Holiday episodes are basically the bread and butter of sitcoms. They're supposed to be cozy, right? You expect the turkey, the sentimental music, and maybe a minor argument that gets resolved in exactly twenty-two minutes. But when Netflix dropped the Fuller House Thanksgiving episode—officially titled "Fuller Thanksgiving"—it didn't exactly go for the "quiet dinner" vibe. Instead, it leaned hard into the chaos of a blended, multi-generational family living under one very crowded roof.
Honestly, the episode is a bit of a fever dream for anyone who grew up watching the original Tanner family. It’s Season 2, Episode 6. DJ is stressing out. Danny is being... well, Danny. And the house is so full it’s practically bursting at the drywall.
Why the Fuller House Thanksgiving Episode Felt Different
If you're looking for a deep, philosophical exploration of gratitude, this isn't it. This episode is about the logistical nightmare of hosting your entire extended family while dealing with unrequited feelings and competitive parenting. It’s messy.
The plot revolves around DJ Tanner-Fuller trying to host the "perfect" dinner. We've all been there. You want the table to look like a Pinterest board, but then your eccentric sister shows up, your dad starts bleaching the counters, and your ex-boyfriend walks in with his new girlfriend. It’s a lot. The Fuller House Thanksgiving episode works because it captures that specific brand of holiday anxiety where you're trying to prove you have your life together while everything is secretly falling apart in the kitchen.
The Return of the "Legacy" Cast
One thing that makes "Fuller Thanksgiving" stand out is the sheer number of returning faces. We get the "Big Three"—Danny, Jesse, and Joey—plus Becky. Seeing them interact with the new generation is the main draw here. It’s nostalgia bait, sure, but it’s effective.
John Stamos (Jesse) and Lori Loughlin (Becky) still have that chemistry that made people fall in love with them in the 90s. But in this episode, they’re dealing with the reality of being "the older generation." There’s a subplot about them wanting to adopt another baby, which adds a layer of actual stakes to the otherwise goofy proceedings. It’s a reminder that even in a show as sugary as Fuller House, life keeps moving forward. People age. Desires change. Families grow in ways you don't always expect.
The Cringe-Factor and the Love Triangle
Let’s talk about Matt and Steve.
The central tension for DJ throughout the early seasons was the choice between Matt Harmon and her high school sweetheart, Steve Hale. In the Fuller House Thanksgiving episode, this hits a boiling point. Both guys show up. With dates.
It’s awkward. It’s "hide behind your sofa" levels of cringe. Steve brings CJ, who is essentially a clone of DJ. It’s a trope, yeah, but Candace Cameron Bure plays the "I’m totally fine but actually dying inside" vibe perfectly. This episode is crucial for the series arc because it forces DJ to confront the fact that she can't just keep both guys in her orbit forever without things getting weird.
Varying the pace of the show, the writers threw in the kids’ storylines too. Jackson and Ramona are dealing with their own teenage drama, which usually feels like filler, but here it adds to the sense of a "Full House." The house literally feels smaller in this episode. You can almost smell the overcooked turkey and the tension.
Joey Gladstone’s Kids: The Controversy
We have to address the Gladstone children. For years, fans wondered what Joey’s life looked like outside of the Tanner attic. In the Fuller House Thanksgiving episode, we finally find out. And... it was a choice.
Joey’s four kids—Phyllis, Lewis, Jerry, and Sydney—are, to put it bluntly, nightmares. They are loud, destructive, and seemingly raised without the concept of the word "no." It was a polarizing move by the showrunners. Some fans thought it was a hilarious reflection of Joey's own chaotic energy, while others felt it made the episode nearly unwatchable.
- The kids put glazed onions in the fish tank.
- They terrorize Max.
- They basically dismantle the living room.
It’s a sharp contrast to the way Danny raised his girls. Danny was a neat freak; Joey is a fun-at-all-costs dad. This clash provides some of the episode's biggest (and most stressful) laughs. It also serves as a reality check for the "Legacy" characters. They aren't the young, cool uncles anymore. They’re parents and grandparents dealing with the consequences of their own personalities.
Breaking Down the "Fuller Thanksgiving" Traditions
Sitcoms love a good tradition. The Fuller House Thanksgiving episode leans into the "Tanner Family Hug," but it also introduces some newer, weirder rituals.
The "gratitude circle" is a staple. It’s that moment where the music swells, the laugh track dies down, and everyone says what they’re thankful for. In this episode, it feels earned because of how chaotic the previous twenty minutes were. You need that release. You need to see Danny and Joey reconcile their different parenting styles. You need to see DJ realize that a "perfect" Thanksgiving isn't about the centerpiece; it's about the people who are willing to squeeze onto a bench to eat with you.
What Most People Miss About the Production
If you look closely at the set design for this episode, the producers went all out on the 90s callbacks. The kitchen is staged to look remarkably like the original Full House holiday sets, even though the layout of the house has technically changed for the revival.
There’s also a bit of meta-humor. The characters often make references to how many people are actually living in the house, which was a common criticism of the show's logic. By acknowledging it during the Fuller House Thanksgiving episode, the writers sort of gave a wink to the audience. They know it’s impossible. They know it’s cramped. That’s the point.
Comparing It to Original Full House Thanksgivings
To understand why this episode matters, you have to look back at the original series. Remember "The First Thanksgiving" from Season 1 of Full House? That was the one where Pam had recently passed away, and the guys were trying to figure out how to cook a turkey without her. It was heavy. It was sad. It was about survival.
Fast forward thirty years to the Fuller House Thanksgiving episode, and the tone has shifted completely. It’s no longer about surviving a loss; it’s about managing an abundance. It’s a "first world problem" version of a holiday. DJ isn't sad; she's stressed. The stakes are lower, which makes the show feel more like a traditional sitcom and less like the "sad-com" moments that occasionally grounded the original series.
Is it better? Probably not. The original had a rawness that Fuller House often lacks. But the revival episode is "comfort food" television. It’s the TV equivalent of a side of mashed potatoes. You know exactly what it’s going to taste like, and that’s why you like it.
The Secret Ingredient: The Script's Pacing
The dialogue in "Fuller Thanksgiving" is fast. Really fast. Jeff Franklin and the writing team clearly wanted to capture the energy of a house with fifteen people in it. Conversations overlap. Jokes are shouted from other rooms.
"It’s not a holiday until someone is crying or something is on fire."
That’s basically the unofficial motto of the Tanner-Fuller-Gibbler clan. The episode succeeds because it doesn't give you a moment to breathe. Just as you’re processing a joke about Kimmy’s weird feet, the scene shifts to a tender moment between Becky and Jesse. It mirrors the actual experience of a big family holiday. It’s a sensory overload.
The Impact of the Love Triangle
By the end of the night, the DJ-Steve-Matt situation isn't resolved, but it’s deepened. We see DJ’s vulnerability. We see that she’s still mourning her husband, Tommy, even while trying to move on. This is a subtle layer that often gets lost in the bright lights and canned laughter. The Fuller House Thanksgiving episode uses the holiday setting to highlight her loneliness in a room full of people. That’s a very human experience. It’s relatable. Even if you don't have two handsome men fighting over you, you probably know what it feels like to feel "stuck" while everyone else is celebrating.
How to Watch and What to Look For
If you’re planning a rewatch, keep an eye on the background actors. The "extras" playing the various guests and kids are doing a lot of heavy lifting to make the house feel crowded.
- Check the Food: The props team actually used real turkeys for many of the scenes to get the steam right, though the "perfect" turkey DJ presents is, of course, a stunt bird.
- Listen for the Catchphrases: This episode is packed with them. "Have mercy," "Cut it out," and "How rude" all make appearances, but they feel slightly more natural here than in the pilot.
- The Hug Count: It’s high. Very high.
The Fuller House Thanksgiving episode isn't just a TV show; it's a time capsule. It captures a specific moment in the mid-2010s when Netflix was betting big on our collective desire to return to "simpler" times.
Actionable Takeaways for Your Own Holiday Viewing
Watching this episode actually offers a few "pro-tips" for handling your own family chaos, believe it or not.
- Lower the Bar: DJ’s biggest mistake was trying to control everything. If the Gladstone kids show up and wreck your house, just go with it. Or, you know, lock the expensive stuff away first.
- Embrace the "Full" House: If you’re hosting, don't worry about seating charts. The most memorable moments in the episode happen when people are squeezed together.
- The "Big Three" Strategy: If things get tense, bring out the veterans. In the show, the older generation provides the perspective that helps the younger ones calm down. Use your "legacy" family members to bridge the gaps.
- Acknowledge the Elephant: If there’s a "Steve and CJ" situation in your life, ignoring it makes it worse. The Fuller House Thanksgiving episode shows that while confrontation is awkward, it’s the only way to get to the "gratitude circle" at the end of the night.
Ultimately, "Fuller Thanksgiving" is about the mess. It’s about the fact that families are loud, annoying, and frequently intrusive. But it also argues that you wouldn't want it any other way. It’s a loud, colorful, slightly cheesy reminder that having a house that's "too full" is actually a pretty good problem to have.
If you want to revisit the Tanners, skip the pilot and head straight for the Fuller House Thanksgiving episode. It captures the spirit of the revival better than almost any other half-hour in the series. It’s chaotic. It’s colorful. It’s exactly what you expect, and sometimes, that’s exactly what you need.