Outrageous Fortune is a New Zealandcomedy-dramatelevision series that premiered on 12 July 2005[1] and concluded on 9 November 2010 on TV3 in New Zealand. 107 episodes of Outrageous Fortune aired over the course of six series'. All six series' have been released on DVD in Region 4.
The series follows the lives of the Wests, a family of petty criminals living in West Auckland, New Zealand. Mother Cheryl (Robyn Malcolm) is the family matriarch, desperately trying to keep her family out of trouble, who decides to put an end to their criminal ways and become respectable citizens, when her husband Wolf (Grant Bowler) is sent to jail for four years. This is met with much resistance from twin sons Van and Jethro (Antony Starr), older daughter Pascalle (Siobhan Marshall), younger daughter Loretta (Antonia Prebble), and father-in-law Ted (Frank Whitten).
The first series opens with the introduction of the Wests, known far and wide as a small-time crime family. When patriarch Wolf is sent to prison for four years, his wife Cheryl decides that she wants better for her children and tells the family that they're all going legit from now on. However, she finds that it's not easy making an honest buck in this world, and the rest of the family must fight their natural instincts to stay on the straight and narrow, especially when Wolf is still pulling the strings from inside.
Loretta has to attend school again; Jethro and Caroline (Katrina Browne) announce themselves as a couple, while Grandpa says he is moving away with Margaret (Jane Collins).
8
8
"My Dearest Foe"
Jonathan Brough
James Griffin
30 August 2005 (2005-08-30)
Pascalle discovers all is not beautiful in the modeling world, Grandpa takes up poker and Cheryl has yet another job.
The crime of the century, Van West style; Cheryl is the victim of rumor and innuendo; and Pascalle gets a taste of fame.
12
12
"To Be Honest as This World Goes"
Jonathan Brough
Maxine Fleming and James Griffin
27 September 2005 (2005-09-27)
In the fallout from the Tongan job, Van's having problems with the woman in his life; Cheryl's having problems with the men in hers; and Wolf is presented with a 'Get Out of Jail' ticket.
13
13
"Go, Bid the Soldiers Shoot"
Mark Beesley
James Griffin
4 October 2005 (2005-10-04)
Van and Draska (Aidee Walker) are kicked out of the Doslic family home and are also on the run from the law. Despite this, Draska is still determined to carry on with the wedding and enlists Pascalle as her bridesmaid. Cheryl has bottomed out but finds Judd may be Van's saviour.
Series 2 (2006)
The second series picks up the story of the West family and their attempts to stay out of trouble, but one major thing has changed: Wolf is out of prison and on home detention. And he, for one, never bought into Cheryl's grand plan for his family. Cheryl must deal with constant opposition from her husband Wolf to stay straight. Although she deals with the occasional temptation to veer from her chosen path, Cheryl leads by example and tries to keep her family on the same track.
"Wherein Our Saviour's Birth Is Celebrated" "Outrageous Fortune: The Movie"
Mark Beesley
James Griffin
26 December 2006 (2006-12-26)
Wolf's in prison to stay, Judd's in prison and trying to get out. The family goes to Tutaekuri Bay for their annual summer holiday.
Series 3 (2007)
The third series sees West family matriarch Cheryl still battling to keep her family (and herself) on the straight and narrow. Both the men in her life are inside, Wolf, after turning himself into the cops as part of his master plan to frame Judd; Judd, because he fell in love with the wrong woman. As Cheryl ploughs on regardless, balancing the needs of family with those of Hoochie Mama, her burgeoning naughty knicker business, her offspring are going their own merry ways. Van is still managing the Lucky Dollar Store and planning his dream wedding with Aurora Bay (Claire Chitham). Jethro is branching out from defending the scum of the Earth (and his family) to working for property developer Gary Savage (Aaron Jeffery). Pascalle is enthusiastically embracing both her new-found vocation in caring for the elderly and her new-found love for Dr. Bruce Khan (Jacob Rajan). Loretta is happily ensconced with her older man, Hayden Peters (Shane Cortese), and is gleefully plotting her directorial debut, helming the next great erotic film, especially for women.
Cheryl attempts to get custody of Loretta's baby, Pascalle returns home, Wolf attempts to bring his errant family back into line.
54
2
"The Edge of Husbandry"
Mark Beesley
James Griffin
24 June 2008 (2008-06-24)
N/A
Wolf is suspicious of Pascalle's new husband, Milt (Michael Saccente), but doesn't have long to be act on his hunch; Van continues to miss Aurora while Cheryl and Wolf's divorce starts to get messy.
55
3
"As Much Containing"
Britta Johnstone
Tim Balme and Rachel Lang
1 July 2008 (2008-07-01)
N/A
A mysterious container belonging to Wolf arrives on Cheryl's doorstep; Judd investigates before Van and Munter destroy the contents; Pascalle organises a memorial for Milt.
The fifth series begins with the aftermath of Ted's fateful wedding day. Newly pregnant Cheryl and boyfriend Wayne Judd must adapt to the ever-changing family dynamic. Van gets the short end of the stick during a raid on the West house. But it isn't a West that newcomer, Detective Sergeant Zane Gerard (Charles Mesure) is after. Sheree Greegan (Tyler-Jane Mitchel) is arrested instead for robbery, after trying to acquire cash for her unborn babies. However, it turns out Gerard is not after Sheree, but instead has a personal vendetta against her brother, Nicky Greegan (Craig Hall). He's doing whatever it takes to put Nicky behind bars, including blackmailing Van to give up information regarding Nicky. Meanwhile, Loretta hooks up with her brother Jethro and her ex-boyfriend Hayden, with whom she had a child, Jane. They conspire to sell a newly manufactured drug named Excellence, before it becomes illegal.