Watch Always Greener

2001
2 Seasons
7.9 (323)

Always Greener is an award-winning Australian drama series that aired on Seven Network from 2001 to 2003. The show follows the lives of two families in two different cities that swapped their homes in the hopes of finding a better life. The series features an all-star cast, including John Howard, Anne Tenney, Michala Banas, Caitlin McDougall, Bree Walters, Abe Forsythe, Scott Major, Andrew Clarke, Denise Roberts, Bree Desborough, Clayton Watson, Grant Bowler, Nathaniel Dean, and Steven Rooke.

The series begins by introducing us to the Parker and Winton families. Doug and Barbara Parker (played by John Howard and Anne Tenney) live in the small town of Dubbo and run a struggling farm. Their children are Ryan (played by Abe Forsythe), Victoria (played by Bree Walters), and Darcy (played by Caitlin McDougall). Meanwhile, the Winton family, consisting of Greg (played by Andrew Clarke), Sally (played by Michala Banas), and their two children, Emily (played by Bree Desborough) and Sam (played by Clayton Watson), live in the bustling city of Sydney. Greg is a successful advertising executive, but his job often takes up too much of his time, leaving little for his family.

In the pilot episode, the two families meet and agree to swap houses for an extended period. The Parkers move to the Winton's luxurious Sydney home, while the Wintons move to the Parkers' rundown farm in Dubbo. The switch is supposed to allow each family to experience life from the other's perspective and determine whether the grass really is greener on the other side.

What follows are three seasons of drama, romance, and heartache as the characters learn to adapt to their new surroundings and struggles. In Sydney, Doug and Barbara experience the glitz and glamour of city life, but they also have to deal with the Winton children's rebellious attitudes and their own children's inability to fit in. Meanwhile, in Dubbo, the Wintons face a range of challenges such as dirty farming work, living with animals, and dealing with the locals. Sally finds herself attracted to the rugged country life and the charms of the town's deputy mayor, Jake (played by Grant Bowler). Emily has a tough time adapting to the new school, but she eventually forms a close bond with the Parker kids.

The series delves into the themes of family, friendship, love, ambition, and the never-ending search for happiness. The characters are complex and relatable, and their journeys are engaging and emotional. The show tackles serious issues such as infidelity, addiction, and mental health struggles, but it balances these with moments of humor and lightheartedness.

One of the show's strengths is its stunning cinematography, which captures both the beauty of rural Australia and the energy of the city. The soundtrack is also impressive, featuring a mix of classic and contemporary Australian and international music.

Always Greener was a critical success, earning several Logie Awards (the Australian equivalent of the Emmy Awards), including the coveted Gold Logie for John Howard in 2002. The show was praised for its strong writing, powerful performances, and refreshing take on the classic fish-out-of-water storyline. However, despite its popularity, the show was canceled after three seasons due to budget constraints.

In conclusion, Always Greener is an entertaining and thought-provoking drama series that explores the complexities of human relationships and the pursuit of happiness. The show's talented cast, beautiful setting, and compelling storylines make it a must-watch for fans of Australian television.

Always Greener is a series that ran for 2 seasons (50 episodes) between September 9, 2001 and on Seven

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Seasons

2 1

28. Future Shocks

June 8, 2003

Tom's world is rocked to its foundations with the results of a blood test. To tell or not to tell: Cam and Pip wrestle with the timebomb of Peteââ‚¬â„¢s infidelity. Liz and John become sudden co-hosts of Good Morning Warrigong - with potentially life-changing repercussions.

27. True Romance

June 1, 2003

Sparks fly at John's marriage guidance seminar. Jason scores a win at the estate agency - at Marissa's expense. Tom learns the shocking truth about Gregory Kind's agenda. Is Pete cheating on Sandra?

26. 5,4,3,2,1 Happy New Year

May 25, 2003

Sandra thinks her relationship with Pete may be over, Marissa suspects there may be more going on with Tom's father than meets the eye and Katy is surprised when Mickey makes an offer regarding their future. Jason has certainly gone a little off the rails in recent times. But tired of being the family "dropkick", he resolves to turn over a new leaf. His first goal is realised when he lands a job - as an assistant to Derek Unn. But as Jason's portrayer Daniel Bowden reveals, the character has a hidden agenda.

25. Boxing Day

May 18, 2003

Tensions flare and old wounds are opened on Boxing Day. Pete and Sandra clash over his mother, Isabelle and Tom clash over his father, and Jason and Mickey clash over Katy.

24. What A Difference A Year Makes

May 11, 2003

Liz tries hopelessly to keep her family together on Christmas Day. Sandra's dream Christmas turns to a cynical nightmare at Pete's mother's. Pip and Cam are too cool for Christmas but succumb to traditional festivities when Nick and Shelley show up. Jason goes out depressed and comes home drunk creating comic chaos for Eileen and Derek's plans - and everyone ends up at the neighbourhood centre, where the surprises just keep on coming.

23. The Trouble Is it's Christmas

May 4, 2003

It's one week till Christmas and everyone is under pressure. John must regain the upport of the community and increase business at the neighbourhood centre. Eileen wants to raise money for the centre appeal. Jason is taking comfort in the bottle. Katy and Mickey want to make amends with Jason, so they can enjoy Christmas together. Sandra is determined to find the perfect gift for Pete's Mum and Pip wants to rekindle her friendship with Nick. The strains of the festive season are brought into perspective when troubled farmer, Les Doyle, attempts suicide, despite John's attempts to help him.

22. Surfboards in the Roof

April 27, 2003

Marissa returns to Inverness with Tom, but turns down his marriage proposal - and the chance to audition for "Home and Away". Tom turns down Isabelle's offer to reveal his father's identity. Bert relives his yearning to be a surfer, and John fulfils his yearning to kick a winning goal. Katy decides to act on her yearning, and lands on Mickey's doorstep.

21. Cause and Effect

April 20, 2003

Cam and Kim discuss the ramifications of the book on 'Sunrise'. After Patch and Jason try to replicate the exploding cow trick on Bert's prize bull, he threatens legal action. Jason confesses his infidelity to Katy, and learns that Mickey was seeing Katy. Pete's mum tells Sandra she doesn't approve of their relationship. Mickey kicks Tom and Marissa out of the house.

20. A Tangled Web

April 13, 2003

Katy makes an excuse to get out of going to schoolies with Jason and Patch. While away, Jason sleeps with the fun loving Sylvana. Katy rejects Mickey out of loyalty to Jason. John and Liz's attempts to prepare the locals for the launch of the book backfire. Sandra and Pete clash over his support of the book. Kim goes on 'Good Morning Warrigong'.

19. More Things Than Heaven and Earth

April 6, 2003

Liz dreams of her father, Harry, then learns he's on his death bed. Liz implores her sister Margaret to fly out from England. Satisfied that his two daughters are reunited, he dies peacefully. After an outpouring of anger and recrimination, Liz and Margaret make their peace. Mickey goes to visit Katy, behind Jason's back.

18. ... And Greener... And Greener

March 30, 2003

Pete gives Sandra a brand new car. Sandra refuses to accept the gift, until a visit to the country helps her realise that Pete's generosity is unconditional. John is won over by Pete. Infatuated with Mickey, Katy feels trapped in her relationship with Jason. Marissa tells Tom she refuses to be ordinary. Marissa attends a cattle call at a modelling agency.

17. Great (and Not So Great) Expectations

March 23, 2003

Isabelle and Katy's trip to the city leads to an argument with Tom and Marissa. The new look Shelley is revealed, increasing Marissa's feelings of failure. After clashing with Tom, she packs up her market stall - for good. Katy and Mickey meet and are attracted. Jason agonises over Katy, and walks out on an important exam. Liz notices a potential problem with Little Derek.

16. The Long Weekend

March 16, 2003

Shelley says to Mickey 'I killed your Dad', and Mickey reacts with anger. Marissa appeals to John for help, and takes Shelley to the country. John counsels Shelley and makes her realise that she can get her life back on track. Realising she can no longer blame herself for Greg's death, she bids Mickey farewell. Jason and Kim spend an uncomfortable night at Patch's. Pete whisks Sandra away to a beach house, and they negotiate the tricky waters of sleeping together for the first time. With some help from Jennifer Anniston, Pip makes peace with Nick.

15. You Must Have Been A Beautiful Baby

March 9, 2003

Marissa confesses her guilt over Shelley to Tom, and they track her down in the Cross. Shelley initially rejects them, then after a brief flirtation with heroin, turns up at the Steele house asking for help. Sandra pursues a relationship with Pete, but only after overcoming a few insecurities about age and glamour. John and Derek bond in the bush, where Derek reveals his fears of fatherhood. Bert helps deliver Eileen's baby boy which she promises to name after Bert!

14. Flesh for Fantasy

March 2, 2003

Shelley phones Mickey and tells him to leave her alone. With some help from Nathan and Pete, Mickey's ode to Shelley is played on the radio. Marissa's market stall is an embarrassing failure, leading to conflict with Tom. Kim gets her braces off, but it's not the life changing experience she expects. Pip and Nick break up. Pete is exposed as 'The Love Professor', and Sandra as a thirty-something mum with two kids!

13. The Always Greener Variety Hour

February 23, 2003

Shelley's working hard for the money. Mickey and Nathan, a friend of Shelley's father Trev, are on her trail. Scumbag returns with a Thai bride, who isn't what Patch expects. Nick picks a fight with Pip to avoid intimacy. At a nightclub, Sandra sees Nick flirting with a guy, then meets handsome and groovy Pete. Is it love in the first degree? John, blaming Les for baby Harry's death, is unable to help Angela.

12. Guilt Trip

February 16, 2003

Liz is steely in the wake of baby Harry's death, then finally releases her emotions after the memorial service. On the bright side, her father Harry agrees to have treatment for his cancer. Katy is upset by Jason's insensitivity, and tells Isabelle they are at different stages of maturity. Sandra learns Pip and Nick are an item. Marissa and Tom decide to live in the city. Shelley is revealed, working as a hooker. Mickey receives a visit from big Nathan. The Todd's and the Taylor's agree to swap homes - officially.

11. A Death in the Family

November 24, 2002

Tom and Marissa's relationship gets off to a passionate start. Liz and Kim go to the hospital to visit Harry. When doctors offer a grave prognosis, he refuses treatment. With encouragement from Isabelle, John tries to help Angela break free of her abusive husband Les. Cam loses his virginity to a charity worker. Marissa and Tom consummate their relationship. Liz is seriously injured when electrocuted by a faulty fridge.

10. Why Is It So?

November 17, 2002

John makes his first appearance on 'Good Morning Warrigong', and later cops a punch on the nose by an irate viewer. Pip and Nick get intimate, setting them on a path of unlikely romance. Cam strikes a deal with Kim over the book. Tom learns that Cam's book portrays him as a dimwit, and seeks Marissa's advice. When she assures him the portrayal is anything but uncomplimentary, they seal their attraction with a kiss.

9. Understanding the Cry

November 10, 2002

In the aftermath of Shelley's disappearance, Sandra is forced to realise that she has been sadly neglecting the home front. Marissa and Mickey embark on a bold prison-visit to further the search for Shelley. Eileen and Liz attend pre-natal classes - with hilarious and touching results.

8. Share Space

November 3, 2002

Shelley wants to tell Mickey the truth about his father's death but knows this will destroy any chance of a future with him. The dilemma forces her to make an impulsive decision. Pip discovers the truth about Cam's 'female voice'. Liz's attempts to ease Eileen's fears about childbirth lead to Eileen inviting herself to attend the birth.

7. Opening Gambit

October 27, 2002

'Do-gooders' and 'naysayers' do battle for the future of John's neighbourhood centre. Riotous antics turn sour as Jason and Kim attempt to expose the secret of Bert's glamorous 'lady' friend. Mickey rails against Sandra's efforts to help him through his grief - and earns a surprise new housemate for his trouble.

6. In The Beginning, I Was Afraid

October 13, 2002

Shelley is plagued with guilt over Greg's death. Liz wonders if she's set Bert Adams up with a trans-sexual. Pip learns that trying to turn a gay man straight isn't easy.

5. It Takes Balls

October 6, 2002

A debutante ball in Inverness brings together country and city. Isabelle introduces Tom to his father. Sandra and Greg have their final farewell. Shelley allows Greg to be stung by a bee, and is horrified by the consequences.

4. Black, White & Grey

September 29, 2002

Crunch-time for the Todds and the Taylors when distressed Sandra announces a return to Inverness. Cam learns confronting lessons about life - and literature.

3. Two Sides To Every Story

September 22, 2002

An emotional rollercoaster for Sandra in her pressure-cooker household, as lover boy Greg returns from his holiday with unexpected plans. Agony for Pip - and danger for Nick - when she inadvertently reveals details of boofy Bomber's love life. Crazy, touching moments as Eileen continues her struggle with valium withdrawal and meets her first homosexual.

2. Endangered Species

September 15, 2002

Tom struggles with issues of self-esteem and identity, as he forges a new relationship with his mother. John confronts terrifying visions of a possible future as he assesses his decision to return to social work. Pregnant Eileen meanwhile decides to come off her 'nerve-pills', with distressing results.

1. Here We Go Again

September 8, 2002

John and Liz have returned to Inverness with a new plan for their life in the country. John wants to set up a Neighbourhood Centre, which in the beginning will be a very grass-roots, community funded and run operation. In the city it is revealed that Cam has written a book about the country-city swap. The manuscript has been submitted to a publishing company who now want to proceed. Sandra is initially excited about the prospect of her son becoming a famous writer - that is, until she actually reads the book, and discovers that it's not a pretty picture Cam has painted - he has barely even changed the names, to protect the innocence. Marissa is upset in the wake of Tom's declaration of love for Sandra. And Pip is still coming to terms with the news that her boyfriend Bomber is gay.

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Where to Watch Always Greener

Always Greener is available for streaming on the Seven website, both individual episodes and full seasons. You can also watch Always Greener on demand at Amazon Prime.