(Contains comments from reviews of previous sets) I’ve long had a problem with the television networks when it comes to finding good family programming that I could watch with my kids. Though I’d like to say its getting better, in reality it is getting worse. Granted, I love a lot of the newer shows out there, some because they are excessively violent and graphic (of course, having well-written episodes is a must), but these just aren’t shows I want my children seeing until they are old enough to understand the difference between reality and fantasy. (Don’t get me started on video games…) During the 1980’s and 90’s, family shows were still few and far between, but they did exist. Series like “Little House on the Prairie”, “Dr. Quinn: Medicine Woman” and “Touched by an Angel” pretty much led the bunch. But by far my favorite was “Highway to Heaven.” Often maligned for being too preachy or saccharine, the series was actually neither.

More often than not, these complaints were thrown around by those who never took the time to actually sit through an episode. They just knew from the title that the show just had to stand for everything they were against. (Of course, there’s a lot of that going around nowadays, too.)

What “Highway to Heaven” was, in fact, was the brainchild of Michael Landon who had a goal of bringing quality back into the television arena. Having spent nine seasons heading up the aforementioned “Little House on the Prairie”, he was ready to move on from the old west into the new horizon. This new series starred Landon as an Angel with the ambiguous name of Jonathon Smith, who travels the countryside aiding those in need. Along for the ride is an ex-cop, Mark Gordon, who was once helped by Jonathon. Gordon is played by the late, great Victor French, who was a longtime buddy of Landon’s, as well as a co-star on the “Little House…” series. The camaraderie the two shared off-screen carried over into their performances onscreen.

Despite the opposition of those with the misinformed opinions I mentioned before, “Highway to Heaven” went on for a very strong five season run, lasting from 1984 – 1989. The fan base for the series was quite phenomenal, which at the time actually gave me hope that people were really looking for something wholesome to watch. Of course, using the term wholesome isn’t really accurate as the show never sugar–coated their stories. There were many cases where the people they were there to help were dying, but needed to make amends with someone. The few miracles performed by Jonathon rarely affected the eventual outcome of the disease. It was episodes like these that taught that sometimes the greatest gifts a person can receive is hope, faith and love… not necessarily life.

A&E released the first season back in April of last year, causing a rather exuberant exclamation out of me. While I didn’t watch the show religiously (pun intended), I would sit down and take an episode in if I caught it on. But it was a show I wish I had watched more regularly. When that 1st season set came in the mail I prepared myself to watch as many episodes as I could over the course of a couple of weeks. It took me a while, but I managed to make it (emptying out 3 boxes of Kleenex along the way, I might add). As good as I knew the series was, I was even more impressed after getting to see it, in order and uninterrupted. The quality of the series never wavered during that 1st season, which is quite a testament to the talented Mr. Landon. It seems that he directed nearly every episode of the season, and what few he didn’t were helmed by Victor French. Talk about creative control.

They followed up with the 2nd season a few months later. When our copy first arrived I jumped on it just as hard as I did the 1st season. Somehow I knew I wouldn’t be in any way disappointed and I was right. By the time this season came around the few bugs had been worked out and it settled into its stride. As good as many of the episodes were in the 1st season, these were even better.

This month marks the release of the 3rd season and again, within a day of our copy arriving, the discs started hitting the player. Of all the seasons so far, this one was absolutely the best. Every one of the 25 episodes, even the ones that were a little formulaic (like "For the Love of Larry", where a dog tries to get help for his owners who are trapped in a wrecked car), delivered a message of hope and understanding. And as much as I would like to get into more of the episodes, it would end up taking more time and space than I have here. I would like to mention one in particular, "Another Kind of War, Another Kind of Peace", where father learns that his deceased son (who died in Vietnam), fathered a child.

So far, subsequent sets of "Highway to Heaven" haven't had as many extra features as the 1st season did. Still, the 3rd season set does offer an interview featurette where we hear from Cindy Landon along with producers Kent and Susan McCray and Dennis Korn.

“Highway to Heaven: Season 3” is must own DVD set for any parents out there who want to have something on the shelf the whole family can watch. I can’t wait for all of the seasons to be released, so I can share them with my daughter as she’s growing up.

Episodes:
A Special Love, Part 1
A Special Love, Part 2
For the Love of Larry
Another Kind of War, Another Kind of Peace
That's Our Dad
Love at Second Sight
Love and Marriage, Part 1
Love and Marriage, Part 2
Code Name: Freak
Man to Man
Jonathon Smith Goes to Washington
Oh Lucky Man
Basinger's New York
All That Glitters
Wally
A Song of Songs
A Night to Remember
A Mother and Daughter
Normal People
The Hero
Parent's Day
A Father's Faith
Heavy Date
Ghost Rider
Gift of Life

Starring: Michael Landon, Victor French
Extras: Interview with Cindy Landon, Kent McCray, Susan McCray, and Dennis Korn, Text Biographies of Michael Landon and Victor French.
Specifications: Full Frame, Dolby Stereo
Studio: A&E
Release Date: 3/28/2006
Region 1
MPAA Rating: NR
Website

We'll give Highway to Heaven: Season 3 an A.