(S11E22) For some reason I have a case of deja vu right now. That must be due to the fact that 7th Heaven already had a series finale last year. We all thought that was the last we would see of the Camdens, at least in first-run episodes that is. However, by some miracle (or greed, you take your pick) the executives over at the brand new CW network decided to bring the show back one more time.
It was probably the biggest mistake they could've made. The 7th Heaven that premiered on the CW back in September barely resembled the show that was one of the most popular on the old WB. Other than Lucy and the twins (whose acting skills made the Olsen twins look like master thespians while they were on Full House) there was barely a Camden left. The rest of the cast was filled out with Martin and Sandy, and three new teens who became part of the extended family.
As if that wasn't enough damage to the series, the creators of the show decided to mess with the fans a bit more by giving Eric Camden a fatal heart disease; one that was bound to kill him at the end of the season. No one was happy with that bit of news, and I'm sure that the headquarters of the CW would have been burnt to the ground by an angry mob if the series finale ended up at Eric's funeral. Luckily, wiser heads prevailed and they made Eric heal up real fast last week.
Which brings us to this year's series finale. Look, I didn't expect it to surpass last year's finale where Matt, Mary and Lucy were all expecting twins: it was silly but cute and sweet at the same time. But, I thought they would have done something more than produce the suckfest that I watched. Good Lord, that whole finale could've been placed into a fifteen minute block of programming! Did the producers of the show really think that was going to satisfy the fans of the show?
To summarize, Eric's parents (the Colonel and Ruth) present him with a huge RV as a gift for overcoming his sickness. In an impetus moment Eric and Annie decide to toss all of their responsibilities away and hit the road to see America. However, since no one seems to be able to live in Glen Oak without Eric around everyone decides to join him on his journey. The whole episode revolves around him and the others getting ready for the trip. Exciting television, I tell ya!
That was basically the plot for the entire hour. There were some brief side stories, like Ruthie telling Martin that she's in love with T-Bone rather than him, and Lucy and Kevin wondering if Eric lied to them about his condition. Not much after that, though. While we're on the subject of Lucy, she turned into the most annoying person on the show. The entire season presented her as a shrilly, slightly crazed woman who seemed to be one step away from a nervous breakdown. Meanwhile, her husband Kevin seemed to be a bit whipped and just going along with the motions.
The thing that disappointed me most was the last five or so minutes of the finale. During the show a rule was passed out that one small suitcase and three personal possessions were allowed on their journey. The last part of the finale was Eric inspecting all of the travelers and seeing what three items they brought along. That's good television? I've seen more action on C-Span. Where was the emotion that a series finale should bring, especially one for a show that was a fan favorite for a decade? They could have done better.
On a scale between 1 and 7, where one is considered worst, I would love to give the season finale of 7th Heaven a rating of '1'. But, because I was a fan of the show when it was about just the Camdens, I will take that into consideration and give it a rating of
I await your opinion (or your bile-laced criticism) with anticipation.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
5-13-2007 @ 11:04PM
David said...
I didn't watch this years series finale, and I didn't watch last years. One thing I thought when I saw the commerical was "that's it?" It just looked so lame. Last year's looked great (for 7th Heaven) from the commerical and had everyone. I hope Gilmore Girls will end well.... or at least decent.
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5-13-2007 @ 11:33PM
Bilan said...
I havent watched 7th heaven since the early days. Really, theres only so much neurotic teen-aged angst and sweep of resident orphans through a revolving door I could take.
All I want to say is Im still BITTER that Everwood was given the heave-ho. Amy may have been a neurotic teen but that show had a lot of life left in it to be gone so soon.
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5-14-2007 @ 9:32AM
LINDA RICKERT said...
USED TO ENJOY SEVENTH HEAVEN IN THE EARLY YEARS.
ABOUT THE TIME OF ANNIES CHANGE OF LIFE, IT STARTED TO IRRITATE ME. THE SHOW STARTED WITH A BANG AND ENDED WITH A BLAH. LAST YEARS FINALE SHOULD HAVE BEEN THE ONE AND ONLY.
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5-14-2007 @ 10:02AM
CaliberSRT4 said...
I am more satisfied with this years series finale (haha, I wonder what other shows had two series finales?). I like the whole traveling thing better than everyone was SUPPOSED to have twins. Lucy should've had twins by now right? I remember her having a miscarriage, but that was last season right? Oh well I might be wrong, but I guess that is what happens when there is two series finales and the last one loses most of its characters and adds new ones.
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5-14-2007 @ 2:37PM
cheryl said...
I love 7th Heaven, my family and I have watched it since it first aired and hate to see it go. There are not alot of wholesome family shows on tv now adays that the entire family can relate to please don't stop the show.
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5-14-2007 @ 2:52PM
George said...
Cheryl, perhaps that time would be better spent reading.
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5-14-2007 @ 3:33PM
Marcia said...
So long CW all my shows have been canceled there is no more reason to watch I will miss 7th Heaven , Gilmore Girls and Everwood No reason for T.V. on Mon.or Tues.
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5-14-2007 @ 3:34PM
Marcia said...
So long CW all my shows have been canceled there is no more reason to watch I will miss 7th Heaven , Gilmore Girls and Everwood No reason for T.V. on Mon.or Tues.
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5-14-2007 @ 3:38PM
raelene said...
for being a finale, I expected more, but am grateful that it didn't end with Eric's funeral. I felt they left opened ends for another season to run instead of finishing so that is disappointing. They couldn't afford to keep the regulars on the show so they bring new charecters in. I felt like the season was dull and not much going on, but maybe that was intended so fans wouldn't get their hopes up for another season that isn't going to happen. I love the series, sad to see it end.
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5-14-2007 @ 4:49PM
Hazeleyz57 said...
This was the worst show 7th Heaven ever made and its worse season! Lucy became crazier than ever. Kevin lost all his spunk. T-Bone drove me crazy. Sandy was sickening. Had they left the show at its original season finale the show would have had a magical ending. The writers destroyed years of hard work with this senseless ending!
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5-14-2007 @ 5:44PM
louise G. lazariuk said...
I had looked forward to this last show of Seven Heaven, but I never expected what I saw, it did not even make any sense, all these people going along, like the Campdem are unable to live without an entourage and everyone into that RV trailer, the story itself was poor, give me a break! What a let down from a show so well done for so many years, yes I'm very desapointed, they could have done better than that to leave us with.
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5-14-2007 @ 5:50PM
Holly said...
"Lucy should've had twins by now right? I remember her having a miscarriage, but that was last season right?"....this was briefly referred to early this season about her having a miscarriage with the twins, i was definitely disappointed. As for the ending, while actually kinda touching, it was sooo unrealistic to believe they put about 20 people into that motor home for a trip of undetermined length and route. I have to admit I thought one of Kevin's 'things', the bag of cash, to be the most realistic of the 'things' chosen by the characters..no one else seemed to realize how much this trip is going to cost! A surfboard??? give me a break!
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5-14-2007 @ 5:50PM
Holly said...
"Lucy should've had twins by now right? I remember her having a miscarriage, but that was last season right?"....this was briefly referred to early this season about her having a miscarriage with the twins, i was definitely disappointed. As for the ending, while actually kinda touching, it was sooo unrealistic to believe they put about 20 people into that motor home for a trip of undetermined length and route. I have to admit I thought one of Kevin's 'things', the bag of cash, to be the most realistic of the 'things' chosen by the characters..no one else seemed to realize how much this trip is going to cost! A surfboard??? give me a break!
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5-14-2007 @ 6:33PM
Bobbi said...
I'm 26 years old and i've watched 7th Heaven and Charmed since they first premiered.Sad to see them go! I have never missed an episode.I wont be watching the CW nomore all my shows are gone now....(Charmed)! (7th Heaven)!Please bring them back on!
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5-14-2007 @ 7:14PM
elmer said...
Sorry, but 7th Heaven was dull and boring for most os the shows. The least they could have done was had a couple of shows with Mary,Matt and Simon at least un them. I too feel that the way they ended it leaves it open for another type of show. Sorry but the twin boys are BORING to say the least and their hairstyles stink. The best years were the early years. A senior(65) who did enjoy WB but without 7 and Everwood, not much left to watch. So long WB. EM Denver
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5-14-2007 @ 7:32PM
Audrey said...
I was really looking forward to the finale-but,between being extremely tired and it being boring--I fell asleep and missed the last 15 minutes.Can someone fill me in?
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5-14-2007 @ 7:51PM
Linda said...
I have enjoyed watching Seventh Heaven and will hate to see it go. There are so few programs that have any redeeming quality. We need more family shows.
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5-14-2007 @ 7:58PM
George said...
Audrey,
Basically, Ruthie was revealed as the shadowy figure behind the Boardwalk Project, and she used Dr. Hastings' Infinity Machine to activate Martin and Kevin's subconscious programming, turning them into unstoppable super soldiers. They were stopped by Sergeant Michaels, who died in the process, sacrificing himself so that the newly revived Robbie Palmer could free Lucy and Annie from Wilson's home-made dirty bomb. Ben Kinkirk defused the bomb, then held his dying brother as he was finally released from Ruthie's clutches. Then, in the climactic final scene, Sam and David were revealed to have been vat-grown from Happy's DNA, and Peter Petrowski, whose last name sounded enough like "Petrelli" to allow him to absorb other characters' powers, sealed himself and Ruthie inside a Dyson sphere made of pure adamantium. Then they exploded, taking most of the town with them, and leaving behind a motor home -- Peter's parting gift to the only family that had ever truly shown him love -- in which the surviving Camdens drove off into the sunset.
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5-14-2007 @ 8:02PM
Larry said...
didn't see the finale as we were under the impression that they had pulled the plug earlier this season. With what I've read of the ending last night, maybe 7th Heaven can be picked up by the Travel Channel and continue on as a replacement for the old on the road program on Sunday mornings. thrill to the Camden's adventures around America!!!
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5-14-2007 @ 8:05PM
JUANITA BARNES said...
well im sorry to see them go, they Gilmore, 7thHeaven
A few others dont have time to mention, but they were
more down to earth than some of the shows on the other 3 main channels(no blood and guts or sex enddos).
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