A surprise for Eric, jealousy for Lucy, and a farting old lady make up for a uncomfortably unsatisfying episode.
7.8
"Good"
Something was just off almost immediatley. You could tell right off the bat that once the seventh season started, that there was something that was just not right at all. Something was gone. Something was missing. It just wasn't the same show. Barry Watson and Jessica Biel were now both gone, so it was sayonara to Matt and Mary. Two major and important characters to the show. They left a big black hole that was not going to be easy to fill. In fact, it couldn't be filled. The first six seasons were glorious. Every single one of them. Once this season started, and the changes and new additions came into the fold, it was clear that everything was not hitting on all cylinders. This episode was the introduction to the Chandler Hampton character. A new face in a sea of new faces that come to make up seasons seven and eight. Some may deem this episode important, and maybe even pivotal, because of the introduction. But I guess that really only matters on how you view the character and his addition/importance to the show. This episode did have some good things about it. Most of them, not surprisingly, were because of Phyllis Diller as Gabrielle. One scene in the basement was tense and was un-7th Heaven like. This episode left me feeling what I did with the previous episodes before in this season. That something was just not right. So, what happened?....
Eric is still at home and is still recuperating from his recent heart surgery. Eric is at a crossroads now, and is in a bad state with things. His health, and the fact that he feels let down by the man upstairs for all of this happening. Annie had her life changes last season, and now it's Eric's turn. But things get darker. By making matters worse, Lou stops by and introduces Chandler Hampton(new series regular Jeremy London)to Eric and Annie. Lou hired Chandler as the new associate pastor, to be a replacement at the church while Eric gets better at home. As if feeling let down by God wasn't enough for Eric, he now feels betrayed by his very own church. Eric is very upset about this new situation, and deservedly so. Annie seems to be just as upset with the matter as well. It does raise questions. Sure, Eric needs to take time for himself to get better, and the church does need someone while he is away. You can't just close down shop. But there is just something sneaky and not right behind the whole thing. I'm sure Lou and the rest of the church meant nothing by it, but it just doesn't feel like everything is on the up and up. It all boils down to a very tense filled moment in the Camden basement. At least the writers remember that Casa Camden does indeed have a basement. Things come to a head in a heated discussion between Eric, Annie, and Lou. Eric speaks to Annie in a way you never thought you would hear on this show. He tells her to "shut up". And you gasp. And gasp you will. That's not all. Annie slaps Lou. While it was a very strong, powerful, well written and well acted moment, it's uncomfortable. You like the fact that they have done it, but don't want to see it again. Stephen Collins and Catherine Hicks both do really good work in this scene. As for Jeremy London, he makes a decent impression. It's just that it's not a very solid one. He seems nice and all that, but that's about it. Strong character development has never been the show's strong point. He doesn't do a bad job, but he doesn't have much to go with anyways. I appreciate what they were going with here, and there was some strong work, but it was unsettling and uncomfortable to me.
A seconday storyline has everyone's crazy middle daughter getting crazy and jealous again. Lucy sees Kevin looking for an engagement ring for Lucy, and he sees him doing it with Roxanne. The nerve!. Actually, what's wrong with it?. Lucy gets jealous that Kevin is shopping for her ring with Roxanne for some strange reason that only Lucy could create. Lucy has already had jealous thoughts in her head over Roxanne, and I guess she will find new things out of nowhere whenever she is around. It isn't a bad idea for Roxanne to be around. Kevin could get a female's perspective on the whole thing. Not such a bad thing. Everything comes to an understanding, of course, and Lucy drops hints with pictures of rings she ripped out of magazines to show to Kevin. This storyline started out annoying, as most storylines do that concern Lucy/Kevin/Roxanne. It ends much, much better, and is actually kind of cute and sweet. But the jealousy thing is really just starting to kick in, and it's already as old as the hills.
A funky old lady comes to the door. Her name is Gabrielle, and she informs Annie that she was sent to their house by the Colonel to help out Annie around the house while Eric is on the mend. Gabrielle is not one you would think the Colonel would sent to help, let alone know. Gabrielle likes to nap, drink, and pass the occasional wind here and there. Annie doesn't take to the kooky new visitor, and calls Buffalo to see if they can take her back. Phyliss Diller has always been incredibly funny in her very long career, and she was the best thing in this episode. She already appeared, albeit briefly, on the show before. But here, she is the one saving grace for the entire episode. The scene with her cutting the cheese in the backyard in front of Eric, Lou, and Chandler, was hilarious. If people didn't like a simple little dose of fart humor, you must be humorless robots. It was a brief shot of comedy that this show needs, but never has. If there was one thing I liked about this episode, that was it. Phyllis, you were great, and the fact that this crazy lady was sent by someone as the Colonel just makes it funnier. But really, the character of Gabrielle was so great to see on this show. Someone who doesn't act like a proper thing. Someone more real than most characters on the show. She farts, she chugs wine, and smokes. It was so refreshing to see someone on the show to act that way.
If the Lucy/Kevin/Roxanne thing doesn't do it for you, then the Simon/Cecelia one won't either. Simon obviously has feelings for this girl, even tho she told him that she wants to be just friends with him. Simon was in it all the way. He was in love. This upset him, and understandably, isn't going to be going away anytime soon. So, when Cecelia comes and flaunts her new french friend around like that, you just want to slap her. Simon really felt for her, and I guess she felt she could just do this him so soon. Simon needs time, and for her to act that way and do that is just tasteless and uncaring.
"Gabrielle Come Blow Your Horn" was not without some good parts. It was kind of dark and depressing most of them, except for that one scene with Gabrielle. There was some good acting and writing here, but the whole overall episode left me cold.moreless