Customer Reviews

7th Heaven - The Complete Third Season

5 star:		(33)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

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.

I love 7TH HEAVEN, which is TV's longest-running family comedy-drama. While season eleven (!) keeps going in prime time on Sunday nights, season three is on DVD and season four is on the way. This was one of the late Aaron Spelling's crown jewels in forty years of producing evening TV dramas, and Brenda Hampton is the creator and still head writer after eleven seasons. And the cast is just impeccable: Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks as parents Eric and Annie Camden; and, in descending order as their five kids, Barry Watson as college-age Matt, Jessica Biel as basketball lover and independent Mary, Beverley Mitchell as boy-obsessed Lucy, David Gallagher as teenage Simon, and Mackenzie Rosman as precocious little Ruthie (who doesn't seem so little when she and a boyfriend get tattoos in season 11).

Watch season 11 in prime time (Sunday night on the CW network), then put on a season three DVD episode; it is like looking through a very special family album. Were the kids ever that little? Season three, which I am reviewing here, is a wonderful time capsule DVD. I think I like it more than season 11. Season 11 is more sex-obsessed with everyone and not as carefully written as season 3. And, of course, it is a treat and an honor to have all 22 season 3 episodes in one convenient DVD that is uncut and non-commercial on six disks. Conflicts may be resolved too easily, but the show gets into some powerful themes and is superbly acted.

Each disk has four episodes that are about 45 minutes each without commercials. In disk 1 Annie announces that she is pregnant, a frat house initiation is almost fatal, and Lucy's new girl friend is a (wrist) cutter.

In disk 2, Matt gets arrested and his car stolen while helping a girl with phony car trouble. Ray Walston guest stars in a wonderful performance as a homeless WW2 vet who helps the Camdens all appreciate life more. And Eric's old rock band trio arrives for a chaotic visit.

In disk 3, Mom Annie is more and more pregnant, while Lucy considers having sex (in season 11 she is a wife and loving mother!) and Mary sneaks away to a coed sleepover. A memorable Christmas episode. Mary just barely passes her driving test. And Eric and Annie learn that Dr. Hastings, who almost killed Matt at birth, might deliver the twins.

Disk 4 is the biggie on this DVD set. Twins Sam and David are born in a very poignant and emotional episode with a lovely finale, then come home from the hospital; what a lovely singing voice Beverly Mitchell (Lucy) has in putting the twins to sleep. And Lucy's ex-boyfriend may be involved with drugs.

In disk 5, Eric counsels a couple who want to divorce, while Matt temporarily joins the Army to pay for college. The college dean is threatened with expulsion after an extra-marital affair. An aging, but dedicated janitor may have to resign or be fired for age. And a wonderful dog may have to be put to sleep because (s)he is dying and in pain.

Disk 6 is a two hour season finale--one wedding is stopped in the middle, another takes place, and a lot of people reconcile improbably but optimistically for a radiant happy ending.

7TH HEAVEN is a TV series gem to highly recommend, present and past. Again, Sunday night on the CW network, and seasons 1 through 3 on DVD, with season 4 in the wings. The series is at its zenith in season three. Kudos, especially, to head writers Brenda Hampton and Sue Tenney; and to a world-class cast. If Catherine Hicks was not really pregnant in disks 1 through 3 of season three, then she is one of the great actresses; and Stephen Collins seems so like a suburban California minister that one wants to write him with religious concerns. And again, bouncing back and forth between season 11 live and season 3 on DVD is truly like flipping through a nostalgic family album to cherish. Season 3 is definitely worth buying to have the entire 22 episode season in one convenient boxed set, uncut and non-commercial, at a reasonable price.

FINALLY!!!! Finally the third season of 7th heaven has surfaced. My only complaint is that it's too far away!! 7th Heaven is just down right good, wholesome, family entertainment. Whether you're a seasoned veteran of the show or just got started watching in the last few years this show is enjoyable through every minute of watching. I can't wait to own my copy!!!!

Thanks to a recent discount offer, I decided to check out this boxed set, sight-unseen, and I was not disappointed. This show has a very good cast and shows a bit of flexibility in not forcing every show to fit artificially and mechanically into an A-plot, B-plot formula. The strong cast has to be given a great deal of the credit for numerous entertaining and effective episodes, both in terms of drama and comedy. However, it must be admitted that there are some weaknesses that detract from the series (at least as represented by the third season):
1. Some of the writing can only be described as heavy-handed, with some bits of dialogue even sounding as if they had been lifted from instructional pamphlets distributed by governmental, charitable, and non-profit organizations. Fortunately, Stephen Collins is a strong enough actor to be able to handle such lines - most of the time.
2. A couple of characters are deliberately designed to be annoying. Although it could be argued that the virtues of most of the characters is demonstrated by the challenges and contrasts brought about in this way, it really made me wonder how much stronger this season might have played by tempering the characters of the youngest daughter and the mother just a bit. Perhaps these characters, when viewed in light of surrounding seasons, appear a bit more rounded, rather than mostly pampered, cranky and annoying. All the other main characters in the show are consistently cool, though, with the the older actors delivering rock-solid work but with surprisingly good performances from the younger cast - Jessica Biel often totally "stealing" her scenes, and David Gallagher running a close second, but the entire cast being solidly cast-professionals with only occasional weaknesses visible in the younger girls' sometimes awkwardly-written characters (the youngest of whom is burdened with making the most out of a character that was designed to be annoying). To my surprise, some of Catherine Hicks' scenes might actually be described as "over-acted," but not many, and the fault is to be better ascribed to the writing and direction of the scene rather than to any fault of Hicks as an actress. Nevertheless, everyone but the youngest girl proves repeatedly their capability of handling a wide array of emotions with powerful potential for both drama and comedy, which emerges with decent frequency when the writers and directors have also done their work properly. (The youngest girl is not tapped at all for more serious dramatic purposes during this season, although one assumes she'd be able to do something along those lines if given the chance. Her comedic abilities vary with the writing but is sometimes good, although some of her dialogue ends up sounding forced.)
3. This show is heavily promoted as being family-friendly. While I enjoy watching the show as an adult, and only found one episode (more on this below) to be beyond my own preferences for restraint and good taste, parents should note that this season would earn a PG-13 rating if it were submitted to the Motion Picture Association of America. While individual episodes vary between G and PG-13, with a large chunk solidly in the middle category of PG, there are many more PG-13 rated episodes than G rated ones. The season as a whole could be described as PG-13 for thematic material including some related to self-injury, and for drug content and a scene of gun violence involving a youth. The last aspect was the episode that I actually found to be disturbing, although effective in serving its theme, unfortunately including a clearly visible sequence in which a youngster with a gun deliberately shoots one of the protagonists after a lot of suspensful build-up.
4. Another curious thing about the show is that despite its stated efforts to be family-friendly and Christian-oriented, everyone in the show is far too obsessed with dating. For the sake of variety alone, I hope that a greater number of additional interests will be dealt with in other seasons, to provide more roundedness to the characters.
5. In its efforts to portray strong female characters, the show occasionally seems to cross the line into an anti-male tone. It doesn't help that everyone's libidos are overactive - the show must walk a fine line between covering many points of view versus simply falling into the stereotypes of people as hormone-driven; the portrayals of strong female characters should be careful not to cross the line into "needlessly manipulative" women (another potential stereotype) nor into questionable hypotheses about male inferiority (which in this season especially takes the form of: "women can do everything that men can do, but men can't give birth" which clearly suggests than men are simply inferior to women). It's fine to occasionally pull out the age-old claims about women's greater tolerance of pain, or to present an occasional weakness to play off of stereotypes of "male strength," such as the portrayal of Matt's aversion to needles. But problems will arise if such things start to be seen as an overall pattern rather than simply attributes of an indivudual character here or there. Thus, men should be prepared for this series showing women as the dominant characters in the greater number of situations. The risk is that this pattern threatens to lean too far in favoring women - that some aspects of unrealism will occur in the series is to be taken for granted (an arm-twist suggesting that a guy with anger problems will now be reformed and not strike out at his sister and others) nevertheless even with the benefit of the doubt given for the sake of episode time and writing constraints, the men/boys in the show are a bit too compliant with and too patient and tolerant of the manipulations of various women for many male viewers to be totally comfortable with the proceedings.
Nevertheless, many episodes tend to be an entertaining roller-coaster ride of overlapping characters (sometimes all merging in the service of a single theme, sometimes going in different directions for contrast and long-term character development) well-portrayed by a fine cast, and after seeing the first half-dozen episodes of this season, I decided to take advantage of the promotional special to buy three other season boxed sets before the sale ended. It seems to be a good show whose actors and good-intentions generally overcome its heavy-handed writing weaknesses and its obsessions with "dating." This show also appears to be unusually good in its long-term continuing, keeping track of previous events and having a whole set of supporting characters that reappear with regularity. In this season, every cast member has substantial scenes in every episode - there's no discernable pattern of ditching or downplaying anyone for particular episodes - something that innumerable other shows could learn from, thanks to the particular style of the show in which all main characters are successfully "juggled" in surprisingly effective yet rapid developments through alternating scenes. It is that juggling act which appears to distinguish this show, and suggests fine production work behind the scenes as well as the more obvious abilities of the regular and supporting cast members.

may be the very best show of all times, if not certainly one of the best.

This is one of the best tv shows I have ever watched! 7th Haven is not only wholesome but good clean fun. Most of the Tv shows are full of sex, violence low moral, and foul language, but 7th Heaven has a higher standard. I am sorry to see that this show is no longer on the air, but am so pleased and overjoyed that I can buy the series on DVD.

For those of you who don't know, this season is about Annie Camden give birth to twins In other developments, Annie's widowed father, Charles Jackson (Graham Jarvis), has a big surprise for the whole Camden family. Matt Camden (Barry Watson) kindles his romance with a former girlfriend and Lucy Camden still has boyfriend trouble. There is always continuing issues with Mary (Jessica Biel). She is still in the awkward stages of being trapped between tough rough teenage years and trying to be an adult. And as for the youngest Camden son Simon (David Gallagher) undergoing his first love.

This show will be missed! Thank you for a good 10 years!

I live in New Zealand, thats way over by Australia and have been looking forward to the announcement of the next season being released. We are a Christian family and find that a lot of todays shows are too violent and I enjoyed the first 2 seasons and am quite happy to buy all of them to be watched over and over again.

Season Three introduced several things important to the future of the series. Sam and David are born expanding the Camden Brood to seven, Eric suffers his heart attack, heart concerns would appear on and off throughout the rest of the series. Throughout it all, the focus on serious issues continues including "Drunk Like Me" were a friend of Matt's has too much to drink during a paternity initiation. Cutters exposes the phenomenon of cutting something I'd never heard of before this episode. Johnny Get Your Gun where a troubled ex-boyfriend of Deena's threatens to shoot Simon only to end up shooting Eric instead. In No Sex, Some Drugs, and a Little Rock and Roll, Mary's friend has a massive heart attack after using ephedra based pills, years before the use of ephedra was nationally discussed as a problem. Another moving episode is All Dogs Go to Heaven as Eric counsels a couple on what to do about their elderly dog. Beyond all the high drama and real life issues, important story development occurs as well. Matt breaks up Heather's wedding, and we are introduced to Carlos who would later become Mary's husband. Another winning season from my personal guilty pleasure.

7th Heaven is a wonderful family show. We use it for family nights with all 4 of our children ages 5 to 17. The product was perfect and arrived quickly and efficiently.

I ordered my DVD on Friday and it came in the mail on Monday!!!!! I Repeat! Absolutely Fabulous!!!