With “Fuller House” premiering on Friday, fans will once again find themselves part of the Tanner clan a full 21 years after “Full House” went off the air.
Netflix’s 13-episode first season centers on D.J. Tanner-Fuller (Candace Cameron Bure), who is recently widowed and raising three sons. Moving back into the house in which the Tanner girls were raised are D.J.’s sister Stephanie (Jodie Sweetin) and best friend Kimmy (Andrea Garber) to help raise her kids.
Episodes 23 and 24 of the final season of “Full House” aired on May 23, 1995, titled “Michelle Rides Again,” Parts 1 and 2. For those who don’t remember what happened in the episodes, here is a quick refresher just in time for the “Fuller House” debut.
Series Finale, Part 1
In the first episode, Michelle (Mary-Kate Olsen and Ashley Olsen) enters a horse riding competition while befriending another contestant, Elizabeth. However, her dad (Bob Saget), in typical Danny fashion, succumbs to competitiveness and puts too much pressure on Michelle. When Elizabeth’s mom does the same to her child, the two go on a riding expedition in retaliation.
Making it a very special episode of “Full House,” Michelle falls off the horse when it panics and hits her head, knocking her unconscious.
Meanwhile, at the Tanner homestead Kimmy tries to find D.J. a prom date while Stephanie rehearses for the role she snagged in a Shakespearean play for which her crush is set to play Romeo.
Series Finale, Part 2
Episode two of the finale shows Michelle again conscious, but suffering from amnesia. D.J., Danny, Stephanie, Uncle Jesse (John Stamos) and Uncle Joey (Dave Coulier) try everything to help her regain her memory.
Eventually, Michelle’s memory is restored, but she has no recollection of the accident. D.J., in the meantime, is disappointed that the date Kimmy found for her had to cancel, but Kimmy surprises her and in walks Steve (Scott Weinger), who went away to college in a prior episode. Stephanie gets her happy ending when her Romeo kisses her.
The episode ends with another special moment between Uncle Jesse and Michelle — Jesse tells Michelle that a part of them was missing when she had amnesia, but that they got through it.
“Just like we always will,” says Danny.
In the original airing, the cast members gave their final curtain call with the words “Our Thanks, Our Love” appearing on the screen.
A New Chapter
Twenty-one years later, Michelle won’t be on-screen in “Fuller House,” which will be explained in the first episode. Series creator Jeff Franklin recently told TheWrap that “You’ll see Michelle on the show, you’ll just see an earlier version of Michelle.”
Watch the curtain call below, and the show’s final scene above.
“Fuller House” premieres at 12 a.m. Friday on Netflix.