So much unrealised screen time
SPOLIER ALERT! To read on will reveal who carks it…
It had to happen. It was overdue. No TV family can be happy that long without some form of tragedy. Tonight, a ‘young’ Rafter passed away, and not before time. She really needed to pay attention to the road and not her mobile phone. And possibly the mournful Coldplay song that was on the radio when she woke up in bed with her husband. And all the lovey-dovey lines she was spewing forth. Even Ben’s narration telegraphed it. And the fact that next week’s script didn’t have her name on it.
Melissa Rafter (nee Bannon) was killed in a car accident tonight on Packed to the Rafters (S03E20). It was a shock to many, however it makes logical sense – it would be suicide to remove one of the core family cast (beyond that which has already left). The drama that will preserve the rest of the series will be how the family cope with what was a ‘picture-perfect’ young couple & their blossoming love and hope of starting a family now shattered by the death of Ben’s wife. Of course, now the writers have a ‘ghost’ character to confront at least Ben with for the next year or so. Keep an eye out for that.
They are emotional moments, the death of a television character. I remember my my Mum bawling her eyes out when Molly finally died on A Country Practice. Same again when Shirley died on A Country Practice. Then she cried the time she wished Bob Hatfield had died on A Country Practice and in real life, but I think that was for a different reason. There have been many deaths ‘in the family’ when we extend life into/out from the silver flatscreen.
Who have been the most tragic television deaths for you? Best or most deserving? Which one made you bawl your eyes out like no tomorrow?
Image sources: Channel 7.
I really liked how they handled the last few scenes… very nicely done.
It was pretty gentle, all things considered. Totally set it up for the ‘family grief’ stuff, which is consistent with the theme of the show. Expect lots of tears in the episodes to come (and that’s just on-screen).
Totally agree. The writers had to do something to stir up the storyline pot, as imo it was starting to get a little stale.
In saying that, although I cannot relate to having so much of the family “living at home” (I left home at 18) overall, I like the show; it has comedy, drama and romance – all it needs a little bit of action and it’d be great 🙂
Special guest episode featuring Bruce Willis as the broody neighbour/drunk detective?
Molly’s death on ACP still goes down in history as one of the all-time best … but also Mrs Landringham on The West Wing stands out … 1 given her personal storyline but 2, in true West Wing fashion, it gave such a gritty story-line to at-the-time the tortured President Bartlett. And the scene where he drops his cigarette in the church to show his displeasure to God … whoa!! To the Dire Straits Brothers In Arms soundtrack … (or am I now mixing scenes in my head).
Also somehow the last 2 episodes of Single Married Other got me crying … hadn’t seen any other episode and then of course watched the one after (the final) … it too was fantastic for capturing the emotion of the story.
Oh, of course Leo’s in the West Wing too … (you seeing a theme here) ….
Yes Cat – you’ve watched The West Wing far too much. 😉
Seen The Social Network yet?
Wow Screen deaths…
Of Course Molly Jones, President John Sheridan – Babylon 5
When I was very young I watched a Movie about a test pilot which was very moving. It was called the McConnell Story http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0048364/
AND I nearly always choke when Goose dies…. Sir you have to let him go, Sir.