The Seventh Season

Full House is a feel-good family sitcom that tackles the daily lives of the Tanner family household: Danny, D.J., Stephanie, Michelle, Joey, Jesse, Becky, and twin boys Nicky and Alex. In the earlier seasons, the show focused on three single guys raising three young girls. As the show progressed, more characters were added and the scope changed ever so slightly with more drama. For the most part, the change in tone works and feels much like previous seasons, but the comedy is not quite as strong. For more information about the series, please refer to DVD Talk's reviews of season one, season two, season three, season four, season five, and season six.

Season seven is another season of change and growth (but what season isn't for a long running television series?) The show's tone similar to past seasons, but the goofy, over-the-top attitude doesn't work as well. The real problem is that the show is past its prime. In general, season seven is pretty weak. The stories addressed include new relationships, breakups, responsibilities, parenting, job opportunities, and more. As previously mentioned, this season's content just doesn't feel as funny or enjoyable, but rather, slightly overplayed.

The season begins with "It Was a Dark and Stormy Night". The episode has two plotlines, which includes the Tanner girls returning from an awesome time at summer camp and the twin boys being rambunctious. The former deals with the girls realizing that home is where they belong. The latter is about Jesse and Becky's twin boys. Nicky and Alex have no regard or concern for authority. Jesse and Becky spoil them rotten. It is an issue they have to deal with, as well as the boys' poor social skills and lack of interest in their peers.

The DJ-Steve relationship continues to be an important development this season. DJ and Steve, who was introduced last season as DJ's love interest, go through the ups and downs of love. In the beginning of the season, they are still madly in love. Their relationship is complicated in the episode "The Apartment". Steve moves into his own apartment and Danny doesn't like the idea of DJ spending the night. The relationship gets more serious with devotions of love. However, in "The Prying Game" their relationship is suspect. The lovebirds call it quits in "Love on the Rocks" when they realize they are better as friends.

There are also other romantic relationships (new and old) for other cast members. Danny's serious long distance girlfriend Vicky comes to visit in "Tough Love". Danny frets that her cooking won't please the family. She makes a few other appearances. Notably in "The Perfect Couple", which is when Danny and Vicky breakup. Stephanie meets a cute boy in "It Is True About Stephanie" and Joey's funny girlfriend rubs the family the wrong way in "Joey's Funny Valentine".

Another major development is Jesse's latest business venture. In "Smash Club: The Next Generation", Jesse learns that the club his band started in is being closed down. He decides to save the club and bring a special (alcohol-free) venue for underage kids to listen to hip and cool music. Jesse has problems acquiring the loan from the bank, as well as a troublesome opening night in "Another Opening, Another No Show". The club turns out to be a success and another setting for future episodes to take place in.

While Michelle is a young girl, she finds herself in the center of several stories... mostly learning about the facts of life. In "The Day of the Rhino", Michelle and Denise are ripped off when they spend all of their allowance on a mail-order toy. Joey pushes Michelle to stand up and make her (small) voice heard. "The Bicycle Thief" is about Michelle learning what it means to have something stolen. Michelle also learns about and deals with embarrassment in "Wrong-Way Tanner", sexual discrimination in "Michelle a la Cart", being independent in "High Anxiety", having two best friends in "Be Your Own Best Friend", and trying to keep the full house full in the season finale "A House Divided".

Overall, Full House moves ahead with more stories involving corny, over-the-top family drama. This season's episodes are similar to past seasons, but the quality is weaker. The problem is that the show feels too overplayed and over-the-top. The good news is that there are still a few hearty chuckles (just don't expect to laugh really hard). For fans of the show, this season is a worthy rental. However, everyone else may want to skip out on it.

Episode Guide

1. It Was a Dark and Stormy Night: Boo! A really scary story Steve tells the girls at summer camp seems to be coming true.
2. The Apartment: A boyfriend with his own apartment? "Cool" says D.J. "Uh-oh!" says Danny.
3. Wrong-Way Tanner: She has the ball. She aims. She kicks. She scores... for the other team! Michelle's soccer debut is a disaster.
4. Tough Love: To no them is to love them. Becky and Jesse realize they must learn to say "no" to their rowdy twins.
5. Fast Friends: Will this friendship go up in smoke? At her new school, Stephanie meets a girl who wants her to light up.
6. Smash Club: The Next Generation: Jesse and his band played the Smash Club a million times. But now he has a new gig at the old site: owner.
7. High Anxiety: What, them worry? While Jesse frets over reopening the club. Danny stresses over Michelle's growing independence.
8. Another Opening, Another No Show: Opening night at the Smash Club may be closing night: Everything that can go wrong does.
9. The Day of the Rhino: Michelle sends away for a super-duper Rigby the rhino action toy... and gets an itsy-bitsy plastic figurine.
10. The Prying Game: Millionaires in the making! Jesse, Danny and Joey team up to hawk a gizmo Jesse invented: the Sprayguard 2001.
11. The Bicycle Thief: Crime busters! When Michelle's bike is stolen, the guys bring home the missing article - three times. Oops.
12. Support Your Local Parents: Two is the loneliest number. Jesse and Becky are concerned when the twins ignore other kids in their playgroup.

13. The Perfect Couple: Joey hosts a dating game show that proves the perfect couple is Danny and... you won't believe who!.
14. Is It True About Stephanie?: Revenge is sour. When Stephanie gets back at a bully, she feels remorse instead of satisfaction.
15. The Test: D.J.'s struggle to raise her SAT score leads to a nightmare involving bunny slippers, a burrito and Vanna White.
16. Joey's Funny Valentine: Did you hear the one about the girlfriend nobody likes? Joey's sweetheart is a comic with sense of humor.
17. The Last Dance: Jesse's grandfather promises to teach Michelle's class a Greek dance, but everyone learns an even more important lesson.
18. Kissing Cousins: Honesty is relative when Jesse's look-alike cousin visits and takes advantage of the Tanners.
19. Love on the Rocks: You can see vest from a mountaintop. A hike leads D.J. to make a big decision about her relationship with Steve.
20. Michelle a la Cart: Who says boys are better than girls? Michelle competes against the guys in a soapbox derby.
21. Be Your Own Best Friend: Howdy, pardner! Michelle's little friend Teddy returns from Texas... and trouble comes with him.
22. A Date with Fate: Back in circulation: After their respective breakups, D.J. and Danny take another gamble in the game of love.
23. Too Little Richard Too Late: You gotta have art. When Michelle's school cancels its art program, an irate Joey runs for PTA president.
24. A House Divided: Danny gets an offer on the house... at twice its value, is it time for the household to split up and move on?

The DVD

Video:
The video is given in its original television aspect ratio of 1.33:1 full frame color. The picture quality is good considering its age. The image is a bit soft at times. For the most part, it looks good with a slight grain and no noticeable issues attributed with video compression.

Audio:
The audio in this release is in English 2.0 Dolby digital stereo. The quality is quite good. The audio is fairly flat, which is due the show being dialogue driven. This release supports closed captioning.

Extras:
There are no extras included with this season set.

Final Thoughts:
Full House's seventh season is the second to the last. This season when compared to the first six lacks the same level of quality. Season six was a clear indication of where the show was going, downhill. The problem is that the show feels too overplayed and over-the-top, with a few hysterical moments. For the most part, season seven is one of the show's weakest (next to the eighth and final season). For fans of the show, this season set is a decent rental and probably not worth your time if you aren't a big fan.