The TV moments we were all talking about in 2017

Joan Ferguson (Pamela Rabe) has always been one step ahead of the women she terrorised in Wentworth. But even she was blindsided when fellow inmate Allie Novak (Kate Jenkinson) tricked the former prison governor into leaving prison in a box, which led to her being buried alive! Still, she’s come out of tight spots before, so maybe it’s not the last we’ve seen of The Freak.

Nine Network political editor Laurie Oakes has become such a fixture on our screens, it’s hard to imagine a federal election without him. But the next time we go to the polls, the veteran journalist will be watching the television coverage from the sidelines. Laurie, 74, retired in August after more than 48 years as a political reporter.

My Kitchen Rules was hit with a case of the love bug this year. Bek and Kyle kissed over dinner, while Tim and Amy were said to be puckering up off-camera too. But there was no love for series villain Josh when he hit a rival contestant with the “s” word while cameras were rolling in the final instant restaurant.

It was a moment five seasons in the making. Doctor Lucien Blake (Craig McLachlan) finally said “I do” to his long-suffering housekeeper, Jean (Nadine Garner) in The Doctor Blake Mysteries telemovie. It was touch-and-go for several weeks, though. Jean’s crisis of faith and Blake’s divorce scandal had fans on tenterhooks wondering if the big day would ever come. The romantic nuptials were the perfect end to the drama’s time on ABC.

Boys’ banter or bad taste? That was the topic up for discussion in Married At First Sight when derisive comments Andrew (aka Jonesy) made about partner Cheryl’s body during a boys’ night came to light. While some of the contestants stood behind their mate, Simon and Sean saw the situation very differently.

Every long-time Neighbours fan’s dream came true when Dee Bliss (Madeleine West) returned from the dead. An emotional Toadie (Ryan Moloney) was reunited with the wife he thought he’d driven off a cliff all those years ago. But in a shock twist, it turned out she was just a con woman pretending to be Dee. Sigh.

Who’d have thought a humble pot plant could spark the biggest reality blow-up of 2017? But that’s exactly what happened on The Bachelorette Australia when Jarrod Woodgate accused his competitors of sabotaging the plant he’d been lovingly tending for Sophie Monk. He claimed they’d been “watering it” in an unconventional way.

We loved every minute of murder mystery Big Little Lies, especially the gripping finale. We finally found out the identity of Jane’s (Shailene Woodley) rapist, and then watched all the women band together, despite their differences, to see him get his just desserts.

While Seal and Boy George launched snipe attacks from their red chairs on The Voice, coaches Delta Goodrem and Kelly Rowland had nothing but loving words for each other. The two became fast friends, with Kelly declaring she’ll only return in 2018 if Delta is there too. May the sisterhood live on!

So, can anyone survive winter now? The Night King enlisted a dragon into his undead ranks in the Game Of Thrones season finale. But that wasn’t the only shocker. Daenerys (Emilia Clarke) and Jon Snow (Kit Harington) acted on their romantic feelings… before anyone could break the news that they’re related!

Netflix teen drama 13 Reasons Why tackled teen suicide in a way never before seen on TV. Choosing to show the distressing images of a girl ending her own life in graphic, yet unglorified, scenes left viewers and experts divided. However, the series did get people talking about a huge issue for youth worldwide.

If there’s one good thing to come out of the 2016 US presidential election, it’s that it reunited the Will & Grace cast (Eric McCormack, Debra Messing, Megan Mullally and Sean Hayes). Their one-off politically themed video reminded everyone the awesome foursome still had something special. Now, we’re enjoying a new season that’s as witty and poignant as the original.

Don’t ever poke the giant that is The Block co-host Scott Cam. When Melbourne contestants Jason and Sarah gave up and didn’t deliver a room, the verdict was scathing. Scott declared they’d get the boot if they didn’t lift their game. Jason tried to fight back, but he was no match for an incensed Scott. Scott 1, Jason 0.

Talk about pulling a swift move! Within an hour of the Nine Network announcing Lisa Wilkinson would be leaving her long-time role as Today co-host after contract negotiations stalled, she announced a new job. Lisa is set to become the highest-paid woman in Australian TV when she joins Network Ten and The Project in 2018.

Watching buff Aussies battle their way through a monster obstacle course provedmore compelling than anyone ever expected when Australian Ninja Warrior absolutely smashed the ratings. The premiere pulled in 2.3 million viewers for the Nine Network, making it the biggest launch of a new show in five years.

Who would have thought a disagreement about a jacket would garner international headlines? Jacket gate, as it was later dubbed, occurred when Nine Network reporter Julie Snook and newsreader Amber Sherlock got into a war of words over the fact they were both wearing white during a broadcast. Amber wanted Julie to put on a jacket. The clip of their wardrobe spat went viral after it was leaked and was even referenced by US comedian Jimmy Kimmel.

In the end it was a resounding yes. The same-sex marriage postal survey results were announced in live televised coverage in November and showed 61.6 per cent of people who participated were in favour of marriage equality. “The Australian people have spoken in their millions and they have voted overwhelmingly yes for marriage equality, ” Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, 63, declared.

A touch of Hollywood came to Sydney when the cast of The Bold And The Beautiful arrived to film special 30th anniversary episodes. Brooke (Katherine Kelly Lang), Eric (John McCook), Ridge (Thorsten Kaye), Ivy (Ashleigh Brewer), Katie (Heather Tom), Quinn (Rena Sofer), Bill (Don Diamont), Sally (Courtney Hope) and Thomas (Pierson Fode) were here to watch Steffy (Jacqueline MacInnes Wood) and Liam (Scott Clifton) marry outside the Sydney Opera House.

The devastating death of our favourite country lady Rayna (Connie Britton) in Nashville had us all in tears. The singer had only just escaped the clutches of a crazed stalker when she was injured in a car crash. After surgery, Rayna seemed to be recovering in hospital. But in a tragic turn of events, her condition suddenly deteriorated. She died with her husband, Deacon (Charles Esten), and daughters, Maddie (Lennon Stella) and Daphne (Maisy Stella), by her side.

US dramas were having a pretty lacklustre year until The Good Doctor arrived on Channel Seven. Starring Freddie Highmore as Shaun Murphy, a surgeon with autism and savant syndrome, the series has consistently pulled close to one million viewers or more each week. It proves Aussie viewers still love American hospital shows if they’re fresh concepts with heart and hope.

The Living Room co-host Barry Du Bois fought back tears in October as he revealed during the Network Ten program that his cancer had returned for a second time. The father-of-two said the cancer was more aggressive than his previous 2011 diagnosis, but he was optimistic he would beat it. Showing his strength, Barry, 57, added: “This is just another fight for me that I am quite comfortable I’m going to win.”

It was the clever premiere twist that surprised viewers and got us all hooked on This Is Us. When the US series debuted, it promised to be a dramedy about a group of people who all share the same birthday. It wasn’t until the end of the first episode that we discovered Kate (Chrissy Metz), Kevin (Justin Hartley) and Randall (Sterling K Brown) are actually triplets and the storylines span several decades.

What’s up in Summer Bay? A whopping nine cast members exited Home And Away this year. Charlie Clausen (Zac), Alec Snow (Matt), Tessa de Josselin (Billie), Philippa Northeast (Evie), Kyle Pryor (Nate), Matt Little (VJ), Tania Nolan (Scarlett), Isabella Giovanazzo (Phoebe) and Pia Miller (Kat, above) all left in 2017. We miss you, guys!