Packed to the Rafters (2008)
Packed to the Rafters is an Australian family-oriented television series which premiered on the Seven Network on Tuesday 26 August 2008 at 8:30 pm. The show has continued on Tuesdays in this timeslot for its entire run. The drama series features a mix of lighthearted comedy woven through the plot. It revolves around the Rafter family facing work pressures and life issues, whilst also tackling serious social issues. The Logie award winning series was the highest rating to screen on the Seven Network in 2008, and the show has consistently been among the top 5 shows of the year throughout its run in Australia. It was announced in TV Week that the sixth season of Packed to the Rafters would be the last, with Hugh Sheridan stating: "It's emotional letting go of Rafters – for all of us. It was such an amazing chapter in Aussie TV. I'm really proud we all came back together to send it off." The two-hour series finale of Rafters aired on 2 July 2013, which saw the return of Hugh Sheridan, Jessica Marais, Ryan Corr, Jessica McNamee and James Stewart. Rebecca Gibney said, "The cast, writers and producers have always said that we wanted to keep Rafters as one of the most-watched shows on TV. If we ever felt like we were losing too many cast members, we needed to end it on a high. We can say season six winds up an aspect of the Rafter family and there is a sense of finality to it."
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Episode 1 - Answering the Call
Release Date: 2012-04-17Julie receives a surprise invitation from the charming editor of a local paper Adam Goodman - an offer that will ultimately send her into uncharted waters but is she ready to say yes? After interviewing two male sparkies, Dave is stunned when an attractive woman arrives for the interview. Coby arrives home from overseas, having cut short his trip, only to discover in his absence that Matt has moved into the house with Jake. Meanwhile, Ted continues to bond with Cooper. But a disturbing encounter jeopardises not only their relationship, but Teds reputation. Meanwhile, Emma takes tentative steps to claim more of a place for herself in her relationship with Ben, and is relieved when he finally removes his wedding ring. But how much has Ben really moved on?
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Episode 2 - Great Expectations
Release Date: 2012-04-24With an expanding business, new premises and a new employee, Dave has high hopes indeed. But it seems what Dave considers chivalry, Frankie considers sexism. Coby too is having trouble adjusting to his new workmate. But is his disapproval masking deeper feelings? Despite his increasingly close relationship with Emma, Ben still hasnt invited her to stay the night - another bridge to cross in his grieving process for Mel. But an unexpected event helps to give him a push.But in the morning Ben doesnt feel the peace he was hoping for, prompting him to come up with a new solution.
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Episode 3 - The Power of Words
Release Date: 2012-05-01Its Valentines Day, and matters of the heart are front and centre. Ben and Emma try to dodge the pressure by doing a shift at the Boat Club. Donna is still carrying a candle for Ted and Julie is unimpressed when Ben encourages Donna to invite Ted to a romantic dinner. It gets off to a rocky start, with Ted turning up at the wrong venue, but Ben rushes to the rescue - and Emma's even more smitten than before. But pressure returns in spades when those three little words are uttered - and someone misses the moment to reciprocate. Meanwhile, Matt decides to play a joke on his flatmates by surprising them both with anonymous Valentines Day cards.
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Episode 4 - The Things We Do For Love
Release Date: 2012-05-08Oblivious to the knowing smiles of Dave and Jake, Coby finds himself falling for Frankie
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Episode 5 - Judgement Day
Release Date: 2012-05-15When Jake receives a surprise phone call from his estranged father, he is unable to forgive him for abandoning his family
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Episode 6 - Secret Fears
Release Date: 2012-05-22Dave struggles with his secret fear that his relationship with Jake is permanently damaged and that Julie's relationship with Adam might turn out to be more than just professional.
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Episode 7 - The Great Escape
Release Date: 2012-05-29Ben is being driven quietly crazy by the baby-obsessed Carbo and Retta. Feeling edged out of the world they are creating, Emma suggests that the two of them get out of town for a few days, a large step forward in their relationship for Ben. But once you've found escape, the trouble comes returning from it. After being romantically shunned by Frankie, Coby does his best to avoid her at work. However, when the awkwardness becomes too much to bear, Frankie makes a proposal. Meanwhile, Julie begins life as the 'new kid' at the local newspaper and her new lease on life inspires Dave to move forward with his own business plans, leading to frustrations between the couple. Will venturing into a new future drive a wedge between Dave and Julie?
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Episode 8 - UnWritten Rules
Release Date: 2012-06-05When the rules of relationships are broken, who decides the punishment?
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Episode 9 - A Kiss Is Just A Kiss
Release Date: 2012-06-12Following an awkward moment, Frankie announces she's going to quit and with a niggling feeling of guilt, Julie tells Dave about Adam's visit.
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Episode 10 - Letting Go
Release Date: 2012-06-19Tension remains high in the Rafter house as Julie and Dave struggle to forgive each other. Ted is caught in the middle and is sick of having to hide the real reason behind their squabbles from Ben.
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Episode 11 - The Right Time
Release Date: 2013-01-29For Ben, it finally feels like the right time to move on from Mel and start a new chapter with Emma, beginning with the purchase of their country cottage. Emma is prepared to put aside her misgivings about the rapid pace at which this is all happening and she and Ben excitedly book an appointment with the bank to set up a loan. But when Ben lends his support to Carbo and Retta by taking them to the hospital for an ultrasound appointment, he begins to reminisce about Mel and the surprising intensity of his feelings throws Ben into a tailspin.
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Episode 12 - Life's Surprises
Release Date: 2013-02-05Julie thinks about life's surprises after she receives two big ones. Nathan returns back home unannounced and is taken out by the elated family for a noisy family lunch. Nathan has big news and drops not just one, but two bombshells. Ben knows he's not over Mel and needs time to heal.
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Episode 13 - Filling the Void
Release Date: 2013-02-12Julie tries to find ways to fill the void left by her absent kids, while the calamitous return of Alex sees Jake’s life fuller than ever before...
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Episode 14 - Bad Habits
Release Date: 2013-02-12Dave bets Julie that she can't refrain from giving advice.
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Episode 15 - Moment Of Clarity
Release Date: 2013-02-19In light of his ongoing tests, Ted isn't sure whether he should reveal his health concerns to his family. When he suffers a mild stroke he resolves to keep the tests to himself.
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Episode 16 - Displacement
Release Date: 2013-02-25Julie is in denial about Ted's health and Dave carefully voices his concerns but Julie doesn't want to discuss it. Meanwhile, Jake is still having issues with Alex who's partying too hard.
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Episode 17 - Keeping Step
Release Date: 2013-03-05Julie feels at odds with both Ted and Dave over the severity of Ted's condition - and falling back into step is going to be easier said than done. Meanwhile, despite having rejected Coby's initial interest in her, Frankie is finally letting her guard down.
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Episode 18 - That Heady Rush
Release Date: 2013-03-12Frankie is caught up in that heady rush a new relationship brings. She seems to be coping pretty well. But can she contain the tsunami that is Coby? Dave is riding a heady rush of his own when Duncan offers the Rafter Electrical team a big contract. But celebratory drinks take a sour turn, and Frankie's forced to rebuff a drunken pass. She assumes it's over and done with. Little does she know, the moment will come back to haunt her.
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Episode 19 - Got What It Takes
Release Date: 2013-03-19Dave is determined to take his business to the next level, beginning with his new contract with Duncan. But when Duncan's wandering eye puts him on a collision course with Coby, does Dave have what it takes to stop the impact? Meanwhile, Frankie's not impressed with Coby's seeming lack of maturity, starting with his inability to let go of his rage over Duncan's pass at her.
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Episode 20 - Weathering the Storm
Release Date: 2013-03-26Torrential rain and bad luck descends as Jake realises the old adage is true: it never rains but it pours.
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Episode 21 - Free to Choose
Release Date: 2013-04-09Hours have passed since Coby took off and he's not answering his phone. Dave is feeling privately guilty over having not stopped Coby from leaving when he had the chance. So when he learns that a drunken Coby recently accosted Duncan and tried to get him to drop the assault charges, he calls the troops into action. But time is short, as now they aren't the only ones looking for Coby — the police now have a warrant for his arrest.
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Episode 22 - Rewriting History
Release Date: 2013-04-16As Dave and Julie's 30th wedding anniversary approaches, thoughts naturally turn to family and history. But Julie's view of the past is rocked by a surprise admission from Ted. Meanwhile, Julie also assumes their celebration will be a small affair, but little does she realise, Ben and Nathan have returned for the occasion! Coby is finding it hard to adjust to life in Remand, hiding his pain behind a veneer of black humour.