Back to the Rafters - Cross Currents (S1E2)
While Dave has taken Julie back to Buradeena to persuade her to settle back there, Ruby stays with her brothers in the city and becomes the next climate change social media sensation.
| Runtime (min) | 45 |
|---|---|
| Air Date | 2021-09-17 |
| Genres | Comedy, Drama |
| TV Rating | TV-14 |
| Network(s) | Prime Video |
Storyline
Dave takes Julie back to their rural hometown of Buradeena, hoping to convince her that returning to their roots is the right move for their family. The couple navigates the tension between city life and country living, with Dave making his case for a simpler, more grounded existence away from the hustle of urban Sydney. Julie weighs the benefits of reconnecting with their past against the practical realities of uprooting their established life.
Meanwhile, Ruby remains in the city with her brothers and unexpectedly becomes a viral sensation on social media for her climate change activism. Her newfound online fame brings both excitement and complications as she navigates the responsibilities that come with having a platform. The episode explores the generational divide between Dave and Julie's contemplation of a quieter life and Ruby's engagement with contemporary social issues through digital activism.
What kids learn
This episode offers children insight into how families make major decisions together, even when members have different priorities and perspectives. Ruby's storyline demonstrates that young people can have meaningful voices in important conversations about environmental issues, showing that age doesn't diminish the value of one's convictions or activism. Her experience with social media fame also provides a teachable moment about the responsibilities that come with having a public platform.
The episode explores the concept of home and belonging, illustrating that people can have deep connections to multiple places for different reasons. Children can learn that it's natural for family members to have conflicting desires about where to live or how to structure their lives, and that these disagreements don't diminish their love for one another. Dave and Julie's journey back to Buradeena shows that revisiting your past can help clarify your future, even if the answers aren't immediately clear.
Ruby's climate activism demonstrates how individual actions and voices can contribute to larger movements for change, encouraging children to think about issues beyond their immediate surroundings and to consider how they might use their own skills and platforms to advocate for causes they believe in.
Parents' top 5 questions
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Why does Dave want to move the family back to Buradeena? | Dave sees Buradeena as a place where the family can reconnect with their roots and enjoy a simpler, more grounded lifestyle away from the pressures of city living. He's drawn to the familiarity and slower pace of their hometown, believing it might offer the family a better quality of life and stronger sense of community than they currently have in Sydney. |
| Is Ruby's climate activism portrayed positively in the episode? | Ruby's engagement with climate issues is presented as genuine and meaningful, showing her passion for environmental causes. The episode treats her activism respectfully while also exploring the complexities of sudden social media attention. Her storyline demonstrates that young people can contribute meaningfully to important conversations, though it also hints at the challenges that come with viral fame. |
| How does the episode handle the conflict between Dave and Julie's desires? | The episode presents both perspectives fairly, acknowledging that Dave's desire to return to Buradeena and Julie's attachment to their current life are both valid. Rather than resolving the conflict immediately, the episode shows them working through their different viewpoints, modeling how couples can navigate major life decisions with respect for each other's feelings and concerns. |
| What does Ruby do while staying with her brothers in the city? | Ruby becomes involved in climate change activism and gains unexpected attention on social media, turning her into a viral sensation. While staying with her brothers, she engages with environmental issues in ways that resonate with online audiences, giving her a platform she hadn't anticipated. The episode shows her adjusting to this new visibility while her parents are away. |
| Does the family make a final decision about moving by the end of the episode? | The episode focuses on Dave's attempt to persuade Julie rather than reaching a definitive conclusion about the family's future location. The storyline emphasizes the process of weighing options and considering what's best for everyone involved. This reflects the reality that major family decisions often take time and careful consideration rather than quick resolution. |
Writing
Directing
| Season # | Episode # | Episode Name |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1 | Julie Rafter’s life is thrown into confusion when, after six years away, a city reunion reveals crises in the lives of the rest of the Rafters and causes her to question her own country town happiness. |
| 1 | 2 | While Dave has taken Julie back to Buradeena to persuade her to settle back there, Ruby stays with her brothers in the city and becomes the next climate change social media sensation. |
| 1 | 3 | When Rachel comes home to secure Ruby as youth ambassador for one of her New York clients, she surprises everyone by arriving pregnant; further complicating everyone's lives. |
| 1 | 4 | When compared to the rest of the Rafters, Ben thinks his life is looking up. But Cassie is harboring a truth that will tear his blissful ignorance apart. |
| 1 | 5 | Nathan finds self-reflection and healing at a wellness retreat in Buradeena. Meanwhile, Julie is forced to a conclusion about her future with Dave, and Ruby takes a stand against internet trolls. |
| 1 | 6 | Finally accepting that their parents might indeed be contemplating separate lives, Ben and Nathan propose desperate measures to save their parents' role model marriage. |
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