Oh how I love thee Rakey McRake. We are only two episodes in and I already have wet my pants laughing (bladder leakage is a serious issue ladies of the ABC, as I’m sure many of you are aware!) it’s always worth it for Rake. Sunday night’s episode saw our beloved Cleaver Greene (Richard Roxburgh) finally get out of jail after an eleven month stint behind bars. Of course, he got out using his cunning….blackmail and lies mainly.
Arriving home to find his former assistant Nicole (Kate Box) now working for Scarlet (Danielle Cormack) and living in his house, with her Polish speaking mother and having had Barney’s baby in the time Cleaver was on the inside. His ex-wife Wendy (Caroline Brazier) has decided to sell her house and is also engaged to the weirdo Roger (Martin Sacks) who enjoys having an inflatable doll watching him, in a corner, during his romantic liaisons.
Lane Hole is nowhere to be seen but his name still makes me laugh out loud at 4am when I get out of bed for a drink of apple cider (nonalcoholic of course, I’m crazy but I’m not that crazy). I was sad to see Mal (Dan Wylie) jump off a bridge to his untimely death after his beautiful singing talent was finally established. Poor Mal. He just wasn’t made for living outside prison. Dan Wylie was so great too.
Barney (Russell Dykstra) has one of his testicles, in a glass bubble and on a keyring to remind him that life is short after his battle with cancer and he’s happy that Cleave is finally out. He might not be aware, however, that his wife is nailing local labor party leader David (Matt Day) at said leaders parent’s house in his childhood bedroom. So classy.
Meanwhile our favourite villain Cal McGregor (Damien Garvey) is busy making deals with big business after his timely exit from the clink on parole. So much going on and all of it is witty and has me laughing so hard that Betty the cat has moved into the spare room out of annoyance.
Six episodes to go and it will only get better from here.
Rake airs on ABC1 on Sunday night at 8.30pm
