Ep 9. See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil

The Camden family is back with their usual drama in the ninth episode of the first season of the long-running family drama, 7th Heaven. Titled "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil," the episode explores the repercussions of lies and secrets in this close-knit family.

The episode begins with the youngest member of the family, Ruthie Camden, getting a letter from her teacher about a parent-teacher conference. However, Ruthie's dad, Eric Camden, urges her to throw it away instead of bringing it home. This sets off a chain of events that unfolds throughout the episode.

Meanwhile, oldest siblings Matt and Mary are dealing with their own issues. Matt is struggling with balancing his extracurricular activities and schoolwork, while Mary is dealing with a crush on a boy who is already dating somebody else. Their problems are put on hold when the family is brought together to deal with a bigger issue: Eric's sister Julie is in town, and she's brought along her son Nigel.

At first glance, Nigel seems like a typical teenager. But as the episode progresses, it becomes clear that he's hiding something. When Mary and Nigel spend time together, Mary discovers that he's been smoking and drinking, something she's not afraid to call him out on. However, Nigel insists that it's not a big deal and begs Mary to keep his secrets safe.

Mary agrees to keep Nigel's secret, but the pressure to keep it hidden starts to muddle her judgment. She accidentally reveals to Matt that there's something going on with Nigel and begs him not to tell anyone. Soon, the entire family is aware that Nigel has been up to no good, but they still don't know the full extent of it.

As the episode progresses, it becomes clear that Eric is hiding something of his own. He's been dealing with blocked ears for weeks, but refuses to go to the doctor. Later in the episode, it's revealed that he's been hiding the fact that he accidentally hit his head while fixing the roof and thinks he might have a concussion. Eric's reluctance to deal with his health issue and his insistence on keeping his sister's secrets hidden leads to a heated argument with his wife, Annie.

The tension within the family continues to mount, especially when Nigel is caught shoplifting. The incident is the catalyst that forces Nigel to reveal the full extent of his problems to his mother, Eric, and the rest of the family. As they come together to deal with the ramifications of Nigel's behavior, they also begin to confront the lies and secrets that have been brewing within the family.

In the end, the family is able to come together and support each other as they deal with the consequences of their actions. "See No Evil, Hear No Evil, Speak No Evil" is a powerful episode that delves deep into the struggles of a family trying to keep their lives in order amidst secrets and lies. It offers a poignant reminder that sometimes, the only way to move forward is to confront the truth head-on.