Will there be a Rake Season 6? On first inspection, Rake appears to be another example of the readily sustaining formulaic TV courtroom drama. The courtroom dynamics lend themselves to a (traditional) monster of the week framework with a self-contained court case each episode – occasionally with a dash of moral grey between defendants and prosecutors.
Real-life archive case studies have explained the basis of the source material. But Rake is neither. Rake is a quasi-court procedural based on the life and writings of Charles Waterstreet (the famed Sydney Morning Herald writer), infused with the humorous and creative creativity of Peter Duncan and Richard Roxburgh. Boston Legal, another show about courtroom dynamics and politics, was a terrific show on ABC. It was technically sound and scripted well.
However, it pales compared to Rake, a well-constructed metanarrative that reflects the condition of law and politics in contemporary Australia, not to mention its never-ending satirical jabs at Australian culture and current events. Rake has already been hailed as a pivotal moment in Australian television history, which is no small feat for a show that began with low ratings and a small but growing fanbase that discovered it as 2010’s biggest TV hidden gem.
Rake is the ultimate incarnation of this legacy as a show that becomes successful in passing its harsh comments on Australia, its shenanigans, and its people in the same tongue-in-cheek approach championed by the early seasons of The Simpsons.
Cast of Rake Season 6
Rake had a rough start in the ratings because its cast didn’t include huge names like Boston Legal’s James Spader (from the post-Michael seasons of The Office). But Cleaver Greene’s protagonist, Richard Roxburgh, is a well-known actor on Australian and Hollywood (Pacific Rim 2) stages, including commercial action films like Mission Impossible 2. Roxburgh is best known for his stage performances and his comedic genius, which is unmatched in the Australian acting industry despite his commercial film credits. Russell Dykstra (Barney Meagher, Cleaver’s best friend, and solicitor), Matt Day (the dangerous David Potter), and New Zealand actress Danielle Cormack (Scarlet Engles) also star.
Plot of Rake Season 6
Even though much of Rake follows an episodic pattern, with one judicial trial in each episode, the main thrust focuses on the characters – including the focus on the Greene himself – throughout the series. Greene is a misanthropic genius figure who is also self-destructive, much like Sherlock Holmes and Hugh Laurie’s House M.D., making Rake all the more intriguing.
Rake Season 6: Renewed or Canceled?
The show’s termination had caused quite a stir, with primary performer Richard Roxburgh (serving as a spokesperson for the production company when he made such and such comments) at the heart of the saga. Put, Rake and its squad have hinted that the current season may be their last.
As early as the second season, quoted from the media, Roxburgh stated in an on-set interview that the show should be kept short and sharp, be canceled before losing its edge, and only do three episodes before the plot was finished. ‘We certainly agree,’ remarked Roxburgh. ‘You don’t want to flog a dead thing.’
We saw many fans bemoaning an extension instead of the stated season three end, which is understandable given the show’s massive audience only after its initial season. Because it was only one interview, it was unclear whether Roxburgh’s statements were fixed in stone.
But Roxburgh stated in another interview in some media, just before the season 3 debut, that they still planned to end when they reached their qualitative and popular pinnacle. But towards the end of season 3, there were significant hints of a continuation. A second season was then confirmed.
However, when the fifth season was announced, ABC (Big Sky) insiders stated that this would be their final dive. Given the track record, some may dismiss it as a marketing ploy. Rake went out on a high note, with the plot building and concluding within the same season. Officially, the show is canceled, and there will be no season 6.
You can watch the first season and the second season of Rake on Netflix.
