Airing from 1987 to 1995 for a total of eight seasons, Full House is one of the most beloved sitcoms of all time, a warm and fuzzy example of comfort television from the bygone era of TGIF programming. In 2016, Netflix capitalized on the ongoing popularity of this family friendly series by launching a spinoff revival entitled Fuller House, which now followed the all grown up characters DJ Tanner, Stephanie Tanner, and Kimmy Gibbler as they navigated life as adults and parents.
In many ways, Fuller House doesn't live up to the legacy of Full House. But the series is sweet, relaxing, and totally comfortable and fun to watch. Unlike most series geared toward younger viewers, there isn't much romantic drama, or overly wrought lessons that end every episode. Instead, the series focuses primarily on family and friendships. Here, we're taking a look at the best and worst friendships the series has introduced.
Best: Jimmy and Fernando
Sometimes, a show that's a true sitcom hits upon comedy gold in the form of a relationship that exists for pure comedic relief. In the world of Fuller House, the friendship that unexpectedly developed between dimwitted love interests Fernando Guerrero and Jimmy Gibbler undeniably fits that bill.
These two clearly have nothing in common, besides not exactly being the smartest members of the series' cast. But whenever these two are in a scene together, it's guaranteed that comedy magic is about to happen. We're hoping that the fifth and final season will lean into this bromance a bit more, providing them with hilarious adventures like the one featured in the fourth season finale.
Worst: Jackson and Popko
When it comes to the world of sitcoms, few good things come from friendships between polar opposite teenagers. Take, for example, the friendship between good guy Jackson Fuller and total bad boy Bobby Popko. Popko is never a good or reliable friend to Jackson, as his attitude and bad behavior frequently get the two of them into more trouble than anything else.
Furthermore, Popko manipulates his friendship with Jackson to try and get in with Jackson's quasi sibling, Ramona, only to totally break her heart by - shockingly - turning out to be just as bad a boyfriend as he was a friend. This friendship was a bad idea for all parties involved.
Best: Danny, Jesse, and Joey
Sometimes, nothing's better than a classic throwback. Fuller House has often been critiqued for its use of hokey and nostalgic material, but there's no denying that the core friendship between the original series' three leading men - Danny Tanner, Jesse Katsopolis, and Joey Gladstone - is just as strong as it has ever been.
After all they've been through together, and with all the change that has occurred in their lives between the original series and the spinoff, it would be understandable though disappointing to find their bond changed in some way. But even over thirty years after the original series premiered, the bromance between this unlikely trio is as heartwarming, as strong, and as real as ever.
Worst: DJ and CJ
The world of the overly saccharine sitcom has many flaws, but arguably one of the most frustrating of them is this: the total inability to let any characters not like each other for a considerable amount of time. One of the worst examples of this in Fuller House comes in the show's forced attempts to make DJ Tanner and Steve's ex-girlfriend and DJ replacement, CJ Harbenberger, friendly with each other.
The character of CJ was a mistake in the first place, as she lent an unneeded level of discomfort to the ongoing love triangle at the core of the series. There was never any indication that she and DJ would get along, considering all that transpired between them, and their differing personalities. But the show feels the need to try and mend fences between them again and again, to no avail.
Best: She Wolf Pack
Healthy female friendships on television are rare and beautiful things. Thankfully, Fuller House has truly excelled in this area by featuring female stories at the forefront of its series. The dynamic trio known cheekily within the series as the She Wolf Pack has frequently shown themselves to be one of the strongest examples of committed, supportive female friendships.
From day one, these three women have been there for each other, through thick and thin. Through the losses of significant others, changing family dynamics, failed pregnancies and surrogacy alike, Stephanie, DJ, and Kimmy have been each other's support systems and sounding boards. Here's to the She Wolf Pack. Long may they howl.
Worst: Ramona and Lola
The clear female parallel to the uneven friendship between Jackson and Bobby Popko, the unrealistic friendship between Ramona Gibbler and Lola Wong stands out as one of the worst handled storylines in the series' early seasons. It's never clear why these two like each other at all, particularly when Lola is given so little characterization to begin with.
Lola is portrayed as even more shallow and selfish than Ramona is, which is saying something, considering how the series first started. And as with Jackson and Popko's friendship, Ramona and Lola's friendship only seemingly exists to force a romance between Lola and Jackson, which once again doesn't work out in any way.
Best: DJ and Kimmy
For over thirty years, DJ Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler have been each other's best friend. In the world of television, that's no small feat. These two have been the best of friends since they were in elementary school, overcoming petty clique drama and heartbreaking betrayals, surviving countless romantic relationships, and supporting each other no matter what.
Danny Tanner may have once wished more than anything that his daughter DJ would stop being friends with the annoying girl who lived next door. But at this point in DJ's life, it's virtually impossible to imagine a world where Kimmy isn't right by her side.
Worst: Stephanie and Gia
Fuller House may be a show whose existence is only predicated upon the love of all things nostalgic, but sometimes, some things should really be left behind in the past and stay there for good. The friendship between Stephanie Tanner and Gia Mahan was arguably one of the worst parts of Full House's final seasons - entirely forced and unrealistic.
The onetime enemies became best friends almost at the drop of a hat, with no real explanation, and at the expense of the friendship Stephanie had formed with Mickey. Gia was consistently a bad influence on Stephanie, getting her into scrapes she would've avoided otherwise, and that behavior continues even after all these years, to the detriment of Stephanie's development.
Best: Stephanie and Kimmy
Once upon a time, Stephanie Tanner and Kimmy Gibbler absolutely hated each other. Flash forward thirty years, and Kimmy Gibbler gives birth to Stephanie Tanner's baby through surrogacy. Talk about character development. In the earliest days of Full House, and through most of its run, these two couldn't stand each other, and were often at each other's throats.
But from the beginning of Fuller House, and with the introduction of the She Wolf Pack and Kimmy's cheeky label of Sister Wives, these two found common ground that they were never aware of before. Add in the fact that Stephanie fell in love with Kimmy's little brother, Jimmy, and these two managed to find a truly special friendship in one another - more than justifying this series' existence, in the process.
Worst: Matt and Steve
As if it wasn't bad enough that Fuller House thought it necessary that onetime romantic rivals DJ and CJ needed to become amicable with one another, it managed to give the same treatment to clear rivals and polar opposites, Steve Hale and Matt Harmon. Never minding the fact that the introduction of Matt's character was a mistake the series has never really taken any steps to recover from, it's questionable at best and downright puzzling at worst how these two men somehow became connected at the hip.
Given how ugly the love triangle between the two of them and DJ got at times, and the fact that they have nothing in common besides a vaguely shared medical profession, it's odd that the series felt the need to force a friendship between them. Hopefully, the series' final season will ease up on that unneeded plot.