Top 10 Times Stephanie was the Best Character on Full House
#10: Becoming a Fiancée & Mother
“Opening Night”
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“Full House” and its sequel show “Fuller House” have always been about family. So it’s a tough pill to swallow when Stephanie learns that she can’t get pregnant. But she finds an unexpected hero in Kimmy Gibbler who offers to be her surrogate. Steph has always been the unorthodox sister, so it’s only fitting that she does things a bit unconventionally. Watching her meet her baby for the first time is nothing short of beautiful. And it’s made even more touching when Jimmy chooses this moment to propose, making her a fiancée and mother in one fell swoop.
#9: Her Catchphrase
Various
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A big part of what made the original “Full House” family so fun to watch were their cute little catchphrases. There’s Uncle Jesse’s cool “Have mercy”, Michelle’s adorable “You got it dude”, and of course, who could forget D.J.’s “Oh, Mylanta”. But our personal favorite has got to be Stephanie’s signature phrase. Any time she’s displeased or upset with someone, she breaks out this classic line to express her disappointment with them. And maybe this is our nostalgic bias talking, but it’s not any less epic when she brings it back in “Fuller House.”
#8: “Marrying” Harry Takayama
“Middle Age Crazy”
Most people who grew up in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s probably have an adorable childhood story about when they fake married a friend. This one has got to be among the best ever. When Uncle’s Joey and Jesse are lending D.J. a hand with a project, and Danny is busy with Michelle, Stephanie feels ignored and neglected. It seems like it’s the curse of the middle child! She decides to marry her best friend so that she’ll always have someone to pay attention to her. The ceremony is truly beautiful, and Harry Takayama is possibly the best first husband ever.
#7: Helping Michelle Out On Her First Day of Kindergarten
“Double Trouble”
Lots of older kids wouldn’t want to be seen with their younger sibling at school. But Stephanie isn’t just any big sister, as evidenced by what unfolds when Michelle has a really hard time during her first day of kindergarten. She heads to her big sis’ classroom, where Stephanie is initially a bit embarrassed. But as she walks Michelle back to class, she taps into big sister mode with some words of encouragement. Stephanie even takes it a step further, sticking around for a minute to help her make some new friends. We think we know who the award for best big sister of the year goes to!
#6: Her Dance Routines
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These are definitely some of her best moments. Stephanie is incredibly creative, and it’s always a joy watching her express herself through her dance routines. During these scenes, she really shines. That “Love Shack” routine is just about the most endearing thing ever. But her routines aren’t just cutesie, they’re actually really good, and act as a testament to her talent. When she grows up, she even channels her creativity into her career. Although she isn’t specifically dancing, she utilizes her passion and her gift for music as a DJ and a singer. She even writes a hit song, but more on that later.
#5: Piercing Her Ears
“I’m Not D.J.”
Stephanie grew from the cute middle sister to the cool rebellious one. This moment is an important part of that transformation. In an attempt to find some individuality, she wants to get her ears pierced. When Danny does indeed say no, she decides to get it done anyway. Naturally, everything goes horribly wrong, and she ends up getting an infection. But Stephanie should’ve known better than to trust Kimmy Gibbler! And the best part is that she tries to keep it secret by rocking the Princess Leia double bun. It all just adds to her relatability and makes us love her. The force is strong with this one.
#4: Whenever She Insults Kimmy
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Don’t get us wrong, it’s so awesome that Stephanie and Kimmy figured out how to be friends as adults in the sequel series. It’s genuinely touching. But we can’t lie. It’s also absolutely hilarious whenever the Tanner sister throws jabs at Kimmy in the mother show. The latter character is just no match for Steph, who gets her really good. When she tries anyway, it only inspires Stephanie to take things to epic levels of savagery. Ooh, Kimmy should get some aloe for that sick burn. Their rivalry brings tons of humor to the show, and we never get tired of hearing Steph’s jabs!
#3: “The Boy Next Door”
“A Tangled Web”
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Remember that hit song we mentioned? After gaining success as DJ Tanner, and beyond all belief, falling in love with Jimmy Gibbler, Stephanie writes a song about their relationship. It only makes sense that she would feel inspired to use one of her first loves as a medium to express her feelings about her one true love. The song is both incredibly catchy and touching. She really pours her whole heart and soul out there for the world to see. Jimmy even tears up listening to it. Honestly, we always do a bit, too. It’s so satisfying to see Stephanie find such happiness.
#2: Sticking Up for Ramona Against the Girls Who Ghosted Her
“Ghosted”
An important moment with Kimmy’s daughter Ramona proves that Stephanie will be the perfect mother – not that we ever doubted it! The teen is excited about her cool new friends. But they show their true colors when they ditch her instead of showing up to a planned outing. Of course, she’s devastated. That is, until Steph comes to her rescue. She shows those kids that Ramona is in fact the cool one, and calls out their toxic behavior. They certainly eat their words, or lack thereof. And Stephanie proves to herself just how awesome of a mom she’ll be.
Before we unveil our top pick, here are a few honorable mentions.
Driving the Car Through the Kitchen Twice, “Honey, I Broke the House” & “Cold Turkey”
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Encouraging Max for His Recital Performance, “Mad Max”
That Pep Talk Even Gave Us Confidence
Helping Ramona Cover Up Her Hickey, “My Little Hickey”
If That’s Not Being a Supportive Icon, We Don’t Know What Is
Navigating a New School While Staying True to Herself, “Fast Friends”
Steph Isn’t Afraid to Stand Up to the Popular Kids
Bucking Peer Pressure, “Making Out Is Hard to Do”
Stephanie Tanner Walks Her Own Path
#1: Helping Charles
“Silence Is Not Golden”
Aside from the heartbreaking death of their mother, the Tanners live pretty privileged lives. They always have a roof over their heads, food on the table, money in their pockets, and a loving and supportive family. When Stephanie vents to her classmate Charles about being in trouble with her dad, she learns that not everyone is so lucky. He tries to deny it, but ultimately just asks her not to tell anyone. She’s conflicted on whether she should keep his secret or inform an adult. Eventually, she tells Jesse, who helps Charles get placed in foster care. It can sometimes be hard to know what the right thing to do. But there’s no doubt that Stephanie Tanner is a good friend who always comes through.
