Dana's Arrogance Hurt this Great Series! (Review)

[Jack1000]

I am a huge fan of this funny, witty, charming family sitcom. The writing represents the trials and tribulations of two step families, the Foster's and the Lambert's trying to adjust to daily living with several kids on each side.

Suzzane Summers and Patrick Duffy do a remarkable job as the parents. The conflicts are realistic, the situations genuine, and the viewer feels a genuine concern and sensitivity for the characters. Frank Lambert (Patrick Duffy) is a construction worker. Carol Foster,( Suzzane Sommers) is a beautician.

The kids on each side have similar behavior patterns as their biological parents. Carol is obsessively organized and committed to routines and schedules. Frank goes with the flow and has a love of stereotyped man things, such as power tools and sports. In addition to their own kids. Frank's nephew Cody (Sasha Mitchell) is an off-the-wall bizarre guy who does strange things, lives, and sleeps in the family's driveway inside his van. It should be noted that Cody has a heart of gold, and has strong moral and ethical values. My favorite sibling is on Frank's side, his son J.T (Brandon Call) a jock, a slacker, but also very funny.

The series represents in my view similarities to The Brady Bunch but with a more realistic approach to 90's-style parenting and conflicts, Step by Step has a biting edge that makes it for the most part very worthwhile to watch and repeatedly enjoyable to view.

The huge flaw in the series is the personality of Carol's oldest daughter Dana (Staci Keanan.) Like Carol, Dana strives for perfectionism and excellence in everything she does, and clashes with Frank and his kids all the time. The problem is literally every time she opens her mouth to speak it is a cruel and arrogant insult to the people or situations around her, There is nothing redeeming likable about Dana. She sees the world through rose-colored glasses and comes across as this pretentious little princess. Nothing against Staci Keanan, who acted her role very well. The problem is that the writers and producers made Dana's character too mean-spirited to be likable, and a series that I would otherwise give a 9/10 to, is brought down to a 8/10 because of Dana's character.

Jack

[irehtman]

Originally Posted by Jack1000

I am a huge fan of this funny, witty, charming family sitcom. The writing represents the trials and tribulations of two step families, the Foster's and the Lambert's trying to adjust to daily living with several kids on each side.

Suzzane Summers and Patrick Duffy do a remarkable job as the parents. The conflicts are realistic, the situations genuine, and the viewer feels a genuine concern and sensitivity for the characters. Frank Lambert (Patrick Duffy) is a construction worker. Carol Foster,( Suzzane Sommers) is a beautician.

The kids on each side have similar behavior patterns as their biological parents. Carol is obsessively organized and committed to routines and schedules. Frank goes with the flow and has a love of stereotyped man things, such as power tools and sports. In addition to their own kids. Frank's nephew Cody (Sasha Mitchell) is an off-the-wall bizarre guy who does strange things, lives, and sleeps in the family's driveway inside his van. It should be noted that Cody has a heart of gold, and has strong moral and ethical values. My favorite sibling is on Frank's side, his son J.T (Brandon Call) a jock, a slacker, but also very funny.

The series represents in my view similarities to The Brady Bunch but with a more realistic approach to 90's-style parenting and conflicts, Step by Step has a biting edge that makes it for the most part very worthwhile to watch and repeatedly enjoyable to view.

The huge flaw in the series is the personality of Carol's oldest daughter Dana (Staci Keanan.) Like Carol, Dana strives for perfectionism and excellence in everything she does, and clashes with Frank and his kids all the time. The problem is literally every time she opens her mouth to speak it is a cruel and arrogant insult to the people or situations around her, There is nothing redeeming likable about Dana. She sees the world through rose-colored glasses and comes across as this pretentious little princess. Nothing against Staci Keanan, who acted her role very well. The problem is that the writers and producers made Dana's character too mean-spirited to be likable, and a series that I would otherwise give a 9/10 to, is brought down to a 8/10 because of Dana's character.

Jack

That led actress Staci Keanan, who played Dana that way, to become a lawyer afterwards.

[TMC]

As others have said, Step by Step really began to fall off about half way into the fifth season. It felt like all of the kid stories going forward revolved around Dana given that she was the oldest. They had nothing for Mark and particularly, Brendan in the later seasons.

[icecream]

Staci Keanan's My Two Dads character is more likable than her Step by Step character. However, Dana is nowhere near the worst part of Step by Step. That dishonor goes to Cody who is very annoying. Show would have been a lot better without caveman Cody, the obnoxious buffoon.

[JO Sweet Heart]

To me every character brought something to the show.

God bless you always!!!

Holly

[TMC]

Originally Posted by TMC

As others have said, Step by Step really began to fall off about half way into the fifth season. It felt like all of the kid stories going forward revolved around Dana given that she was the oldest. They had nothing for Mark and particularly, Brendan in the later seasons.

Another argument that I read says that the show really went downhill when the kids started getting along. The kids fighting and not getting along was the whole focal point of the show, and when they started getting along, it wasn't as funny anymore.

[blacksymbiote]

Originally Posted by TMC

Another argument that I read says that the show really went downhill when the kids started getting along. The kids fighting and not getting along was the whole focal point of the show, and when they started getting along, it wasn't as funny anymore.

Those are my sentiments. Lily effectively cemented the marriage and the kids learning to live with each other. The show was done thematically at that point and from there just coasted with no direction.

[rcbrad]

7 years is a long time for a sitcom. I think when the kids got older, especially where some were approaching adulthood, they grew and were beginning to mature, so this may explain why to some extent their interactions changed.

I do not think that Dana was really overly arrogant or ruined the show. She was not the only kid who showed disrespect or let insults fly.

Generally, I did not mind Cody, but he was too central of a character in my opinion, as the 6 kids were enough to carry the show. He was a character better taken is smaller doses.

Jean-Luc was just annoying and at times difficult to understand. You would think using the kids would provide better story material. Not sure why the role was as big as it was or why the producers needed this character to drive story. I guess the producers felt the need for a quirky character to take over, since Sasha left the show. Nothing against the actor though.

It is interesting that we all have different opinions of the show.