaged to CJ in the finale. Let’s see how long that lasts.
Worst episode: “Welcome Back.” The very first episode itself was quite a disappointment but don’t let that slow you down. It comes and goes, it does get better.
Most Underused Actor: Laura Bell Bundy. She plays Ginger, Joey's wife but has literally nothing to do in the one episode she's in, which is sad.
Runner-Up: Bob Saget. I wish we had more Danny Tanner this season. What we do see is barely a reflection of the guy we knew and loved.
Most Overused Actor: Juan Pablo di Pace. Don't get me wrong, Fernando is fun and even improved this season. However, he can still get pretty annoying and serves as quite the Kimmy Gibbler for the show. Except, we already have one Kimmy and she is plenty enough.
The "Oh! Mylanta" Award for "this scene could have totally been in the original show": Matt taking care of DJ's kids and Uncle Joey, who are all sick due to the donuts the latter brought.
The "How Rude" Award for "this was a missed opportunity": Max's catchphrase from season 1, Holy Chalupas! I mean, it is still a version of "Full House." You gotta continue the kid's original catchphrase. It's not like we have a "You Got It, Dude!" to tide us over.
Best throwback: They mention Rusty! You know, Danny’s girlfriend Cindy’s son! Remember the prankster kid who loved causing trouble, including writing that love letter in season 4, episode 11 during the barbecue. Using his trickster methods, Joey’s kids lock Ramona, Jackson, and Max, in their respective rooms.
Runner-up: Dwayne aka “the whatever guy!" FYI, that dude is now a motivational speaker.
Best holiday episode: “Fuller Thanksgiving.” We see them celebrate everything — Halloween, Christmas, New Year. But the Thanksgiving one is great, mostly because we see the whole family together for the first time this season. Danny’s going through mid-life crisis, Jesse and Becky debate about adoption, Joey’s family is a terror. Heck, they even throw in the one and only Michelle mention for the whole season and it’s very meta because it breaks the fourth wall.
Most disappointing character: Jackson Fuller. I got to say, that kid is definitely sweet and everything, but all he does is run around his crush Lola (Ashley Liao) and his plot revolves mostly around her. If he’s supposed to be the DJ of this sibling trio, they’re not doing a very good job at proving that. The actor himself needs some work, too. He does shine in his scenes with Max (Elias Harger) in “Doggy Daddy.”
What did you think of the season? Which were your favorite and not-so-favorite episodes? Do you think we need a third season, especially after DJ’s cliffhanger-ish revelation to Steph and Kimmy in the finale? Or was two seasons worth of nostalgia enough for you?
Check back in for episode reviews and more.
