7^th Heaven – The Complete Second Season

 

Picture: B-     Sound: B-     Extras: D     Episodes: C+

 

 

In a recent review for the Aaron Spelling-produced Charmed, I noted how Spelling had a knack for finding the kinds of shows American TV audiences wanted to see.  What I did not go into is how after Beverly Hills 90210 was a hit, how his aesthetic changed to something a bit lighter.  Both Charmed and 7^th Heaven are part of that generation of shows.  They are almost the opposite of what Spelling had been doing for years, but as it went into its second season in late 1997, 7^th Heaven stayed free of anything vicious or vindictive that would usually identify it as one of the Spelling potboilers.

 

I received a few comments about calling the Camden family “warm and fuzzy” with perfect kids and perfect parents who love each other, as the show has its drama and problems and is not as artificial a portrait of family life as similar shows form the 1950s would be.  However, I actually find a surprisingly good sitcom like Reba more involving, funny and even realistic.  Not that this show is not A-quality in its cast, production values and guests.

 

It is still a winning show for what it is supposed to be, it is just that as much as I may have liked Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks in advance, the show is just going to continue to have too many limits and be too safe for me.  It is exactly what enough people want to see, or it would not be the hit it became.  The “faith factor” is something that though not too preachy or annoying, though the theme song of the show absolutely is, it is just far too claustrophobic in a way that seems to hold back a show that could be more like Eight Is Enough and Family.  Being it is what it is, the episodes to the second season are:

 

Don’t Take My Love Away

See You In September

I Love You

Who Knew?

Says Who?

Breaking Up Is Hard To Do

Girls Just Want To Have Fun

Do Something

I Hate You

Truth Or Dare

Lead, Follow, Or Get Out Of The Way (guest stars Peter Graves)

Rush To Judgment

Stuck In The Middle With You

Red Tape

Homecoming

It Takes A Village

Nothing Endures But Change

My Kinda Guy

Time To Leave The Nest

Like A Harlot

Boyfriends…

…And Girlfriends

 

 

 

As before, trying to list what each show is about becomes sappy and redundant to the show’s unfair disadvantage, plus one is more likely better off starting with the first season if they are going to invest in the characters enough to watch entire seasons in the first place. 

 

Once again, 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 still an involving combination for viewers, and you can hear what they are saying!  There are once again, no extras, which does not make sense with the possibility of audio commentaries and room on DVD 6.  All six come in single slender cases that more and more people prefer, though the slender doubles are even better, but that is another essay.  7^th Heaven may not be “heavenly” for many, but enough that it is one of the kinder and more intelligent shows on TV, save that theme song!

 

 

-   Nicholas Sheffo