The WORST episodes of Love Child

Every episode of Love Child ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Love Child!

Channel Nine’s new drama series Love Child, starring Jessica Marais, Jonathan LaPaglia and Mandy McElhinney; produced in Sydney. It’s 1969 in Kings Cross and Joan Miller (Jessica Marais), a smart and sophisticated midwife, returns home from London to take a job at the Kings Cross Hospital and find a new life for herself, at a time when Australia is coming of age and the new generation believes anything is possible. Jonathan LaPaglia plays the charismatic Dr Patrick McNaughton, head of obstetrics at Kings Cross Hospital, and Mandy McElhinney plays Frances Bolton, the tough matron who also controls the running of Stanton House, a home for unwed pregnant young women. Their lives intersect between Kings Cross Hospital, Stanton House and the wild streets of Darlinghurst beyond the hospital walls. The cast also includes Ryan Corr, Ella Scott Lynch, Sophie Hensser, Miranda Tapsell, Gracie Gilbert and Harriet Dyer. In a joint statement, Andy Ryan and Jo Rooney, joint Heads of Drama at the Nine Network, said: “A powerful and uplifting series, Love Child tells the stories of young women and men fighting an unjust system in a world on the brink of change. “We are thrilled to join forces again with Playmaker Media to bring Love Child to the Australian audience and showcase a superb cast.” David Maher and David Taylor, from Playmaker, describe Love Child as a series with a stellar cast, a gripping story, and all the exuberant music, fashion and attitude of the late 1960s.

Last Updated: 2/9/2024Network: Nine NetworkStatus: Ended
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Episode 6
star
7.19
128 votes

#1 - Episode 6

Season 1 - Episode 6 - Aired 3/24/2014

Joan's world is rocked when she uncovers the truth about Annie's baby. Shirley's affair with Johnny is exposed when her husband returns injured from Vietnam. Annie's singing career takes off when she appears on TV show Bandstand.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 4
star
7.20
70 votes

#2 - Episode 4

Season 1 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/10/2014

As Kings Cross is invaded by soldiers on rest and relaxation leave from the Vietnam War, Joan helps Viv track down her brother. After losing her baby, Annie's life spirals out of control until she is rescued by an unlikely guardian angel.

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Episode 7
star
7.23
93 votes

#3 - Episode 7

Season 1 - Episode 7 - Aired 3/31/2014

Joan wrestles with the consequences of telling Annie the truth about her baby. Shirley is left with a seriously ill baby and no money when Johnny goes on the run from the police. Viv uncovers a disturbing secret about Matron.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 5
star
7.24
99 votes

#4 - Episode 5

Season 1 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/17/2014

Joan fights the hospital 'boys club' for her right to complete her medical degree. Johnny is arrested after an anti-war protest, while Shirley goes into premature labour. Annie gets the opportunity of a lifetime at a Kings Cross nightclub.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 3
star
7.25
130 votes

#5 - Episode 3

Season 1 - Episode 3 - Aired 3/3/2014

Joan risks her career to help Annie get her baby back, unaware of the implications for Dr McNaughton. Patricia's mother visits from Melbourne and offers her daughter an early exit from Stanton House.

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Episode 2
star
7.31
75 votes

#6 - Episode 2

Season 1 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/24/2014

June 1969. As the world counts down to the first moon landing, Joan flirts with danger at the hospital and makes a powerful enemy. Annie returns home after giving up her baby, but realises her old life is gone forever.

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Episode 1
star
7.31
110 votes

#7 - Episode 1

Season 1 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/17/2014

Kings Cross, 1969: An ambitious midwife returns from London to uncover a system of forced adoptions at the local hospital. A pregnant country girl, Viv, wakes to find she's been drugged by her parents and sent to a home for unwed mothers.

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Episode 7
star
7.33
15 votes

#8 - Episode 7

Season 3 - Episode 7 - Aired 7/25/2016

While Viv is forced to leave her orphaned nephew behind in Vietnam, Joan is devastated when Jim does a runner to avoid jail - taking baby James with him.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 6
star
7.40
43 votes

#9 - Episode 6

Season 2 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/9/2015

Joan puts the welfare of Jim's baby ahead of her career. Matron makes a deal with the devil in order to save Stanton House from closure. Annie gets closer to Chris, unaware of his history.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Writer: Tim Pye
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 6
star
7.42
40 votes

#10 - Episode 6

Season 3 - Episode 6 - Aired 7/25/2016

While Viv is forced to leave her orphaned nephew behind in Vietnam, Joan is devastated when Jim does a runner to avoid jail - taking baby James with him.

Directors: Peter Andrikidis
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 5
star
7.44
36 votes

#11 - Episode 5

Season 2 - Episode 5 - Aired 6/2/2015

The custody battle over Jim's baby becomes deadly serious. Joan receives a surprising proposal. Annie is deemed an unfit mother when her baby goes missing. Patricia has a life-changing encounter with some hippies.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Writer: Jane Allen
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 2
star
7.56
45 votes

#12 - Episode 2

Season 2 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/12/2015

Joan is obsessed with finding the father of Gail's baby. Viv finds an unlikely ally in Matron as she suffers through a difficult labour. Shirley receives a surprise telegram from Vietnam.

Directors: Shawn Seet
Writer: Jane Allen
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 2
star
7.56
39 votes

#13 - Episode 2

Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 5/9/2017

Matron buries her doubts about the baby swap, while Joan struggles with life as a single mother. Martha vows to uncover the truth about Patty's mysterious death. Elena fears for her life when her brother discovers the truth about her pregnancy.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 4
star
7.58
40 votes

#14 - Episode 4

Season 2 - Episode 4 - Aired 5/26/2015

Joan finds herself in the middle of a violent custody battle over Gail's baby. Patricia faces a crisis when she travels to Melbourne to marry her Prince Charming. Martha is obsessed with seeing Queen Elizabeth during the 1970 royal tour.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 1
star
7.59
39 votes

#15 - Episode 1

Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 5/2/2017

When Joan goes into early labour, the unorthodox new head of obstetrics is the only one who can help her. Matron has her hands full with three new pregnant girls in Stanton House.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 5
star
7.59
39 votes

#16 - Episode 5

Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/18/2016

In Vietnam, Viv finds herself holding her newly orphaned baby nephew. Joan confirms Eva is pregnant as Patty and Jim give in to their lust.

Directors: Peter Andrikidis
Writer: Tim Pye
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 2
star
7.60
47 votes

#17 - Episode 2

Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/27/2016

Shirley fights to keep her job as Maggie learns the truth of their relationship, Joan uncovers McNaughton's part in Greg Mathieson's death, and Viv loses her twins all over again.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 3
star
7.63
43 votes

#18 - Episode 3

Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 5/16/2017

Joan must compete for a permanent doctors position against her friend Bowditch as well as a sexist rival with wandering hands. Meanwhile, the Stanton House girls steal Martha's car in an attempt to learn more about Elena's betrothed.

Directors: David Caesar
Writer: Fiona Samuel
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 7
star
7.68
34 votes

#19 - Episode 7

Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/13/2017

Joan's world is upended when her ex-fiance arrives from London. Bowditch and Martha are blackmailed over the hit-and-run accident. Rita has second thoughts about returning to the convent following the birth of her baby.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 8
star
7.71
90 votes

#20 - Episode 8

Season 1 - Episode 8 - Aired 4/7/2014

Joan fears the worst when Annie kidnaps her baby back from the McNaughton family. Johnny makes a shocking sacrifice and Patricia's dreams for the future are shattered when her boyfriend finally visits Stanton House.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 6
star
7.74
39 votes

#21 - Episode 6

Season 4 - Episode 6 - Aired 6/6/2017

Rita refuses medical assistance that could save her and her baby's life. Simon confesses his role in the hit and run accident to Martha. Elena is shocked to discover her lover Ed is in critical condition in the hospital.

Directors: Shannon Murphy
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 7
star
7.77
43 votes

#22 - Episode 7

Season 2 - Episode 7 - Aired 6/16/2015

Martha's reunion with her birth mother turns into a nightmare. Joan and Jim's relationship is blown apart by a secret from her past. Annie is distraught to learn she is pregnant again.

Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 10
star
7.77
13 votes

#23 - Episode 10

Season 3 - Episode 10 - Aired 8/1/2016

As wedding bells chime, new love blossoms as old loves are lost forever, and amidst betrayal and secrecy, Joan must face the hardest decision of her life.

Directors: Grant Brown
Writer: Tim Pye
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 1
star
7.78
51 votes

#24 - Episode 1

Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/20/2016

It’s 1970 and the times they are a-changing. Joan is devastated to discover an infection has left her almost certainly infertile while delinquent teen Maggie is determined to discover the identity of her birth mother.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Writer: Tim Pye
Watch Now:Amazon
Episode 8
star
7.79
29 votes

#25 - Episode 8

Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 6/20/2017

Joan makes a fateful decision about her future with Lawrence. Debbie's world is rocked when she discovers Matron has made secret deal to adopt out her baby. Viv gives Matron a dose of her own medicine.

Directors: Geoff Bennett
Watch Now:Amazon