Packed to the Rafters

2008
4.5
11 reviews
Eligible
Watch in a web browser or on supported devices Learn More

Season 1 episodes (22)

1 Packed to the Rafters
8/26/08
Season-only
Episode one is narrated from the point of view of Julie, one of two lynchpins of the Rafter family. The episode is focused around the 25th wedding anniversary of Julie and Dave, as their last child moves out and they look forward to a new life together, as empty-nesters.
2 Playing a Googly
9/2/08
Season-only
Narrated from the perspective of the Rafters’ middle son, Ben, the episode focuses on the dramatic and comic repercussions of his move next door to live with his best made Carbo, the shift in household dynamics as their new house-mate nurse Melissa joins them there, and the on-going tensions for Julie and Dave of having back under their roof their daughter Rachel, son Nathan and his new wife Sammy, and Julie’s father Ted – all dealing with problems of their own.
3 She Ain't Heavy
9/9/08
Season-only
Ben deals with the repercussions of his move next door and the shift in household dynamics as their new house-mate Melissa joins them there.
4 How Did We Get Here
9/16/08
Season-only
Narrated from the perspective of Nathan Rafter, the episode gives an insight into the workings of his personality, his softer, more fun side, his devotion to his new wife Sammy, the history of their relationship – and his distress that heavy credit card should have driven him and Sammy to move home with his parents and his humiliated dread of ultimately seeming to have let them down, of not meeting their or his own high expectations in life.
5 Lines of Communication
9/23/08
Season-only
Julie Rafter takes up the baton of narration in an episode which turns the microscope on the ways in which – sometimes out of an exaggerated sense of protectiveness of your partner’s feelings – the lines of communication normally open between a strongly-bonded couple can shut down in difficult circumstances and lead to eruptions of tension and fear.
6 Facing Demons
9/30/08
Season-only
Narrated from the perspective of Rachel, the episode focuses on the aftermath of her sex video being emailed around, when Rachel discovers that Ted has decided to move out of the Rafter house due to having seen the sordid video.
7 Self Made Man
10/7/08
Season-only
Narrated from the perspective of Nathan, the episode deals with the journey towards Nathan’s epiphany that he’s not so different to the rest of his family – in fact, there are similarities between him and Dave that Nathan never considered possible.
8 Taking the Lead
10/14/08
Season-only
Narrated from the perspective of Ben, the episode focuses on his journey towards facing up to his true feelings for Melissa, just as Carbo sparks a surprising friendship with Chrissy, and Dave equally must face up to the secrets of his past.
9 Suburban Boy
10/21/08
Season-only
This episode, narrated from the perspective of Dave Rafter, focuses on his decision to re-visit a significant friend from his distant musical past in an attempt to find some sort of closure.
10 All the Planning
10/28/08
Season-only
In the this episode the baton of narration is taken back up by Rachel as she faces the very scary possibility that she might be pregnant – with Daniel the only possible father – and speculates on the cruel and arbitrary ways that life has of disrupting even the best-laid plans.
11 Away From It All
11/4/08
Season-only
This episode is narrated from the perspective of Julie Rafter when she spontaneously decides to drag her seemingly exhausted and dispirited family away for a restorative family weekend at a beach house not visited by the family for many years.
12 Removing the Block
11/11/08
Season-only
In this episode, told in the context of the approach of Christmas, the season of the year when Ted and Louise first met, the baton of narration passes to Ted as he stands on the threshold of a potentially life-changing experience.
13 Smile Through the Pain
11/18/08
Season-only
New Year’s Eve festivities are over – resolutions made, hangovers endured – and now Dave’s dreading his birthday, which is fast approaching. He thinks he’s got a very good reason for not wanting any fuss, or even any mention, of the occasion… and that is – the family are facing big financial hurdles.
14 A Mothers Radar
11/25/08
Season-only
This episode is narrated from the perspective of Julie Rafter as she struggles to deal with secrets her family – and she herself - are keeping.
15 Natural Justice
2/3/09
Season-only
Narrated from the point of view of Julie, the episode kicks off at an idyllic afternoon of cricket. However, Julie is only too aware of the maelstrom of anxieties seething amongst her nearest and dearest, just below the surface of the seemingly tranquil moment.
16 Having It All
2/10/09
Season-only
Looking for new direction and focus, Rachel becomes a woman on a mission as she immerses herself in an autobiographical novel – An Angel at My Table – bequeathed her by her ever-hopeful colleague George as a congratulatory gift on nailing a recent campaign.
17 Changes
2/17/09
Season-only
With Rachel dating a man she has revealed only to be “mature” and “sensitive” Dave finds that his father’s worry-scope has been reactivated.
18 House of Cards
2/24/09
Season-only
Narrated from the point of view of Ben, the episode examines the fragility of romantic relationships as Ben deals with the consequences of his one night stand with Kat.
19 Over the Moon
3/3/09
Season-only
The moon is nearly full and there’s weirdness in the air. Dave finds a camera with a single photo of a Collingwood AFL birthday cake. Ben begs the moon goddess for five minutes with the lost Melissa. Rob wants to make Rachel the mother of his children. And Carbo waits for his ominously silent mother to explode.
20 Losing the Touch
3/10/09
Season-only
Julie is going through a crisis regarding her ability to dispense wisdom and common sense to family and friends. Her doubts begin when talking to Chrissy about her impending marriage to Carbo.
21 What a Difference a Year Makes
3/17/09
Season-only
Nathan wakes up alone on the morning of his first wedding anniversary – which is also the first anniversary of his grandmother’s death. He can’t help but feel very maudlin – perhaps it was an omen, after all, that the so-called happiest day of his life was tinged with such tragedy… Who would’ve thought a year later, things would have turned out like this?
22 Don’t Know What You’ve Got Till Its Gone
3/24/09
Season-only
The baton of narration passes here to Julie and Dave alternately as they wrestle with the news that Julie is pregnant and decide what to do – whether to keep the baby or not.

About this show

Packed to the Rafters centers around Dave and Julie Rafter and their three children Rachel, Ben and Nathan. On the eve of their twenty-fifth wedding anniversary the couple thinks that they are finally about to have the house to themselves. But home is a very welcome refuge for their children and when unforeseen problems loom, they return like a boomerang. After Dave faces unemployment, Julie's father suffers a panic attack, son Nathan and daughter-in-law Sammy need a place to stay, daughter Rachel leaves her abusive boyfriend Daniel, and son Ben moves next door but continues to drop in, the household is 'packed to the rafters'.

Ratings and reviews

4.5
11 reviews
A Google user
November 13, 2018
Awesome!!!