While television in the 1980s and 1990s was full of family sitcoms, Full House managed to stand out amongst the rest. Spanning eight seasons, the show followed the Tanner family through highs and lows as they navigated life without their mother in the picture. Full House was such a cultural phenomenon that in 2016, the series was rebooted for Netflix and titled Fuller House. This time, the story follows an adult DJ, who finds herself in a similar situation as her father, being forced to raise her three sons without her spouse.
As the eldest Tanner daughter, DJ often found herself serving as the role model for her two younger sisters. However, she also became a role model to young viewers across the country who learned from DJ's mistakes and successes. Even when DJ grew up, she remained a role model for her family and viewers in Fuller House.
Full House: "Back To School Blues" (Season 3, Episode 2)
In season three, DJ enters the world of junior high school but quickly learns that it is not what she and her best friend Kimmy had expected. After having a terrible first day where she accidentally wore the same thing as one of the strict teachers, DJ and Kimmy decide to give themselves "junior high makeovers." When they emerge from DJ's bedroom looking like they're 21, Danny puts his foot down sending DJ into an epic tween meltdown.
Part of the appeal of Full House was the subtle moral lessons the characters and the audiences learned along the way. In this episode, DJ taught everyone that "fitting in" doesn't matter if you're not being your true and authentic self.
Fuller House: "DJ & Kimmy's High School Reunion" (Season 2, Episode 11)
Fuller House understood the importance of paying homage to the original series, which is why they regularly featured episodes where past characters came back. In this memorable episode, DJ and Kimmy return to their high school, where they reconnect with several of their exes. Over the course of the night, DJ begins to realize that she might not be over Steve like she thought.
This is the perfect Fuller House episode to watch for anyone who is curious to see what characters like Viper, Nelson, Duane, and the infamous Kathy Santoni are up to. But it's also an iconic DJ episode because audiences get to see how much DJ has grown since high school and how some parts of her have stayed the same.
Full House: "Shape Up" (Season 4, Episode 8)
"Shape Up" is arguably one of the most important episodes of Full House and truly one of DJ's most influential episodes. After Kimmy decides to have a pool party to celebrate her birthday, DJ begins to worry that she might not look good in a bathing suit. In order to lose weight fast, DJ practically starves herself and goes too hard at the gym, causing her to pass out.
Everyone struggles with body image issues, which is what makes this episode so relatable. In the end, DJ ends up learning that health is more important than society's misconstrued perception of "the ideal body" -- a message everyone needs to hear from time to time.
Fuller House: "Break A Leg" (Season 3, Episode 2)
After Stephanie begins to question her life choices as an adult, she sets out to change her ways. DJ steps in to aid her younger sister by becoming her life coach, but things don't exactly go as planned. Instead, DJ's coaching leads Stephanie to break her ankle.
This Fuller House episode is the perfect one to watch for fans who miss DJ being the "know it all" big sister. Not only that, but it perfectly encapsulates how little has changed with DJ and Stephanie's sister relationship.
Full House: "Sisters In Crime" (Season 5, Episode 13)
DJ's easy day of babysitting her little sisters takes a turn in this season five episode when Steve shows up to take her out on a date. Not wanting to turn him down, DJ decides to have her sisters tag along on the date, which leads to her sneaking them into a movie theater. As if that's not bad enough, DJ also convinces her sisters to lie to her dad so none of them get in trouble.
"Sisters In Crime" is a true testament to the power of sisterly love and how far they're willing to go to keep each other out of trouble. It's also the start of what becomes DJ's first love and most memorable relationship of the series.
Fuller House: "Oh My Santa" (Season 4, Episode 1)
No sitcom is complete without at least one holiday-themed episode. While Fuller House had several, "Oh My Santa" was the most iconic because it truly tugged at the heartstrings. When DJ's middle son, Max, becomes a Scrooge during the holidays, she's determined to cheer him up. This proves to be slightly difficult since the thing bothering Max is that he misses their father.
This is a special episode for DJ because it's one of the view times we get to see her mourn the loss of her husband, while also mourning the loss of her own mother. She truly becomes the mom of the year because of how much she can relate to her son's pain.
Full House: "The Volunteer" (Season 5, Episode 17)
Always wanting to do good, DJ volunteers at an assisted living facility where she befriends Eddie, a 75-year-old resident. Everything is going great for these two until Eddie coerces DJ into taking him out of the nursing home on an adventure that quickly takes a turn due to Eddie's dementia.
This was truly a coming-of-age moment for DJ who learned that being helpful doesn't always mean doing the right thing. It's also a moment where audiences get to see how mature DJ has become since the show began.
Fuller House: "DJ's Amazing 40th Birthday Race" (Season 5, Episode 7)
Turning 40 is a big deal for many people, but it's an extremely big deal for DJ, who has always had to grow up a little faster than everyone else. Wanting to give her the best birthday ever, Steve plans an epic scavenger hunt for DJ and her friends that has them running all over San Francisco. Things get slightly out of hand though when Stephanie and Kimmy convince DJ that Steve is going to propose to her at the end.
When audiences first met DJ, she was a 10-year-old kid, so seeing her reach her 40th birthday milestone is a big deal not only for her but for audiences. This an episode where DJ gets to have fun, but it's also a great reminder that expectations can sometimes ruin even the best, most thoughtful gifts.
Full House: "Prom Night" (Season 6, Episode 22)
After dating Steve for quite some time, it's finally time for them to attend Steve's senior prom together. However, the stress of prom and DJ's jealousy over Steve's ex get to her, threatening their fairytale night. In the end, these two reconcile because, let's face it, they're the most iconic couple of the show.
This is another coming-of-age moment for DJ who learns a lot of valuable lessons, including never to let her insecurities/jealousy get in the way of true love. It's also an important reminder that prom night pressures are real, but that no one should succumb to them just because they're expected to. This is one of the most iconic Steve/DJ episodes of all time.
Fuller House: "A Modest Proposal" (Season 5, Episode 9)
After literal decades of being in and out of each other's lives, Steve and DJ finally decide to commit to forever in this season five episode of Fuller House. DJ gets tricked into helping Fernando plan the perfect proposal for Kimmy when really it's all a ruse for her own flash mob proposal.
This is the go-to episode for Full House fans who shipped DJ and Steve from the beginning. After all the heartbreak and hardships these two have endured, they finally have found each other again. It's the perfect DJ episode because she finally gets everything she's ever wanted: a successful career and a loving family.