New Aussie drama, supposedly in the vein of the late and great Always Greener. Begins Tuesday, August 2th, at 8.30 on Seven. Synopsis Below:



Thoughts?

I only realised now when I did a depth search that there was a PttR thread on TWoP.

I'm a huge fan of the show, plus it's not every day the exterior shots (excl. the Rafter House) are done in the area I live.

I love this show too.

Episode descriptions for the next couple episodes:


Episode 10: All in the planning
Tuesday October 28 8:30pm (PG)

Rachel is faced with a terrible decision. Ben gets the wrong idea when he stumbles upon a secret in Melissa’s handbag. Sammy is offered the possibility of a glamorous job in London – but will she leave Nathan behind?



Episode 11, ‘Away From It All’
Tuesday November 4
8:30pm

This week on PACKED TO THE RAFTERS, Julie is faced with ghosts of the past when she drags the family to a beach house weekend away. Julie forces her dispirited family to the beach for a restorative weekend away – leading to everyone feeling restored but Julie herself. Ted receives advice from beyond the grave. Melissa’s life is in danger when she goes into sudden anaphylactic shock during a Rafter BBQ. Romance beckons for Rachel – but is she ready to embrace it?

Loved the last episode. Any time to have Craig McLachlan on the show to take the mickey out of himself is fine by me. Especially loving the Carbo/Chrissy romance at the moment. I'm just waiting for Julie to find out about it (well Julie and Carbo's parents).

Okay, can someone clear something up? These episodes we're seeing now - they're still technically a part of Series 1 right? The show originally had a 22 episode order, but ended up with episode 14 last year. Now, the 7 website lists what we're seeing at the moment as Series 2, and it's really bugging me.

If we're still in Season One, then how come last years finale ended with a scene that essentially brought the whole show full circle, and was so obviously written as a final scene?

The first series went for 22 episodes. Seven knew that all 22 would not be airing last year so most likely advised the producers to decide how to end the show as a season finale while allowing it to have a time jump (for Dec-Jan). All in all, when you watch the episodes 14 and 15 (which is where the jump occurred) it's nothing out of the ordinary.

The show's returning next month.

How's everyone enjoying Season Two at the moment? I've gotta say, it was a stroke of genius by all those involved to end the premiere with the pyschic's predictions for the remainder of the season. Sure, it came with a bit of cheese, but hey, it was a relatively creative use of foreshadowing, and it got straight to the point.

Anyone wanna go ahead and call which parties will be involved in the wedding, divorce and affair?

Hey, there's been a Rafters thread all along? Wow.

This has been one of my favourite shows since the first episode. Hell, since the first couple of minutes. I did love Always Greener, but I think Rafters is even better. The comparisons are apt though.

One thing they've been able to do is make me like and care about every character, which is rare. At first I hated Nathan, feeling that he was an insufferable, smug, arrogant tool, but now that he's faced some hardship and realised he doesn't run the world, he's a lot of fun. I love the sibling relationship he has with Rachel, and especially Ben.

I also even like Ted, which I would never have expected, as I've always had an irrational dislike of Michael Caton. Ted bored and annoyed me at first, but I actually enoy his storylines.

Ben of course is the best character. He has great relationships with both his siblings, with his grandfather, with his friends (Carbo and Melissa) and with his mother. I would like to see more Ben/Dave scenes though.

As for the psychic predictions of the season, I'm going to assume that the affair is a married couple, and not a simple Mel 'cheats' (even though they're technically not dating at present) on Ben with the new doctor. I'd place my bets on Sammy cheating on Nathan, it seems unlikely they'd go there with Julie/Dave at this point, and I can't see Nathan cheating on Sammy, he knows how lucky he is to have her. She has at times seemed dissatisfied with their life together, and with him back in real estate, it could provide more tension between them as we saw last night. I'd assume this would lead to their seperation. I can't actually remember now, did the psychic predict a seperation or a divorce? I thought it was a seperation, but now that you put divorce I'm not sure anymore. As for the wedding, I will guess Ted and his new girlfriend. There's much more drama in keeping Ben and Mel unmarried for a while, and I don't see Rachel as the type to rush into a marriage.

I agree that using the psychic's predictions at the end of the premiere was genius. A great move.

I thought it might be Rachel who would get married. To the new character, Jake. I like him a lot so far, and in the previews for the next episode I think Rachel said something along the lines "If I ever end up with someone like that" in reference to Jake. Maybe a bit of foreshadowing, I would like it if that happened. Keep the romantic drama for Ben I say.

I would not think the affair would be for Julie and Dave, at least I hope not.

US Rafters In Development. Uh oh. Have the American bigwigs forgotten the travesty that was US Kath and Kim already? I think it might be safe to say Australian to American adaptions simply don't work. While the concept of the show could work for an American audience, I just think that a lot of the charm comes from how Australian it is, if I'm making any sense. I don't see that translating well.

I do not understand why they just do not buy rights to screen the Australian version in America. Whenever they tend to take a show and adapt it for American audiences it just does not seem to go well, I do not think this will be any different. There is just a Aussie charm to this show that makes it as good as it is. When they try to reproduce it they take that charm out and that is why it fails.

Does anyone know where i can find spoilers for the show besides TV Guide? A site anywhere maybe?

Honestly, I wouldn't mind a foreign adaptation, cause while the concept has potential, and Gibney is good, I kind of hate this show with the fire of a thousand suns.

Okay, maybe not that severe. But it really didn't do much for me. It's not Underbelly 2 bad or anything. I just don't think it's all that good, either.

Don't understand why they can't just try showing the actual show instead of constantly doing bad US versions.

tonka throng's pretty good for spoilers as is pttr.net.

This show is actually one of the few that would work in overseas format, because it's got universal themes, much like Brothers and Sisters in US in terms of another show that could been easily transferred into a local version.

I really enjoy this show. The second season has been a lot of fun. They have listened to their critisisms and have improved it.

Having said that... NATHAN I HATE YOU! SO SO angry with what he did at the end of tonight's episode.

Carbo's plot was pointless and annoying as all hell. Why must he be such astereotypical Greek? Australian/Greeks of his generation are nothing like him.

Sammy, I feel bad for you.

I just KNEW Nathan was going to cheat on Sammy with the skanky Layla. From the second they introduced her I've been waiting for it and dreading it. That said, they did have me fooled for a little last night after Nathan came clean to Sammy and seemed to reject Layla, then that all went to hell at the end. Sigh.

I'd really grown to like Nathan too, after loathing him at first.

Why must the Warnie character continue to exist? Every time they write him out it's seemingly final, and yet he ridiculoously keeps coming back. No small business could be so desperate as to hire someone who has stolen from it because they're in a hurry. I would think there'd be no shortage of other opportunities with so many people out of work at present. And if they're heading for a full on relationship with him and Trish, that is just wrong. Get rid of hi, he's the worst part of the show.

I am interested to see where they'll go with Chrissy's crush on Dave. That's something that I didn't see coming at all.

So far I don't mind the Carbo/Artie relationship.

I'm hoping the ending was another fantasy sequence... a girl can dream can't she!? But seriously, Nathan has strugged for my affection since the show began, not a great plot development for him. Guess we now know the "affair" part of the psychic prediction.

Apparently the episode garnered quite a few complaints for being too smutty
I didn't really have a problem with it, but then I'm in my mid-20's with no children. I do remember thinking it was one of the first times i've seen masturbation dealt with at that timeslot though! But I thought it was handled quite well and seemed very realistic.

Chrissy's crush on Dave is so far being portrayed incredbily realistically. I just hope they don't go there. A harmless crush is fine, an affair would not be.

Despite loving the character of Jake, glad to see he's on the sidelines. I hated the storyline with his mum - again, realistic - but urgh, the mum was so clearly out of line that it bugged me.

Is it just me, or does the actress playing Artie look like she's 30? Am I seriously supposed to buy that she's what, six years younger than Cabo!?

I hoped that the ending was another fantasy sequence too, but it was Nathan doing the voiceover, and his closing words were about turning the fantasies into realities, so I'm assuming it was real. Sigh.

I heard myself that people thought the episode was too smutty, and think that is ridiculous. OK, so it was implied that Nathan was masturbating, who cares? It's not like we actually saw him pumping, or they showed his penis or anything. Kids young enough to not know about sex would have no idea what was going on, and probably just think he was going to the toilet. And shouldn't be watching the show, it's hardly the first time they've discussed sex. Anyone old enough to know what was going on would have seen and heard worse, both on TV and in real life. I think it's tall poppy syndrome. The show is so popular, that people want to search for things to complain about.

If it makes you feel any better, I can't see any way they'd go with a Dave/Chrissy affair. For one, Chrissy doesn't seem like the type to do that to her best friend, and also, they're right now going with Nathan cheating on Sammy. It'd be horrific writing to have their only two married couples broken up by affairs at the same time.

I also agree that Artie looks older than the 18 she's supposed to be. Maybe not 30, but well into her 20's.

Guys I need your help! I missed tonights episode... what went down!?

Okay, here goes.

Carbo and Artie had gone on a couple of dates, and Carbo got a call from his mother asking about Artie, and while we didn't hear her end of the conversation, it became clear that she was getting excited about them dating. Later on, Artie got a call from her mother, who was already discussing wedding pland. It freaked Artie out, and she pulled away from Carbo and arranged a date with another guy. Carbo showed up and sent the other guy away. Artie explained that she was only eighteen and not ready at all for this. She decided to go travelling with Lexie (the other bartender girl,) and has presumably left the show, at least for now.

Nathan did sleep with Leyla, and was feeling guilty about it. He almost confessed to Julie, but stopped at just admitting he'd done something awful. He lost his wedding ring in the backyard, and while searching for it, lied to Sammy that it was in getting cleaned. She ended up finding it out back, and returning it to him. She wasn't angry about his lie, as it's just a ring, and she dropped plenty of anvilicious comments about them being fine as a couple.

Rachel ran into Jake, who told her that he was doing some modelling work, and that his mother was alright with it. She also ran into his brother, who now has a job in a shop, and is planning a bungee-jumping holiday in New Zealand. She realised their mother had calmed down, and apologised to Jake for going off at her. He told her to apologise to his mother which she then did. Jake's mother responded bitchily, as expected, but later told Jake that Rachel had apologised and she appreciated it. Jake and Rachel had a 'where do we go from here' conversation that ended with a hug. They're seemingly back together, or at the very least, about to be.

Ben and Mel got food poisoning, and spent the night throwing up together. During this, Ben proposed again, saying that they clearly had no more secrets. Mel threw up again before she could respond, but the next night she finally accepted. They raced over to tell the family about the engagement. Ben expressed worry to Julie that Mel still hadn't said 'I love you,' but she did so at episode's end.

The Rafter's had a surprise birthday party for Dave's mother, during which Rachel noticed bruising on her arms. She mentioned this to Dave and Julie, and they theorised that she could be a drug user, but Dave also thought she might be sick, and getting treatment. He questioned his mother on it, and she got offended and left. later on she showed up at the house and revealed that she had HIV and had been living with it for twenty-five years, and had tried to pull away so as not to hurt anyone, but she was embraced by the family.

Hope that helps.

bluezombie2 = LEGENDARY! THANK YOU!

I so owe you one mate. Sounds like I missed a gerat episode... though I think anything would beat the episode of last week.

Has the first season come out on DVD yet?

Thanks from me for the great recap too bluezombie2, I missed the last episode too!



yeah, it was a bit of a ridiculous backlash. I mean, it is on at 8:30 and they give the warnings out before the show detailing what will be shown. I didn't find it gratutious, I found that it served the storyline and showed the dangers of temptation. I actually found it really humourous! People will find anything to complain about.

So what are the previews for next week? I hardly ever watch Channel 7 so I always miss them! Does it look like Sammy finds out? I'm torn on how I want this to play out. I really like Sammy and want her to remain in the show but I also really want her to kick Nathan to the curb, so to speak. This wasn't some drunken one-night thing (if that makes it better at all) but he actually thought through his actions, he knew Sammy was concerned about their relationship, and his relationship with Leyla, he got advice from his Dad to stay away. This is as premeditated as you can get and I don't see how she'll ever be able to trust him again. And after Sammy's awesome show-down with Leyla right beforehand, it just makes it extra humiliating for her.

Ugh, Jakes mum annoys me! It bothers me that she didn't (or at least i assume from your recap that she didn't!) also apologise to Rachel for her bitchy behaviour!! It takes two to tango and Jake at the very least should acknowledge that instead of blaming everything on Rachel. I don't know why this storyline bothers me so much - maybe because i generally watch this show with my boyfriends mum and she is just the complete opposite of Jakes mum!

No announcement for any DVD yet that I've heard mpol03.

The previews for next week seemed to involve an engagement party for Ben and Mel, and also mentioned secrets being revealed, so it DOES seem like Sammy finds out. Whether that's misdirection or not, I don't know.

I agree with you Cesstar. I'm torn on how I want it to play out. I love Sammy too much for her to leave the show, I think the ultimate would be that if she found out, but Julie and Dave stood by her rather than Nathan, and HE was the one to move out. Obviously they'd have to reconcile eventually to keep Sammy around permanently, but for the short term it would be nice if she dumped him and his family supported her.

No, Rachel got no apology from Jake's mother. Rachel asked to speak to the woman, she acted all bitchy and said she was in a hurry, Rachel apologised, and she basically just said 'okay' and walked away. I can sort of see where she is coming from in regards to her kids, but at the same time she did treat Rachel very poorly and should apologise. Maybe in the future?

I too want Sammi to SLAM Nathan. I want her around any way possible and yet I don't want her to take Nathan back... not immediatley. I am DREADING that they will have Sammi hook up with her ex, out of pure spite, thus making them both tainted and they then reconcile... PLEASE DON'T LET THAT HAPPEN! Dear god I'd almost stop watching.

As for Rachel... can anyone see her helping out Jake's brother in a time of real need? Say his brother and mother aren't around and Rachel is... I can see her helping him out whatever situation he is in and THAT is when we will have Jake's mother finally accept her, and maybe even appologising. Remember Jake's mother DID say that she was not impressed with the way Rachel handled being around the kid, in their first meeting... maybe we will see Rachel prove herself, in that way.

Not that she'd need to of course, but Jake's mother is SUCH a cow, and it will only make Rachel be even more kinds of awesome.

And I must say our older (and I only usde that term because saying adult will apply for everyone at this point) cast are great but I am SO impressed with the actors who play both Rachel and Sammi's characters. The two actors who play the brothers are fine but the two girls really REALLY deliver.

So, unfortunately Sammy didn't slap Nathan the way she should have. And while her reaction was realistic and believable, I still didn't like it. No doubt eventually Nathan, jerk that he is, will throw it back in her face that she kissed Mel's brother.

Not too plot heavy an episode really, after last week's was very much so. I still have absolutely no idea what's going on with Chel, I keep waiting for the reveal that she's faking the illness, and actually IS a drug addict, even though that seems very unlikely, I can't shake that feeling. I enjoyed the Ben and Mel scenes, and the Rachel and Jake scenes. I enjoy both of those couples.

It's still very interesting to see where they go with Chrissy's crush on Dave, I didn't expect her to reveal it to Carbo. Hopefully he can keep the secret.

Lastly, I am still disgusted that Warnie's relationship with Trish seems to actually be progressing, and indeed, I am digusted by Warnie's continued existance on the show.

Yeah, me either although I suppose in true tv fashion, a good-old public meltdown is the way to go! And it was pretty consistent with how Sammy has dealt with things in the past - I remember her throwing down the wine when her mum was flirting with Warnie a few eps back! It will be interesting to see where this goes now, and how Sammy deals with it all. Especially in context of what her father did to her mum too. Makes it that much harder for Nathan to win back her trust. And talking of Nathan, I felt like he finally (in the last half of the episode at least) started to show a bit of self-awareness and realised exactly how much damage he had done. This could be a turning point for his character (who I've always felt was immature, smug and selfish) to really develop and grow up a little bit. Even my cold heart softened slightly when he started crying and his Mum hugged him :)



I'm really curious where the writers plan to go with this too! The fact that she just up and left after the conversation with Dave felt like an extreme reaction to me. Unless she's in the late, late stages of the disease and doesn't want him to get too close and have to deal then with the emotional fall-out of her death...? Otherwise, what else could possibly be going on? Surely you wouldn't lie about having HIV?



I didn't expect her to reveal it to Cabo either, in fact I didn't really buy that plot development. But I guess they needed her to confide in someone for it to develop further (the plot, not the crush - hopefully!). Its strange though, they already had Ben assume they were having an affair in Season 1, now Cabo knows she has a crush on him - I can't really see where this is going that won't just be plot recycling.

I want it to go somewhere that will help Chrissy's character. Lets move forward with her and let her find someone to settle down with. She likes the IDEA of Dave, I think... he's a loving husband, father. He has his own business, house... he is the essence of stability. Chrissy is yet to find that in a man.

Sammi's reaction was in character IMO. I can't wait to see how this pans out.

This episode showed it to me very clearly... this show somehow manages to have soap elements... and JUST when you feel like it is going to far BOOM it brings on the familiy elements and stears it right back to that family drama. The show has delt with affairs before, and drug addictions and all kinds of issues that may seem outlandish and yet the great characterisation on this show holds it together... the FAMILY elements glue the show and make it what it is.

I want Sami on the show. I love her (thank god they didn't have her cheat on Nathan... and here's hoping they don't ahve her sleep with another man so they are on an equal playing field...!) but I want her to be a strong person here and to stand her ground... is there anyway to keep on her on the show without having her go back to Nathan straight away? If they explored her issues with men, that could be a treat.

And I'd LOVE to see Rache's smackdown of Nathan. I can just see it now. She went OFF when she discovered the drugs... this IMO is quite a bit worse. And now that I think about it, the drugs were really a foreshadowing for the affair. A one off thing, that was a stupid decision on Nathan's part... however the affair was a stupid decision that will have lasting consequences.

Chel's story is interesting as well. How it affects Dave and then Julie, really has me very keen to see where this will go. GREAT idea to explore Dave's past this season. Very cool.

I also love that we see some interaction between all family members. Makes this family show FEEL likea family show. And not say like Brothers & Sisters where some of the siblings hardly interact outside of family dinner/bickerings.

Good to see the show is finally back on the right path. I was deadset on tuning out completely if Artie had stuck around for another week. I'm very interested to see where they take the Nathan and Sammy thing now. I've gotta say, I've never liked Nathan as a character, all the way back in the start of Season 1, so it's good to see him finally getting some hate from the general public.

As for whoever mentioned the DVD, there's a rumour floating around that it's coming December 2nd, although that date is getting pretty close, and there's still no official announcement, so take it with a grain of salt.

I loathed Nathan at the beginning as well, but ended up liking him while he was working with Dave. He seemed to mature a lot. Now the loathing is back in full force.

Were a character to completely drive me away from the show, it wouldn't have been Artie. While annoying, I didn't hate her. Warnie on the other hand drives me bonkers and I want him dead and buried.

And whilst he may make Sammi's mother feel young or liked again, I too can't see WHAT she sees in him?! And why Dave ever accepted him back into his business. Get lost Warnie. I HOPE he isn't realted at all to Dave, through the same father.

That must be all Trish sees in him, clearly she feels horrible that Sammy's father cheated on her for so long and dumped her for a younger model, and here is this young guy who finds her attractive. So, no matter how vile he is, he's enough for her. Yuk. She could do better. Having nobody at all would be better.

Fortunately I don't see any way he could be related to Dave. The Warne surname is from Chel only, she didn't list Dave's father on the birth certificate, so unless she's hiding the fact that she gave up two children (I'd assume Dave and Warnie are at least ten years apart in age too) it's safe luckily.

Was Nathan ever popular with the general public? Urgh, he was always my least favourite character. He got slightly better as the show went on, but has nose-dived again. Although how he deals with the fall-out from the affair may help show a few redeeming features. Or course, it also has the potential to make him look even more dickish than usual!


Hehe... I totally agree! I don't know if it was the character or the actress but she drove me mad!

Great episode tonight. VINTAGE P2R. I said this last week but I love LOVE how they can have some contrived events and yet they always ALWAYS bring it back to family.

LOVED how the family delt with Sami. They see her as family. Delt with very well. I like that she hasn't taken Nathan back and that it may take a while. being next door is good enough for now.

Dave is awesome. This mother issues have played out very well. I can see why the mother was upset but to leave the city all together? I liked that he said the one coversation was all that was needed.

Julie is the best mother/daughter EVER. I liked her arrangement with her dad. Poor guy.

Rachel and Jake coming back together was great.

Over all a top episode. Despite an off episode or two this season has been great.

Dam it I wrote up my respone for this episode and now it has been lost into cyber space. BLAH!

Loved the episode. The show is experiencing a great sophmore season, despite an eh episode or two. The plots are awlays brought back to family.

Love how teh family have reacted to Sami. They see her as their family. It's wonderful.

I really think this is the majority opinion, for just about everyone really. And I think it is what we were intended to think of him. He was quite clearly presented at the beginning of the series as a snobby, snotty little brat, who badly needed to be taken down a peg. It happened when he lost his job, and his character improved, however getting into the music industry was always going to see him revert to being a gigantic ass.

I agree that it was awesome to see how everyone dealt with Sammy. She deserved all that love and more. I had been hoping for a quick reconciliation with Nathan, to keep her on the show and not on the backburner, but I hadn't considered the option of having her move next door. That will keep her right in the thick of things nicely, and now they can take their time reconciling Nathan and Sammy, and make him earn her back.

It seems as though Chel is being genuine about everything. For weeks I've been suspicious that she was up to some scam, or underhanded dealings, and they don't seem to be going there, so I give up. Watch now as next week she is revealed as a drug dealing addict who sells organs on the black market or something. I like the developing relationship with her and Dave, though I now fear that she's only come into his life to die soon.

Could anyone make anything out from the preview? I couldn't, it all flashed by so fast. The final shot seemed to be someone running out of a wedding, obviously Ben and Mel's, but it didn't seem to be Mel, as it didn't look like the runner was wearing a wedding dress?

Ben's past lover (forgot her name) looks to be coming back, as is Rachel's past druggie flame. Interesting. As long as they keep it all family based, they should be fine.

Add me in on the general love for this episode. I really liked how everyone was supporting Sammy. That is often one of the hardest parts of breaking up with someone, you sometimes feel like you're "breaking up" with the family too. I like how they are depicting Sammy's reaction. She is hurt, angry, distraught. The full range of emotion - I hate when they just show someone as being angry/vengegul after a cheating episode. When you consider yourself in love with someone and this sort of thing happens, it almost feels like a grieving process.

Dave and Julies reactions to Nathan are spot-on too. As for Nathan, I like that he is trying to repair things slowly but... I don't know if its the writing or the acting. But for example, I sensed his desperation early on in the episode that he might never get her back especially after their talk outside but towards the end when he was talking to his siblings in the kitchen, he seemed less desperate, and I don't know - not sad enough! Maybe they just wanted to show that he was relieved that some small progress had been made.



Hehee... I know! It made sense though, her worry that she would be seen as only meeting him in order to get something. And it must be difficult as well when you are struggling with a terminal illness to allow yourself to become close to people and put down roots - when you know it could all end at any time. It was nice to see that perspective explored.

And urgh. Cabo and his big mouth! Sometimes I find him amusing but other times, like this episdoe, he's just irritating.

Loved tonights episode. It seems they are on a role, full steam ahead, to the season finale. Great times.

I really liked how they handled Crissy's departure and her reveal. I believe she likes more of what Dave represents rather than him personally. I loved Julie's initial reaction and then having her overcome her anger and just to simply want her friend back. I hope Crissy can go, come abck and hook up with Carbo. The guy can be annoying at times but their final scene together sold me, on those two. Screw Ardi. I want Carbo and Crissy!

I really like where they are goin gwith Nath and Sammy. Nath seems like the Nath of early this season. Though it still early to have them back together properly... I just HOPE they aren't setting the show up to have Sammy cheat on Nathan. I can see it now. A missunderstanding and BANG she falls into this twats arms. Though I wouldn't mind it being a difficult road for the young couple, just not in the soapish sense.

Ben and Mel were fine in this episode. As was Ted. FLOVE Rachel and Jake.

While I don't think it could be classed as Sammy cheating if she does hook up with Owen(?) I still don't want her to go there. Twat that he is, Nathan would then count them as equal now, when they really wouldn't be. I loved their interactions last night, but I hope their reunion isn't rushed. There are apparently five episodes left this year, maybe by the end of the season they could have a tentative reconciliation and be dating again or something like that. They certainly shouldn't be back to married and living together as they were.

I agree that Chrissy seems to be more interested in the idea of a Dave of her own than Dave in particular, because that's how her comments started out. I think she'll be fine, she will return and be over it, and probably get back with Carbo. Their relationship seemed dead and buried, but after the last couple of weeks, I could easily see them rekindling it.

Sure enough, I give up on my gut feeling of Chel being a fraud or something, and next week Dave discovers something shocking to turn him against her. I have no idea what it could be because I've had too many ideas already, but I'm going to say it'll be a fake-out or something minor, and they will stay in contact. And that she'll probably be dead by the end of the year.

I'm calling it now that the scene Seven are playing up in the promo with Dave saying "You're not my mother" is being taken COMPLETELY out of context, and will actually be more of a joke.

But yeah, another strong episode. Still HATE Nathan with a passion, but hey, there's always one in every show.

There is yes! HA!

I agree that Dave's comment was most likely taken out of context. After watching it I instantly thought that. Gave me those vibes.

I agree. I was actually worried that they were rushing it a bit last night, as it seemed a little too easy for Nathan but if they have five episodes to go until the finale then I'm somewhat comforted that they'll continue to stretch it out.

The Chrissy storyline was quite heartbreaking. But it creates a nice juxtaposition with the Nathan/Sammy plot in that Chrissy realises that nothing can happen, and instead of trying to force it and ruining relationships she chooses to go away to clear her head and stop herself from making a silly mistake.


Hehe. Agreed!

Another strong episode.

Loved the ending with Rachel and Jake. Just when this show gets a bit silly, they pull everyone back inline. LOVED IT!

The cannibis issue was hillarious with Ben and yet I thought Dave kind of overreacted. I know he has every right to be pissed but he just exploded.

Was kind of annoyed that Sammy accepted nath back so SOON. Yes we get it. HE IS SORRY. I liked that she felt weird initially but then they banged the living hell out of eachother and its like... oh well. I like that Sammy is very much on this show still. And knowing this show, they will not make it all peachy. There will still be some trust issues (and dear lord I HOPE they don't have her cheat with her ex, they did kind of set him up without any pay off yet.)

I cannot wait for the episode next week. The Wedding should be awesome. I think it is Shell who is the one to die or rather collapse.

I was wrong on the Dave and Shell blow out tonight, but I'm gonna go ahead and make another prediction. Come season finale time, they're going to have Julie give birth, as Shell kicks the bucket. Showrunners love that whole "life for a life" thing - surely they can't resist? Besides, with what looks to be the wedding next week (another favoured Season Finale trope), there has to be something big for the finale.

As for tonights episode, yeah, I enjoyed it. Still hate that Sammi took Nathan back so quickly, but I was more than willing to accept it in exchange for Bens hijinks. I don't think I've seen something funnier on Australian TV this year. And about the whole Rachel/Daniel/Jake thing? I'm glad that Daniel remained firmly entrenched in douchebag territory. I was getting worried they were gonna try pull a redemption arc with him.

Is there really only four episodes left? I swear this season has flown by, and it's kinda killing me that there's gonna be such a massive wait until season three...

And while I'm here, spoiler filled description for next week, titled "A Small, Traditional Affair":

At the bucks night, Ben is having a fantastic time until the stripper Carbo has organised arrives. It turns out to be Kat, the woman he slept with and who came between him and Melissa. She questions why Melissa would want to marry someone who's just the manager of a Boat Club — something that, deep down, Ben has often wondered himself. Ben is shaken by her words. His feeling of pressure increases with the surprise early arrival of Melissa parents, Linda and Pat. It becomes increasingly clear that Pat thinks Ben isn't good enough for his daughter — he has no ambition, no drive, no plans for the future. Ben panics and, on the morning of their wedding day, disappears. The Rafters throw themselves into finding Ben and hiding the news from Melissa. Will they be able to track him down before the bride finds out?

OH so HE is the runnaway bride? AWESOME! Like that role reversal.

It's a little to "Monica and Chandlers Wedding" if you ask me, but I guess I'll have to wait and see how it plays out.

I felt the episode was a little hit-and-miss.

For example, Nathan and Sammy? Way too soon in my opinion to have them happily reconciled. The audience had to suffer how many episodes with frigging Layla and now all of a sudden things are hunky-dory? Not buying it. I liked it initially when Sammy had issues being intimate again but then they just dropped that and went straight to post-coital bliss. Unless there is some further tension up the road between them to show how difficult it really is to rebuild a relationship, I think this was a woefully executed storyline.

Dave and Chel?



Exactly! The scenes with Ben were almost enough to maket this storyline worth it but the anger seemed way over the top, and even given Rachel's issuess (which Dave knows that Chel is unaware of), the comment about "is that how you got AIDS?" made me despise Dave. Urgh, so judgemental and cruel. I liked Chel and Teds exchange at the door - despite giving him up for adoption, she doesn't have to stick around if she's going to be judged. That is not a constant get-out-of-jail-free card for Dave to behave how he wants around her, knowing that her guilt will keep bringing him back.

The Jake and Rachel storyline had some great moments but I felt it was too easy to make Daniel the villian at the end. I was really intrigued by the idea that Rachel would want him to succeed - it makes sense, she wants to know that he was a good guy at heart but messed up on drugs, not that she just chose to go out with an absolute tool from the very beginning. And up until he called Jakes brother a half-wit, I felt he was being perfectly reasonable. Then the conversation where he sells out Rachel - it just seemed a cop-out to me. I would have preferred a less stereotypical outcome. But despite Jake annoying me all episode (and still carrying residual irritaation after his stupid mother fiasco), I did love their "I love you" scene at the end :)

Next week looks interesting!

Shades of how they got Ben and Mel back together, she just basically re-appeared wanting to get back together I didn't hear any explanation for what happened with the doctor she was going out with.

I let out an angry yell at the start of the episode when Rachel's voice-over said that Sammy was on the verge of moving in. I definitely agree that it was way too soon, at least for the audience, though who knows what time has passed show wise. I mean last night Ted mentioned that the wedding was a month away, but we're seeing it next week. Still, we were subjected to Layla for far too long, we should have actually seen Nathan work to fix his marriage and seen Sammy begin to relent. And seen it for more than simply last week's episode. Just have it as an ongoing thing through several episodes, the setup of Sammy living next door was good, it would have worked for keeping Sammy in the show, keeping her interacting somewhat with Nathan and we could see her begin to forgive him. Instead we get insta-fix!

Other than that though, I really enjoyed last night's episode. Normally I loathe when shows and movies use being drunk or on drugs as a lame attempt at humour, but I could not stop laughing at Ben last night. That was possibly the best acting in the series so far, and one of the funniest moments of TV this year, even if the set up was somewhat implausible and predictable.

I can see Dave's point of view regarding the cannibis. He's not necessarily right, and he did overreact, but I see why he did. It was weird that there was suddenly tension in his relationship with Chel where there had been none before, even prior to him learning about the pills. So, they'll either be reconciled in someone else's voiceover at the start of next week's episode, or they won't be by the time she collapses at the wedding, and possibly dies.

Rachel and Jake make a great couple, I really like them. The I love you scene was good, but it was the rest of it I enjoyed more. Jake tolerating Daniel for Rachel, Jake apologising to prove he wasn't a psycho thug, Rachel and Alex building their relationship, and even the Jake/Rachel fight after Jake's punch. Even when they fight they are great.

Man I'm bad I haven't been to TWOP for a month and this thread has absolutely exploded. But first I must say is it wrong that I cheered when Jake punched Daniel? Loved his card and flowers for Rachel. Aww.


Word to that. Absolutely love Carbo and Chrissy together.


When Mel returned she stated something along the lines of the doctor being egotistical and it was after he blamed Ben for giving the girl the date rape drug when he had no knowledge of it, that he showed his true colours.

I know some people are stating at the wedding is too soon. But in the episode two weeks ago they announced it would be in a month's time. There's no reason why the wedding will be next week, since a time jump can easily occur. Of course it then means the big episode is rating on Seven's biggest day of the year (Melbourne Cup Day) so I wouldn't be surprised at all if the episode cracks the 2 million barrier again.

That would be great. This weeks episode saw another rise in the ratings with the show garnering over 1.9Mill. This season has been consistently reaching the 1.7-1.9 mark, so hardly a drop from S1 which is great.