90s kids could not escape Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen. Whether it was the Olsen and Olsen Mystery Agency or the "You're Invited" party series, the young ones were glued to Dualstar video products. Before the twins moved on to their Full House.
Michelle was the youngest member of the Tanner household in its first season, and she set up a reliable pattern for Jesse's future babies, Nicky and Alex. Michelle brings a load of cuteness to the series, but there are also some things about her that wouldn't fly in 2020.
Mature Acting
Not all Full House fans know or that Mary-Kate and Ashley were coached by a "baby wrangler" on set. The twins famously took turns playing Michelle from the time they were infants to almost nine years of age. Watching them in the first half of the series is an interesting study.
Knowing that they had a wrangler, it's easier to see the types of situations that would need some coaching, like walking to the refrigerator, grabbing a bucket of fried chicken, and attempting to make chicken soup in season four. The girls are certainly cute, but toddlers of today wouldn't be so believable with this kind of acting.
Poor Behavior
Kids on kids' shows will always act out once in a while, and Michelle is a good example. She is a sweet girl, but she gives in to a bad attitude at times. When you're spoiled by three dads who think you're the best thing since sliced bread, it's probably hard to hear the word "no" here and there. This behavior might still be part of some shows, but viewers are slowly becoming more aware of it.
Fancy Outfits
For every cute and comfy pajama outfit Michelle dons, she has a poofy dress or jumpsuit set up for the next day. Michelle dresses to the nines for a day of walking around her house or for a special occasion, kind of like DJ walking around in her high heels all day on Fuller House.
Phases
Like most little kids, Michelle goes through some phases as she starts to grow. She turns into the "politeness police," plays the copycat game, and thinks she can move out with her Uncle Jesse when he's supposed to move into Becky's apartment.
Manipulative
Michelle has some serious clout on Full House. In real life, the Olsen twins were quickly building their lives as miniature moguls. On the show, their character had all the adults wrapped around her little finger. That Jesse-Becky apartment incident? Michelle is the one who made Jesse and Becky want to move back home. She manipulates Joey and Danny from time to time, too. The father figures get better at disciplining her as time goes on, but it isn't easy.
Facial Expressions
Michelle's facial expressions on Full House are actually priceless. She has the sweetest smile, the most wide-eyed look of surprise, and the most hilarious frowny face. Even with the baby wrangler, Mary-Kate and Ashley obviously have some inherent talent to be making all these faces. Michelle's lines are certainly enhanced by the looks, but people today might not understand the subtle comedy behind these expressions.
Catchphrases
Every Full House fan is prepared for the bevy of catchphrases they'll hear watching reruns. Michelle's go-to's are "You got it dude" and "Aw, nuts." These finally start to wane when Michelle gets going to elementary school. One wonders what it would be like to hear Ashley and Mary-Kate say such things on the reboot. Perhaps it's better for the world to never know.
Living Situation
As Michelle makes more and more friends and brings them home to play, the family dynamics might look a little odd. Michelle has DJ and Steve being romantic across the hall, and Joey being Joey. Even if he's like family, that's still an unrelated grown man within earshot of conversations and sharing the same bathroom.
There's also another family up in the attic with Jesse, Becky, Nicky, and Alex. True fans don't think much about this because it's all part of the show. If you want to decide whether or not a similar setup is odd today, just watch Fuller House.
Foodie
Before complaining about how much Steve Hale eats, think about Michelle first. It's her house, and she can eat what she wants to, but she goes a little crazy sometimes. She digs into cake, ice cream, and a table full of chips that Jesse brings home when Becky is pregnant. Honestly, this makes Michelle more lovable. Kids imitate TV kids, though, so parents might not appreciate Michelle encouraging their children to eat everything in sight.
Wild Situations
By the final season, Michelle is getting some of the wackiest storylines. No complaints, because they're pretty entertaining. But how is that Michelle can manage to lose Comet on a walk that leads to a San Francisco scavenger hunt...and then buy a donkey with lemonade money...and then fall off a horse and get amnesia, all in the same season? It worked in the 90s, but this might be a little much for viewers to take in today.