When I was in Middle School, it seemed like almost every time I flipped on the TV, Full House was on. I liked the wholesome Tanner family a lot as a 13 year old, but eventually I realized there was much better TV to watch and literally never gave the show a second thought.
That was until rumors started swirling recently that Netflix was releasing Fuller House, basically a spin-off of the original Full House with the same plot and most of the same characters and their catch phrases.
Most of the main cast returned for the 13 episode season, including the immortal vampire John Stamos. The noticeable exceptions were the Olsen twins, which is explained away via their successful fashion empire that has kept them busy and away from the family home — a notion where art imitates life. I actually like and have to give credit to Fuller House for completely breaking the fourth wall in this way.
And that’s pretty much the only thing for which I can give the show credit. Seriously, who is watching this and actually liking it??
It would never occur to me in a million years to actually sit and watch this on Netflix, even if I wasn’t so apathetic about the original Full House. A friend of mine forced me to sit and watch with her, and it was just so stupid, so forced, so silly — I still demand to know who exactly is watching this and WHY.
Now, I wasn’t a big fan of Full House in the first place, so why am I even reviewing it? These Netflix reboots are ruining what good television should be about — namely originality. I blame my animosity to this trend on my intense digital PTSD from Netflix’s horrific attempt at unnecessary resurrecting one of the best comedies of all time Arrested Development.
When the cult classic came across my radar for the first time a few years ago, Arrested Development I had only watched the 3 seasons that broadcasted on FOX starting in 2003. The Bluth family and their antics were so beyond funny that re-watched the series 4 times more after that. The running jokes and the characters, especially Lucille Bluth, are hysterical — and while it got absolutely ridiculous plot-wise as it was coming to a close, it always makes for a hilarious and quotable watch now 13 years after it’s original premiere date.
When Netflix announced they were releasing a 4th season, I was elated. Literally so excited to see one of my favorite unbelievably dysfunctional families together again. But, like much of television these days, it sucked. I maybe laughed 5 times in total due to the horrendous plot and completely unfunny cast of characters brought back for this apparent stunt season and cash grab.
Sometimes, having a show end, and I really mean truly end, is the best thing that can actually happen to a show. All the episodes are available for re-watching, new fans can get into it, and there’s no unbelievable hype and then extreme disappointment with some sort of bootleg next season or reboot.
As the great Dr. Henry Jones once said, “Let it go, Indiana. Let it go.”