Kimmy Became An Honorary Tanner In Fuller House
Essentially, Kimmy became the third Tanner sister in the Netflix series. This was in light of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen refusing to reprise their joint role as Michelle Fuller House. This also effectively promoted Barber’s character to a main cast member from a supporting role in Full House, motivating the spinoff sequel to develop her storylines despite not being blood-related to Danny Tanner’s clan. That included having to bring in the Gibblers, Jimmy, who eventually became Stephanie’s love interest, and Mr. and Mrs. Gibbler. While Kimmy’s brother became a regular presence in the show, however, their parents only appeared once.
Fuller House solidified Kimmy’s place as an extended member of the Tanner family, however, upon meeting her mom and dad.
Introducing the Gibblers, as Barber mentioned, created a host of micro-continuity issues. She didn’t have a brother in Full House and barely mentioned her parents in the original show. Fuller House solidified Kimmy’s place as an extended member of the Tanner family, however, upon meeting her mom and dad. While she was treated mostly like a nuisance in the original show, seeing how neglectful her parents were made viewers sympathetic towards her. It was a bit more difficult to justify suddenly debuting Jimmy, but his arrival was more important to Stephanie’s story than her sister’s.
Ultimately, it was a good decision to treat her more like a member of the Tanner family in Fuller House. While DJ’s clan had been important to her storyline, Kimmy also played an important part in becoming an honorary Danny Tanner sister. She volunteered to be a surrogate for Stephanie and Jimmy’s first daughter, which was one of the best arcs in the series. Beyond that, her story with Fernando was also unique, not to mention hilarious.
In Fuller House, the Netflix sequel to the original Full House series, Kimmy Gibbler’s role as an honorary member of the Tanner family was significantly expanded, effectively altering her character’s history and deepening her connection with the Tanners.
Original Series: Full House
In Full House, Kimmy Gibbler (played by Andrea Barber) was mainly portrayed as D.J. Tanner’s quirky, somewhat annoying best friend and neighbor. While she was frequently at the Tanner house, she was more of an outsider who had a distant relationship with the rest of the Tanner family, often the subject of their jokes due to her eccentric behavior.
Fuller House Changes
In Fuller House, Kimmy’s relationship with the Tanner family evolves considerably. She moves in with D.J. and Stephanie to help D.J. raise her children, effectively becoming a full-time part of their household. This shift places her in a much more central and integral role within the family dynamic, blurring the lines between being a friend and being family.
Key Changes:
Closer Relationship with the Tanners: Kimmy is no longer just D.J.’s best friend; she becomes a close confidante and support system for the entire Tanner family, especially for D.J. and Stephanie. This dynamic solidifies her as an “honorary Tanner.”
Involvement in Family Affairs: Kimmy is involved in almost every major family event and decision, highlighting her importance to the family unit. Her daughter, Ramona, also becomes close with the Tanner children, further intertwining the two families.
Backstory Expansion: Fuller House delves more into Kimmy’s backstory and personality, showing her as a caring mother and a loyal friend, which adds more depth to her character. This was a significant shift from her more one-dimensional portrayal in Full House.
Overall, Kimmy’s expanded role in Fuller House not only changed how viewers saw her relationship with the Tanners but also redefined her character as an essential part of the Tanner family narrative.
