On February 26, Netflix released the first season, 13 episodes, of the program Fuller House. The cast consists of the same actors from the 1980’s hit show, Full House, with the exception of Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Netflix also released their renewal of the program, so a second season is under way.

Fuller House takes place 29 years after the final season of the beloved family program, when all the girls are grown up and living their own lives. Danny Tanner and Rebecca Katsopolis host a national morning show: Jesse Katsopolis is a producer, and Joey Gladstone is  comedian.

DJ Tanner, played by Candace Cameron-Bure, is now a single mom who lives at home with her three sons and finds herself overwhelmed with all the work she has to do as a single parent. So, Stephanie Tanner, her sister, and Kimmy Gibbler, an overzealous neighbor, move in with DJ to help her with the work load.

Essentially, Fuller House carries the exact same plot line as the original broadcast, consisting of the same personalities and characteristics. In the new edition, Stephanie, cast as Jodie Sweetin, takes the role of the social butterfly, settling down to help her sister, just as Jesse did for his brother in Full House. Similarly, Kimmy, played by Andrea Barber, is the fun-loving and crazy friend that Joey provided years before.

“The characters all look and act the same,” said junior and fan Courtney Green, who watched the show when it premiered, “I really like how they used the same people to play the characters.”

It’s obvious the show is an attempt to recapture the cheesy, yet timely, essence of a family and their wholesome values. However, this is a paradox, because what we loved is also what is wrong with the new version.  The show lacks in originality and excitement. It’d be nice to see something different that didn’t already happen in the original show.

The original theme song is back, “Everywhere You Look,” by Jesse Frederick; however, this time it’s covered by Carly Rae Jepsen. The music introduction to each episode features transformations through the character development of Full House to their now adult roles in Fuller House.

Steven, DJ’s old boyfriend, returns to the show, basically asking DJ to give him another chance. After 29 years, the writers wanted to rekindle a relationship that probably should’ve stayed in Full House. There isn’t the spark that the two had so long ago.

One of the controversies is whether or not Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen would return to play the youngest Tanner sister, Michelle. The twins are 29, and it makes sense that they’re lives can’t be all about Full House. Yet, that doesn’t stop the cast from making playful digs about the girls.

According to an interview with People Magazine, Ashley Olsen said, “I have not been in front of a camera since I was 17, and I don’t feel comfortable acting.”

“I think the show would be better with the Olsen twins,” said Green, “They could have the full family back on the show together.” The show did well without the Olsen twins, but the references written into the script are were unnecessary and extensive.

Fuller House definitely isn’t up to all the hype, but worth the watch if Full House was a regular program in the household. Fuller House can be watched on Netflix, and the original program on Hulu.