7th Heaven centers around the Camdens, a tight-knit family living in Glenoak, California, and consisting of minister dad Eric, homemaker mom Annie, and their five children: Matt, Mary, Lucy, Simon and Ruthie and their adorable dog, Happy. The series chronicles the many complex issues of growing up in the world today, and the Camden family tackles these issues head-on. Unafraid of intervening in the lives of their children, Eric and Annie discuss serious issues with them in an effort to educate them on the ways of the world. The family remains a tight unit as a result of their love for one another, and their faith in God.

CRITIQUE

I must confess, I was sort of dreading viewing this set. That’s not something a reviewer should admit to at all. I, the movie/TV buff that I am, will watch just about anything and find some good in it. There is a reason why I’m the one reviewing this series on DVD, I am familiar with it for I used to watch it on TV plus the fact that I reviewed the first season, giving it a “rent it” rating.

But as soon as I got my hands on this set, the announcement was made public about yet another season signed for the series on The WB. That’s Season 10, and I cringed. I guess I got 7th Heaven burned-out, that’s all I could think of as I viewed the second season set. I just couldn’t find it in myself to enjoy the series. I’m getting sick and tired of the paralleled story lines intertwining each other just to find this meaningful morale at the end of the episode. That storytelling was done in with The Brandy Bunch, and done again in Full House. The paralleled sub-plots intersecting the main theme of each episode is really starting to bug me. Don’t get me wrong, the show does focus on very strong issues, but in a simplistic matter. But I guess that is what to expect from a show designed and strictly appealing for the wide-range viewing of families.

As I got to the second disc of the set, it occurred to me why the series was so successful in the first place, and why I got into it. I guess I had to stop thinking about 7th Heaven that is airing on the WB right this moment and focus on the set at hand. Not to sound contradictory here, but the second season is as strong as the first one; perhaps even stronger since it has an audience and a strong hook to reel them in. However, I was not really getting into the show as I did in the past. , maybe because I got into more complex shows like Everwood and Gilmore Girls on the same network (and that does not mean the full fledged appeal of teen soaps but the complexity of the writing itself.) Thinking about it I was looking for something more but got something less. 7th Heaven explores philosophical and deep issues that are relevant today but in a kiddy/family matter. In fact, imagine a ten year-old going up to a Christian pastor and asking where dinosaurs fit within the history of mankind since it’s missing from the bible. That’s sometimes the way the writers approach the questions being asked within the show, as if the viewers were all ten-year-olds.

The first episode of the third disc in the second season set is what really captivated me. It’s called “I Hate You”. I still cringed over the subplots that parallel the main theme of the episode, but it’s the main theme that really grabs you and makes you wonder. The main plot is strictly about Simon who has to do an oral presentation for his class involving a family member who remembers a time in history and where they were exactly (how they felt, yada-yada.) He wants to talk about the JFK assassination (which is something all of us heard from another person in our lifetime, and it’s almost certain we all will be repeating, reflecting 9/11), but then realizes everyone else in that class has the same idea, so he decides to speak on what the Nazis did to the Jews during the Holocaust. He gets Mrs. K to help him with it, but it isn’t good enough for Simon if he is telling the story so he gets Mrs. K into the classroom to talk to the students about what had happened and telling her dreadful story.

That whole scene is about ten minutes long and runs to the ending credits, with a special message written reflecting the story behind the story. The scene was done so well that it left me in tears.  I can’t say the second season is any stronger after that episode. In my opinion it’s one of the strongest episodes in the past (up to this point) nine seasons. Later episodes seasons pretty much copied the same theme of this strong episode but those don’t hold a candle to “I Hate You.” I think there are a few reasons why I really was moved by this episode. First off, I learned about the Holocaust in eighth grade, so I guess I can relate to Simon on the disbelief of the history behind it. And I guess innocence gets lost as well when finding out for the first time about the Holocaust. I was also moved by the episode for it was not mediocre filler or a strong issue handled weakly, which is something 7th Heaven has the niche for. It was well done, gave enough time to be able to get the story (and point) across, and most importantly featured a great performance. If only all the 7th Heaven episodes were as great as this single episode.

THE VIDEO

Paramount Home Video presents 7th Heaven in fullscreen format, as it was filmed that way. The majority of my DVDs and the stuff I review I watch on my little 15-inch computer monitor. I didn’t mind the tiny aspect of the picture but never got to view the DVD quality of the picture, so I decided to watch the first couple of discs of this set on my 37-inch basement TV, and it really makes a difference. So a little tip: if you want better picture quality, view it on a big TV.

THE AUDIO

Paramount Home Video presents 7th Heaven in English Stereo Surround and French Stereo. Much like the first season set, music plays well and dialogue is easy to understand.

THE EXTRAS

I am getting a little tired of reviewing Paramount titles, for under the EXTRAS section it has become even more repetitious than the 7th Heaven episodes themselves.  Once again there are no extras, which is quite discouraging. I doubt Paramount cares about this review enough to do something about including extras for the third season DVD. But like the old cliché goes, third time’s the charm!

FINAL THOUGHTS

I guess this review is a bit controversial and somewhat weird, with little help from me. But when it all comes down to it this is a decent series, a decent season with a very strong episode included in a weak DVD set.