This season picks up where last season left off, with oldest son Matt (Barry Watson) having just married Sarah (Sarah Danielle Madison) and getting totally out of the picture while in medical school (at least until the end of the season), and oldest daughter Mary (Jessica Biel) only showing up in the first few episodes (and the last few), after deciding to high-tail it to Florida to get away from the family. Rev. Eric Camden (Stephen Collins) faces double-bypass heart surgery following his earlier heart attack, and after coming through okay, decides to give up being a minister, much to the shock of his family, especially his wife, Annie (Catherine Hicks). While he is recuperating from his surgery, the church brings in Chandler Hampton (Jeremy London), an associate pastor to help out and a man much younger than Eric. Eric's disgust with this event is partly to blame for his abandonment of his ministry.
Kevin Kinkirk (George Stults) becomes a regular feature as Lucy Camden's (Beverley Mitchell) fiance and eventual husband. Although he doesn't actually propose until nearly the end of the season. Instead, he and Lucy play this childish game where she isn't sure she is ready to say yes, and once she is, he has to wait for the perfect moment to ask. This is a central storyline throughout the season and is so aggravating. Lucy is the most childish and ridiculous character on the show and sometimes makes it painful for me to watch. In fact, her foolishness is the primary reason that this season really didn't do it for me. Also, I find it hard to believe that a man as good looking as Keven Kinkirk could be madly in love with her almost from the first moment he met her. She looks like a Treasure Troll, albeit one with highlights, and he looks like Brad Pitt. I mean, really.
The other pivotal new character to enter Glendale is Roxanne Richardson (Rachel Blanchard), Kevin's "hot" new partner on the police force. She tries to drive Kevin and Lucy apart, that is, until she and Chandler, the new associate pastor, fall deeply and instantly in love. Again, maybe I am a bit of a prude, but it's kind of sickening to see the new pastor making out with this cheesy blonde all the time. Once they get together, then it's Lucy's turn to try to drive them apart, at least until she marries Kevin and grows up a little bit. I think all the juvenile behavior in this season really got to me.
Robbie Palmer (Adam LaVorgna), Mary's old boyfriend who has been living with the Camden's for a while, ends up having to head home to care for his mother after the first few episodes of the season. There's barely a mention of his departure. Then there's the addition to the cast of Cecelia Smith (Ashlee Simpson). She is probably the most annoying person on the show, although she has some stiff competition. She spends the bulk of her time trying to look cute as Simon Camden's (David Gallagher) girlfriend. Ugh. Ruthie Camden (Mackenzie Rosman) also gets a new beau in new neighbor Peter Petrowski (Scotty Leavenworth), and Peter's mom, Paris (Shannon Kenny) even gets some make-out time with Ben Kinkirk (Geoff Stults), Mary's former boyfriend and Kevin's brother. The show ends on a cliffhanger regarding Lucy's possible pregnancy and Mary's whirlwind marriage to Carlos, a former character.
I think that with the changes to the show, 7th Heaven: The Seventh Season may drive away some previous fans. While I didn't love the show before this season, I did find it enjoyable, but this season was a bore and a chore to watch. I find it hard to recommend this season to anyone who isn't already a hardcore fan who has already seen the season and continued watching the show after Season 7.
