Television - Packed to the Rafters #1

Kyls · 09-27-2008, 07:05 AM

This thread is for the new(ish) Australian show 'Packed to the Rafters.'

Show description: (from Yahootv)

Quote:

Just before their bubble bursts, the Rafters gather at their favourite Chinese restaurant to celebrate Julie and Dave's 25th wedding anniversary. Only the day before had been further cause for celebration when their last child at home, Ben (HUGH SHERIDAN), announced he was finally leaving the roost.

After raising three kids, the couple are free! While Julie's a little emotional to see the last of her babies move on, Dave couldn't be happier. A future of unbridled sex in the privacy of their uncluttered home sounds good to him. But as a fortune cookie advises them: storm clouds loom.

Less than 48 hours expire before Dave and Julie are inundated anew, not just by their other two offspring, but by Julie's recently bereaved father Ted (MICHAEL CATON).

When electrician Dave finds his job hours cut and financial hardship looming, fate intervenes with a solution proposed by their youngest son Nathan (ANGUS McLAREN) and his new wife Sammy(JESSICA McNAMEE) to move in and pay rent. However, the recent newlyweds are clearly not telling the whole truth when they explain that they wish to save for their own home. What is their real motivation for proposing the move?

Julie and Dave's domestic bliss is interrupted again when they receive a phone call from the hospital. Julie's father Ted has been admitted after a suspected heart attack. He's too embarrassed to return home - for painful reasons he shares with Julie. Julie's heart immediately goes out to her grieving father, and she invites him to move into Ben's old room.

Later that night, Julie answers the door to a sobbing and bruised Rachel (JESSICA MARAIS). Earlier at their anniversary dinner Julie had noticed things were not quite right between her daughter and her boyfriend Daniel (LUKE PEGLER). But what has happened in-between to leave Rachel in such a state?

Narrated from the perspective of Julie Rafter, episode one shows how she and Dave, poised on the brink of muchanticipated freedom, find circumstances in their lives completely upended and their house once more "packed to the rafters."

Cast List:

Rebecca Gibney ... Julie Rafter
Erik Thomson ... Dave Rafter
Angus McLaren ... Nathan Rafter (Youngest child)
Jessica McNamee ... Sammy Rafter (Married to Nathan)
Jessica Marais ... Rachel Rafter (Eldest child)
Hugh Sheridan ... Ben Rafter (Middle child)
Michael Caton ... Ted Taylor (Grandfather)
Luke Pegler ... Daniel Griggs (Rachel's ex)
George Houvardas ... Nick 'Carbo' Karandonis (Ben's roomie/son of house owners)
Zoe Ventoura ... Melissa Bannon (Ben and Carbo's other roomie/nurse)
Caroline Brazier ... Chrissey Merchant (Julie's friend)
Roy Billing ... Ron Barrett
Justin Rosniak ... Warney (Julie's boss, Dave's ex-boss)

Next weeks episode:

Spoiler:

Episode 6: Facing Demons.

Rachel faces up to her shameful past. In flashbacks, she tells how she met, fell in love and eventually left Daniel, the man responsible for emailing their private video.

Ted decides to move back home but what is he hiding?

Narrated from the perspective of the Rafters eldest child Rachel, this episode focuses on the aftermath of her sex video and its repercussions on her and her family.

And also..

A desperate Rachel begs for forgiveness as she discovers that her humiliating mistakes force a beloved family member to leave the Rafter nest.

I'm enjoying this show far, I love scenes with Ben and Rachel (see icon) and the ratings are like.. woah.

lancer1993 · 09-27-2008, 01:54 PM

Thanks for the new thread,

It's a great show and an instant ratings success with around 2 million viewers each week, that's big numbers here in Australia given our population.

FYI there are 22 eps in the first season which means like the US it will go into the new year after a xMas break.

-Kelly- · 09-27-2008, 09:39 PM

Thanks for the new thread

How funny was the parent's son driving off to his New place

which turned out to be Next Door

lancer1993 · 09-27-2008, 10:42 PM

What about the first night the other son and his wife (sorry still learning names here) moved back in

-Kelly- · 09-27-2008, 10:44 PM

I can't remember the names too

lancer1993 · 09-27-2008, 10:52 PM

Maybe we need the cast list in the first post?

-Kelly- · 09-27-2008, 11:02 PM

I think that's a great idea

Kyls · 09-27-2008, 11:19 PM

Quote:

FYI there are 22 eps in the first season which means like the US it will go into the new year after a xMas break.

Ah, thank you. I was wondering how many episodes there was in the season, because I read something that had me assuming they'd already finished filming the season, so then I thought perhaps it was short which would be horrible!

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Kelly- (View Post)

How funny was the parent's son driving off to his New place

which turned out to be Next Door

I know.

That was great.

And that was Ben btw, and Nathan and Sammy are the newlyweds. I'll put a cast/character list in the first post.

lancer1993 · 09-27-2008, 11:54 PM

Quote:

Ah, thank you. I was wondering how many episodes there was in the season, because I read something that had me assuming they'd already finished filming the season, so then I thought perhaps it was short which would be horrible!

Michael Caton was on Seven the other day (The Morning Show I think) and he said they have just finished filming for the season, I think they have been doing it for most of the year.

Thanks for the cast list.

Kyls · 09-28-2008, 12:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lancer1993 (View Post)

Michael Caton was on Seven the other day (The Morning Show I think) and he said they have just finished filming for the season, I think they have been doing it for most of the year.

Oh I see. Well I'm glad that it goes for that long.

And I don't see any reason that it wont get picked up for a second seasn with the ratings it's getting.

-Kelly- · 09-28-2008, 01:40 AM

Thanks for the cast list Kylie

My mum laughed at the car scene flashback because she missed the 1st ep

Kyls · 09-30-2008, 02:00 AM

You're welcome.

Tonight.

edit:

It's good I think.. that Rachel is going to help Daniel beat the habit. I think I'd find it really difficult to do, but at least she's laid it down that she wont go back to him - that she just wants him to get better and fix his life.

Anyone else find it just a little funny that he grandfather opened up an email saying it was a drunk, sex video?

Going by the description of the episode, I thought perhaps the who family would find out, but the secret is safe... at least for now!

**Just Peachy.** · 09-30-2008, 06:56 PM

Thanks for starting this thread Kylie

I'm really enjoying Packed to the Rafters. I think its a nice drama that to some extent is easy to relate to.

I didn't think last night's episode was as good as the others as for me it felt like that Rachel's story has already been told.

-Kelly- · 09-30-2008, 07:38 PM

I loved the scene where grandpa went back to his house and wear his dead wife's dress outside and gave his neighbours the talk

that was so awesome

Kyls · 10-01-2008, 02:49 AM

Yeah.

Now that he's he's moved back to his place, the house is less.. packed now.

Pictures, anyone?

^ Kelly's favourite scene.