Fuller House Gets Festive

TV’s most popular family (we crunched the numbers!) returns for a holly, jolly Season 2 on Netflix

- Aubry D’Arminio

Elias Harger, who plays Max—middle son of Candace Cameron Bure’s widowed veterinarian, D.J.—on Netflix’s Full House spinoff, Fuller House, is 9 years old. He weighs less than 80 pounds. He dances between takes. He looks super cute clad in red plaid pajamas for the show’s new Yuletide episode. But don’t let that sweetness fool you. Harger and the Fuller House gang may be all big toothy grins and geeky Christmas sweaters. And they may hug on screen…a lot. But they are fighting tough— and winning.

The classic redux drew enough buzz in Season 1 to joust with Game of Thrones as one of TV’s most popular shows among viewers 18 to 49. (Surprised? More on that later.) Now the sitcom is back with TV’s version of heavy artillery: a 13-episode season with four holiday-themed installments, guest stars galore and plenty of romance—setting up at least two surprising couples. Plus, there are several new characters and the first reunion of the Full and Fuller House casts (minus originals Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) since the spinoff’s pilot. As Max would say, “Holy Chalupas!” The group hugs can be seen from outer space.