This show continues to kill off so many of their patients and have tragic outcomes for others. Just like previous seasons, in the first episode back we had a dramatic rescue attempt ending with a tragic outcome for two members of the same family. An ampution for one and the death of another. And to add on that, two of the RFDS crew also got injured. I know people will argue that it’s good drama but I still think it’s cruel and depressing.
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I taped the season premiere and watched it this afternoon. Unfortunately Gogglebox beat me to it so I saw the outcome before I got to digest the episode.
I wonder if Pete and Taylor would feel guilty that their actions led to tragic results for another family: Pete forgetting to check on Joe’s internal injury, and Taylor insisting to travel with the team to the crash scene despite her kidney issues.
I haven’t watched much of this but what show is better the 1980’s The flying Doctors with the actor that played Joe Mangel from Neighbours or this RFDS 2022 one?
I just had to check what year it was for a moment!
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I don’t even remember Mark Little being in the original The Flying Doctors. The shows are fairly different which you would expect from something that first screened 40 years ago.
I’d say the original was more soapie and RFDS is a bit more episodic procedural. I think the show has improved with each season.
Season 3 episode 2
Wednesday 8 October
In the wake of the crash Eliza second guesses herself, while Pete and Wayne struggle to separate their personal grievances from the job at hand.
Interview with Stephen Peacocke in TV Week
Season 3 premiere on TVNZ 2 in New Zealand on Monday, October 20, at 9pm.
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Season 3 episode 3
Wednesday 15 October
Eliza and Pete remain at odds as they work on an embarrassing case together. Wayne struggles to turn his professional switch off while looking after Kalthi.
Season 3 episode 4
Wednesday 22 October
Wayne, Pete and Mira attend to a critically ill baby while Eliza visits a patient requesting help with voluntary assisted dying.
(With a photo of the production crew and the main cast)
Season 3 episode 5
Wednesday 29 October
It’s Christmas in the outback. Wayne, Mira and Matty hit the beach after a jet ski crash, Chaya’s fundraiser spirals, and Pete finally reveals his feelings to Eliza.
According to Seven, last night’s episode was the highest rated since 2021. Checking back then, that was season one when the first episode had 1.035,000. However, later in the season several episodes were down in the 700,000s so last nights’ 838,000 was an excellent result.
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Season 3 episode 6
Wednesday 5 November
A busy New Year’s Eve pushes everyone to breaking point. Eliza, Pete and Ryan contend with a risky hot-air balloon retrieval, Wayne attends his clinic’s fundraiser and Matty and Chaya come to blows.
Season 3 Final is a double episode
12 November 7:30 PM
Episode 7: Duty Of Care
The team attend a retrieval for a patient with Down syndrome, Mira questions her place in Wayne’s world and a mediation attempt between Annya and Poppy takes a turn for the worse.
Episode 8 Accountability
The ramifications of the bus crash reach maximum impact as the RFDS team work together in a life and death situation, which ends up threatening one of their own.
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I wonder if Seven didn’t want to show RFDS on November 19 as it would have clashed with the ARIA Awards on 10?
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Highly unlikely. ARIA’S (the main broadcast) airs after Big Brother so would avoid any clash.
Not unusual to do a double ep finale, maybe that’s what they think viewers want?
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Another drama will be having its finale the following week.
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RFDS gets a cover on TV Week this week for the season finale.
Inferno, hostages and heartbreak
RFDS will change forever in movie-length season final
Lives will be on the line in the RFDS movie-length season final, airing 7.30pm Wednesday 12 November on Seven and 7plus.
Delivering the most explosive chapter in the series’ history, the must-see television event will be packed with heartwarming emotional moments that will leave all Australians on the edge of their seats.
As the devastating ramifications of the Kingsley bus crash spread, the RFDS team faces a cascading nightmare. Lives will hang in the balance across multiple high stakes emergencies, as our favourites are held hostage, trapped in a burning inferno and grapple with the shattering consequences of addiction. Trust is broken, loyalties crumble and the choices made in these moments will echo long after the flames die.
Eliza (Emma Hamilton) and Anna’s (Elena Carapetis) simmering animosity erupts into a dangerous confrontation that spirals into a life-and-death struggle, forcing the entire RFDS team to race against time to prevent another tragedy.
Pete (Stephen Peacocke) and Ryan’s (Rick Davies) fight for Eliza’s heart hits new heights. Meanwhile, Chaya’s (Emma Harvie) battle with addiction hits a devastating new low, Mira (Ash Ricardo) and Wayne (Rob Collins) celebrate a new milestone, and Leonie (Justine Clarke) receives news that could impact the future of the whole team.
And one RFDS hero will risk their life. Will the team be able to save them before it is too late?
RFDS season final 7.30pm Wednesday, 12 November on Seven and 7plus
RFDS soars to Australia’s #1 drama
Total TV audience up 17% on last season, with 7plus up 79%
The Seven Network’s award-winning outback drama series, RFDS, has soared to new heights, with the 2025 season becoming Australia’s most watched free-to-air drama on consolidated viewing.
Season three was the show’s highest rated season ever, reaching 4.59 million people. Each episode attracted an average total TV audience of 1.028 million on consolidated viewing over seven days, up 17% (6% on broadcast and 79% on 7plus) compared to the 2023 season.
The average audience for each episode grew by 41% in its first seven days on 7plus, making RFDS one of the most popular shows to watch on-demand on the streaming platform.
Last night’s movie-length RFDS season final was its biggest ever, reaching 1.4 million people, with a total TV audience of 761,000 for part one and 707,000 for part two – up 36% on 38% respectively.
Seven Group Managing Director, Television, Angus Ross, said: “RFDS has excelled in its 7.30pm timeslot. It grabbed hold of the fantastic lead in that Home and Away provided and took off - proving that Australians have a strong appetite for premium, homegrown drama in prime time.
“RFDS has become one of the most popular shows on 7plus, with the consolidated audience growing 79% on last season. Australians are not only embracing the series but they’re increasingly watching it when it suits them.”
Seven’s Director of Content, Scripted, Julie McGauran, who was also an Executive Producer on RFDS, said: “With its gripping storytelling, breathtaking outback landscapes and authentic portrayal of emergency services, RFDS has cemented itself as essential viewing for drama lovers nationwide.
“Seven is proud to tell stories that reflect the courage, compassion and complexity of life in remote Australia, and to honour the emergency services heroes who inspire every episode.”
RFDS , which was the winner of the 2024 TV WEEK Logie Award for Best Drama Program, is produced by Endemol Shine Australia (a Banijay Entertainment company), in association with the Seven Network.
The series receives major production investment from Screen Australia, Seven and the South Australian Film Corporation. Post, digital and visual effects are supported by Screen NSW. Banijay Rights manages international distribution for RFDS.
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RFDS seems to have had great success this season. Has done well in the earlier timeslot.
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