7th Heaven - The Seventh Season Review

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(More customer reviews)Well, it has taken a while, but 7th Heaven has finally found a company willing to release all the seasons on DVD, and if you can look past the music changes and occasional scene omissions, this is another good batch of Camden fun to add to your collection around Thanksgiving time. Although the show had passed its peak by the time Season 7 premiered, it still has plenty of nice moments in its favor, and one big advantage to an 11-year series like this is that we really had the opportunity to watch the characters grow up.
The classic 7th Heaven drama begins full-force right away by revisiting Eric's heart problems from Season 4. In lieu of telling his family that he will soon be having double bypass surgery, he slaps on a happy face and takes the whole clan to the bowling alley for some not-so-fun family togetherness, but his behavior is transparent to the one person who knows him best--his wife Annie. It's a beautiful, sad, yet heartwarming episode that highlights the best of their relationship and reminds you of what a good, loving marriage can be in today's world.
As for the kids, 22-year-old Matt is settling into married life, and former bad girl Mary pursues a different path outside of her childhood hometown, but not without making a choice that could be the best or worst of her life. Ever-emotional Lucy is in top form as she meets police officer and future husband Kevin Kinkirk, the man who drags her (and the audience) through months of misery by not proposing to her quickly enough. Teenager Simon starts dating a new girl named Cecilia and encounters a living nightmare in the series finale that might shatter his entire world. Lastly, in addition to starting an innocent relationship with her very first boyfriend, 11-year-old Ruthie is shocked to encounter the one person who is not willing to deal with her typical "Ruthie" behavior (think inappropriate eavesdropping and a generally superficial, I'm-smarter-than-everyone-in-this-family attitude). Hey, if anyone can achieve that with her, I say good for them! Personally, I think 11 was a little too young to be saddling Ruthie with a boyfriend, but the writers were obviously eager to do something about her budding maturity (if you can call it that), and this was a quick, easy way to do it. There's also 3-year-old twins Sam and David, the youngest in the Camden bunch, who don't do much except assist in showing how Eric and Annie spend each day dividing their attention among their five older children and chasing around two toddlers.
Season 7 introduces a slew of new characters that take a lot of the spotlight away from the core Camden family, which didn't sit well with all long-time viewers. Jeremy London steps in as Dr. Chandler Hampton, a guy who wishes to be part of the Church staff, despite clashing immediately with the wary Eric. The infamous Ashlee Simpson begins a recurring role as Simon's girlfriend, George Stults makes his debut as the lead man in Lucy's life, and Rachel Blanchard provides some interesting plot material as Kevin's beautiful blonde partner in the police force (as if we needed something that would make Lucy even crazier than she already is). Some other noteworthy guest appearances come from "Blossom" alum Mayim Bialik and former American figure skating champion Tara Lipinski, so be sure to watch for them, as well.
Overall, I have to say that characters like Chandler and Roxanne took a lot away from the show's original premise, but entering into their seventh year, with all the Camden kids getting older and moving on, I guess they had to do something to keep the story going. There is a special wedding in the middle of the season that is definitely one of the most memorable episodes ever, and as always, you do get a lot of those special little moments that make it worth viewing. Watching Eric shut down emotionally after his surgery and consider stepping down as Reverend will be shocking to anyone who has followed this show, and the impact it has on his wife and children is very honestly portrayed.
You'll want this DVD set for your collection if you've already bought Seasons 1-6, so order it while the price is good, pop a disc into your DVD player, and enjoy! I know I will!

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7TH HEAVEN:COMPLETE SEVENTH SEASON - DVD Movie

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7th Heaven - The Complete Third Season (1996) Review

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(More customer reviews)With no announcement for 7th Heaven's third season after the February 2005 release of season two (unless you count the temporary, roughly estimated release date that was quickly cancelled due to poor sales from the original two boxed sets), many longtime fans of this historical television series resorted themselves to the thought that no DVD treatment would be given to the several remaining seasons. Now, a year and a half later, we have been pleasantly surprised to find that the next season will be out on DVD in November--just in time for the holidays, too!
The gradual progression and success of 7th Heaven has, in tune with its title, been something of a modern-day miracle. Eternally repetitive plot threads and weak writing have characterized the show's most recent years, but think of how this particular series stacks up against contemporary classics like "The Waltons" and "Little House on the Prairie." The timeless themes of family, Christian values, and survival against life's turmoils were at the heart of those two TV shows, and now they have also transformed 7th Heaven into a unique viewing experience that legions of fans clearly still love to watch. The decision to resurrect the show after the highly publicized and allegedly "final" 10th season is truly a miraculous feat, and while that choice has been quite a controversial one, anyone who grew up watching 7th Heaven can't help but be curious about the seemingly interesting and dramatic ideas that are being planned for Season 11.
7th Heaven has undoubtedly aged over time, but I give this particular Season 3 five stars for its fresh, vibrant, and youthful spirit. Many can argue that this is where the series officially took off, with the five original Camden kids beginning to grow into more independent, fleshed-out characters. The news of Annie's pregnancy in the season opener and the birth of their twin boys on Valentine's Day (that makes seven kids total for lovebirds Eric and Annie!) are the most obvious highlights from this year, but there are many other unique, well-written episodes that chronicle the daily events in the lives of a growing, changing American family. Oldest son Matt has a great relationship going with his girlfriend until an old flame re-enters his life, while the ever-famous high school junior Mary thrives with basketball and academics (savor this season, folks: it is the one where Mary is at the top of her game, before she begins her gradual downhill spiral and before viewers witness the shattering of both her confidence and her future in Season 4). Sweet, insecure sophomore Lucy develops new friendships with some girls at school (including a classmate who is a cutter) and foolishly dives into a relationship with an older guy in order to have a rare edge over her superachieving older sister. Middle schooler Simon is the same levelheaded, inquisitive child who suddenly finds himself threatened by a gun-holding classmate, and brassy little second grader Ruthie--who is no longer the baby of the family--revolts against the extensive attention being given to her new brothers. The strong and incredibly sweet chemistry between Eric and Annie reigns supreme, through good times and bad. Catherine Hicks' work on this show has always been somewhat up-and-down, but in my opinion this third season was her finest hour. She really delivered head-on as a patient, loving and emotional middle-aged woman, mothering five children of varying ages and pregnant with two more. I absolutely loved the season premiere, where she was screaming at Eric about the chicken. Hicks really had an opportunity to show her comedic flair here, and at the same time she did an outstanding job at portraying a mother struggling to take care of her large family. Furthermore, the types of people whom Reverend Eric Camden counsels and supports through his work remain very interesting and are fueled by his kind, consistent guidance with alcoholic husbands, 12-year-old kids with guns, self-destructive teenagers, and (a popular favorite with the writers) young pregnant women. All of these ingredients make for a successful season that is arguably one of 7th Heaven's very best, and it should not be missed.
Season 3 holds up quite nicely with a positive message and youthful energy that fans will love revisiting. It is certainly worth the purchase if you're a fan, and it's a good idea to show your support if you want to see future seasons on DVD. There's a generous number of seasons still to be released, and whether or not we will see them all on DVD is about as much unknown as the official conclusion of the series itself (hopefully they will bow out for good after the impending Season 11, but you just never know). Purchasing all those seasons on DVD would be quite an investment, but worth every penny if this is a show you love.
Also, as indicated on the cover art picture, the packaging is a bit different from the first 2 sets, which may disappoint those who really liked the individual jewel cases for each disc. This time around, it is one single jewel case with all six discs inside. The episode guide/synopses are displayed very nicely, too, so fans shouldn't be too disappointed with the change.
Perhaps the best news of all, though, is that only mere weeks after the release of this season, the Season 4 set was announced for March 2007! It is excellent news to see that they appear to be picking up the pace with the many more sets they still have to put out, although I still don't understand why it is so difficult for them to come up with some extras. For a show that has remained on the air for 11 seasons (and counting) and is hailed as the longest-running drama series in history, you can't tell me that there is no interesting behind-the-scenes footage for them to add to the DVD's. A show running that long absolutely has to have a unique story about how they reached that point and what it has meant for the actors who have stuck with them. I just have a hard time believing that, at the very least, they couldn't scounge up a couple of interviews, ESPECIALLY for a series that is still on the air. I'm sure Stephen Collins and Beverley Mitchell, in particular (the only two cast members to appear in every episode to date and, arguably, the most passionate actors on the show) wouldn't have a problem with doing a few commentaries, either, so why haven't we seen them? Granted, I buy these DVD's primarily for the episodes and will continue to buy any and all seasons that they choose to release, but for a $34.99 (approximately) charge per season, a little something extra would be nice.

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From leading television producer Aaron Spelling comes 7th Heaven, a critically acclaimed family drama about a minister, his wife and their seven children. The WB's highest-rated series, 7th Heaven has captured the hearts of television audiences with its witty, charming and heartwarming storytelling and has been praised for providing high-quality entertainment for all ages.

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