The Tanner Family: How They Changed in Fuller House
A look at the transformations of the Tanner family members from Full House to Fuller House.
The Return of the Tanners
Fuller House Olsen Twins Joke
The majority of the Tanner extended family returned in Fuller House, but several of them were much better in Full House. In the late '80s, ABC debuted its own take on family sitcoms, with the introduction of the non-traditional Tanner household. Despite a tragedy launching its events, Full House was fun and lighthearted, but it didn't mean that it shied away from tackling serious issues. While it was never a critical darling, the show was a ratings hit thanks to its realistic portrayal of the joys and difficulties of parenting. It also helped that the stories were told from both the perspectives of its parental figures and the children.
DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle Tanner cuddle Danny Tanner in their bedroom in Full House
Hollywood's recent penchant for reboots and revivals paved the way for the return of the Tanners via Fuller House. The Netflix spin-off shifted the focus of its storytelling to the younger members of the Tanner extended family as they dealt with their grown-up problems. Despite that, the show's primary message remained the same — the importance of family, whatever it may look like. Fuller House featured the majority of the same main cast from Full House. However, the two-decade gap between the sitcoms seemingly changed some of the characters for the worse.
Danny Tanner's Transformation
As the family patriarch, Danny Tanner was integral in keeping his San Francisco household running in Full House. After the death of Pamela Tanner, he was left to raise three young kids — DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle. Because Full House was often humorous, it was easy to overlook just how much pressure it was on Danny to do the right thing while navigating single parenthood. For the most part, he did really well. He prioritized his kids and gave them stability and guidance when they needed it the most.
Danny Tanner and Michelle Tanner nap on her bed in Full House
When Danny returned in Fuller House, however, he didn't seem like the father from the original show. He could be chaotic and impulsive, which were two things that he wasn't in Full House. He barely had his new wife, Teri mingle with the rest of his family, and just ended up getting a divorce without people knowing. Danny's seeming indifference to Michelle's absence was also off-putting.
Danny Tanner talks to DJ Tanner in her bedroom in Full House
DJ Tanner's Evolution
In Fuller House, DJ experienced the same fate as her father, being widowed at an early age and left to raise three young kids on her own. While the sequel attempted to focus on her navigating her life being an unexpected single parent, DJ seemingly moved on from the tragedy quite quickly and got distracted by her love life instead. As the eldest of the Tanner kids, DJ was always responsible, but Fuller House overdid it by making her overbearing and even self-righteous — it was almost like she couldn't do anything wrong, and every mistake that she committed was painted as humorous.
Full House DJ Tanner season 7
