On another show, this might not be troubling, but 7th Heaven‘s moralizing carries extra weight because it come from a minister.ħth Heaven is undeniably preachy. In “America’s Most Wanted,” Eric returns from a sporting event infuriated that so few people know the National Anthem, grumbling that people should either learn the words or “leave the country.” (As all of the Camdens, save the youngest, know the lyrics it can be assumed that this is directed at the audience.) Overhearing this, five-year-old Ruthie fears that her father will send her away if she doesn’t learn (as she calls it) “The Star-Stapled Banner.” By the end of the episode, she surprises her father with a perfect rendition and the subject is closed without discussion. On occasion, however, its conservatism seems less generalized and more pointed and accusatory. Despite the often heavy-handed treatment, 7th Heaven‘s messages (tolerance, honesty, respect, compassion) are hard to debate. John helps Matt understand the pervasive effects of racism and Keesha goes so far as to educate Lucy about Rosa Parks, braid her hair, and, in one painful scene, teach her to dance. However, they eventually warm to the Camdens, and fall into the timeless role in racial etiquette of opening the eyes of well-meaning white kids. Morgan’s teenagers, John (Chaz Lamar Shepherd) and Keesha (Gabrielle Union), start off haughty and distant (“you think that’s what we do after church?” John responds when Mary, a varsity player, suggests they play basketball). Though in some ways the show’s wholesomeness is charming (brothers and sisters say “I love you,” Eric breaks things so he can pay a down-on-his-luck parishioner to fix them), at times, “wholesome” reduces to “white bread.” The only significant non-white characters are introduced in the “racism episode.” In “The Color of God,” Eric’s African American “good friend from seminary” Morgan Hamilton’s (Dorian Harewood) church is burned down in a hate crime and he and his family stay with the Camdens until it is safe to return home. The Camden clan also takes in various people-in-need, imparting their message that (as the theme song states), “There’s no greater feeling than the love of a family.” Throughout the season’s 22 episodes, the older kids take turns flirting with troublemaking (smoking, cutting class, scheming to get kissed), but always return to their cheerful, somewhat-righteous true selves by episode’s end. Now available on DVD, 7th Heaven: The Complete First Season introduces us to the Camden family of Glen Oaks, California: Eric, stay-at-home mom Annie (Catherine Hicks), and their five biblically named children, Matt (Barry Watson), Mary (Jessica Biel), Lucy, Simon (David Gallagher), and Ruthie (Mackenzie Rosman). Like The Brady Bunch, 7th Heaven is at once comforting for its predictability and “niceness” and irritating for how poorly it reflects the world. This is not to say that it is entirely unsatisfying. Though 7th Heaven deals with “issues” (alcoholism, homelessness, racism), it also has the saccharine, unreal feeling of The Brady Bunch. However, it takes more than an in-touch-with-his-emotions dad to make a show feel topical. It may not be every father’s dream, but this moment in the show’s premiere episode sets up 7th Heaven‘s world perfectly - it presents ’50s-style family togetherness updated for the ’90s with a sensitive, “progressive” father. This time, it is because his middle daughter Lucy (Beverly Mitchell), after finally getting her eagerly awaited period, has asked him to “run to the drugstore” for her. Reverend Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) is tearing up, as he will do again and again throughout 7th Heaven‘s nine-seasons-and-counting run.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |