Packed to the Rafters

I was late to finding this show and sad that it has already ended, but I have enjoyed it immensely.

I am an American and I loved this Australian show.

The thing I like the most about it was it was real and not overdramatic or for excitement purpose. American TV, news, and everything else in the media is always so over the top dramatic, excited, and this was a nice alternative.

There were so many times that I was watching it that I totally forgot that these were actors and not a real family. That does not happen to me often.

The casting crew did a really good job with the common characteristics that family members have when casting each individual family within this show.

I'm going to check out some other Australian shows if I have the ability to from America in hopes that they are very similar.

I also love how different words mean different things and I find that rather interesting and enjoyable to learn.

Packed To The Rafters is a perfect example of Australia's fantastic television industry. The show is not fake, although it is fictional, it deals with characters, relationships and experiences that everyone can relate to.

Packed To The Rafters focuses on the lives of the Rafter family made up of father, Dave (Erik Thomson), mother (Rebecca Gibney), the eldest, Rachel (Jessica Marais), middle child, Ben (Hugh Sheridan) and youngest, Nathan (Angus McLaren). Each episode is narrated by a different family member giving each episode an exciting new take on each characters life. Almost always Packed To The Rafters is full of happiness, joy and laughter. However, darker issues are covered especially when dealing with Rachel and her troubled life and relationships.

Packed To The Rafters is a rare show where the viewer is transported into a different family, which is so like their own, dealing with everyday issues that are exciting and often extremely funny.

The best show on Australian television since the ABC's hit drama, SeaChange.

Some people rate this show poorly but I think it's great. It revolves around a middle age couple who's mature kids all move back home through different circumstances and the relationship between all of them. It is pretty light but when there are so many dark serious shows and movies around it's nice to see a really nice show based on good old family values. The characters are all well played and after telling my girlfriend this looks like a load of rubbish for 2 weeks I watched an episode and am totally hooked. This is in it's second season and I hope it goes for a few more. Can't wait for the 2nd season to come out in NZ.

I only started to watch this because a friend told me it was a comedy, and I thought since I love British Comedy shows, an Aussie one might be ok. Well yes there is a lot of funny back and forth with everyone but this is more like a cross between a soap opera and something like Eight is Enough (if you can remember that show). After the first episode I was ready to call it, "Time of Death"? But I have this rule that if I start a new series show to watch, I always give it the first 3 full episodes before giving up. I figure that if it looked decent, I really needed to be sure if it sucked or not. Well I can tell you that I am on Season 3 now and always want to start the next episode right after the previous one. It started out being boring, and ended up catching and holding my interest. It is a great show and I promise if you give it a chance, and you like comedy and family drama, you're gonna love it.

Wow channel 7, what the hell happened? All of the female lead role actors are jumping ship faster then I have ever seen for a new soap. Last season went for 6 shows (WTF?), and upon its return this Aug 2011, it seems like it has lost its magic. Are the actors 'over it', because it seems like all the spark has gone flat. Rachael has gone, Mel has gone, Carbo's flat mate has gone (now on Winners and Loosers).

I never thought I'd say this, but my hectic time schedule allows for Winners and Loosers these days. I am afraid Packed to the Rafters have had too many false starts.

I loved this show so much too. A shame!