7th Heaven

Simon makes a video essay on his family for college. It explains the relationships they’ve had, the friends they’ve helped, and just general things about the Camdens. This was one of my favorite episodes! I loved seeing the past things in the show and remembering them! I loved the pictures and the theme song! It was wonderful. I think that doing the whole episode in pictures, with the exception of the brief moments with Simon, was a cool factor that is very unique. Seeing the familiar faces and reminiscing from past episodes was awesome! This is one of the more memorable episodes and will always be a classic! It gets a 10 out of 10 from me!

I Loved this episode so much, I think i loved it so much was because 1. I love Simon and two because i like the whole idea of the home video and its like a recap of the first seven seasons not just about him, about all 9 of them. It told us so much info about their lifes and their experiences and the kinda cartoon way. I only watched this episode once but i sure wanna see it again and when the seventh season comes out i'm gonna buy it just because of that one episode. Thats how i feel about this episode

This was much better than a normal goodbye. This epesode was a reflection on all previous epesodes of 7th Heaven. It was a reflection an the charactors and it was the first time we really learned about how Siomon felt about the accedent. I really like the quotes. The discribtion of charactors was good. I liked how Siomon talked about all the boyfriends and girlfriends. There are two thingsthat I think should be different. I think he should have mentioned Sawna for Matt and more about Deena, they were pretty serios for there age. I really liked Siomon talking about all the weird friends. It was really cute. I really liked Siomon talking about how thwy got in trouble. It was rather amusing. It was great to see Siomon talk about how the accedent affected him. Talking he seemed very mature. I liked him concluding on how he will miss his family. I really liked that he acnoleged Ruthie as the closest Camden kid. I have always felt they had a special bond. I loved the way siomon descriped Mary as carfree. His discription was perfect. I loved that he said Mary said that if you fall off the earth just keep falling because life will eventually embrace you. Althogh I am sad Siomon is leaving (he will be back) the epesode was amaiizng. I have not been a fan since the show started (I was three) but I have watched reruns and all and I feel very close to the show. This epesode was one of my all time favorites. Way to go Brenda. I have just one last comment, with an applacation as good as that what school could turn Siomon down.

I enjoyed this episode. When I watched it I sat there remembering all the things that Simon was saying. I remembered all the things that happened with Lucy, Mary, Matt, Ruthy, and Simon. I could tell that it must have taken alot of time for the writers to remember all the things that have happened in all the past seasons.

To some TV viewers and critics, there are only a few things that a TV show does that makes many of them cringe. For some, it's holiday episodes(although I love those and can't see how anyone wouldn't like a nice, big holiday episode), and for others, it's the dreaded clip show. If a TV show manages to run for a significant amount of time, it's pretty inevitable that they will have, at some point, a clip show. Some see it as a nice way to take a look back at things and see where the show has been. Others see it as a complete waste of time that gives the cast time off instead of having a "fresh" episode. I can go either way. Sometimes I really enjoy them, and other times I get annoyed because I am in the mood to see something new. Well, 7th Heaven is the kind of show that is destined to have a clip show. It's made for clip shows. You can't go 8 seasons(at this point anyways)with a show like this and not have some kind of clip show. And I have to say, the resulting product was quite disappointing. Not to say that there weren't good things about it, or there weren't some things I liked, but it was not what it could of been. It was not what most other clip shows are. Since not a whole lot happened here, this review may be a bit shorter than what I usually do. So, what went on?...



We were treated with a major cliffhanger at the end of the show's seventh season. Det. Michaels and Lou came to the door to give Eric some news. And it was obvious that it was not good news. This was a killer cliffhanger. Anyways, season 8 starts out with the news that Simon was in a car accident and he hit and killed a kid. This was a tremendous new development. I was thrilled when this turned out to be the cliffhanging mystery. Simon, as you can imagine, is crushed with what happened, and feels as bad as you can imagine he feels. The kid's brother vandalized the church, and his parents told Eric and Annie that they don't know what he would do and that maybe it would be best if Simon were gone. Simon takes tests to graduate early and to hopefully go to college to get out of town. And now, Simon is leaving Glen Oak. As part of his college application, he makes a video essay of himself, and his family through all the ups and downs, loves, and mistakes.



First of all, the premise of it all is pretty good. Make a video essay of his family. Personally, I think a much, much better way to of gone with this episode was to not make it so much a clip show, but maybe do a little something like they did with Matt's video essay back in season three's "Let's Talk About Sex". Actually film his family members talking, and some clips of what they talked about could of been thrown in. Not only would it of been better and more interesting, but it also would of been a way to of had the rest of the cast in the episode. Because David Gallagher is the only one here. So, the premise was there, but the actual execution of the show was pretty weak. And let's talk about the 'clip' aspect first. They weren't even clips at all. We didn't get to see actual events happen as they did. We get pictures. It's like a slideshow more than anything else. This was a problem for me. While it was kind of fun and cool to see some old pictures, I just thought the actual execution and overall way the show was handled was quite lazy. They couldn't even make a regular clip show. Actual clips would of been better than watching a slideshow. Sure, they did some cute things here and there to spruce up parts of it, but it didn't really help the overall episode.



This is David Gallagher's episode. This is his goodbye. Well, for now anyways. I can see and understand that the entire episode focuses squarely on him, and what they must of been trying to do. In ways it was a nice send off, and in other ways, it felt like a cheap disappointment. But David was great. His parts were done nicely, as was his narration. It was interesting to have legendary film producer Robert Evans do a narration as well. Originally, the title of this episode was "The Kid Is Out Of The Picture", and most people did not get what that meant at all. It was a play on words on Evans' recent biography, "The Kid Stays In The Picture". I am kind of puzzled on how Evans got involved, and who would of thought of him in the first place. Oh well. Anyways, Gallagher has always been the stand out of the kids. Acting wise anyways. His stuff earlier this season was the best stuff he has ever done on this show. Besides Stephen and Catherine, there isn't much in the way of great acting on the show. David really grew into an impressive young actor, and it's a shame to see the best actor out of the kids have to leave. But as future seasons have shown us, he will be back.



The one thing I really liked about this episode is the beginning. I absolutely loved how the camera comes down to the Camden house and then just swooshes in. The camera glides over the house and furniture and focuses on some pictures in the living room and all that. I thought it was a beautiful and magical touch, and that was the one part of the entire episode that really made it for me. It was special and iconic, and it would of been much better suited for some kind of farewell show for when the show actually does end(which appears to be never)instead of here.



I didn't see this show until it's second season, mainly because we didn't have The WB in our area yet, and when we did, it took a while to notice the show. I have been watching faithfully since 1998, and while I may not of exactly been there from the very beginning, I have been there for the majority of the show's run. In ways, this episode was special and really brought the nostalgia wave washing over me, but because I have been with the show for so long, I was hoping and expecting something better. In the end, this was an episode that had the right idea, but didn't follow through with it. At least not for me. I appreciate that Gallagher's last episode had him and only him in it. It would of been better if there more to it. Die hard 7th Heaven fans will no doubt love it and enjoy it because of the pictures and nostalgia of it all, and I won't deny that, but I felt that it could of been so, so , so much better.

This episode was a wonderful recap of the first 7 seasons. I think it could have covered the first few episodes of season 8, but it's okay. I've been watching 7th Heaven since 1999 and I think this is one of the best episodes they've ever had.I wonder what the ratings were like? Well, if you haven't seen this episode, watch it the next time it's on, because you won't want to miss it!

Wow! What a terrific and classic episode. This was the best episode so far this season. I know, I know, this was not the regular standard episode. I could understand why many people who watched it were disappointed and discouraged with Simon's departure as they hope the whole family would be there in some way for his final farewell and there was very little newness to the episode as it was mostly a slideshow. But for me--- as a diehard fan that's watched the show from the VERY beginning it was a treat. It was fun going down memory lane with the Camden family. A show that last this long would no doubt sooner or later have some kind of clip show or slideshow going back in the past. It's so surprising how the family has changed so much from the very beginning till now (some good, some bad) and this episode did the job of making Simon being the one to shine for his departure.



Simon Camden: What a send-off! I think some people missed the point of this episode and that may be the reason why they were not satisfied. The reason why Simon (David Gallagher) was alone in this episode was so he would have the audience's full attention only on him for this one-time as it is a closure to his character completely. Of course, I no doubt believe that Simon (David Gallagher) will return sooner or later for guest spots (or at least the final episode of the series) but the writers are quite frankly done with Simon's character. His character has evolved and when he returns he'll probably be what he says he will in the video; ready for the world and ready to confront his fears with Justin and majoring in film (just like his alter-ego) and hopefully moving on with his life with Cecilia (Hopefully still available by then).



The episode was more special with getting Simon's point of view and only his point of view on things that has happened to his family. Since we won't see him for a while it was best to have the last episode all about him and what he was thinking. Plus, I know some people would have rather hoped for clips instead of slideshows. Although with clips you have less time to get more in depth with everything that has happened to the Camdens (and there has been a lot) and plus you wouldn't have been able to write little side notes like you do with slideshows. David Gallagher is a terrific actor and did a beautiful in his heartfelt confession on the accident toward the end of the episode. Finally, I knew we get more detail on the accident and Simon really has his head on right with things, although I feel bad that he's afraid to go near kids and parks. If I had absolutely one complaint in this episode it would be that I guess this was the last chance of any possibility that we see the accident taking place. I was hoping he'd take us back to the flashback memory or something, but I think that was wishful thinking on my part.



I may be alone on this but I rather like this departure of Simon than the standard showing of Simon at the airport or bus stop going away and the family is there gathered around saying their goodbyes and speeches and crowding around. That would be too mushy and cliché for me.



All in all this was a one of a kind and fantastic episode for me and probably not one for others. I will miss Simon (David Gallagher) but I have no doubt he'll came back soon. The Camden kids don't seem to go too far away (ie. Mary and Matt) when they leave home. I really hope that without the terrific Gallagher that the show will still be good this season. It's so sad that 3 out of the 5 original kids are not regular anymore but at least we'll see both Matt and Mary later on for numerous episodes later on in the season. In the meantime with Simon now gone let's hope things will still be exciting and great in what is left to see in the Camden family.



Grade: **10 out of 10**



Rants and Bits:

*Since this episode probably didn't long to make like a regular standard episode and was more like a slideshow I wonder if we'll get 23 episodes for the first time instead of 22.



*The opening credits were so nice with only the original cast (and Sam and David). I miss that instead of the 11/12-cast rush most weeks in trying to get the new cast in the credits.



* It seemed a little cliché and unoriginal to have Aaron Spelling in the show with an autograph photo as we know he executive produces the show itself.



* I think Simon forgot a few people in his monologue that has played a big part in their lives like Shana, John Hamilton, Grandpa Charles, Grandma Jenny, etc.