As touching as the Fuller House finale’s last-minute plot twist was, it ruined the great payoff for Stephanie and Kimmy’s Full House arc. The Netflix spin-off series focused on the younger generation of the Tanners. DJ had a similar path as her father by being an unexpected widower raising three children. This made her the center of Fuller House’s storytelling, while Stephanie and Kimmy functioned as supporting characters. Despite that, the Full House spin-off was still able to beautifully develop the pair’s relationship, considering their dynamic in the original show.
Because Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen didn’t return as Michelle in Fuller House, Netflix needed to find a replacement for the youngest Tanner. As DJ’s childhood best friend and the family’s neighbor, Kimmy naturally fit the role. Given her complicated relationship with her ex-husband, Fernando, it made it easier for Kimmy to move into the Tanner family home to help DJ raise her sons. However, this also put her in proximity to her childhood arch-nemesis, Stephanie, who was moving back home to help out her sister as well.
The Fuller House Finale’s Pregnancy Twist Undermined Kimmy’s Story
The Fuller House series finale saw the triple wedding of DJ, Stephanie, and Kimmy to Steve, Jimmy, and Fernando. The festivities gave the Tanners something to celebrate, with the event also functioning as a reunion for the clan’s relatives and friends. It was only after the occasion was done the next morning that Stephanie revealed the good news: she was pregnant. While this was great news, it also effectively undermined her arc with Kimmy, who volunteered as a surrogate for her firstborn, Danielle, back when she didn’t think she could carry a baby herself. Stephanie’s pregnancy somehow cheapened the importance of Kimmy’s sacrifice.
Stephanie and Kimmy’s tumultuous relationship was well-documented in Full House. Although the rest of the Tanner family tolerated Kimmy because of her relationship with DJ, Stephanie was more ruthless towards her. For what it’s worth, the Gibbler daughter could be seen as annoying in the original show. She was odd, dismissive, and even disrespectful. As the most strong-headed Tanner daughter, Stephanie would have none of it. Seeing how their friendship blossomed in Fuller House when Kimmy volunteered to be a surrogate to make Stephanie’s dream of being a mom come true, however, highlighted just how far they had come as friends.
Stephanie & Kimmy’s Friendship Was Fuller House’s Best Full House Payoff
Full House was a much-better show than Fuller House. Leaning on nostalgia made sense for the Netflix project, but it was overdone. Instead of being a tribute, Fuller House was more of a parody. The spin-off relied heavily on what worked in the original show that it forgot to craft its own identity. The development of Stephanie and Kimmy’s relationship in Fuller House was arguably the best plot line that originated from Full House. After years of poking fun at each other, the spin-off ended with the pair being genuinely good friends. If another sequel happens, it would be great to see more of their relationship.
