The WORST episodes of Packed to the Rafters
Every episode of Packed to the Rafters ever, ranked from worst to best by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The worst episodes of Packed to the Rafters!
Centres 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.
#1 - The Invisible Man
Season 3 - Episode 5 - Aired 7/20/2010
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.
#2 - Second Chance
Season 4 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/14/2012
Everybody is up in arms about Tom's disappearance with the insurance money. Coby is particularly gutted, secretly blaming himself for not being honest with the Rafters about Tom's part in the worksite robberies.
#3 - Swimming in the Gene Pool
Season 4 - Episode 11 - Aired 9/20/2011
Grace tells her sons Jake and Alex that she's engaged, and both boys are happy for her until they find out that she has never actually divorced their father. Things become complicated when Grace meets with her ex-husband, as Alex is adamant he never wants to see his father again but Jake's curiosity is restless. Tom is recovering in hospital when he gets a visit from his granddaughter, Bree, but Coby is less than thrilled with the arrival of his feisty sister. Tom encourages them to make amends, but Coby struggles to mend bridges with his sister.
#4 - Big Kids
Season 4 - Episode 10 - Aired 9/13/2011
Julie finds herself out of her comfort zone when she attends a burlesque dance class with new friend Donna. Dave comes across some lingerie that Julie has bought for her performance, but when she doesn't wear it, he is left feeling jealous and insecure about her relationship with Hamish. Meanwhile, Ted is avoiding house guest Tom at every opportunity, and makes it clear to Nathan he doesn't trust Tom at all. Then, Nathan sees Tom entering a pub when he's supposed to be working, and finds himself in a tricky predicament when Tom denies having been there.
#5 - From Little Things
Season 4 - Episode 9 - Aired 9/6/2011
The comic rivalry between Ted and Tom continues. Ted's convinced Tom isn't looking for work at all, instead sneaking off to spend time with an unknown lady friend.
#6 - The Male Communication Handbook
Season 4 - Episode 8 - Aired 8/30/2011
Dave relishes finally having a relationship with his dad, Tom, despite Julie's reservations about her recently paroled father-in-law. Julie raises concerns that Tom may not have reformed his crooked ways. Next door there is tension in the air between the boys, stemming from Carbo's hurt feelings at having not been asked to be a part of Nathan's fledgling car spares business. Meanwhile, Jake and Coby are surprised by the sudden reappearance of Alex, returned from New Zealand. Alex is cagey about what happened overseas, leaving Jake wondering what really happened over in New Zealand.
#7 - Sweet Sorrow
Season 4 - Episode 7 - Aired 8/23/2011
Rachel's doubts are intensified as she visits Jake to invite him to her farewell dinner. One thing leads to another and the invitation inevitably turns into a moment of good-bye passion. With Rachel now confused, Nathan convinces her she's made the right decision and she'll regret it forever if she doesn't go. Dave's father, Tom, announces his parole has come through and he's looking forward to spending more time with the family. Rachel tearfully farewells her family and sets off overseas, but Jake takes off in pursuit, determined to catch her, resulting in an emotional roadside exchange between the two lovers.
#8 - The Taste of Freedom
Season 4 - Episode 5 - Aired 3/8/2011
Nathan examines what it means to be free as he receives potentially upsetting news - his divorce from Sammy is final. The Rafter family have all witnessed Nathan's heartbreak over the end of the marriage and there is reasonable concern that Nathan could suffer an emotional setback over this. However Nathan takes this potential hurdle and turns it into a springboard for a new and better tomorrow. He successfully packs up the remnants of his time with Sammy, cuts himself free from some family ties, and launches himself into a new business, a new attitude, a new future. Jake and Rachel have been skirting around each other for days, both of them unsure how to bridge the divide that's grown between them. Finally they reach out to each other and reaffirm their love, but secretly both of them are afraid love might not be enough. Coby is also grappling with the issue of freedom as the day of his sentencing hearing arrives. Having promised to vouch for Coby in court, Dave is initially casually confident that the kid will get a slap on the wrists and that will be the end of it. Julie unwittingly rocks Dave's confidence and he becomes genuinely worried that Coby could be locked up. Can Dave overcome his fear and make a real difference in Coby's life? .
#9 - Other People's Eyes
Season 4 - Episode 4 - Aired 3/1/2011
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 Hami
#10 - Careful What You Wish For
Season 4 - Episode 3 - Aired 2/22/2011
Rachel wrestles with the potentially relationship-wrecking pitfalls of getting everything you want - particularly when truth is number one on the wish-list. Guilt-ridden about invading Coby's private garage space, Rachel compounds her sin by inadvertently offering his artwork as part of an advertising campaign. Under the pump from pushy boss Paul (MARTIN LYNES), Rachel is forced to admit to Coby the truth - she's seen his art. Feeling betrayed, Coby immediately sets about destroying it as Rachel understands how deeply she's hurt him. Hiding his hurt behind forced party-mode, Coby organises an impromptu birthday bash for himself, inviting the Rafter regulars and his bogan mates from Coolong and generally regressing all around. But Rachel suspects Coby's act is actually a mask for his pain. Will she ever be able to regain his trust again? Rachel's also having honesty issues with Jake, who's being vague about his reasons for quitting rugby. Things come to a head at Coby's party, when the police come to take Jake away for questioning. Upon his return, Jake reveals he's been charged with attempted sexual assault, strongly asserting his innocence. Rachel is reeling. Why would Jake have kept the dramatic events of his rugby weekend a secret so long? And how can their relationship survive such a grievous breach of trust? Meanwhile, Carbo and Retta continue to suffer as Rita (DINA PANOZZO) descends further into loneliness, driving her neighbours mad with dirge-like Greek folk music. Nathan can't bear it, spending the majority of his time complaining to Dave and Julie about his living conditions. At wit's end, Retta turns to Julie for advice, unwittingly sending Rita on a brief foray into the world of internet dating - much to Carbo's horror. Eventually a heart to heart with Julie helps Rita move beyond her impasse and relative peace returns to the Karandonis house. A vacancy at the local child care centre sends Ruby's baby-sitters Ben and Ted into a spin, and the
#11 - In With The New
Season 4 - Episode 2 - Aired 2/15/2011
It's a time for new beginnings as Dave learns the truth about underlying tensions between Ben and the recently returned Nathan and urges his sons to start afresh. As Council Clean-Up Days looms Dave gets the clean-out bug, chucking stuff out from the big and small sheds. He's distracted, however, by Nathan's return from the big road trip. Dave soon picks up on an underlying tension between Nathan and Ben, although neither brother is willing to admit to it. Nathan and Ben have a private talk, alluding to serious issues that took place on the road trip. Ben assures him he's a changed man since he came home and Nathan wants to believe him. But when Dave presses Ben for more information, a defensive Ben nearly steps into the path of an oncoming car. What happened on the road trip and why has it affected both brothers so badly? Jake and Coby head off for a rugby weekend and Rachel is left to enjoy the house alone. She can't help herself and launches into a major rearrangement of furniture to suit her taste. But when she finds the key to Coby's garage, her curiosity gets the better of her and taking a peek inside, is shocked by what she finds there. What is Coby hiding and will he be able to forgive Rachel for violating his privacy? Carbo meanwhile, is playing the supportive son as Rita, still shaken by her marriage breakup, puts Carbo and Retta to work tossing out all of Theo's possessions. She rallies for a short time, hoping Theo might come back to her, and asks Carbo and Retta to bring Theo's belongings back in again. But when, in a fit of sudden rage, she demands everything be tossed out once more, a physically and emotionally exhausted Carbo decides enough is enough - he's got to put his foot down and call an end to Rita's to-ing and fro-ing. But how?
#12 - What Lies Beneath
Season 4 - Episode 1 - Aired 2/8/2011
It's been three months since Ben and Nathan left on their road trip around Australia. Bearded and tanned, Ben returns without Nathan and smooths over his family's concern with a plausible excuse. He believes that if he wants to fit back in with his family, he has to be the fun loving guy he was before Melissa died. At home much has happened. Coby has moved in with Jake and started his apprenticeship with Dave. Ruby has started walking and the house has been baby-proofed. Carbo and Retta's engagement party is fast approaching but it's the anticipated arrival of Rita – and what she'll say about the new relationship – which is causing nervous diarrhoea for Carbo and dry-retching for Retta. As the family and the Karandonis clan celebrate his return, Ben is upbeat. Even the sight of the cheque for Mel's life insurance doesn't seem to faze him – but a visit back to his old room in the Karandonis house proves how much emotion he's really hiding. Unwilling to worry his family, Ben manages to seamlessly manipulate Rachel into offering her room, happy to stay more permanently with Jake and Coby. But will Ben be able to fool his mother Julie?
#13 - One Day at a Time
Season 3 - Episode 22 - Aired 11/16/2010
With Christmas and Ruby's first birthday fast approaching, the Rafter family struggle to get back on track. Dave is struggling with his own demons. Julie gently convinces him to give therapy another try. Finally able to find the words his therapist's been pushing for, it seems that Dave might finally be starting to address some of his issues. And then when the whole family gathers for Ruby's first birthday and she takes a first tentative step, it seems all could be coming right in the Rafter world. Julie discovers that Coby's apprenticeship papers have arrived. In the spirit of moving on, the Rafters feel that life is too short to hold grudges. Dave speaks to Coby, who promises never to let them down again and Dave renews his offer of an apprenticeship to a grateful nephew.
#14 - Rest in Peace
Season 3 - Episode 21 - Aired 11/9/2010
The Rafter family say an emotional farewell to Melissa. Dave is determined to shelve his own battle with depression, but as tensions build, he finds himself exploding inappropriately in anger. Julie convinces Dave to go to counselling while Chel, who has not been around to witness the changes in him, returns home to comfort her son. Tom has a second agenda, and despite Coby's attempt to keep him at arm's length, Coby realises he can't escape his grandfather's reach that easily.
#15 - Breathe
Season 3 - Episode 19 - Aired 10/26/2010
Rachel takes a crash course in remembering to breathe as she juggles a toxic workplace and an estranged boyfriend. Something's got to give... Desperate to see each other, Jake arrives in the middle of the night with a gift for Rachel. But once again their issues flare and they fight bitterly. Jake storms off, leaving the gift in the front yard. Keen to put the tension with Liam behind her, Rachel works tirelessly to work one of Liam's ideas up and make it presentable. But when the pitch falls flat, instead of backing Rachel up as planned, Liam shows his true colours once again and kicks teamwork to the kerb. Rachel's life seems to be out of control. Finally opening the present Jake bought her, Rachel realises that Jake truly respects her ambitions, and that she's misjudged him. It spurs her on to bring up the lack of team support with her boss, Paul. Paul dismisses Rachel's concerns, suggesting she focus on the positive and move on. Suddenly Rachel realises she has a choice. Will love triumph? Or is it too late to salvage her relationship? Dave too is taking a crash course in remembering to stop and breathe. A welcome distraction arrives when Julie wins a phone-in radio competition - tickets to see Eric Clapton in concert, plus all expenses paid overnight accommodation at a very ritzy hotel. But Dave can't seem to fully enjoy it, finally admitting to Julie he's been suffering from a nagging but inexplicable malaise. Julie's worried for her husband. Could Dave be suffering from depression? Meanwhile, Melissa and Ben are still trying, unsuccessfully, to conceive. Retta inadvertently fuels Ben's anxiety by questioning his fertility. He manages to persuade Melissa to pull a favour at work to get his sperm tested and the situation is fraught with comic embarrassment for both of them. Will Ben's "swimmers" come up gold? Also tonight, Nathan finds a way to help Coby face the challenge of learning to write. In the process, Coby reveals some of his deeply guarded past.
#16 - Between the Covers
Season 3 - Episode 18 - Aired 10/19/2010
A wild night in Kings Cross teaches Nathan not to judge a book by its cover. Nathan's journey begins with a surprising revelation - he's enjoying reading "Pride and Prejudice." The novel's themes resonate with him when he makes the mistake of judging Coby's new living arrangements. Nathan builds bridges by inviting Coby for a night out in Kings Cross - and is surprised when Coby proves to be naive when it comes to life in the big city. Nathan's assumptions are challenged again when Coby meets a flirty, rocker-chick Laura - who turns out to drive a Porsche, owned by her rich daddy, and gives Coby a luxury watch before a night of passion. But the biggest surprise of all for Nathan is the discovery that he's actually becoming good mates with his cousin Coby - a truly significant step forward. Carbo is making big plans for his proposal to Retta, but Ben is determined to intervene, believing an engagement is only a means to circumvent their pact of celibacy. However, when all tactics to discourage Carbo fail, it's Retta who steps in, having intuited what Carbo's planning and decided that if he's prepared to contemplate a proposal then that's a good enough declaration of his trustworthiness for her. After Carbo overcomes an embarrassing first hurdle, the whole household is forced to endure the couple's belated and enthusiastic consummation of their love. Rachel's deal with Liam to stop playing games and join forces seems to be working, even if their pitch ideas for a sports drink aren't. Forced to cancel a fancy dinner with Jake, Rachel is stunned when he turns up at EMB agency with takeaway - a peace offering to Liam. The night goes well, with Jake even pitching a sports drink idea - until Rachel takes the conciliatory mood too far and confides Jake's epilepsy. Later, after a blazing row, Jake defiantly and against doctor's orders drives off in his ute - is it over for the young lovers?
#17 - Small World
Season 4 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/14/2012
Coby is particularly gutted, secretly blaming himself for not being honest with the Rafters about Tom's part in the worksite robberies.
#18 - A Good Husband
Season 3 - Episode 4 - Aired 7/13/2010
Love is in the air, with Ben plagued with unexpected doubts about his ability in the sack, while a miscommunication between Dave and Julie in the bedroom department sends her into a frenzy of frustration. Ben's basking in the joys of married life when he hears those words every husband dreads - 'not tonight dear, I've got a headache'. Terrified the honeymoon is over, he embarks on a mission to sweep Melissa off her feet. But all of his attempts at rekindling romance are thwarted by Melissa's concern for Sammy, who seems to be spiralling deeper into depression. When Ben shelves his plans to come to Sammy's rescue, Melissa's reminded how amazing her husband is, and his compassion acts as the aphrodisiac he's been searching for. They hurry for the bedroom, only to find Carbo has organised a retro romantic surprise of his own - with unexpected results! Meanwhile Dave struggles with a sexual issue of a different kind - an embarrassing 'stirring' downstairs while on a job at the boat club. It's the result of months of enforced celibacy due to the new baby, coupled with a photo shoot of swimwear models. Julie's more than keen to resume intimacy but Dave seems strangely reticent. To Dave's embarrassment, Julie shares her frustration during a public outburst at a family luncheon, fuelled by a half- glass of wine. After a series of misunderstandings, Dave finally throws Julie on the bed in a rush of red-blooded abandon - the rest of the house can buy earplugs! While Ben and Dave grapple with the concept of being a good husband, Jake's wrestling with the idea of being a good son. He finally meets Grace's new boyfriend, Doug, and is determined to dislike him from the outset. Needing to escape the situation, Jake comes up with a surprising solution - one that delights Rachel!
#19 - Saturday Night, Sunday Morning
Season 3 - Episode 2 - Aired 6/29/2010
Julie's confidence as a mum takes a beating when baby Ruby resists Julie's attempts to breastfeed. Exhausted by lack of sleep, Julie eventually admits defeat - and in doing so, discovers surrender can lead to breakthrough. Newly single Nathan hits the town with Carbo, and Ben can't help feeling on the outer. It becomes apparent heartbroken Nathan is merely going through the motions and the brothers reconnect over consolation drinks. Jake's confronted by the dating scene too when his mum begins seeing someone, forcing Rachel to give him a serve for his over-protectiveness. Mel's loyalty is tested when she runs into Sammy, who begs her not to tell Nathan she's still in town
#20 - The Blank Page
Season 3 - Episode 1 - Aired 6/29/2010
Julie recovers in hospital after the birth of baby Ruby, ruminating on how life is like a blank page at birth, while her adult children experience how blotted that page can become. Learning that Sammy has left him and determined to salvage his marriage, Nathan tries to track her down, only to discover she seems to have left for London. All fired-up to jump on a plane, he’s finally dissuaded by the arrival of Trish returning Sammy’s wedding rings. Trying to salvage something from the wreckage, Nathan starts decorating his room as a nursery, and announces his intention to move next door to make a new start. Jake has another fit but he and supportive Rachel must wait for a third before epilepsy is confirmed. Dave joins the modern world of facebook and Carbo becomes a YouTube sensation with his cheeky wa-wa-wincha thumbs-up.
#21 - Nativity Play
Season 2 - Episode 22 - Aired 11/24/2009
Julie faces her greatest challenge yet – the birth of her fourth and final child without husband Dave at her side. After Dave leaves for his vasectomy, Julie begins to have contractions, and though she thinks they’re probably Braxton Hicks, Melissa and Ben insist on getting her to a hospital. Once in hospital, Julie’s obstetrician Sandra Marsh observes that the signs of labour have disappeared – but now that Julie is in hospital, she’s not allowed to leave until she gives birth. Julie reluctantly gives in – and tells Ben not to worry Dave as he will undoubtedly call them once his procedure is over. However Julie’s labour pains start up again – this time for real. Ben leaves frantic voice messages for Dave, realising they don’t know the name of the clinic where his vasectomy is taking place. Will Dave make it to the hospital in time? Meanwhile, Jake invites her to lunch with his family – at his mother’s Grace’s insistence. When Rachel expresses surprise, Jake admits that he has told Grace that she is going to be in his life long term. Rachel is taken aback – what kind of commitment is Jake talking about? However, the family lunch takes a dark turn when Jake begins to fit, collapsing on the floor. Meanwhile, Nathan surprises Sammy with a cheque for $14,000. He took some spare chips back to the casino and won – enough for them to pay off the remainder of their debt and put down bond on an apartment. They’re finally able to move out of the Rafter house. Despite their good fortune, Nathan can’t help but think what he and Sammy could do if they had more money – maybe even put down a deposit on a place. So instead of taking the cheque to the bank…Nathan heads back to the casino. Will he come up trumps or lose the lot?
#22 - Don't Know What You've Got 'Til It's Gone
Season 1 - Episode 22 - Aired 3/24/2009
Last week saw a huge surprise bestowed on Dave and Julie. With three grown up kids, and the youngest being born 21 years ago, just how will Dave and Julie cope? What with the nappies, school runs and the lack of sleep and time; let alone the actual delivery? Dave and Julie have some serious life changing decisions to make, that not only have ramifications for themselves as individuals and a couple, but may shake the very foundation of the family.
#23 - Over the Moon
Season 1 - Episode 19 - Aired 3/3/2009
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
#24 - House of Cards
Season 1 - Episode 18 - Aired 2/24/2009
What do you get when you mix too much alcohol with sex? A one night stand! It would almost be crazy, or somehow forgettable if it wasn't our favourite Rafter involved. That's right - It's Ben! Maybe there's some residual stress left over after the robbery and he still has not dealt with it honestly? Maybe he was truly so intoxicated that he didn't know what he was doing? Who knows? But no excuse can take away the act. So once again Ben faces a gut wrenching dilemma, but this time its one of his own making. This week sees Dave keen to spice up his marriage, so he organises a rather romantic rendezvous with Julie. Whereas at the other end of the spectrum Sammy and Nathan's marriage hits a "rocky patch" when Nathan discovers Sammy has been lying to him. Just another week in the Rafter household really.
#25 - Changes
Season 1 - Episode 17 - Aired 2/17/2009
Dads and their daughters have a very special relationship. In fact, most Dad's like to think that their precious daughters are "Daddy's Little Girl". So when Dave learns that Rachel is dating an old cricket mate of his from years ago, he is naturally concerned for Rachel's welfare. This new man in Rachel's life is about the same age as Dave and has two teenage sons who are very close to Rachel's own age. Melissa and Chrissy are still very suspicious of Kat. And the both of them are trying to work out Kat's motivation for the trouble she is causing between all of the housemates. And once again Ted ventures into the world of dating with some not so predictable results.