Filled to the Rafters
I read a review of this show before watching it. The review mentioned the two leads were born in New Zealand and revealed the entire storyline without critiquing the show. I was eagerly anticipating the show as it reminded me of my own life - close knit family who can't seem to leave home for good.
With many story lines needing fleshing out in a 40 minute programme the producers decided to do a half-arsed job on all of them. Because of this it was hard to connect with the characters, the actors seemed to be having the same trouble. The beautiful Rebecca Gibney (who looks far too young to have grown up children) could not cry convincingly when her characters children left home. Nor can she and her onscreen husband produce any chemistry as they move about each other woodenly.
The most emotive storyline was Ted (played by Australian Michael Caton - trust me, you'll recognise him), the grandfather, missing his deceased wife. The emotion he created in one scene was more significant than the rest of the show put together. It was conversely difficult to feel horrified at the abuse the only female child was subjected to at the hands of her partner. This may be because the actress was too damn pretty to be a real person or because her character had no personality for the entire two minutes she was on screen. Speaking of attractiveness, apparently the nurse-roommate of the youngest Rafter is 'hot' - instead she is primped and fake. More time was devoted to the "boys" getting ready for her arrival than the more important abuse storyline perhaps in a misguided attempt to create some light relief.
Australian reviews indicate that the show will be narrated by a different character each time which may provide some balance that the show badly needs. Instead of packing the house so quickly and skimming over the details the show could have followed each characters journey back home in a separate episode. But in efforts to catch people the shows creators have left watchers bewildered, unimpressed and unattached.
With many story lines needing fleshing out in a 40 minute programme the producers decided to do a half-arsed job on all of them. Because of this it was hard to connect with the characters, the actors seemed to be having the same trouble. The beautiful Rebecca Gibney (who looks far too young to have grown up children) could not cry convincingly when her characters children left home. Nor can she and her onscreen husband produce any chemistry as they move about each other woodenly.
The most emotive storyline was Ted (played by Australian Michael Caton - trust me, you'll recognise him), the grandfather, missing his deceased wife. The emotion he created in one scene was more significant than the rest of the show put together. It was conversely difficult to feel horrified at the abuse the only female child was subjected to at the hands of her partner. This may be because the actress was too damn pretty to be a real person or because her character had no personality for the entire two minutes she was on screen. Speaking of attractiveness, apparently the nurse-roommate of the youngest Rafter is 'hot' - instead she is primped and fake. More time was devoted to the "boys" getting ready for her arrival than the more important abuse storyline perhaps in a misguided attempt to create some light relief.
Australian reviews indicate that the show will be narrated by a different character each time which may provide some balance that the show badly needs. Instead of packing the house so quickly and skimming over the details the show could have followed each characters journey back home in a separate episode. But in efforts to catch people the shows creators have left watchers bewildered, unimpressed and unattached.
posted by Frances at 10:50 AM
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