Packed to the Rafters (PG). Starring: Rebecca Gibney, Erik Thomson, Angus McLaren, Jessica McNamee, Jessica Marais, Hugh Sheridan, Michael Caton, Zoe Ventoura. Channel 7, Tuesdays, 8.30pm
Clean-cut TV drama doesn't get any better than Packed to the Rafters. It's charming, funny, well-written and packed ... well ... to the rafters with likeable and multi-dimensional characters.
In case you've missed it, Rafters, which has returned with the premiere episodes of its second season, is set in suburban Sydney and concerns the lot of would-be empty-nesters Julie and Dave Rafter (Gibney and Thomson), whose freedom has been dented by the return of their adult offspring.
There's Rachel (Marais), who is beautiful and confident but troubled; Nathan (McLaren), who's married to rich girl Sam (McNamee) and resents his blue-collar roots; and big-hearted man-child Ben (Sheridan) who, to be fair, has moved out ... next door. To ensure this is a multi-generational household, there's also Julie's widower dad, Ted (Caton).
As with any good story, sympathy is key. Rafters presents ordinary human situations to which its audience can relate. Recent episodes saw Ben feeling insecure over his girlfriend Mel's (Ventoura) friendship with a handsome doctor, and Rachel dreading the prospect of attending her high school reunion.
Sure, there's a formula at play. The above scenarios have been fodder for many a TV drama and sitcom. What sets Rafters apart is the cleverness of the scripts. The writers appreciate every nuance of every situation and character. The hour-long time slot allows them to unpack every skerrick of emotional baggage.
This mastery of plot is never more obvious than when it comes to dealing with controversial storylines.
Consider last season's climactic episode. Julie learns she is pregnant. Dave, yearning for the empty nest, and fearing the risks to Julie's health, advocates termination. Julie can see his logic, but is also overcome by powerful mothering urges. It becomes a point of tension between them.
To heighten the dilemma, they learn that Rachel previously had an abortion. Emotionally, Rachel confesses the pain, trauma and regret that attended the experience.
The episode ticked all the politically correct boxes, as various characters debated the pros and cons of terminating the pregnancy. A woman has the right to do with her body as she pleases. The health of the unborn baby can not be put ahead of Julie's. After 20-plus years of parenthood, Julie and Dave have earned the right to be selfish.
In the end, Julie