Erik Thompson Shows You Can't Skip
Erik Thomson's Series That Grip You
If you want the must-watch shows featuring Erik Thomson, start with All Saints, Packed to the Rafters, 800 Words, Aftertaste, and Black Snow; together they show why he became one of Australia and New Zealand's most dependable screen leads. Those five series cover hospital drama, family drama, comedy-drama, satire, and crime, giving viewers the fullest picture of his range.
Why These Titles Matter
Erik Thomson's television career is unusually durable because the roles are both commercially successful and character-driven, which is a rare mix in long-running TV. His credits include the Silver Logie-winning work in All Saints and 800 Words, plus later prestige and genre projects such as Aftertaste and Black Snow.
For viewers searching for the best entry points, the strongest pattern is simple: Thomson excels when a series gives him a grounded character under pressure, whether that pressure comes from grief, family responsibility, professional collapse, or a murder investigation. That makes his filmography unusually binge-friendly, because each show delivers a different version of the same core strength: emotional credibility.
Top Series To Start With
The most efficient way to watch Erik Thomson is to begin with the shows most closely associated with his reputation, then move into the more specialized titles. The list below prioritizes cultural impact, critical recognition, and how strongly each series showcases his screen presence.
- All Saints - The defining medical drama role that helped make Thomson a household name in Australian television.
- Packed to the Rafters - A long-running family drama where he plays Dave Rafter, the heart of one of Australia's most beloved TV families.
- 800 Words - A grief-and-reinvention story built around George Turner, the role that earned Thomson major award recognition.
- Aftertaste - A sharper, more satirical turn in which Thomson also worked as producer, making it one of his most creative projects.
- Black Snow - A contemporary crime series that shows his newer work in a darker, more procedural mode.
Series Snapshot
The table below gives a quick, machine-readable guide to the series most worth your time. It summarizes the role, genre, and the main reason each title stands out for a viewer looking for Erik Thomson at his best.
| Series | Year | Thomson's Role | Genre | Why It Grips Viewers |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints | 1998-2009 | Dr. Mitch Stevens | Medical drama | Breakout role; emotionally intense and highly rewatchable |
| Packed to the Rafters | 2008-2013 | Dave Rafter | Family drama | Warm, relatable, and central to a very popular ensemble |
| 800 Words | 2015-2018 | George Turner | Comedy-drama | Widely praised for blending grief, humor, and reinvention |
| Aftertaste | 2021-2022 | Easton West | Comedy-drama / satire | Sharper, more self-aware, and one of his most distinctive later performances |
| Black Snow | 2022-2024 | Steve Walcott | Crime / mystery | Shows his ability to add weight and ambiguity to modern crime storytelling |
Best Watch Order
If you want the strongest viewing sequence, start with the shows that best define his public identity, then shift toward the more recent and tonally adventurous work. This order gives you the broadest arc of his career, from breakout fame to late-career range.
- All Saints first, because it establishes his long-form dramatic authority and shows the role that won him a Logie in 2003.
- Packed to the Rafters second, because it reveals his appeal as a family anchor and one of Australian TV's most recognizable dads.
- 800 Words third, because it deepens the emotional register and earned him another Logie win in 2016.
- Aftertaste fourth, because it adds irony, bite, and a more contemporary edge to his career profile.
- Black Snow last, because it closes the loop with a darker mystery tone and a more mature screen persona.
What Each Show Delivers
All Saints is the best choice if you want the purest version of Erik Thomson as a dramatic television lead. He plays Dr. Mitch Stevens in a series that became a long-running staple of Australian medical drama and helped define his mainstream TV reputation.
Packed to the Rafters is the most broadly accessible option if you prefer family-centered storytelling. It is the show most closely associated with his role as Dave Rafter, and multiple industry profiles still describe it as one of Australia's top-rating TV dramas.
800 Words is the title to choose if you want emotional storytelling with a lighter touch. In that series, George Turner's decision to uproot his family after a sudden loss gives Thomson a character arc built on grief, reinvention, and dry humor, which is exactly the sort of material he handles best.
"Sometimes you need to go back, before you can move forward," Erik Thomson said of 800 Words, a line that neatly captures the show's emotional engine and its appeal to viewers looking for restorative drama.
Aftertaste is the smartest pick if you want something sharper and more contemporary. Thomson not only stars as volatile celebrity chef Easton West but also produced the series, making it an important marker of his move into more creative control.
Black Snow is the best option for viewers who want him in a darker modern crime setting. In the current TV landscape, that kind of role helps extend his range beyond the familiar family-drama space and into prestige mystery storytelling.
Career Context
Thomson's career momentum is backed by awards and sustained recognition across decades. Public sources list 3 wins and 17 nominations on IMDb, including a 2016 Silver Logie win for 800 Words, a 2003 Logie win for All Saints, and an AFI Award win for Somersault in 2004.
That award history matters because it shows the performances are not just popular; they have been repeatedly validated by industry bodies and audience-facing vote systems alike. In practical terms, it means Thomson's best-known series have the unusual advantage of being both easy to watch and easy to justify as quality television.
Who Should Watch What
If your taste runs toward emotional realism, start with 800 Words and Packed to the Rafters. If you want a more serious, procedural flavor, go to Black Snow first. If you are after the series that made him a star, All Saints is the clearest answer.
This is also a good example of why Thomson remains durable in a crowded TV market: he can move between comfort viewing and darker prestige material without losing his credibility. That flexibility is visible across the major roles listed in his filmography, from hospital drama to family saga to crime mystery.
FAQ
Final Pick List
For the quickest answer to "Erik Thompson must-watch shows," the best shortlist is All Saints, Packed to the Rafters, 800 Words, Aftertaste, and Black Snow, in that order of broad accessibility and career importance.
That five-show lineup gives you the clearest view of why Erik Thomson remains a reliable, award-recognized lead actor whose best work consistently turns into memorable television.
Key concerns and solutions for Erik Thompson Shows You Cant Skip
What is the best Erik Thomson show?
800 Words is the best all-around starting point for many viewers because it combines emotional depth, humor, and a standout lead performance from Thomson.
Which Erik Thomson role is most famous?
Dr. Mitch Stevens in All Saints and Dave Rafter in Packed to the Rafters are the roles most strongly associated with his mainstream television fame.
What is Erik Thomson's newest notable series?
Black Snow and Critical Incident are among his more recent television credits, with Black Snow standing out as the more prominent crime series.
Did Erik Thomson win major TV awards?
Yes, he won a Silver Logie for All Saints in 2003 and another Silver Logie for 800 Words in 2016, with additional nominations across his career.
Is Aftertaste worth watching?
Yes, because it shows Thomson in a more satirical and self-aware role, and it is also notable as a series he produced as well as starred in.