LOS ANGELES, CA – JANUARY 18: (Back L-R) Actress Jodie Sweetin, producer Jeff Franklin, actors Candace Cameron Bure, John Brotherton, Dave Coulier, Scott Weinger, Lori Loughlin, Andrea Barber and (front L-R) actors Juan Pablo Di Pace, Bob Saget and John Stamos, winners of the Favorite Premium Comedy Series Award, ‘Fuller House’ pose in the press room during the People’s Choice Awards 2017 at Microsoft Theater on January 18, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images)
Netflix released the fourth season of Fuller House on Friday, December 14.
I originally started watching Fuller House because the show it was a reboot of the original series, Full House. And if you were born between the years 1970 and 1995, you’ve not only heard of it; you can repeat the entire series line-by-line.
The first episode of Fuller House did not disappoint.
We got lots of throwbacks to the original series. Danny, Jessie, and Joey are back together under the same roof, Jessie sings “Forever,” Nicky and Alex say corny things, Kimmy throws her gross feet on the kitchen table, Steve’s always hungry, and there’s even an appearance by the Rippers!
Plus, there are new faces, like DJ’s three kids, Kimmy’s husband and daughter, and Stephanie’s cleavage.
But the first few seasons didn’t meet my expectations.
I felt that the throwbacks were forced and the corniness off the hook. And if you could believe it, more wholesome than when it was on ABC.
But something changed this season.
The throwbacks were subtler. There was definitely corniness, but not eye-roll-inducing. And there was a healthy dose of wholesome, fun humor. However, there were many more innuendos and friskier content.
I even found myself laughing out loud, multiple times. But it wouldn’t be a Tanner family show without a fair share of “awwww” moments. Of course, I cried.
Maybe it had to do with Steve and how he and DJ FINALLY are together, with no drama and no distractions. Seriously, it’s about damn time. Please don’t screw it up by breaking them up again or canceling the show.
All-in-all, it was a decent season. Here’s a recap of the whole season. SPOILERS AHEAD!
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 1: “Oh My Santa”
Plot: It’s Christmas time in the Fuller house. Max (Elias Harger), DJ’s (Candace Cameron Bure) middle son has lost his Christmas spirit, and the family tried to help him find it.
When it turns out the reason he’s upset is that he misses his father (DJ’s husband passed away about two years prior fighting a fire), DJ explains that she lost her mother at his age and her dad used to show her home movies to help her remember.
Kimmy Gibbler (Andrea Barber) is pregnant as the surrogate for Stephanie (Jodi Sweetin) and her brother Jimmy (Adam Hagenbuch), just entering her second trimester.
And Steve (Scott Weinger) quits his job with Lakers because he wants to be with DJ and give their relationship a real chance.
Guest stars: Joey (Dave Coulier) shows up dressed as Santa to help Tommy (Dashiell and Fix Messitt) overcome his fear of Santa. It miraculously works!
Funniest part: Jimmy breaks a board on his head and instead of passing out he simply says, “Does anyone else taste pennies?”
Throwback: When DJ refers to the home movies to Max, she’s talking about Season X, Episode X “Goodbye Mr. Bear.” It makes me cry every time I watch it.
Here come the Tears: Pregnant Gibblers have super sensitive hearing. So, when DJ shows a video of their last Christmas with Tommy Fuller, Kimmy hears a phone call from the video and hears that Tommy had hidden gifts for DJ and the boys in “Danny’s house,” which is now DJ’s house. It was a bit far-fetched, but still touching and made me cry.
Random Observation: Jimmy looks like a cuter version of Ashton Kutcher. He pretty, but dumb. No wait, that’s pretty dumb. (Sorry, I quote Friends a lot.)
Corniness Level: 4 out of 5 cheeses – It snowed at the end, and it hasn’t snowed in San Francisco since the 1970s. The only reason I didn’t give it five cheeses was because the show chose to play the absolute worst version of “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.” You have to go with the original, the Judy Garland version here. The Pretenders version doesn’t even hold a candle.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 2: “Big Night”
Plot: DJ has her first date with Steve – in 25 years. Stephanie and Kimmy add pressure to the date, telling them both that this has to go well. It makes the beginning of the date awkward, especially since they get stuck in traffic on their way to wine country. But it’s nothing that a musical dance number can’t fix! They end the date on a cliff eating In and Out Burgers.
Meanwhile, “momzilla” Stephanie forbids Kimmy and Fernando (Juan Pablo Di Pace) from any hanky panky. Stephanie agrees to refrain with Jimmy for support. But Kimmy and Fernando trick them into “doing it” by having Jimmy wash his car. Apparently, that turns Stephanie Judith on.
Jackson (Michael Campion) makes it Facebook official with Rocki (Landry Bender) which pisses her off. So, when Ramona (Soni Bringas) convinces him to stand up for himself, Rocki changes her mind and defines the relationship.
Guest stars: None! I wouldn’t have hated an Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) appearance.
Funniest part: The kids ask, “what’s a landline?”
Throwback: There was a “How rude!” thrown in there by Stephanie.
Here come the Tears: No tears here, except the nostalgia of DJ and Steve finally becoming a couple.
Random Observation: When did Steve get smart? I guess Jimmy replaced Steve as the dummy on the show.
Corniness Level: 3 out of 5 cheeses. It had a musical number called “Back Together” that looked like it ended up on the cutting room floor from the movie La La Land.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 3: “A Sense of Purpose”
Plot: DJ appears on Wake Up San Francisco with Matt (John Brotherton), who started his own pet clinic. Although they booked the segment when they still were business partners and a couple, neither refused to give up the spot about pet adoption.
The confrontation on the show is uncomfortable. The two came up with different ways to sabotage each other’s businesses, but eventually call a truce. They realize they work better together and that they can still be business partners.
While Ramona has a slew of activities she can put on her college application, Jackson struggles to find his niche. He discovers he can kick a football when in his frustration, he kicks a conveniently placed football on a tee in the backyard.
Guest stars: Danny (Bob Saget) is staying with DJ and struggles with his retirement. He wasn’t hired back onto Wake Up San Francisco with Becky (Lori Loughlin), who also made an appearance.
Funniest part: DJ dresses up as an old lady and Kimmy as her nurse and spies on Matt’s clinic. When Matt discovers them, he kicks them out. But another old lady in a wheelchair, conveniently dressed like DJ, complements her on her hat, so she gives it to her. Matt mistakes the other old lady for DJ and aggressively pushes her out the door.
Throwback: Danny’s many references to cleaning and organizing.
Here come the Tears: No tears here, either. What gives Fuller House?
Corniness Level: 2 out of 5 cheeses. The way Jackson discovers his golden toe is corny. And the way DJ and Matt make up so easily, just doesn’t happen in real life.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 4: “Ghosted”
Plot: It’s DJ and Steve’s two-week-aversary. Although they’ve never heard of it, Fernando and Kimmy make a huge deal about it and convince them to keep out-doing each other with gifts. They start small – flowers and teddy bears – but eventually, Steve creates an American Ninja Warrior obstacle course in the house for DJ.
Stephanie performs at a kids’ party, and the kids resoundingly reject her because she’s not genuine enough. She doubts her ability to be a good mom.
Ramona gets ghosted by the cool girls in school. At first, Kimmy finds the girls and they trick her into thinking she got through to them.
But Stephanie shows up and not only defends Ramona, but she also convinces the lemmings of the head mean girl who the only reason they hang out with her is that they’re scared of her. When the lemmings come crying back to Ramona, she decides she doesn’t want to be friends with them after all.
And Stephanie realizes she will be a good mom for helping Ramona out.
Guest stars: No one. Seriously, where’s Uncle Jesse?
Funniest part: During a pep talk for Stephanie,
Throwback: Steve’s love for food always brings a smile to my face.
Here come the Tears: After Steph defends Ramona, Ashlyn the waitress comes up to Steph and commends her for what she did, saying Ramona’s lucky to have a mom that cares this much. When Steph corrects her, Ashlyn replies, her kids will be lucky to have her.
Corniness Level: 3 out of 5 cheeses. The whole two-week-anniversary seemed to be just an excuse to show off Candace Cameron Bure’s midriff.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 5: “No Escape”
Plot: DJ and Steve have two extra tickets to an Escape Room and invite Matt and his new girlfriend. But surprise, his new girlfriend is Gia (Marla Sokoloff), DJ’s arch-nemesis. At first, Steve is worried that DJ is jealous, but in true Fuller House fashion, that’s not even an issue.
She just despises her. So, it turns into a competition between the two couples and ends with Matt and Gia working really well together and DJ and Steve arguing. Don’t worry; they make up.
Stephanie and Kimmy host a Lamaze class at the Fuller home, and Kimmy gets jealous of Stephanie being the one using the baby doll.
Ramona organizes a rally at the school, but Jackson ends up on television, stealing her spotlight.
Guest stars: Gia makes her grand entrance back onto the show as Matt’s “little bunny” to his “thumper.” Gross.
Funniest part: Jimmy happens to swaddle the baby perfectly, because of his previous work wrapping burritos. He drops the baby doll and picks it up quickly, saying “It’s ok 5-second rule!”
Throwback: When DJ calls Gia a “6th grade, crop top wearing, smoking in the bathroom Gia!” This references Season 7’s “Fast Friends” episode.
Here come the Tears: Kimmy worries that they will go back to the way they were before the pregnancy, with Stephanie hating her. But Stephanie assures her that their relationship has changed for the better and won’t change after the baby comes. Awwww!
Corniness Level: 1 out 5 cheeses. It’s definitely not the cheesiest episode they ever put forth.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 6: “Angels’ Night Out”
Plot: Kimmy and Stephanie think DJ has been spending too much time with Steve, so they decide to have a girl’s night out. They find a ‘70s-themed party on a boat and dress up like Charlie’s Angels.
When they show up to the cruise, they find out that the party is actually for people 70 and over. They end up trying to solve a mystery, Charlie’s Angels style, that turns out to be a misunderstanding.
Joey babysits Jackson, Max, and Tommy. They try to prank him to get him back for all the times he has pranked them. They succeed, but Joey gets them back in the end.
Fernando is about to go on a long race tour and reserved the night for he and Ramona to have a father/daughter dinner. She complains about wanting to hang with her friends instead. But she comes around, and they have a nice night bonding.
Guest stars: Joey is back. There are also appearances by the Six Million Dollar Man and the Bionic Woman, Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner as a divorced couple caught up in the “diamond heist.” Lainie Kazan also makes a guest appearance.
Funniest part: When the girls get on the boat, the boat whistle sounds and Kimmy says, “Excuse me!” I appreciate flatulence humor.
Throwback: There were a ton of 70s references throughout the episode, especially with Lee Majors and Lindsay Wagner’s appearance.
Here come the Tears: No tears, just cheese.
Corniness Level: 3 out of 5 cheeses. All the Charlie’s Angels poses were annoying. And then Steve called DJ’s phone, posing as Charlie, and telling them to have fun. Gag.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 7: “President Fuller”
Plot: Max decides to run for class president against his beloved Rose (McKenna Grace). But she breaks up with him, turning his campaign into a nasty one.
Rose’s mom, CJ (Virginia Williams), is still not over the fact that DJ ruined her wedding. Did I mention CJ was Steve’s fiancé? In the end, Max drops out of the presidential race, and DJ apologizes to CJ about the wedding. CJ actually forgives her!
Meanwhile, at Wake Up San Francisco, Becky hates her co-host, a misogynistic swine who consistently sexually harasses Becky on air and makes inappropriate comments. After he goes way overboard on hair, they hire Danny back, and the two are back together hosting the morning show.
Stephanie competes against Sudsy the Clown to be the best kid’s entertainer. But it proves to be a bad move when Sudsy sends mob-like clown messages to Steph – a red nose in a box, pies on the door. She defeats him in a riff-off, her with an electric guitar and him with an accordion.
Guest stars: Danny and Becky, but still no sign of Jesse. He would have beat the crap out of the cohost, I’m sure!
Funniest part: The clown vendettas were pretty funny, especially with Fernando making such a dramatic deal about it. Fernando and Jimmy have the best lines of the whole show.
Throwback: Just the fact that Danny and Becky are back hosting Wake Up San Francisco is awesome.
Here come the Tears: No tears today!
Corniness Level: 2 out of 5 cheeses. The whole CJ and DJ thing is pretty far-fetched. I can’t imagine many people who would befriend the person responsible for breaking up an engagement, moments before they’re supposed to say “I do.”
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 8: “Driving Mr. Jackson”
Plot: Ramona and Jackson attend their first high school party. Jackson drank alcohol at the party and gets so drunk he calls Fernando to come to pick them up. Jackson begs Fernando not to tell his mom, but she finds out anyway.
At first, she’s livid at Fernando, but after a heart-to-heart, she sees it from his perspective that Fernando wants to Jackson to trust him and come to him as a male figure in his life.
At the pet clinic, Matt’s win as the vet of the year goes right to his head, creating tension at work. It especially hits DJ hard when clients begin requesting him over her.
Becky signs her and Pamela (remember they adopted a baby last season) for a mommy and me class, but with her being back at work, Jesse (YAY!!) attends instead (at the Fuller house). Of course, the mommies are all in love with Jesse (I mean, hello?!) and bad mouth Becky. But he stands up for her. Have mercy!
Guest stars: JESSE! FINALLY! And Becky.
Funniest part: Definitely the way the mom’s become too aggressive with Jesse. They are all of us. Bonus for Steph giving Jackson advice for curing his hangover.
Throwback: None that I could really detect in this one.
Here come the Tears: DJ and Fernando have never really seen eye-to-eye. But their heart-to-heart over her son was touching, and surprisingly not corny.
Corniness Level: 1 out of 5 cheeses. In an episode that in the old series would have been disgustingly corny and like an “after-school special,” I thought it was more real in the way a mother would confront her son about drinking. It could also be that I am much closer to DJ’s age and sympathize with her, too.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 9: “Perfect Sons”
Plot: DJ has a hard time teaching Jackson how to drive. So, Steve steps in to teach him. When the car breaks down, Steve is able to fix it himself.
Max earns a spot onto Wake Up San Francisco’s young genius episode. But his confidence is rattled when he receives his first B. He learns that his family loves him no matter what and he doesn’t have to be perfect.
Fernando’s mother, who hates Kimmy, comes to visit unannounced. She does not know about their divorce, or that they live in separate houses, and that they are re-engaged. When she arrives, they tell her that the Fuller house is actually theirs and that DJ is their housekeeper.
She also treats Kimmy nicer because she’s pregnant with her future grandchild. The truth ultimately comes out, and as soon as Fernando’s mother badmouths Kimmy, everyone sticks up for her and the mother realizes Kimmy is a good person.
Guest stars: Danny and Becky return, and Maria Canals-Barrera plays Fernando’s mother. You may remember her as the mom on Wizards of Waverly Place.
Funniest part: Something annoys Danny at the house, and he leaves. Becky is in the other room. When she returns and realizes he left, she exclaims, “We came in my car!”
Throwback: They reference Stephanie crashing Joey’s car into the kitchen. “There’s a car in the kitchen!”
Here come the Tears: Nothing this episode.
Corniness Level: 2 out of 5 cheeses. The whole message of “nobody’s perfect” and Max’s on-air meltdown was a bit much. And the group hug at the end suggested by Fernando’s mom was a little sudden.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 10: “Golden Toe Fuller”
Plot: Jackson is really good at kicking footballs. In fact, he kicks the game-winner sending his team into the playoffs for the first time since DJ was in high school. It puts a ton of pressure on him, so he fakes an injury so that he doesn’t have to play.
Ramona discovers he’s lying but keeps his secret. DJ ultimately finds out at tells him he’s not allowed to quit the team until after the season. The team loses the next game, but not because of Jackson, who kicks two field goals.
Stephanie wants to find out the gender of the baby, so Kimmy convinces her to have a gender reveal party. When a mishap occurs with the reveal, she ultimately decides she wants to be surprised.
Uncle Jesse joins a dad group with a bunch of millennial hipster dads who forbid sugar. Jesse introduces the new-school dads to his old-school style of parenting.
Guest stars: Jesse and his Grandfathered co-star, Josh Peck, as the head millennial hipster dad.
Funniest part: All of Jesse’s digs at the dad was hilarious.
Throwback: There’s a mention of Jesse and the Rippers, and Jesse sings “I Don’t Wanna Miss a Thing” to calm the sugared-up kids down.
Here come the Tears: No tears here.
Corniness Level: 1 out of 5 cheeses. Not much corniness in this episode. It was much more funny than corny.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 11: “It’s Always Open”
Plot: When Kimmy has a false alarm, Stephanie can’t get ahold of Jimmy. It makes her, and especially DJ, question whether or not he’s ready to become a father. DJ doesn’t agree with how Stephanie handles the situation, and they stop speaking.
They settle their difference the only way a corny show knows how to do it, through a dodgeball game. In the end, the girls makeup and Stephanie gets Jimmy to define their relationship and become more responsible.
Meanwhile, Kimmy hires the perfect high school intern, Casey (Ben J. Pierce). She and Fernando love him so much, they try to set him up with Ramona. But Ramona realizes right away that Casey is gay. Instead, the two become good friends. And Ramona confronts Kimmy about her endless meddling.
Guest stars: Nobody!
Funniest part: Apparently, Ramona was born in a car. So, when Kimmy is leaving for the hospital, she yells, “I refuse to have another car baby!” After the come back from the false alarm, Stephanie says, “2,000 bucks so Kimmy could fart on a nurse.”
Throwback: No Full House throwback, but Kimmy randomly dresses like Mrs. Doubtfire.
Here come the Tears: Casey helps Ramona realize how wonderful her mom is.
Corniness Level: 4 out of 5 cheeses. The whole dodgeball scene was ridiculous and served no purpose.
Photo Credit: Fuller House/Netflix Image Acquired from Netflix Media Center
Episode 12: “The Prom”
Plot: Jackson and Ramona are going to the prom! DJ appoints herself head chaperone and tries her best to keep the prom clean. Steve also chaperones with her and desperately tries to recreate their prom experience since things fizzled with them after their last prom experience 25 years prior.
Ramona goes to the prom with Casey, and they look great! Casey starts talking to a guy and leaves Ramona to fend for herself. When the head mean girl not only shows up in the same dress but also with her ex, Popko, it throws her for a loop. The mean girl eventually ditches him, and he convinces Ramona to be friends again.
Jackson does everything he can to convince Rocki to go to the prom with him. She agrees, but he doesn’t defend her when his football buddies make fun of her. In fact, he joins in. Rocki overhears and leaves the prom.
Back at the house, Joey and Fernando interrupt Kimmy and Steph’s movie night by making them judge their chili recipes. Max broke the tie but decided to combine both chilis into one.
Guest stars: Joey
Funniest part: Apparently, you can put yak in chili. Ew.
Throwback: Steve recounts the Michelle has amnesia story to the DJ of the prom to try to convince him to play their song, “Everything I Do.”
Here come the Tears: Back at the house, after DJ and Steve come home, they eat chili and dance to their song in the kitchen. All signs point to that they’re in it for the long haul.
Corniness Level: 2 out of 5 cheeses. Sure, the dancing in the kitchen was a little cheesy, but for Stejay fans, it was adorable.
Episode 13: “Opening Night”
Plot: DJ gets her hands on three Hamilton tickets for her, Stephanie, and Kimmy. It will serve as their “babymoon.” But Kimmy goes into labor at the show!
Rocki is still pissed about the prom and officially breaks up with Jackson. But after the kids find out that Kimmy’s water broke, they need a ride to the hospital, and Rocki is the only one they know with a car.
Fernando, Jimmy, and Max head to a sandwich shop that Kimmy forbade them of going to because of her aversion to deli meats. But they get the call on their way. They still go get the sandwiches.
After Kimmy gives birth, it’s a girl! And as Stephanie holds her new baby, Jimmy proposes to “Stephanie Judith Tanner,” and she accepts.
Guest stars: No one!
Funniest part: In the car on the way to back from the sandwich shop, Max tells Jimmy he’s going to be a great dad. And when Jimmy says, “You’re going to be a great dad, too.” Max replies, “I’m 10.”
Throwback: No real throwback this episode.
Here come the Tears: The entire birth scene was tear-inducing. Sure, it was corny, but it was more touching than anything else. They shot it in slow motion backed by Joni Mitchell’s The Circle Game.”
Corniness Level: 5 out 5 cheeses. But I don’t care! You don’t watch Fuller House expecting realism. You want it to be corny and wholesome.