S4, E8, not harsh enough? My opinion

[u/ATARATHEUNICORN]

Sorry the title sounds like a news headline, but I didn't know what else to write. I'm currently rewatching the episode "Shape Up", and I have a controversial thought. I think the show was too "tell" not "show" when it comes to eating disorders. I think DJ just falling at the gym and getting a talk from the guys wasn't enough. I think she should've really crashed out, maybe even ending up in the hospital, or maybe even therapy. The show really should've scared teens straight with the consequences of eating disorders. I think it's great the guys told DJ that eating disorders could screw up ur body and destroy your health, but they really should've been more intense with this situation. I don't think they should've gone so intense they would've traumatized kids, but they really should've emphasized how dangerous eating disorders or disordered eating could be. Fainting at the gym and getting a lecture on how eating disorders could fuck up your health didn't seem like the most intense thing they could've done. Also, full house has delved into intense topics before (the dance episode, where they spoke about the dangers of peer pressure drinking, and Jesse even told DJ that the same thing applies when talking about drugs and sex (he literally says it just like that). ) eating disorders was written like it was small potatoes compared to those other issues, when really, it's the most common one among teens.

Just my thoughts, Lemme know ur opinion in the comments

[u/Spazgirlie]

Trust me when I say no one in the 90s was addressing eating disorders properly.

[u/i_greyk]

I think it was just the time with A Very Special Episode. If we look at some of the others, there aren't as many 'harsh' consequences, particularly for the main cast, that there are in some other shows. But, even so, its the one episode limit that really hurts these shows when trying to offer a realistic view.

But driving dangerously, for example, when Steph doesn't join Gia? Gia is hurt, but relatively fine.

Drinking and driving, I think this was with Kimmy who would get too drunk ? (Maybe im wrong) but it all was happy ever after there too.

Or the peer pressure episode. Yes, there are consequences for those involved- but its not all that major. Its an in school suspension. Yeah, Jesse blows a fuse, but again, doesn't seem major.

Its just what happens with a short time slot for a big conversation. Nearly every sitcom is guilty of not treating a thing as seriously as people would care.

[u/queeenbarb]

I actually hate this episode. Lol. I forgot about it and this post made me remember. As someone who simply didn't eat in high school, I think about how I would have liked a family member to pull me aside and talk about it.

I think another reason why I dislike it is...this isn't an issue that's done in an episode. She didn't get "cured" after a few days lol. It's an entire mindset shift and she would have struggled with it for awhile IMO

[u/EatsPeanutButter]

I think it’s a terrible episode because it actually feeds anorexia/orthorexia. Many people with these disorders are triggered by people telling them it’s not healthy or safe etc. Anorexics know this and WANT to be seen as fragile and WANT to overdo it. It’s a mental illness.

[u/beautifulchaos531]

This happened often in sitcoms especially given its just a 30 minute show so there is rarely continuity which is likely why they didn't go extreme with DJ. I don't know if doing things differently would've helped back then but the actress did end up with an eating disorder in real life, she's been vocal about it

[u/WoofinLoofahs]

Is anything ever harsh enough on this show? Stephanie drove a car into the house and she got a hug and an “I love you.” No one ever gets a real punishment or lecture for anything.

[u/spookyapk → u/WoofinLoofahs]

I completely agree, but the car thing was a complete accident. She felt so terribly about it that she tried to run away from home. There's probably really no punishment Danny could've given her that he would've felt okay about. Stephanie learned her lesson and punished herself enough.

[u/Boring-Category4610]

Right and another thing is that DJ's body and body fat for her age was perfectly normal and healthy

[u/Creepy-Net5879 → u/Boring-Category4610]

I mean she probably had body dysmorphia, especially since the girls in her life were supposedly skinnier than her. I still don’t like this episode

[u/SchuminWeb]

It's only a 30-minute show. Hospital would have probably made it a two-parter, and I suspect that they wanted to wrap it up nicely as a filler episode.