What happened to Jake? What about Frankie and Coby? Matt? At least mention something about what happened if you can't get the actors to return. Sammy was in the end of the original as well. It would be nice to know what happened to them. Also, Donna never once mentioned Emma, did she marry buzz? Move away?
52 Reviews
More "woke" than a a kid who ate 20 red frogs..
newnotsonew19 September 2021
I was excited to watch this new series.. So excited that I re watched S6 to refresh my memory..
The first few episodes of this new series were were true to form..
Nathan the insipid.. Everything is everyone else's fault..
Ben the brat.. Totally shocked that the world doesn't revolve around him.
Rachel the invisible.. Lucky to have escaped to New York.. Dave the oblivious.. Hear no evil, see no evil, etc.. Julie the magnificent.. The perfect mother, wife and daughter.. Ted the impenetrable.. Thank God for Ted.. As I said it started off okay.. Then it drifted off into something that is so "woke " and "lit" (they actually used the words).. If there's an issue on the planet, they highlighted it.. It just became really, really monotonous.. And if Ruby is an example of a modern 8 years old child, I fear for seniors of tomorrow..
Rachel the invisible.. Lucky to have escaped to New York.. Dave the oblivious.. Hear no evil, see no evil, etc.. Julie the magnificent.. The perfect mother, wife and daughter.. Ted the impenetrable.. Thank God for Ted.. As I said it started off okay.. Then it drifted off into something that is so "woke " and "lit" (they actually used the words).. If there's an issue on the planet, they highlighted it.. It just became really, really monotonous.. And if Ruby is an example of a modern 8 years old child, I fear for seniors of tomorrow..
Please lose Ruby ...
toncincin23 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I loved Packed to the Rafters. It was about family. It was about life.. Back to the Rafters includes much of this. No marriage is perfect. I loved that this was explored. I loved seeing Nathan "grow up" and accept his life. Rachel accepting responsibilities for actions. Ruby's attitude, general demeanor distracted from the stories. Julie could have found her calling without "art with dog poop" and Ruby's other ridiculous antics. Carbo was turned into a cartoon. He was never a favorite character - but he didn't grow either.
As for Georgia Haig replacing Jessica Marais as Racgel - she did a decent job. Not her fault Jessica Marais pulled out at the last minute. She was good in the part.
All in all - I enjoyed the reboot - just lose the kid. .
As for Georgia Haig replacing Jessica Marais as Racgel - she did a decent job. Not her fault Jessica Marais pulled out at the last minute. She was good in the part.
All in all - I enjoyed the reboot - just lose the kid. .
Original cast and story lines are great - Carbo and Ruby are annoying and ruins the story line
nzbrewster29 September 2021
Glad this show is back but please keep what was good from the original show ( the main characters living the ups and downs of their everyday lives). Bring back Coby. Annoying and loud mouth Carbo and Ruby in her Greta Thornberg character almost makes the show unwatchable. Bring on season 2 without Ruby and Carbo.
Ruby is unbearable. Greta Thunberg joins the cast.
surreal_self24 September 2021
It's great to have the Rafters back but the show really needs to tone down Ruby's character. The first six seasons weren't super 'woke' or 'pc' so why does so much of it need to be now? Literally shoved down your throat every five minutes and it feels out of place. If there's a season two they really need to tone it down.
Great to have them back but Carbo is so annoying and shoukd of included Colby
nzbrewster29 September 2021
This reboot is definitely worth watching for so many reasons. My only complaint that Carbo is so annoying to the extent he almost ruins the show. Bring him back for 2 minutes....but does he need to be is so many scenes. Would of been so much better to bring back Coby....he was a character with watching.
If There is a Season 2, Send Ruby Off to Boarding School
VintageSoul5620 September 2021
I saw a talk show in December 2019 that had most of the cast of "Packed to the Rafters". They were discussing Amazon bringing a continuation series to Amazon streaming. Well, I was there for that! Filming was, of course, delayed due to COVID. "Back to the Rafters" is finally here and I binge watched all 6 episodes. The entire original cast were there, with the exception of Jessica Marais. She was replaced by Georgina Haig, whom I found a lot better. She's a lot more mature and softer. Not as brittle.
No one has really changed, except Ted afflicted with Alzheimer's. Michael Caton, you rule!
Julie still thinks she knows all and can fix everything. Just want to shake her.
Dave, I like Dave. He is correct. You can't live your life for your kids. Before you had 'em, you had a life. Of course, J & D got married at like 18 when she got pregnant. So, they didn't have much a of life before kids.
Ben is still the non listener. All about him and what he wants. Takes after Julie, I think. He can get to be a pushy and a pain. If I had liked Cassie, I would have felt bad for her. But, as my grandmother said to my mom and her sisters, "None of you have a buttonhole for a mouth". Wise words.
Nathan, the woe is me boy. Nothing works out for Nathan. He likes to run, but maybe he has found an anchor after all in this series.
Now for Ruby. Super irritating. Now that kid needs a huge time out. If a second season is in the works, less of Ruby. Can't stand her. Not that she doesn't have valid points about the environment, but the way the writer's put it forth for her is very irritating.
Carbo hasn't changed. Nothing new there.
Retta, I'd like to see more of her, not just in one episode.
Edward is cute and not irritating.
Cassie, why? She and Ben just do not gel. I think that a different actress would have been better. There was no chemistry.
Tessa, loved her and the earth mother vibe she gives off.
Donna, she's changed a bit and I like it. She likes to have a little fun now.
Paddo was a nice addition. A gentle spirit and good that Dave has someone to relate with.
I watched all of the original series last year between TubiTV and Hulu. I enjoyed the first couple of seasons more than the later ones, except for Jessica Marias. She just grated on me. I liked the fact that the first couple of seasons didn't have more than a couple of dramas going on in each episode. Then, the dramas increased within each episode. Those full grown kids just being stupid, wasteful, nonchalant, inconsiderate and just plain idiots was hard to watch sometimes. But, I continued watching to see how things turned out for some of the characters, not all of them.
This continuation isn't bad and I'm glad that they have moved part of the story to another place, but lose Ruby, the bratty kid, tone down Julie's efforts to run everyone's life, make Ben address his it's all about me issues, make Nathan be ok with who he is, make Rachel a warrior (she is half way there) and Dave, he is the only one with some common sense in the sea of Rafter's. He can stay the way he is.
No one has really changed, except Ted afflicted with Alzheimer's. Michael Caton, you rule!
Julie still thinks she knows all and can fix everything. Just want to shake her.
Dave, I like Dave. He is correct. You can't live your life for your kids. Before you had 'em, you had a life. Of course, J & D got married at like 18 when she got pregnant. So, they didn't have much a of life before kids.
Ben is still the non listener. All about him and what he wants. Takes after Julie, I think. He can get to be a pushy and a pain. If I had liked Cassie, I would have felt bad for her. But, as my grandmother said to my mom and her sisters, "None of you have a buttonhole for a mouth". Wise words.
Nathan, the woe is me boy. Nothing works out for Nathan. He likes to run, but maybe he has found an anchor after all in this series.
Now for Ruby. Super irritating. Now that kid needs a huge time out. If a second season is in the works, less of Ruby. Can't stand her. Not that she doesn't have valid points about the environment, but the way the writer's put it forth for her is very irritating.
Carbo hasn't changed. Nothing new there.
Retta, I'd like to see more of her, not just in one episode.
Edward is cute and not irritating.
Cassie, why? She and Ben just do not gel. I think that a different actress would have been better. There was no chemistry.
Tessa, loved her and the earth mother vibe she gives off.
Donna, she's changed a bit and I like it. She likes to have a little fun now.
Paddo was a nice addition. A gentle spirit and good that Dave has someone to relate with.
I watched all of the original series last year between TubiTV and Hulu. I enjoyed the first couple of seasons more than the later ones, except for Jessica Marias. She just grated on me. I liked the fact that the first couple of seasons didn't have more than a couple of dramas going on in each episode. Then, the dramas increased within each episode. Those full grown kids just being stupid, wasteful, nonchalant, inconsiderate and just plain idiots was hard to watch sometimes. But, I continued watching to see how things turned out for some of the characters, not all of them.
This continuation isn't bad and I'm glad that they have moved part of the story to another place, but lose Ruby, the bratty kid, tone down Julie's efforts to run everyone's life, make Ben address his it's all about me issues, make Nathan be ok with who he is, make Rachel a warrior (she is half way there) and Dave, he is the only one with some common sense in the sea of Rafter's. He can stay the way he is.
Thank goodness the Rafters are back!
nat_mt18 September 2021
This show is just what we all need right now, family orientated, feel good show! I hope there will be more. The different actress playing Rachel was jarring at first, but you got used to it. To the reviewers who slam Ruby and her views get over it! This is the world we have left for the next generations and of course these sorts of storyline's will appear in more and more shows for good reason- it is the world we live in! The actress who plays Ruby is great, but my favourite kid was little Eddie! So cute I loved his enthusiasm such a joy. More episodes please, we have missed you Rafters!!
Ruby ruins it
rsjones-6816626 October 2021
Not bad, except for Ruby...
suzpomz25 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I was all excited for the reboot, until we were introduced to "woke" Ruby. What a BIG mistake. If there is another season, Bevan Lee needs to send her off to boarding school!
Meanwhile, I was glad to see Nathan & Ben grow up, but the angst between Ben & Cassie was almost too much to bear. Oh, and the angst from Julie? SHE's the one who needed to grow up... and going to "uni" to get a stupid degree in "sustainability" is just not "it"!
While at the beginning, I was looking forward to more seasons to keep the story going, now? I'm not so sure. Those six episodes were almost too much "Rafters"... because of all the angst!
If you like the original series, binge it again and skip this new one.
Meanwhile, I was glad to see Nathan & Ben grow up, but the angst between Ben & Cassie was almost too much to bear. Oh, and the angst from Julie? SHE's the one who needed to grow up... and going to "uni" to get a stupid degree in "sustainability" is just not "it"!
While at the beginning, I was looking forward to more seasons to keep the story going, now? I'm not so sure. Those six episodes were almost too much "Rafters"... because of all the angst!
If you like the original series, binge it again and skip this new one.
Ehh
littlekaren17 December 2021
Agree that I, too, am missing many of the original gang including Jake, Coby etc. In the original series, I found that some characters grew on me but, alas, not the much loved Julie who gave new meaning to passive-aggressive. And for goodness sake, get a hairstyle! Or a comb! Missing the original Rachel, too. Only one episode into Back and yes, Ruby does seem beyond precocious.
They should've left the Rafters alone
proserpina-259262 November 2021
I'd enjoyed the original series so I was looking forward to Back to the Rafters quite a lot. I should have saved my time. Based on the two episodes I've seen so far (and probably all I will bother with), I cannot imagine why anyone thought this was a good idea. At this point I just want Dave and Julie to get divorced. Then Saint Julie can stay in Sydney with awful brat Ruby and obnoxious center of the universe Ben, and Dave can stay in Burradeena and be happy, probaby with Tessa. Cassie, Nathan and Edward can move to the country and just maybe without his overbearing, enabling mother around, Nathan might finally learn to stand on his own. And Rachel, who turned out to be the only smart one of the kids, can stay in New York, far, far away from her mother.
back for more
ghis_miller17 September 2021
Enjoyed just as much as packed to the rafters. Very real, very well cast. Loved seeing the original cast and the new additions are just as lovable and talented, specially the very precocious Ruby. A lazy afternoon binging on all 6 episodes, loved it and want more. Almost made me reconcile with the fact that it's no longer on channel 7 and having to pay extra to watch it. Bring on season 2. By the way loved the countryside scenery and the beautiful Sydney harbour views...Stunning.... What a sight for sore eyes.. Thank you.
Some good, some bad
oconnor20019 October 2021
The overall show is quite enjoyable. The character Ruby is played by an amazing little actress, but the character is written to be an insufferable little brat that will likely grow up to be jailed repeatedly for violent protesting.
Our favourite family is back!
laurarosebridges18 September 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Binge watched all 6 episodes today and given how much I loved the original I was nervous. But it was brilliant! The actress who played Rachel absolutely nailed the character. I think the way they have portrayed Julies struggle as Ted declined was absolutely on point and it was heartbreakingly beautiful. I really hope they do another season and that we can all watch Louise grow up! Australia's favourite family is back and they are as wonderfully normal as any Aussie family. Loved it!
Does not measure up
melissa_snowden22 February 2022
So good!
anneburke-7972419 September 2021
Didn't have the same spark!
chellebryantlee2 November 2021
Warning: Spoilers
This is the third time I am writing this as it kept refreshing and then deleting everything i had previously typed!
I re-watched the original series in anticipation of the return. I can't say i felt the same about this one as I did the original. I missed the re-appearance of some great characters like Coby, Frankie, Jake, Matt, Sammy, Retta, Emma- it would have at least been nice to have their storylines tied up by mentioning what happened to them all since the actors did not return. What makes the rafters the rafters is all the extra people they take under their wing and consider family. Something was lost by keeping it just the nuclear family characters.
At first, i was really unhappy about their being a different actress playing Rachel but I did get used to her by the end of the series. Wasn't the same though, it would have been better to not have the character feature at all, and just have her communicate via letter, email or phone with updates.
Also what happened to Rachel and Jake? The last we see is Jake slipping an engagement ring on her finger while they are on the couch and she seems pretty chuffed with the idea and then ... there is a cursory mention and that's it. That was a relationship that viewers became invested in, so that lack of effort was very disappointing!
Carbo's character did my head in. In the original he turns out to be quite an endearing character with lots of character development. He had none in this return series, he was completely one dimensional.
Unlike a lot of others on here, I didn't mind Ruby and I feel that it was fitting that someone of her generation could be worried about the state of the environment. I do think it was a shame to use such cliche and ridiculous words like "woke" and "lit" as that just cheapened an important message.
Although I was happy for Julie to go to university and study, i would have liked to have seen it tie more in with her writing or journalism, or at the very least pairing the writing and sustainability thing together.
And lastly, i don't know if i would have rated this return a 7 had i not seen the original and already become invested in the characters. It didn't have the mix of lighthearted humour and drama, it was often just drama and left me feeling quite negative. I understand that marriages do not always run smoothly but that in itself was not written smoothly either, as it went from them dancing on a hill, celebrating their dinner, sleeping together to them wanting to live in different places. Dave had also said in the original that home is where Julie is, so that went back on that too. I think something fell down in the writing this time around. And although it was lovely to see these guys, all coming together, older- could not get over how deep Nathan's voice had gotten- i don't know if we were really better for it as an audience, i don't feel like i really benefited from their being a return, it could have just left it at the lovely wrap up they did on the final season of the original.
I re-watched the original series in anticipation of the return. I can't say i felt the same about this one as I did the original. I missed the re-appearance of some great characters like Coby, Frankie, Jake, Matt, Sammy, Retta, Emma- it would have at least been nice to have their storylines tied up by mentioning what happened to them all since the actors did not return. What makes the rafters the rafters is all the extra people they take under their wing and consider family. Something was lost by keeping it just the nuclear family characters.
At first, i was really unhappy about their being a different actress playing Rachel but I did get used to her by the end of the series. Wasn't the same though, it would have been better to not have the character feature at all, and just have her communicate via letter, email or phone with updates.
Also what happened to Rachel and Jake? The last we see is Jake slipping an engagement ring on her finger while they are on the couch and she seems pretty chuffed with the idea and then ... there is a cursory mention and that's it. That was a relationship that viewers became invested in, so that lack of effort was very disappointing!
Carbo's character did my head in. In the original he turns out to be quite an endearing character with lots of character development. He had none in this return series, he was completely one dimensional.
Unlike a lot of others on here, I didn't mind Ruby and I feel that it was fitting that someone of her generation could be worried about the state of the environment. I do think it was a shame to use such cliche and ridiculous words like "woke" and "lit" as that just cheapened an important message.
Although I was happy for Julie to go to university and study, i would have liked to have seen it tie more in with her writing or journalism, or at the very least pairing the writing and sustainability thing together.
And lastly, i don't know if i would have rated this return a 7 had i not seen the original and already become invested in the characters. It didn't have the mix of lighthearted humour and drama, it was often just drama and left me feeling quite negative. I understand that marriages do not always run smoothly but that in itself was not written smoothly either, as it went from them dancing on a hill, celebrating their dinner, sleeping together to them wanting to live in different places. Dave had also said in the original that home is where Julie is, so that went back on that too. I think something fell down in the writing this time around. And although it was lovely to see these guys, all coming together, older- could not get over how deep Nathan's voice had gotten- i don't know if we were really better for it as an audience, i don't feel like i really benefited from their being a return, it could have just left it at the lovely wrap up they did on the final season of the original.
Ruby Ruby Ruby
pauldianne24 October 2021
I didnt think Ruby made enough noise about nuclear energy or the plight of starving people around the world or that we only get 3 mail deliveries a week or that we have to be double vaxed, unless thess issues are dealt with the show is no good. How about having a spin off show for Ruby on the ABC or SBS and bring packed to the rafters back..... minus Ruby.
Great filming
emmajohnsonnorth26 September 2021
Poor production
charles246-23-74540312 November 2023
Why does almost every scene in the new series seem dark and dim? Even the sunlit scenes were dulled and it seemed it was always twilight.
I know it's not my TV because every other show looks normal.
The first series was always lit brightly and sharp. In the new series, you can barely recognize the characters in the dark scenes. In the bedroom scenes between Dave and Julie, it was hard to see who was who until they spoke.
I've only watched episode one so I hope the rest of the episodes are better.
Didn't anyone in the production staff notice this or is this the "new normal" for filming modern series?
I know it's not my TV because every other show looks normal.
The first series was always lit brightly and sharp. In the new series, you can barely recognize the characters in the dark scenes. In the bedroom scenes between Dave and Julie, it was hard to see who was who until they spoke.
I've only watched episode one so I hope the rest of the episodes are better.
Didn't anyone in the production staff notice this or is this the "new normal" for filming modern series?
A wonderful series DOWN THE DRAIN
wendymccoy-9092228 January 2022
I absolutely loved Packed to the Rafters. I binge-watched every single episode (120+!). It was a wonderful ride. I greatly anticipated this show being true to the original. Instead, "woke" writers destroyed pretty much everything that was wonderful about this family. In a very weary, nervous world, we are all escaping to shows like this make us feel better. What a massive, missed opportunity. It was nothing but woke, divisive drivel. So sad. I miss the old Rafters. It was absolutely unrecognizable. Shameful, really.
breath of fresh air
silver-200202 October 2021
I thoroughly enjoyed this series! It was like a breath of fresh air. The new Characters bring a new dynamic to the show. I particularly love Tessa! She brings tenderness to all the other stuff going on. She is calm, fun and sweet l. It's nice seeing Libby in a character like this, which is quite different to her other roles.
A mixed return to the Rafter world
aussiekiwitvlover22 May 2023
Warning: Spoilers
I have recently re-watched both 'Packed to the Rafters' and 'Back to the Rafters'. While not a disaster of a return to the world of the Rafter characters, this sequel lacks the charm of the original series.
It has been 6 years since Dave, Julie and Ruby Rafter were seen driving off in their family kombi and after a few years of travelling, they have settled in the peaceful country town of Buradeena. Dave is enjoying country life, becoming close mates with his apprentice electrician and finding himself more at peace with himself than ever before. Julie has made friends and has a job at the local cafe, but yearns for her old bustling life in the city. On a visit to Sydney to visit her ailing father Ted, connect with her children Ben and Nathan who are each facing their own personal issues and visits to see Donna at the Boat Club and to her favourite restaurant Shanghai Express, Julie decides she wants to move back. Dave resists her decision. He is determined to stay put. The conflict of should-I-stay-or-should-I-go for Julie and the impacts on her marriage to Dave is the biggest continuing storyline of this sequel, with the challenges in Rachel, Ben and Nathan's lives also explored.
Some viewers will be disappointed in the lack of connection of the story to the last episode of Packed to the Rafters. While we see a flashback of the last scene of Packed to the Rafters when Dave, Julie and Ruby leave their beloved family home, no mention of characters that were part of the final goodbye in Season 6 of Packed to the Rafters were mentioned (Coby and Frankie, Emma, Buzz and Jackson, Eleanor, Matt, Sammy). The nicely tied up ends of Packed to the Rafters and ideas that were hinted at (like the reconciliation of Sammy and Nathan) were undone through this sequel. It was also unusual to witness the Rafter family in a large, quiet family home when the concept of a lively, small, packed to the rafters home was central to what the original show was about. However it was a nice detail to include Dave and Julie showing Ruby where they used to live. As a whol, Back to the Rafters is not a bad show and there were glimpses of the style of the original series, without the same impact of the character narrations. It is hard to return to the same format that proved such a success several years ago, with a change of setting, society and a change in some cast members and it showed in this sequel series.
It has been 6 years since Dave, Julie and Ruby Rafter were seen driving off in their family kombi and after a few years of travelling, they have settled in the peaceful country town of Buradeena. Dave is enjoying country life, becoming close mates with his apprentice electrician and finding himself more at peace with himself than ever before. Julie has made friends and has a job at the local cafe, but yearns for her old bustling life in the city. On a visit to Sydney to visit her ailing father Ted, connect with her children Ben and Nathan who are each facing their own personal issues and visits to see Donna at the Boat Club and to her favourite restaurant Shanghai Express, Julie decides she wants to move back. Dave resists her decision. He is determined to stay put. The conflict of should-I-stay-or-should-I-go for Julie and the impacts on her marriage to Dave is the biggest continuing storyline of this sequel, with the challenges in Rachel, Ben and Nathan's lives also explored.
Some viewers will be disappointed in the lack of connection of the story to the last episode of Packed to the Rafters. While we see a flashback of the last scene of Packed to the Rafters when Dave, Julie and Ruby leave their beloved family home, no mention of characters that were part of the final goodbye in Season 6 of Packed to the Rafters were mentioned (Coby and Frankie, Emma, Buzz and Jackson, Eleanor, Matt, Sammy). The nicely tied up ends of Packed to the Rafters and ideas that were hinted at (like the reconciliation of Sammy and Nathan) were undone through this sequel. It was also unusual to witness the Rafter family in a large, quiet family home when the concept of a lively, small, packed to the rafters home was central to what the original show was about. However it was a nice detail to include Dave and Julie showing Ruby where they used to live. As a whol, Back to the Rafters is not a bad show and there were glimpses of the style of the original series, without the same impact of the character narrations. It is hard to return to the same format that proved such a success several years ago, with a change of setting, society and a change in some cast members and it showed in this sequel series.
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