Full House’s Kimmy Gibbler was known for a complicated family situation, but one character’s introduction in the reboot Fuller House made her background more confusing. Kimmy was well known for her eccentric personality and offbeat sense of humor, making her a valuable addition to the close-knit Tanner family. Kimmy balanced D.J. Tanner’s responsibility and maturity with her light-hearted antics. Even when D.J. became infatuated with boyfriend Steve Hale, Kimmy was able to work through her issues with D.J. as they entered a new life phase. Consequently, Kimmy was a key factor in the show’s enduring popularity.
It was expected that Kimmy would return to Fuller House as a single mother, now navigating adult issues, including her relationship with her charming ex-husband, Fernando Guerrero. While she still maintained her unconventional traits, she grew into a wiser and more insightful version of her character, thanks to her time with the Tanner family. As a child in Full House, Kimmy leaned on Danny Tanner, Jesse Katspolis, and Joey Gladstone for parental support. Fuller House had the opportunity to explain Kimmy’s childhood and upbringing, but Jimmy Gibbler’s debut continued the intrigue.
Season 2 of Fuller House surprised audiences with the revelation that Kimmy had a brother, Jimmy. Among some differences, Jimmy was laid back and donned a less colorful wardrobe than Kimmy. However, like Kimmy, he was also a character with limited context, since Kimmy’s brother was never mentioned in Full House. Kimmy briefly referenced siblings in Full House, but they were rarely named, and she often talked about them as an afterthought. Jimmy didn’t offer insight into his experience with the other siblings, making his arrival even more of a headscratcher. However, some theories have been offered about the unusual family dynamics.
Jodie Sweetin acted as Stephanie Tanner in Full House, and she contributed her ideas for the Gibbler family in her podcast, How Rude, Tanneritos. On the show, Sweetin stated:
” Maybe the Gibblers were a foster family, and so they had a lot of kids coming in and out, but they called them, you know, siblings to create a family dynamic. Maybe that’s what it was. ”Sweetin’s clarification shed light on why Kimmy was essentially raised by the Tanners and also explained why Jimmy was missing in Full House.
Even though much of Jimmy’s past wasn’t discussed, Jimmy was a major source of support for Stephanie as she faced personal issues like infertility and her fear of commitment. It’s possible that he learned his sensitivity from Kimmy, having watched her as she consistently showed up for the Tanner family. He also represented the next generation of role models in the Tanner household, filling in Danny and Joey’s shoes. Regardless, Jimmy and Kimmy’s experiences growing up with several siblings were never explored, leaving Jimmy’s role as Kimmy’s brother somewhat bewildering in Fuller House.
