The Worst Episodes of Packed to the Rafters

#1 Worst Episode
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7.6/10(44 votes)
#1 - All in the Planning
S1:E1010/28/2008
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?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.9/10(48 votes)
#2 - Playing a Googly
S1:E29/2/2008
An unemployed Dave struggles to regain his manhood and position in the family, landing himself in hospital. When life keeps bowling Dave a series of problematic googlies, the question becomes: how will he play them? An overprotective Dave breaks a promise to his daughter and is brutally attacked. Rachel struggles with the aftermath of leaving her abusive boyfriend Daniel — and her own secret turmoil. Narrated by Dave, this episode focuses on Dave dealing with the reality of sudden employment and a house that has been unexpectedly inundated with family members — each bringing with them a dark secret. He processes it all through a cricketing metaphor — that of the googly — that devious curve-ball that life can throw at you, catching you off-guard.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.9/10(40 votes)
#3 - Away From It All
S1:E1111/4/2008
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?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
7.8/10(23 votes)
#4 - Out of the Comfort Zone
S3:E108/24/2010
Ben is forced to step outside his comfort zone when a moral stand clashes with workplace politics. Ben's troubles begin when Melissa reveals she isn't keen on starting a family for years - partially because they can't afford kids. Determined to prove himself as a potential father, Ben asks boss Derek for a pay rise but is turned down. What's worse is being forced to discipline Lexi, friend and employee. Already having trouble giving her a written warning, with Derek on his back, Ben is forced to fire Lexi when she once again arrives late for a shift. However, she reveals her sister is in hospital - and soft hearted Ben agrees to talk to Derek. Ben's aims are thwarted when Ted recognises Derek's daughter Hayley as the leader of the girl gang who assaulted him and Chel. Ted confronts Derek with the unpalatable truth - and is deeply insulted when Derek dismisses him. Unable to let it go, Ted contacts the police, leading to Derek playing personal tit-for-tat and kicking Friend Finders out of the boat club - and ordering Ben to do his dirty work. Torn between keeping his job and standing up for what's morally right, what will Ben decide? Julie steps out of her comfort zone too by joining a local mother's group. Despite Dave's reassurances that the group will be full of normal mothers, all Julie's fears come true when she is welcomed as a senior mum to the group by Stephanie, a young, trim, and highly competitive mother. Despite herself, Julie is drawn into Stephanie's competitive world. However, the presence of Hamish, a charming stay at home dad, helps bring Julie back to earth and politely resolve matters with neurotic Stephanie. After Rachel's refusal to stay at Jake's untidy house, he has been sleeping every night at the Rafter place. The comical Mexican standoff seems destined to continue forever and Jake realises he has to change tack. He jumps at the chance to babysit Ruby, a plan forming to erode Rachel's resistance. However, his plans go awry when Rachel is called into work and Ruby won't stop screaming. Desperate, he hands Ruby to Ben and Melissa - who prove to be more than capable. In fact, Melissa has finally become clucky, and throws away her contraceptive pills - she's ready to have kids if he is. Julie and Dave meanwhile return home none the wiser and ask Rachel and Jake to babysit again on the weekend. To Jake's delight, Rachel capitulates - better Jake's house than constant babysitting duty. Resisting the negative impression Tom Jennings gave Dave in the previous episode, Nathan decides to give him a second chance, and asks Dave's permission to see him. Dave refuses, citing Tom's boorish dismissiveness of Chel, but Nathan is inspired by Ben's new-found ability to stand up for himself and politely informs Dave that he will visit Tom against Dave's wishes.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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7.9/10(28 votes)
#5 - First Instinct
S2:E149/29/2009
The Rafters throw a surprise party for Chel, who's shocked and delighted as the family yells 'surprise.' She is swept up in the family history and moved by the love shown to her. But clouds are gathering. Rachel and Ted notice worrying marks on Chel's arm. Are they damage veins? Or trackmarks? Rachel takes the news to Dave and Julie, who debate the causes. Surely Chel can’t be a junkie? But they admit they don't know herwell. Dave confronts Chel, who reacts badly to the interrogations. Eventually she reveals the shocking truth. Julie reacts the most strongly to the news. She doesn’t want Chel in her house any more. This puts her at odds with everyone, especially Dave and Rachel. Nathan is stricken with guilt over his fling with Layla and manages to lose his wedding ring during the birthday barbecue. He searches for it desperately and lies to Sammy about it. Next door, Ben and Melissa are stricken with food poisoning. Their marathon bout of vomiting brings them even closer together. But will it end in Melissa finally accepting Ben's marriage proposal? Carbo works hard to fan the flames of his relationship with Artie. But he strikes out. Arties decides her mother has orchestrated the whole thing with Carbo, and, in an act of defiance, agrees to go out with Gavin a shy country singer from the Boat Club.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(45 votes)
#6 - She Ain't Heavy
S1:E39/9/2008
Rachel's growing alcohol dependence sends her family over the edge. Her careless actions could spell the end for one of them. Julie desperately brings the family together for a therapeutic barbecue but simmering tensions erupt. Ben finds himself the unlikely counsellor to both his sister and grandfather Ted as they confront traumatic turning points in their lives. When Ted's humiliating secret is discovered by Rachel, she unwittingly sets him on a path to self-destruction. Narrated by the Rafters' middle child, Ben, tonight's episode focuses on the dramatic and comic repercussions of his move towards independence and responsibility; and the on-going tension for Julie and Dave as they deal with the dark secrets of their family.
Director:Pino Amenta
Writer:Marieke Hardy
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Director:Pino Amenta
Writer:Marieke Hardy

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The 20 BEST Episodes of Packed to the Rafters

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7.9/10(21 votes)
#7 - Head vs Heart
S6:E106/25/2013
It's a matter of head versus heart as Julie and Dave wrestle with their decision to sell their beloved family home.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(31 votes)
#8 - Having It All
S1:E162/10/2009
This week sees Rachel still trying to find her life's path. With much direction and focus she starts a new chapter in her life. Meanwhile, since finding a new business partner, Dave's life should have been made much easier – shouldn't it? Things just aren't going smoothly and instead it's all a bit of a struggle.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(46 votes)
#9 - Lines of Communication
S1:E59/23/2008
Ben finds himself in uncomfortable possession of a devastating secret which could blow his family apart, and with Dave's freelance career failing to take off, Julie makes a tough decision which tests the strength of their marriage. Julie is starting to feel the financial strain of the family's new living arrangements as Dave struggles to find work. Tempers flare when Dave buys a new van they can't afford without telling her. Eager to ease their money woes, Julie tells Dave a white lie she later regrets.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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Director:Unknown
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8.1/10(46 votes)
#10 - Taking the Lead
S1:E810/14/2008
Ben's world is turned upside down after a drunken one-night stand. Dave must face up to the secrets of his past while Carbo strikes up a surprising friendship with unexpectedly romantic results.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Marieke Hardy
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Director:Unknown
Writer:Marieke Hardy
8.0/10(24 votes)
#11 - The Dollhouse
S4:E63/15/2011
Nathan doesn't have much luck getting attention for his Parts Exchange website, so he makes up some flyers to distribute around the town, with Ben's help - help Ben is all too willing to give when he realises Nathan's business name "Parts Exchange" reads as "Part Sex Change" when run together as a domain name. Nathan is bemused when he receives dodgy emails and phone calls and when he finally realises his mistake, is comically furious with Ben for letting him embarrass himself. Jake risks everything by returning to the scene of the alleged attempted rape to confront Jodi (SARAH SNOOK), hoping he can convince her he is innocent of the charge. Has Jake made the right decision, or will the confrontation land him in more hot water?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(22 votes)
#12 - Don't Go There !
S3:E159/28/2010
Ben begins to feel like the victim in a horror film who always goes where the audience knows he shouldn't as he begins to question Melissa's commitment to being a parent. Don't go there! When Melissa feels queasy during dinner, Ben immediately assumes she is pregnant and is beside himself with excitement. But Melissa seems hesitant and confused by the possibility, putting off using the pregnancy test kit until the morning and rebuffing Ben's attempts to open up about her feelings. Next door there's little rest and relaxation for Dave who is working extra long hours, saving up for a holiday to Fiji. But his plans cop a setback when an unexpected tax bill lobs on the doorstep. Rachel marches off to an important pitch meeting buoyed by Jake's encouragement. Inexplicably, the client rejects all of Rachel's ideas. What she hasn't yet realised is that oily colleague Liam is sabotaging her efforts. Will Rachel unmask Liam's duplicity? Or will he get the better of her? Meanwhile, Carbo's diet of horror movies has primed him for his own supernatural encounter, and he becomes convinced Mrs. Luscombe's sad, empty house is haunted. His nervous reaction is gold for Nathan who mercilessly revs Carbo up. But the final reveal of "the ghost" next door takes everyone by surprise! Carbo's relationship with Retta continues to bloom, and he hosts a dinner party in an effort to bond her with his housemates. After a painfully hilarious evening, the night ends with a startling announcement from the lovesick pair – one that sends Ben into meltdown. To top it all off, Carbo's mum rings with news that plunges the whole household into uncertainty about the future – she is selling the Karandonis house!
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(21 votes)
#13 - The Invisible Man
S3:E57/20/2010
Ted struggles with feeling old and worthless after a girl gang attack and the death of a neighbour. Returning from a movie, Ted and Chel become involved in a teenage girl gang's vendetta. In the melee, Chel falls heavily and Ted rushes her to hospital. Kidney damage has occurred and Chel's dialysis is upped to three times a week. Ashamed he couldn't protect Chel, and feeling marginalised by the world, Ted begins to retreat into himself. Melissa discovers someone has been using her toothbrush. Already feeling marginalised in the house full of men and lacking in privacy, this is the last straw. She tracks down the culprit - Carbo who reveals he thinks of toothbrushes as common property. Nathan's sympathy and gift of a new toothbrush only makes Melissa feel worse about keeping Sammy's secret. But when Nathan receives separation papers, will Melissa and Ben risk hurting him further by telling him the truth? Dave raises the spectre of kidney donation. With Julie's tentative blessing, he lays it on the line with Chel. To his surprise, she accepts his offer to test for compatibility - she wants to see baby Ruby grow up. Meanwhile, Ted and Julie become concerned at the quiet absence of neighbour Mrs Luscombe. A simple visit turns to horror as they discover Mrs Luscombe has died. To Ted, this is another example of the world marginalising the elderly - and he resolves to make a difference through a seniors self defence class and a phone tree, reclaiming his sense of self. Carbo's internet fame jumps to a new level when he begins receiving sexy gifts from a secret admirer.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(21 votes)
#14 - Got What It Takes
S5:E193/19/2013
Dave 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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.0/10(20 votes)
#15 - Other People's Eyes
S4:E43/1/2011
The aftermath of Jake's ill-fated rugby weekend is fully felt as Julie realises how much perception and misperception can affect the lives of her family and friends. Rachel is determined to support Jake in light of his charges of attempted sexual assault - if only he'd let her. Jake has gone to ground, reeling from the momentary doubt he felt he saw in Rachel's eyes. And when Rachel forces him to talk to her, assuring him of her love and belief, it's clear that Rachel, unlike resigned Jake, is unlikely to wait patiently for a court to reach its verdict. When it comes to light that it is in fact Camel who is truly to blame - not only for the charges but also for not sticking up for Jake - a furious Rachel goes to confront him. But is she only making the situation worse for Jake? Rachel's woes are compounded when her boss, Paul Morgan (guest star MARTIN LYNES) tells her he expects her to deliver a contract signed by Coby as the main artist for their new alcopop campaign. However, Coby can't be shaken from his perception that Rachel showing his work without permission is an unforgivable betrayal of trust. Paul makes it clear that the client won't take no for an answer. With a major campaign and now her job on the line, can Rachel convince Coby to change his mind? Ted meanwhile reveals to Julie that he's developed a crush on a beautiful Chinese woman, Mai (guest star ANNETTE SHUN WAH) who teaches Tai Chi in the park every morning. Feeling simultaneously like an old fool and a teenage boy, his attraction to her has been fuelled by her daily smile and wave to him. But when he reveals he's been learning Cantonese in an attempt to forge a connection with Mai, we see how powerful his crush is. Will Mai respond to Ted's advances, or has he set himself up for a fall? When Julie bites the "child care" bullet and goes to check the place out before enrolling Ruby, she is surprised to find Hamish at the centre. His son Jack has been enrolled five days a week since Hamish's marriage broke up. Despite the awkwardness of their last meeting, Julie's heart goes out to him as he reveals he has lost his custody case thanks to a judge whose perception of the world is that children belong with their mothers. Overwhelmed by the unfairness of life towards good men - Ted, Jake, Hamish - Julie can't help but feel that sometimes, despite your best intentions, you can't change people's perceptions
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(29 votes)
#16 - Losing the Touch
S1:E203/10/2009
"Once upon a time in Dave's Magic Castle." All should be well in the world of King Dave, but with Queen Julie heading into menopause, the Rafter household is a bit tumultuous. Julie fears that her ability to dispense sound wisdom to family and friends, is severly impeeded by her hormonal fluctuations. Sammy returns from New York with many more bags than she left with, and Julie fears that Sammy's spending may cause problems between her and Nathan. Sammy then advises Julie that the money she has spent on gifts for the family, came from her mother as an early birthday present. Once again Julie worries! Meanwhile, Ben makes up his mind to declare his love for Melissa on national television, and comic results ensue. Life is always full when it is "Packed to the Rafters".
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(29 votes)
#17 - Packing Up the Rafters
S6:E127/2/2013
The Rafters begin the emotional task of packing up their beloved family home. But is moving into a small, unappealing rental townhouse their only option? Dave suggests they put their stuff in storage and take Ruby and go travelling instead. Nathan and Ben think it's a great idea, but Julie won't hear of it, unwilling to leave Ted. An impromptu party is organised, with everyone gathered to farewell the house. Even Rachel and Jake make a special appearance. During the party, Ted gives Julie a priceless emotional gift, allowing her to move on. Family and friends gather to farewell the Rafters, presenting them with a moving video tribute organized by Carbo. It is obvious they will be sadly missed — but everyone is rightfully excited about the possibilities the future holds.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.2/10(67 votes)
#18 - Pilot
S1:E18/26/2008
Happily married couple, Julie and Dave Rafter are over the moon when Ben, their last child, finally decides to leave home. After raising three kids, the couple are free! It's a chance for them to do what they want, when they want and on their own terms. However, less than 48 hours after Ben moves next door, all dreams of freedom are completely upended — their three kids think being with their parents is a lot more comfortable than being out on their own, and they're returning with the same sure instinct of homing pigeons.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(24 votes)
#19 - To Tell Or Not To Tell
S3:E37/6/2010
Dave's dilemma over whether to reveal that his birth-father is alive leads to a roadtrip to meet his mysterious other family. With all seemingly at peace in the Rafter house, Dave wrestles whether to tell mother Chel that the love of her life, his father Tom Jennings is alive. With Julie's advice to tread carefully ringing in his ears, Dave decides to make up his own mind on the mysterious Jennings. With Nathan's constant partying weighing on Dave's mind, he decides to kill two birds with one stone and drags his son on a roadtrip to Coolong. Melissa is finding Sammy's secret increasingly difficult to keep from Ben. Ben jumps to the conclusion that he has done something wrong and a reluctant Melissa tells him the truth - Sammy is in Sydney. Ben immediately decides to tell Nathan, but Melissa insists he keep her secret, leading to the first serious fight of their marriage. Rachel becomes the green-eyed monster when Jake's client, an attractive housewife, seems to be coming on to him. Rachel embarrasses herself by behaving like the kind of jealous girlfriend she swore she would never be, to Jake's frustration. Can Julie's wise words about being a tradie's wife smooth over their relationship woes? Meanwhile, Dave's trip to Coolong seems fruitless - until he runs into nephew Coby Jennings at the local service station. Despite Nathan's negativity, Dave takes a liking to Coby - and resolves to tell Chel the truth. But suspicious Coby has a surprise of his own, as we see him scribbling down the rego of Nathan's vehicle. Will Coby discover their true identity and connection? Nathan returns reinvigorated from the road trip, determined to mend his self-destructive partying ways and put Sammy's ghost to rest. Will Ben defy Melissa's wishes and tell his brother the truth?
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.1/10(24 votes)
#20 - Home Matters
S3:E67/27/2010
Rachel's dream of moving in with Jake is thrown into jeopardy by the unexpected return of Alex. Rachel's forced to deal with the fallout when Alex reacts badly to the many changes that have taken place in the Barton household in his absence. Feeling increasingly on the outer, Alex's issues erupt at drinks at the Rafter house, leaving Grace and Jake humiliated and the Rafters reeling. Jake is too angry with Alex to repair the situation and it's left to Rachel to restore peace. She discovers the truth about Alex's misery, and the realisation of how much he needs his older brother forces her to reassess her own house-hunting plans. But exactly how far is Rachel willing to go for the sake of Barton family unity? Meanwhile Nathan has been roped into helping Chel with her tax. Although her records are in a complete mess, they do have a good time, and in a discussion about attitudes to life he admits that he doesn't like himself very much and blames himself for the break up with Sammy. Chel's take on life gives him food for thought, and Nathan makes a surprising life-changing decision. But his grand intentions are quashed when Julie and Dave fail to share his enthusiasm. Meanwhile Melissa and Ben are trying to find ways of making the Karandonis house more like home, and decide to replace one of Carbo's ornaments with something more to their own taste. Carbo, fresh off the back of a disastrous encounter with a woman he assumed was his internet romance, reacts badly to having his home messed with. And things go from bad to worse when he finally meets his real internet lover, only to discover that his misadventure could potentially lead to time in jail...
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.2/10(47 votes)
#21 - Facing Demons
S1:E69/30/2008
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.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Marieke Hardy
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Writer:Marieke Hardy
8.1/10(19 votes)
#22 - Role Reversals
S6:E96/18/2013
Ted is forced to acknowledge that he's becoming a danger to himself and others.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.2/10(35 votes)
#23 - Removing the Block
S1:E1211/11/2008
Ted steps back into the weird and wonderful world of dating. His journey begins when, encouraged by Louise's letter to the future, he attends a meeting of Friend Finders — a social networking group for people over 50. His first experience is bewildering and he finds himself cast as 'fresh flesh' — especially by two very different women, Helen and Marjorie. But is the newly widowed Ted ready for anything romantic? Rachel embraces a macrobiotic lifestyle with disastrous results; and Julie lets her hair down for a night of pre-Christmas clubbing.
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.2/10(35 votes)
#24 - Natural Justice
S1:E152/3/2009
Being on the electoral roll has its advantages; some may argue but voting being one. And others say it's not a good thing at all, as they don't want to be called up for jury duty. In this, the first episode of Season 2, Ben Rafter thinks jury duty sounds just fine and he approaches it with a willing attitude. Whilst doing jury duty he meets a Massage Therapist named Kat, who has a rather refreshing perspective on life, love and everything else. Meanwhile the beginnings of Dave's business comes up with a huge hurdle – he has too much work! In fact Dave is struggling so badly under the weight of so much work that until he gets a helping hand he cannot cope
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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8.2/10(34 votes)
#25 - Over the Moon
S1:E193/3/2009
This week Rachel is blown away by Rob's idea of "Happy Families". His idea is a bit over the top, but not in a bad way really. With a bit of help from Dad, Ben challenges fate to give him one last chance to redeem himself with Mel. In the end honesty seems to be the best policy, and asking for a second chance may just work. Plus Carbo's parents drop in for a visit to see how things are going with the house and the neighbourhood. This makes for some interesting times, especially when they catch Carbo and Chrissy kissing as they pull into the driveway. Meanwhile, Julie reaches some startling conclusions about the state of her health and believes it is fast becoming an issue. I think grabbing the chainsaw and threatening Carbo's parents with it gives that bit away! This week's episode sees big changes that bring tears, broken hearts and a shock announcement
Director:Unknown
Writer:Unknown
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