7th Heaven and the return of Holy TV

CBS announced they’re eyeing a reboot of the WB family drama, 7th Heaven. The series which ran from 1997 to 2007 followed a pastor’s family and life’s peaks and valleys in a wholesome primetime package. The show gave us Jessica Biel, network television’s first gay kiss, and later, a monumental fall from grace for its on-screen matriarch.

There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a show examining faith in our lives. As a kid, I walked with CBS’ Touched by an Angel every Sunday and more recently enjoyed Brandon Michael Hall in God Friended Me. There was also OWN’s Greenleaf, which leaned more into the primetime soap territory. However, I don’t want to replicate the preachy perspective of the original series. I’m hoping it delivers more nuanced discussions on faith, spirituality, and the freedom to believe whichever we choose.

It’s not a surprise the series is making a return. While reboots are all the rizz for resource-scarce studios, so is the resurgence of holy entertainment. No longer are Tyler Perry-present titles the only thing moving the church-going audience. More faith-based content is making waves on mainstream TV and the big screen. Recently, it was Sound of Freedom and this year’s animated The King of Kings. All seem to be riding the wave of The Chosen’s global success. The five-season series chronicles the life of Jesus, detailing his death and resurrection in the finale season, The Last Supper. The series has done so well with audiences, that a biblical spinoff, House of David, premiered on Prime Video and received a season renewal.

I’m keeping an open mind for this project, given a show writer from Queen Sugar and Hollywood producer pastor DeVon Franklin are in the mix.

Finale Thoughts: The Last of Us season two

Last Sunday, HBO’s drama original series, The Last of Us, concluded its second season with a brutal cliffhanger setting up the next entry. As video game-accurate as the series could be, I was satisfied with the ending; knowing how the story moves from the perspective of our protagonist, Bella Ramsey’s Ellie. However, not everyone felt the same way.

Some gamers felt the pacing and narrative choices undermined the brilliance of the source material. Some scene placement allegedly depleted the emotional impact. On the other hand, non-gamers were still PO’d at losing Joel (Pedro Pascal) so early, only to suffer an incomplete revenge plot by the show’s final scene: a flashback set to shift the narration to a whole different character.

Similarly, these same pain points were echoed when The Last of Us Part II debuted, so by that means, co-creators Craig Mazin and Neil Druckmann are on the right track. I think it would be a failure if there weren’t any discussion whatsoever of these themes. It proves this story still holds weight, nearly five years later.

Stream This: The Last Showgirl

Hulu currently has the critically acclaimed drama, The Last Showgirl starring Pamela Anderson. Directed by Gia Coppola, the movie was praised for Anderson’s earnest performance of an aging Vegas starlet grappling with her worth beyond the stage persona she’s carefully crafted. Much like The Substance, it seeks to undress a culture that holds women to a higher standard for their agency from the profession they select to how they mother their children. The film also stars Jamie Lee Curtis, Brenda Song, David Bautista, Kiernan Shipka, and Billie Lourd.

⭐️⭐️⭐️1/2

Coming Attractions

Jason Momoa delivers a much-needed history lesson in Chief of War. His second series at Apple TV+, Momoa co-created the drama series that details the unification and eventual colonization of Hawai’i from the perspective of indigenous people. The series also stars Temura Morrison and Curtis Cliff.

Chief of War arrives on August 9.

Apple TV+ released the first trailer for its mystery series Smoke. Created and written by author Dennis Lehane, Jurnee Smollett and Taron Egerton join forces to stop a serial arsonist. But as they seek the truth through the smoke, the danger feels closer to home.

Smoke arrives June 27.

Hulu released the trailer for its fourth (and final?) season of The Bear, the Chicago-based dramedy centered in the hectic environment of a brilliantly troubled restauranter. The gang returns for another attempt to solidify their cuisine dreams. Can Sydney convince Carmy that all food isn’t good food?

All 10 episodes of the FX-produced series drop June 25.

Stranger Things 5 has a release date(s). The iconic horror-adventure series from The Duffer Brothers comes to a climactic conclusion this fall. The final season will be released in three volumes. Three episodes on November 26 and Christmas Day and the finale on New Year’s Eve. Episodes will stream at 5 p.m. PT/ 8 p.m. ET.

Prime Video Gen V will resume with its second season on September 17. The three-episode premiere finds Godolkin reopening with a new dean under a new presidential administration. As Marie, Emma, and Jordan return to God U, so will Sam and Cate, Vought’s new heroes who saved the campus from chaos. Hamish Linklater guest stars as Dean Cipher.

One interesting narrative point featuring Polarity, played by Sean Patrick Thomas, seems to honor the late Chance Perdomo, who portrayed Thomas’ son, Andre Anderson.