Common Sense Media Review
By Common Sense Media
,
based on child development research. How do we rate?
This uplifting family drama keeps the faith.
Parents Need to Know
Why Age 10+?
Any Positive Content?
Where to Watch
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7th Heaven
Parent and Kid Reviews
Based on 16 parent reviews
Based on 17 kid reviews
Kids say this show provides an insightful exploration of important and mature themes like addiction, teen pregnancy, and personal struggles within a family-focused narrative, making it more appropriate for older children and teenagers. Although the initial seasons are deemed suitable for younger audiences, many reviews caution about the increasing intensity of subject matter in later seasons, which often involves discussions of sex, drugs, and violence, warranting parental guidance.
- mature themes
- parental guidance
- suitable for teens
- positive role models
- family dynamics
Summarized with AI
Summarized with AI
What's the Story?
7TH HEAVEN charts the highs and lows of the large Camden clan. One of very few TV dramas designed specifically for the whole family, the long-running series proves that family programming can be highly successful. Although at times the Camdens -- Dad and mom, Reverend Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) and Annie (Catherine Hicks) and their kids Matt (Barry Watson), Simon (David Gallagher), Mary (Jessica Biel), Lucy (Beverley Mitchell), Ruthie (Mackenzie Rosman) and twins Sam and David (Lorenzo and Nikolas Brino), and countless other family members -- come across as overly skilled communicators. The show attempts to inject some reality into their interaction. Through the course of the series, the kids undergo growing pains as they mature into young adults; some marry, have kids of their own, or leave the nest. There are bouts of rebellion, sibling rivalry, and the occasional stray friend that the Camden kids bring home for advice from their preacher dad.
Is It Any Good?
The series insists on dealing with timely social issues (homelessness, hate crimes) as well as the difficult situations kids and teens encounter as they grow up (premarital sex, drinking). As a consequence, sometimes 7th Heaven feels like a morality play, and the dialogue and acting seems stiff. But viewers see how the Camden family, together with friends and spouses, work through their problems -- even those that seem insurmountable -- and ultimately find solutions.
Talk to Your Kids About ...
Families can talk about the issues posed by each episode. Ask teens what they perceive the consequences of each character's actions to be. What would they do in similar circumstances? Do they agree with the values the show espouses? Is it more or less likely that a minister's children would get into tricky situations as teenagers?
TV Details
- Premiere date : August 26, 1996
- Cast : Catherine Hicks , Jessica Biel , Stephen Collins
- Networks : CW , Syndicated
- Genre : Drama
- Topics : Book Characters
- TV rating :
- Last updated : October 1, 2025
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