Full House Failed Kimmy (& Fuller House Made It Worse)
Kimmy Gibbler is a kind and fun character who helps the Tanners a lot but is unfairly treated in both Full House and Fuller House.
The family comedy Full House did not do justice to Kimmy Gibbler’s character, and its sequel Fuller House only made it worse. Full House became a cultural phenomenon and is still popular today, with a spin-off series called Fuller House airing from 2016 to 2020. The show centers around the Tanner family, consisting of a widowed father, Danny Tanner, and his three daughters, DJ, Stephanie, and Michelle. Throughout the series, the Tanners face various challenges but ultimately come together as a loving and supportive family. Despite the occasional drama and conflict, the show’s tone is generally light and optimistic, emphasizing the importance of family relationships.
One of the show’s most notable features is its strong emphasis on morality and family values. Full House’s Tanner family are a loving and supportive brood who are always there for each other. They work through their problems with open communication and a willingness to compromise. In addition to their close family bonds, they also receive support from Danny’s friend Joey and his brother-in-law Jesse. DJ, the oldest daughter, takes on a significant role in helping to care for her younger sisters and, later, her baby cousins. She is responsible and compassionate, offering guidance and support to her younger sisters when they need it most throughout Full House and Fuller House.
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Kimmy Didn’t Deserve Her Full House Treatment
DJ’s best friend, Kimmy Gibbler, is a beloved character on both Full House and Fuller House, but unfortunately, she is often treated unfairly by the other characters. Full House and Fuller House’s Kimmy Gibbler is one of the sweetest characters on TV, yet she is often the target of ridicule because of her academic struggles and apparent lack of focus. This is especially unfair given the fact that Kimmy is always doing good things for the Tanners, like listening to their problems, babysitting the twins and Michelle, and helping DJ through her breakup with Steve. Kimmy also helps out with the younger children, but her plans with them occasionally go awry. Nevertheless, her intentions are always good.
What makes this treatment of Kimmy in Full House even more egregious is that she is really just looking for a family. As she confirms in Fuller House season 5, episode 10, “If The Suit Fits,” Kimmy Gibbler’s own parents are neglectful and unloving, so she turns to the Tanners for the love and support that she desperately craves. It’s sad to see her being constantly belittled and dismissed, especially when she is so kind and selfless. The running gag about her smelly feet and the jokes about her intelligence are mean-spirited and show a lack of kindness and compassion that the show is supposed to champion.
Fuller House Could Have Fixed Kimmy’s Role (But Didn’t)
Fuller House had the potential to redeem Kimmy’s character, but unfortunately, it fell short. In the reboot, Kimmy is a grown-up with an estranged husband and a teenage daughter. However, the writers continue to rely on her quirks for cheap laughs, such as making fun of her and Fernando’s quirky but harmless wedding tradition. This only serves to highlight the stark contrast between how Kimmy treats the Tanners and how they treat her. Despite her good intentions and willingness to help, she is still treated disrespectfully and made to feel like an inconvenience.
While Fuller House did give Kimmy more attention than Full House, her quirks were still used for comedic effect. It is disappointing that the show failed to explore the complexity of Kimmy’s character, especially given her backstory of coming from a neglectful and unloving home. Clearly, Kimmy deserved more than to be treated as a punchline in Full House, and it is unfortunate that Fuller House did not do justice to her story arc. Hopefully, if there is a new revival of Full House, the writers will take the opportunity to redeem Kimmy’s character and explore her growth and struggles in a more meaningful way.
