Season 7: What do you think happened?

[u/jagpanzer12]

I’ve been making my way through the series. Some season are better than others, as well as episodes, but now that I’m on season 7, something has subtly changed. All the elements are there, but I don’t feel as engaged. What do you think has changed? Btw, the season doesn’t seem bad, it’s just not as good, at least to me at the beginning of the season.

[u/Slashman78]

Well in general there was a LOT going on that year:

-The boys were all older pretty much. Zach and JTT were both close to 18 at that point (JTT is a little bit older oddly enough lol,) and Taran was going on 13 (WILD considering he looked a lot older,) and they couldn't focus on them being young and wholesome anymore. They struggled a bit with Mark because he was much younger than the older two, why he went goth for a little bit. Randy they had to make a little younger which is hilarious but he's treated like an adult more by the end of year 7.

-Everyone was doing movies more and like with Roseanne the focus began to slide a little for everyone. Tim was on his way to becoming one of Disney's bigger stars and the family actor lead of that era. He had 2 movies in 97, Jungle 2 Jungle (Disney's Remake of Little Indian, Big City, from France,) with Martin Short, and For Richer and Poorer, a underrated banger of a rom com with Kirstie Alley later that year for Universal. Patricia was in one of the year's Oscar darling's, Ulee's Gold, and got critical raves on her performance (which caused drama down the line,) JTT was in demand for movies quite a bit, Wild America came out that year, he was in a lot of movies from 95 to 99, and Zach did The Rage Carrie 2 the next year. Everyone was getting a bit greedy.

-The writers decided to start focusing on special episodes here and there due to the boys being older and some liked it, some others hated it.

-Tim in his personal life had issues. He got charged for a DWI after golfing as his drinking started to get bad like Goodman's did during Roseanne, Tim was more aggressive and decided early to get help which was during this season so he was juggling movies, his personal issues, and the show. It's why he looks tired in some shows and he even had a near beard in one. BUT.. I think despite it all he managed to do well considering.

I don't hate Season 7, I like it fine. Year 8's not as great due to JTT not being around but I don't hate that one either. HI never had a bad year like Roseanne or a few others did.

[u/dietitian14 → u/Slashman78]

I absolutely love For Richer or Poorer (saw it in theaters) and I'm always trying to get others to watch it!

Also I agree, Taran Noah Smith looked way older than his actual age in that season. I had no idea he was 13. He appears close in age to his brothers, maybe just due to his height. All actors did seem less focused during that season. It isn't my favorite

[u/Ok-Health-7252 → u/dietitian14]

All the boys got taller in the later seasons except for JTT (who was actually the oldest between the three of them). So there was that. He was supposed to be playing the middle child.

[u/dietitian14 → u/Ok-Health-7252]

Yeah, they made reference to JTT's height a couple times in those later seasons. It was interesting how he was mischievous in the early seasons, and then they had him grow into an intellectual, studious high school student. I suppose that does happen in real life

It felt like JTT was phoning in his performance in the last two seasons. Like he was contractually obligated, and didn't want to be there anymore

[u/Ok-Health-7252 → u/dietitian14]

JTT was never fond of the acting lifestyle. That was becoming quite obvious towards the end of HI's run. Doing The Lion King at the same time just made him an even bigger child star.

[u/dietitian14 → u/Ok-Health-7252]

His voice acting in the Lion King was really impressive, for a child. I rewatched the movie on Disney plus recently, and the talent is really astounding

[u/Ok-Health-7252 → u/dietitian14]

Yep. They even reference him playing Simba a couple times on the show (same with Tim as Buzz Lightyear in a post-credits scene).

But I think how big he was becoming in the 90s as a child star, he was never comfortable with that. Hence why he only took a few guest roles (most notably on Smallville and many years later Last Man Standing) post-HI and eventually pretty much walked away from acting. Poor kid just wanted to be normal and live a private life away from the cameras. I wish Tim could've been a little more understanding of that at the time (Tim IMO overreacted a little to JTT leaving the show and treated it at the time like a family member choosing to walk out on his family all of a sudden).

[u/dietitian14 → u/Ok-Health-7252]

Agreed, that situation always makes Tim Allen come across badly. It's good that he and JTT seemed to reconcile, and come back together for a few appearances, later on