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The death of Melissa Rafter

The Rafters bubble has burst. Melissa Rafter (Zoe Ventoura) was killed in a car accident in the hit Seven drama, Packed to the Rafters.

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The Rafters bubble has burst.

Melissa Rafter (Zoe Ventoura) was killed in a car accident in tonight’s episode of the hit Seven drama, Packed to the Rafters.

In an emotional episode narrated by the voice of Ben (Hugh Sheridan), the perfect world of the young couple came crashing down when it was least expected.

Everything had been rosy for the young couple, both planning a baby together. Tonight, while Ben was organising a romantic evening at a hotel for his wife, Melissa was stuck at work.

Meanwhile back at the Rafters household, a family dinner was underway.

The fatal moment happened as she drove from the hospital to the hotel, distracted by a phone message from Ben. Another car from the other direction collided with hers.

But the real drama was saved for a sensitive family scene in which a stony-faced Ben attended the hospital surrounded by a tearful family.

Captured in slow motion with a song, it was a powerful scene.

The tragedy followed network promos teasing the “death of a young Rafter,” but her fate became clear within the first 15 minutes when farewelling Ben as she head off to work.

“If I had known my bubble was about to burst,” said Ben, “I would never have let her go.”

Melissa (nee Bannon) married into the family only a year ago, in a picture perfect soapie wedding.

The death of Melissa is the first major death since the show has begun. In the final weeks of the ratings season, viewers will now be compelled to watch how television’s favourite family come to terms with the tragedy.

136 Responses

  1. The Sia song during the morgue scene got me crying, but I sobbed more during the finale of Six Feet Under (Sia again!). Before that was Love My Way. I think I cried for about 4 episodes for that one.

  2. Just great that Aussie’s are tuning in to see Aussie shows. I personally don’t watch this show as I prefer comedies but congratulations for such excellent ratings. Hugh Sheridan and Jessica Marais I think will have the careers in America rather than the girl that got killed off.

  7. OMG Nathan and Ben are such a good actors also goodluck for the future zoe.
    im just thinking how clever they are to not get zoe hurt in the car?
    Good on you Zoe
    enjoy your live i will keep watchin rafter although it will not be as good with out you
    someday i hope to join you on tv some day 🙂
    charlee

  10. Did anyone watch the interview on Sunrise? The way Mel [Sunrise host not killed off character] read the introduction seemed a bit too much on the cheery side for a death.

  12. It was a classic moment in the show’s history and Australian television. Why do some people on here and other forums feel they need to whinge about everything?

  13. It never ceases to amaze me how so many people will still bag a show even when it is a top quality show or attracts a massive audience. Why can’t people just be happy for the success of this show even if it’s not their cup of tea?

  14. This show is my favourite and they never let me down. Best of luck to Zoe Ventoura. I wish she could have hung around for a bit longer but the three seasons she shared with us were fantastic. Here’s hoping the rest of the Rafter clan will be sticking around for a few more years to entertain us.

  17. Very good point, Goonies. The promos had to advertise the death, otherwise it would not have been a ratings juggernaut if everybody thought it was a business as usual episode. It would have gotten its normal ratings when we all know that hatches, matches and dispatches on soapies are what deliver the ratings Holy Grail.

  18. Two points I’d like to make;

    All of you saying ‘oh I wish it was a surprise and they didn’t tease on the ads’ – do you think PTTR would have rated 2.3m if it wasn’t for the ads getting everybody to watch !?

    And I doubt Zoe was given a choice in how her character left the show. She didn’t sign on for another year so is at the mercy of the writers. Who knows they may have killed her off as a way of saying ‘ take that for quitting our super show’

  20. @ “CrAig says: November 3, 2010 at 9:22 am “The fact that not one Rafter actor could manage a proper emotion (other than stunned) at the end was woeful”

    If you ever find yourself in this situation, i can assure you the only emotion you feel is “stunned’. Everything else kicks in later

  23. @Goodyear, the other car rammed the drivers side of Mel’s car at quite high speed. She did not slow down for the stop sign, just powered right through. People are routinely killed in prangs like this, happens all the time. The actual collision might not kill them, but they can die of heart attack bought on my the crash (like Princess Diana did), severance of a major artery, rupture of internal organs, blood loss from wounds, lots of reasons. It was not just a minor bingle.

    @BillMurray, simple fact of life is that distractions such as mobile phones, GPS, mp3 players etc behind the wheel kill and maim hundreds every year.

  25. Such a pathetic attempt at building suspence for an ending. The most obvious way to stage a car crash…she was looking at her mobile phone….great stuff from the writers of PTTR. Is this really the best we’ve got?

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