Fuller House Review: Parenting Done Right (Season 4 Episodes 10-13)

In a thrilling conclusion to Fuller House Season 4, Episodes 10-13 show the final key to their success: an accurately complete portrayal of parenting. None of the issues presented are over the top, overly dramatic, or unnecessarily comedic. 

The tight writing and creative performances round out Season 4 in the best way. Instead of ending the season with a bit more to be desired, like previous seasons, fans are content with what they know and eager to see the stories expand further if given the opportunity. 

On the final episodes, there is a clear-cut focus on parenting and how different people parent in different ways. The real take away from these episodes is the message that there is no right way to parent as long as there is love at the core.

On Fuller House Season 4 Episode 11, “It’s Always Open” audiences get to see a differing of opinion between Stephanie and D.J. about how Jimmy is handling imminent fatherhood. The pursuant argument is reminiscent of all family arguments. 

Stephanie is frustrated with Jimmy, even though she doesn’t say it outright, and D.J. thinks she isn’t frustrated enough. The performances by Sweetin and Bure really expand the argument into an observation on the love between sisters. 

The more D.J. meddles in Steph’s relationship the more she digs her heels in and refuses to budge. This ultimately leads her down a path of pent-up frustration and anger. When she finally does confront Jimmy it’s because she thinks he is leaving.

If Stephanie had merely mentioned to her sister that she was handling it and then gone to Jimmy to have a conversation the meddling wouldn’t have gone as far as it did. However, on the other hand, by not approaching it sooner Steph and D.J. take their disagreement to the dodgeball court. (Which leads to a sports-themed sequence, and adds to the laughs.)

In the end, Stephanie realizes she is within her rights to ignore the situation and trust Jimmy while D.J. learns that her meddling isn’t always appreciated. A lesson that Kimmy also learns the hard way.

D.J. and Kimmy both tend to parent in similar ways so it comes as no surprise that while D.J. is parenting her little sister, Kimmy is meddling in Ramona’s love life.

Thanks to Barber’s performance there is no doubt in the audiences’ minds that Kimmy truly is a parent. There is a seamless quality to the performance which leads us to believe that Barber isn’t acting, just going through the motions of something she’s been through with her own children.

There is an innocent air to Kimmy’s belief that she really is doing what’s best for Ramona. Even when she realizes that she is in the wrong.

Kimmy never gives up her firm belief that anything done out of love can ever be wrong. It’s a quality that Stephanie needs to learn and D.J. could rely on a bit more.

On Fuller House Season 4 Episode 12, “The Prom,” the parenting is much more subtle and beneath the surface. As the title suggests, this is the episode where Jackson and Ramona go to the prom. 

Where the show of parenting comes into play is in how Jackson and Ramona handle a peer pressure situation. While Jackson ultimately makes the incorrect decision it’s also clear that he regrets it the moment it happens. 

D.J. has been such a strong example of owning up to mistakes and trying to make good on them. This carries over into Jackson life after he realizes that what he said about Rocky isn’t cool.

Jackson’s owning up does happen on “The Prom,” but trying to make up for it doesn’t occur until Fuller House Season 4 Episode 13, “Opening Night.” He asks Rocky to come over and he apologizes for what he said and concedes that he never should have said it in the first place.

This shows that the parenting lessons learned from his mom who in turn learned it from her dad are still going strong. It’s a multi-generational Tanner tradition.

Even further, when Kimmy finally has the baby, a daughter, Stephanie realizes despite being scared she’s not alone. It’s a show of togetherness that Fuller House has always been about. She knows that she will learn from those around her.

More interesting than this show of parenting, without the parents present, is that of Jesse and his fellow “Daddy and Me” fathers on Fuller House Season 4 Episode 10, “Golden-Toe Fuller.” Jesse spent all of the 90s raising his nieces and then his sons, but that doesn’t stop him from being insecure about parenting his daughter. 

In fact, he is so insecure, because of a hipster dad, that he turns to D.J. for advice. The vulnerability presented makes this moment stand out as one of the best performances of the entire season, second only to Fernando a few episodes previous. 

Jesse is the elder between him and D.J. and yet he puts aside his pride and defenses to ask her for help. Jesse sure has come a long way from his carefree uncle days. 

And D.J. has shown great strength in her ability to know when to take a step back and when to push forward. In this season alone we have seen her grow and develop into a more rounded parent.

”Golden-Toe Fuller” is D.J.’s beautiful ode. She has grown into a perfect combination of parenting lessons from Dan, Jesse, Joey, and her own experiences. She’s learned that being a parent who leads with love is good enough.

Other Moments of Note:

• Jimmy proposing to Steph in the finale is a perfect end to a beautiful season.
• The chili moment on “The Prom” is a nice nod to the blending of each of these families as one.
• Jesse teaching the younger dads that simply being present with your child shows everyone all that he has learned as a dad.

—

What did you think of this episode of Fuller House? Share your thoughts in the comments below! Catch up on our review of Fuller House Season 4, Episodes 7-9 right here.

Reviewer Rating:

User Rating:

 

Fuller House is now available to stream on Netflix.

Follow @telltaletv_ 

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

33 TV Moms Who Really Have This Whole Parenting Thing Down (or Not)