Happy Isolation Everyone! It's a crazy world right now, and definitely scary to think about what the coming months are going to be like for everyone. But it's important to keep our head's up and stay positive, even if the world seems to be crumbling around us. So if you're bunking down in self-isolation or quarantine, are working from home or just need a break from the news, I've put together a list of Aussie dramas that are totally binge-worthy during this time. And what's even better is that you won't need a subscription to watch them! Whenever I'm looking for something to watch, I always seem to forget that all the networks have a bunch of shows on their own catch-up streaming services. And when you really start looking, it's amazing what hidden gems you uncover - like that there's some fantastic Aussie dramas ready to watch, many which we've not seen since they originally aired. While all the networks have a great selection of Aussie series, I'm focusing on the three big ones - 10Play, 7Plus and 9Now. They've also got a lot more than just the series I'm sharing below, so it's well worth having a scroll through their entire collection. All you'll need to do is sign up for a free account and you're ready to get your binge on! ECHO POINT Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 130 | 22 minutes Aired: 1 June 1995 - 1 December 1995 Echo Point was a soap opera that was created to rival Home And Away in the hopes of Channel 10 having the two most popular soaps on television. But alas it failed. It's kind of a mix between Neighbours and H&A, and anyone who has ever been a fan of either show over the years is sure to get hooked. I've just started my binge and am absolutely loving it - nothing like peak soap drama to make you forget about the real world for twenty-two minutes. The series is set in the coastal town Echo Point, focusing on several families and teenagers, with the main focal point of the show being around the bakery and The Shed cafe. A storyline that ran throughout the entire run of the show was that of supposed-parent killer Daniel Blake returning to Echo Point and learning what really happened to his parents. Like all soaps, there's drama, comedy, affairs, lies, scandals, romance and more. It's got that nostalgic feel to it, especially if you're a soap opera fan or enjoy 90s and early 00s television. PLAYING FOR KEEPS Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 16 | 44 minutes Aired: 19 September 2018 - 4 December 2019 This is a much more recent series, but well worth a watch or rewatch, and with a third series being unlikely, there's no time like the present to consume every single episode. And that's pretty easy to do since there's only sixteen episodes. Playing For Keeps centres around the WAGs - wives and girlfriends - of the players of the Southern Jets Football Club, which is dramatic enough without throwing in a suspicious death and too many secrets and affairs to count. The group dynamic of this cast is great, and with football cancelled for the foreseeable future, it's a good way series to binge to help bring some normalcy into your life. Honourable 10Play mentions:
ALL SAINTS Seasons: 12 | Episodes: 493 | 45 minutes Aired: 24 February 1998 - 27 October 2009 Now this is a throwback! I've not watched All Saints since it first aired, so it's amazing to see all the episodes available at my fingertips. If you've finished your binge of Grey's Anatomy, then this is your next stop! The series follows to the staff of All Saints Western General Hospital, with the first few seasons set in Ward 17 and the latter in the Emergency Department. Like many medical dramas, its focus was definitely steered more towards the personal lives of the nurses and doctors, with some medicine thrown in for good measure. This series honestly feels like it should be on a subscription service because it's hard to believe that a well-loved, long-running series is available to watch for free, but it is! If you've not seen the show since it first aired, it's definitely time to take a ride down memory lane! ALWAYS GREENER Seasons: 2 | Episodes: 50 | 45 minutes Aired: 9 September 2001 - 8 June 2003 Always Greener is classic goodhearted Aussie family drama. Not only did the series deal with serious issues, it also had a lot of humour sprinkled throughout the episodes, and is perfect for a good laugh. The series follows the Taylors and the Todds, lead by brother and sister John Taylor and Sandra Todd. The Todds live on a small property in Inverness while the Taylors live in the suburbs of Sydney. After a few drinks on Christmas, they jokingly suggest that swapping houses could be a good idea, and after issues arising with both families, they decide the fresh start could be just what they need. There's just something so warm and fuzzy about this series, and the contrast between the city and the country makes for a really enjoyable watch. Chances are you watched this back in the day but had forgotten it existed - go binge and relive it! BLUE WATER HIGH Seasons: 3 | Episodes: 78 | 23 minutes Aired: 11 May 2005 - 25 September 2008 Okay yes, this is a teen series, but it was my childhood so I couldn't not include it on this list! Chances are you're a similar age to me, and so it's not out of the question for an adult to be watching this 00s masterpiece. The series follows a group of teens who have scored a place at Solar Blue Surf Academy, where they will train for 12 months before two are selected to join the world circuit. There's sun and surf on top of school, drama and romance. The great thing about a new cast of characters for each season is that you don't necessarily have to watch all three seasons. The OG series is my jam, and the second series isn't too bad either (please don't talk to me about season three). You're never too old for Blue Water High! A COUNTRY PRACTICE Seasons: 14 | Episodes: 1,088 | 48 minutes Aired: 18 November 1981 - 5 November 1994 When you think of Australian soap operas, three will generally pop into your head - the still-airing Home and Away and Neighbours, and the long-running icon that is A Country Practice. I grew up on Neighbours with a dash of Home and Away, so I never got to experience this iconic series, but I can now. The series takes place in the small rural NSW town of Wandin Valley, following the lives of the residents and centering around the hospital, as well as the medical clinic, vet surgery, pub, and police station. The stories focused predominately on social and medical problems, with many issues quiet topical for the time. Bingeing this series would take a lot of dedication with over 1000 episodes, so you may or may not be relieved to know that there are currently only the first two seasons to view, with more eventually becoming available. RAIN SHADOW Seasons: 1 | Episodes: 6 | 54 minutes Aired: 7 October 2007 - 18 November 2007 If you're not ready to dedicate yourself to a long binge, then Rain Shadow is the series for you. I remember watching this when it first aired, and I honestly swear it had more than six episodes - it just felt like it went on longer than it did! Set in the dying and drought-stricken farming district of Paringa, the series follows district vet Kate McDonald and her new veterinary assistant Jill Blake as they work throughout a district stuck in a rain shadow. For a series that was made over a decade ago, it's crazy how relevant it still is in today's landscape. There's an interesting cast of characters that we get to meet throughout the six episodes, and you'll no doubt be wishing more episodes had been made. THE SECRET LIFE OF US Seasons: 4 | Episodes: 86 | 45 minutes Aired: 6 July 2001 - 28 December 2004 Here's another iconic Aussie show that I've not yet watched, but have seen and heard so much praise for. But now that I'm in my 20s, it's definitely time to dive in and see what all the hype is about! The Secret Life Of Us centres around a group of friends in their 20s and 30s who live in a block of flats in St Kilda. We follow their friendships, relationships, career developments and personal lives throughout the show, and all the drama that comes with it. I bet there are so many people who, like me, have heard great things about the series but are yet to actually watch it, so definitely add this to your watch list. Also worth noting is that the first two seasons are also on 10Play. Honourable 7Plus mentions:
HOUSE HUSBANDS Seasons: 5 | Episodes: 58 | 45 minutes Aired: 2 September 2012 - 17 April 2017 These final two certainly have a bit of a theme going... I dipped in and out of this series while it was airing, but I really enjoyed what I did get to see. Also, how often do you get a great group of Aussie actors together for such a successful series? House Husbands follows four stay-at-home dads and their interconnected families. Their wives are off working and they're the ones who are raising their children - a change from the regular families we seem to find on TV. On top of that, there's some great diversity amongst the families, which is also refreshing to see. There's nothing like bingeing a family drama-comedy, and this is a pretty good series to dive into - I'm definitely moving it up on my to-watch list. MCLEOD'S DAUGHTERS Seasons: 8 | Episodes: 224 | 44 minutes Aired: 8 August 2001 - 31 January 2009 From a male-led show we dive into the female-led McLeod's Daughter's. This is such an iconic 2000s series, and if you've not watched it since it's original run, get comfy and start bingeing. The series follows the women of Drover's Run, headed by Claire McLeod and her city-raised half-sister Tess. Drover's struggles financially on-top of drought and disaster, but through the strength of its owners and workers, it manages to stay afloat, especially when the well-off Ryan family next door constantly have an eye on the place ready to swoop in and buy up. I adore this series, and in particular I love seeing such a strong female cast, showcasing that women 100% have a place in agriculture, and not just doing the paperwork. A must-watch if you've not seen the series before! Honourable 9Now mentions:
Hopefully this has given you a couple of series to check out during this COVID19 situation. And since we don't know how long we're meant to be living like this, there's plenty to watch and rewatch. When we run out of things to binge, then we can truly start to panic!
Let me know some of your favourite Aussie dramas, especially if they are available to binge. Stay safe, wash your hands, and only leave your house if you absolutely have to! Victoria :) |
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