‘Fuller House’ Throws Stereotypical Yet Aesthetic Indian-Themed Party

[Photo Source: Screenshot via Netflix/Fuller House (Episode 11, ‘Partnerships in the Night’)] Netflix gave its audience solid nostalgia when it brought back the famous family show “Full House�

[Photo Source: Screenshot via Netflix/Fuller House (Episode 11, ‘Partnerships in the Night’)]

Netflix gave its audience solid nostalgia when it brought back the famous family show “Full House” (1987-1995) as a sequel called “Fuller House,” which released on February 26.

All original cast members (except Michelle, played by twin sisters Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen) returned for the show, the plot of which was relatively similar to the original. D.J. Tanner-Fuller needs help raising her three sons—Jackson, Max, and Tommy Jr.—so her younger musician sister, Stephanie Tanner, and wacky best friend, Kimmy Gibbler (with her own teenage daughter, Ramona) move in to help her.

As someone who grew up watching “Full House” reruns in India, I couldn’t wait to be swept up in old memories of the Tanner household and take in the new gooey, sweet, and sometimes funny moments these beloved characters experienced in the present. Obviously, I binge-watched all 13 new episodes a day after the show released.

The 80s show, while being family-friendly and bottled with cheesy messages, was never really one that focused on diversity. The only characters of color that had any importance over the original eight seasons were probably Michelle’s best friends Teddy (Tahj Mowry) and Denise (Jurnee Smollett). Let’s not even talk about South Asian diversity, because there wasn’t any. That’s why we were all in for a surprise while watching “Partnerships in the Night,” the 11th episode of “Fuller House.”

In the episode, D.J.’s boss, Dr. Harmon, is retiring from the veterinary clinic they run because he is moving to an ashram in Mumbai—and giving up all materialistic pleasures. So, what do they do to honor that? Why, throw him a party, of course—and not just any party, but an Indian-themed party in their very own backyard.

Is India, as a country and culture, appropriate as a theme for a party? No. But neither is an ‘Arabian Nights’ theme, or a ‘Spanish Fiesta.’ Honestly, the success of such themes depends on whether or not you make it cringe-worthy or if you’ve at least grasped the cultural context well.

While “Fuller House” went the route of completely and wholly stereotypical for the episode, I don’t think the makers and actors were trying to ridicule the Indian culture. I thought I’d break down the obvious clichés, some could be seriously avoided while most just represented honoring the Indian culture, in their own oblivious-but-appreciative way.  It’s more than I can say for how some Bollywood movies represent any foreigners, or even just Indians from different states!

1. The Sacred Cow 

I’m just going to say it: this was totally unnecessary, and probably the worst part of the episode. Kimmy, who is a party planner, is short-staffed and asks for Stephanie’s help, who decides that a cow is the perfect addition to the Indian-themed party. When Stephanie first tells Kimmy that there’s something incredible for the party that she needs to see, I thought they would go for the obvious elephant-in-the-room joke—by literally getting an elephant. However, the cow, considered sacred by Hindus, didn’t help at all.

[Photo Source: Screenshot via Netflix/Fuller House (Episode 11, ‘Partnerships in the Night’)]

In fact, it became a source for a whole other joke because they don’t want to tell D.J., the matriarch of the house, that they have a cow. So the whole gang–Kimmy, Stephanie, and the kids–stand ahead of it while D.J. wonders where that ‘terrible, fart smell’ is coming from before discovering the cow. Also, using the phrase ‘Holy Cow!’ is just outright ridiculous. This is what happens when you try to represent a culture you don’t know much about—and thank you for not inviting snake-charmers.

2. The Indian Clothes

I don’t see how this is problematic, especially since they all looked so damn good as they donned ethnic, traditional clothes. Look at these kids! Yes, the turban is a bit much, but isn’t it actually a glorious representation of our culture?  You didn’t really expect them, or their guests, to wear a business suit or jeans and a t-shirt, right? While those do represent the style of modern Indian youth, so does the ghagra-choli. Why can’t white people be dressed in them, then?

[Photo Source: Screenshot via Netflix/Fuller House (Episode 11, ‘Partnerships in the Night’)]

What is worrisome, however, is that Max makes Jackson and Ramona his ‘slaves’ after they borrow some money from him—he says he’ll free them once he gets his money. They’re fanning him with big leaves as he expects to be fed grapes. For a goofy mafia movie, this joke would have worked wonders. For Indians, who were under the British Raj for 150 years, however—not so much.

3. The Indian Music and Dance

The party begins with soft sitar music in the background as everyone strolls in. Again, I don’t see the problem with this. Playing rap or rock music at the Indian-themed party would be, in a word, weird.  In fact, the sitar sounds wonderful—just ask any Indian restaurant in the U.S. and they’ll tell you. (I bet they don’t mean to stereotype either.)

Soon, Kimmy and Stephanie realize the party is a dud when D.J. announces she’s leaving the practice. To pick things up, Stephanie leads a group of seriously well-choreographed Americans to peppy Indian music as flashy lights come on.

[Photo Source: Screenshot via Netflix/Fuller House (Episode 11, ‘Partnerships in the Night’)]

If we can ‘ooh’ and ‘aah’ when a show features the Waltz, tango, or salsa, why not applaud the beauty of this Indian dance (which felt like a slightly toned down version of bhangra)? In fact, D.J.’s boss refers to it as the ‘happy dance.’ Bollywood is a huge, and obviously globally well-received, part of India—no wonder everyone wants to infuse it in whatever way they can. This party seemed like the show’s way of reaching out to its universal audiences (it’s playing on Netflix India, too). For what they could show in a span of 10 minutes, I think they delivered a decent way to show part of the Indian culture.

As a show set to the backdrop of a multicultural San Francisco, “Fuller House” finally and gradually did what the original couldn’t: be open to some form of diversity. Let’s face it, “Fuller House” is no “Master of None,” or “The Mindy Project,” and doesn’t have any Indian characters (that should change though, they are after all right next to the Bay Area!)—so we can’t expect an outstanding job.

In this case, bashing the “Fuller House” partygoers for wearing Indian clothes or breaking into dance like we do in Bollywood is like accusing someone of wearing beach shorts or performing a Lu’au at a Hawaiian-themed beach party. Sadly, it’s a limited—but not incorrect—representation.

Even if it worries me that no Indian was actually present at the Indian-themed party, that’s also not what this show is about. Naturally, this brings up the whole cultural appropriation (or appreciation) issue—and as always, people took to Twitter to react:

#FullerHouse The episode with the Indian party is one of my favorite..

P.s. How adorable is Max??

— Nouf Adas (@NoufAdas) February 29, 2016

Fuller House was great till this ‘Indian themed party’ episode came on#StopWhitePeople #CultureAppropriation #OD pic.twitter.com/GsF16gIpoW

— BonitaApplebum (@pysofly) March 1, 2016

Is the indian party on fuller house cultural appropriation or not im not sure

— kayla (@htmIbabe) March 1, 2016

The Indian party in Fuller House is nothing compared to a real Indian party. Like man, come on. If you want a party, go all out.

— Guru Krish (@krishnabpatel) March 1, 2016

The dance number at the Indian party in #FullerHouse just made my night. I’m finna learn the whole thing.

— Josh Sutton ️ (@JoshJSutton) February 29, 2016

And of course there’s a bunch of white people dancing to “Indian” music at the party. #FullerHouse pic.twitter.com/40cfHwZG9I

— Asvatha (@fireflyclass) February 27, 2016

#FullerHouse promotes diversity since they added a little Spanish to the mix & the Indian themed retirement party. Lola being Asian & Harry.

— Deepika (@DDK_1990) February 28, 2016

Season 1 complete. When do we get season 2? @fullerhouse Loved the Indian party & @JodieSweetin‘s dance moves! @candacecbure @andreabarber

— Aishwarya Arjunan (@aishuarjun) February 28, 2016

Could they have done better? Oh yeah, like maybe show some actual Indians! However, they didn’t demean us or our culture—they showed it as best they could with the little knowledge they have. By objecting to the flashy lights, colors,  clothes, and music, we are trying to say that’s not us—but that is not entirely true. It is a part of who we are. Instead of being hyper-sensitive, we could look at the aesthetic way in which they approached the subject.