From cringe-worthy to heartwarming, the five seasons of Fuller House provide a range of experiences – but which season is the best?
Fuller House is a highly acclaimed sequel to the beloved 90s family-oriented sitcom Full House, and here are the seasons ranked worst to best. The show spans five seasons, each with its unique appeal, following the lives of DJ and Stephanie, the two eldest daughters of the Tanner family, who are now grown up. In a twist from the original series, DJ Tanner-Fuller moves into the Tanner house with her three sons after the tragic death of her husband, firefighter Thomas “Tommy” Fuller. Stephanie returns from her travels in London to be with her sister, and Kimmy Gibbler and her daughter Ramona move in to lend a helping hand.
he show expertly blends heartwarming moments with bittersweet hilarity, and notably more diversity than Full House, making it an enjoyable watch for all. Fuller House presents a familiar yet refreshing take on the Tanner/Fuller families, and has received an overwhelmingly positive response from both longtime fans of the original series and new viewers. Despite its conclusion in 2020, the show continues to draw in plenty of views on Netflix – further raising the question of what the Fuller House seasons ranked from worst to best would look like.
5 Season 5
The final season of Fuller House, featuring a triple wedding of Kimmy, Stephanie, and DJ, falls short of expectations. The heavy reliance on Full House nostalgia becomes increasingly over-the-top. The triple wedding feels more like an excuse for a cast reunion than a celebration of the women’s love stories. The Fuller House season finale wedding day begins with a venue disaster, forcing it to be moved to the Gibbler and Tanner family homes. The wedding is officiated by Joey McIntyre of New Kids On The Block, which seems more like a callback to guest stars of the original series than anything else.
Despite these flaws, the season still has heartwarming moments, such as Ramona bonding with her new stepfather, Matt, who is Stephanie’s friend Gia’s daughter. The new couples seem happy, and so do the kids. However, Fuller House season 5 focuses less on the younger generation and more on the adults, likely because Full House fans are more interested in the lives of Stephanie, DJ, and Kimmy. All in all, the ending of Fuller House doesn’t work compared to the original.
4 Season 2
Despite some contrivances, Fuller House season 2 is an emotional rollercoaster. While feeling a bit tiresome at times, DJ’s love triangle with Steve and Matt is a classic sitcom trope that many viewers were excited to see. The show balances the two suitors well, making it difficult to choose between them, ultimately leading to a satisfying conclusion for fans. Stephanie’s fertility issues are also handled well, with her character growth and relationship with Jimmy making for an interesting storyline. Aunt Becky’s return adds a touch of nostalgia to the season, and her support for Stephanie during her fertility struggles is a nice callback to their relationship in the original series.
Stephanie’s old friendship from Full House with Gia is also revived in season 2. She returns with her daughter, Rocki, to add a new dynamic to the show. Rocki soon begins to date DJ’s son, Jackson, with Rocki’s rebellious and tough persona being a great match for Jackson’s laid-back, good-natured personality. While some might feel that this storyline was a bit too “full circle” for Fuller House, others will appreciate the closure it brings to the franchise’s overarching narrative. Overall, while Fuller House season 2 may not be perfect, it still delivers the heartwarming family moments and over-the-top humor that viewers have come to love.
3 Season 1
When the first season of this show premiered, it faced some common challenges experienced by many sitcoms. For instance, all of the characters look at the camera in the Fuller House pilot. New characters were still settling into their mannerisms, personalities, and catchphrases.
The original Full House actors had the difficult task of modernizing their characters for a new audience while maintaining the essence of the characters they played over 20 years ago. It took around half the season to hit the right notes, resulting in slightly chaotic acting and storylines focused on the new family structure and growing pains. For instance, an entire episode was devoted to the drama surrounding room sharing, which was, of course, resolved in just 22 minutes.
Despite these hurdles, the first season does a good job of setting up storylines that would develop over the next few seasons, such as the Fuller House triangle between Matt, DJ, and Steve, which doesn’t resolve until the middle of season 4. However, the season does have some great sister moments between DJ, Stephanie, and Kimmy, who is now truly part of their family after spending so much time with the Tanners. This storyline is a sweet way to take the show forward, given that Kimmy later mentions that she spent so much time with the Tanners because her own family never paid much attention to her or her brother.
2 Season 4
Despite his link to the core plot, DJ’s late husband is not mentioned much throughout the first three seasons of Fuller House. However, this changes in Fuller House season 4, as it opens with a bittersweet Christmas episode. Max is profoundly missing his father and acting out because of it. DJ and her sons spend a touching Fuller House Christmas watching old movies of Tommy Sr. and reminiscing about him. This episode is particularly heartwarming because DJ understands the pain of losing a parent at a young age. The Christmas episode also offers closure for DJ and her late husband, allowing her to move on to a new relationship with Steve.
In addition to DJ and Steve’s relationship, this season of Fuller House also features a romantic storyline involving Kimmy’s surrogacy. Kimmy’s surrogacy goes smoothly, and in the season finale, she gives birth to a healthy baby girl for Stephanie and Jimmy. Jimmy proposes to Stephanie during the birth, and she accepts, bringing a heartwarming conclusion to their fertility struggles throughout the season. While Fuller House season 4 has its share of drama and conflict, it ultimately ends positively, with DJ and Stephanie finding love and blessings even in tragedy in their own unique ways.
1 Season 3
Fuller House season 3 is widely regarded as the show’s best revival season due to its successful exploration of the characters. The journey of DJ and Steve’s relationship is a highlight of the season, with the writers creating an engaging path toward their eventual wedding. The tension begins during the trip to Japan for Steve’s wedding to DJ’s friend CJ when DJ accidentally confesses her feelings to Steve, thinking he is Kimmy. Steve then agonizes about her revelation and realizes he cannot marry CJ. The canceled wedding sets up a satisfying storyline for Full House fans who had been rooting for DJ and Steve to marry in Fuller House.
Fuller House season 3 also focuses on Stephanie’s desire to become a mother. Despite being in her 30s, she decides to pursue IVF and is surprised when her boyfriend, Jimmy, offers to be the father. This storyline not only explores the theme of family that has been at the heart of the Fuller House franchise, but also provides a touching moment between Stephanie and Kimmy. Kimmy readily agrees to be the surrogate, demonstrating the strength of her bond with Stephanie. Overall, the revival of Full House is just as heartwarming and fun as the original series, and it’s no surprise that the main cast is interested in doing another spin-off.
