7th Heaven – The Complete First Season
Picture: B- Sound: B- Extras: D Episodes:
C+
Not all television can be for a
limited audience, but since the 1980s, the idea of “family” TV shows have been
a joke. Though it is formulaic and
corny, I can now see why 7th Heaven has been a hit. It is predictable, melodramatic, and does
its best to “warm and fuzzy” with perfect kids and perfect parents who love
each other. So what’s wrong with that? Nothing, if that is what you are looking
for, but the enormous effort or tuning out of reality it takes to suspend one’s
disbelief is tremendous.
With that said, when this show
is winning, it is because of its cast.
Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks are totally convincing as the
parents, they are a positive image of the married couple without trying so
hard. They are also not very
dysfunctional, which helps the show.
The Camdens, as they are known, also have five kids who have to deal
with their own problems. Faith is a
factor in these shows, but they do not become too preachy, and nothing is as
annoying as the theme song of the show.
It has some of the worst lyrics and singing in TV history, but on DVD,
you can skip that one. The episodes to
this first season are:
Family Secrets
In The Blink Of An Eye
No Funerals & A Wedding
The Color Of God
Halloween
Saturday
What Will People Say?
See No Evil, Hear No Evil,
Speak No Evil
Last Call For Aunt Julie
Now You See Me
With A Little Help From My
Friends
America’s Most Wanted
Seven Is Enough
Happy’s Valentine
Brave New World
Choices
Faith, Hope & The Bottom
Line
It’s About George
Say Goodbye
Dangerous Liaisons (Parts 1 & 2)
Religion notwithstanding, we
have not seen a show like this since the 1970s, as all the family shows since
have been so phony with precocious children, made especially annoying when they
turn out to be smarter than the parents.
Though some of the “rolling back” on the show is ideologically
disturbing to some extent, at least the family is relatively more believable
since any in 30 years for a family show.
In that respect, 7th Heaven works well enough and
knows its audience demographic.
Another inarguable quality
about the show is the performance it offers on DVD. The 1.33 X 1 full frame images are solid, clean and clear, a
surprising exception to so many new shows going on DVD, too many of which have
been a bit shoddy. The Dolby Digital
2.0 Stereo in English with Pro Logic surrounds is also impressive and is the
way new TV productions should always minimally sound as far as the quality is
concerned. That is an involving
combination, especially goods for a dialogue-based show. There are no extras, but the series
attracted some quality guest stars and that all makes 7th Heaven
at least interesting throwback television.
- Nicholas Sheffo
