It’s one of the most explosive and popular shows on Australian TV with devoted fans all over the world.
Telling the gripping, grimy and often shocking story of life in a women’s prison, Wentworth finally returns to screens later this month with the hotly-anticipated new season.
Wentworth is, at its heart, a series about survival, a character drama featuring women living in a pressure cooker environment. Despite the rivalries and power struggles, this family of misfits and rebels are forced to forge unlikely friendships and allegiances if they want to survive their time inside.
Gripping: Read on for some of the most shocking moments in Wentworth so far
If you can’t wait for the show to be back on air you’re not alone, and if you need a reminder of some of the most gripping moments of the show so far – you’re in luck.
We’ve rounded up some of the most important, startling and dramatic moments of the hit Foxtel Original Series leading to the most anticipated new season.
Whether you’re new to the multi-award winning drama series (and if so where have you been?) or you’re a die hard fan, read on to see what makes Wentworth epic entertainment. If you’re a newbie be warned, there are spoilers ahead.
And if you can’t wait until Tuesday May 28th to get your Wentworth fix, or to catch up on the story so far, all previous seasons are streaming on Foxtel.
A DAUGHTER DIES – SEASON ONE, EPISODE EIGHT
The first season of Wentworth focuses on the storyline of Bea Smith, a mother of one, who finds herself in prison on remand after being charged with the attempted murder of her abusive husband.
While Bea enters the prison system naive and at the bottom of the pecking order – this soon changes.
Towards the end of season one Bea (played by Danielle Cormack) has slowly asserted some authority, and she’s also become a threat to those in charge.
A sad end: Bea’s daughter Debbie (Georgia Flood) dies of a heroin overdose
The easiest and most painful way to attack Bea is to prey upon her daughter – her only reason for wanting to get out of jail.
Queen bee Jacs (Kris McQuade) uses her son Brayden (Reef Ireland) to befriend Bea’s daughter Debbie (Georgia Flood) and gets her addicted to heroin.
On Jacs orders Brayden end things with Debbie leading him to inject her with a lethal does of the opiate and she subsequently dies.
When Bea finds out about her daughter’s death she is crushed, providing one of the most shocking and tear jerking moments of the first season.
It’s also a pivotal moment for Bea who now has nothing to lose….
BEA TURNS MURDERER – SEASON ONE, EPISODE 10
With nothing to lose and only revenge to gain Bea is a woman not to be messed with.
In the final episode of the season Bea confronts Jacs, who torments her over how easy it was for Brayden to manipulate Debbie, how starved of attention she was and how ‘she was better off dead’.
Bea snaps and grabs a pen, stabbing Jacs in the neck.
A dramatic climax: At the end of season one Bea stabs Jacs over the death of her daughter Debbie
Covered in blood and shocked by what she has done, Bea pulls the pen out and tries to stem the flow, but Jacs pushes her away and subsequently dies.
After alerting prison staff Bea is seen by other prisoners looking defiant as she’s led away in handcuffs. There’s a new head of the hierarchy now.
RIOT DRAMA – SEASON THREE, EPISODE ONE
With two murders under her belt, Bea returns to prison with a life sentence and quickly becomes as reckless and as dangerous as the best of them.
By season three, after exacting revenge on Jacs’ son Brayden, who killed her daughter Debbie, Bea has moved on and orchestrates a riot in the prison despite being in solitary confinement.
Queen Bea: When the prison descends into chaos as a riot ensues, Bea is called upon to stop the other inmates
Chaos ensues, with Deputy Governor Vera Bennett (Kate Atkinson) held hostage by prisoners and threatened with a syringe infected with Hepatitis C during the riot.
Governor Joan ‘The Freak’ Ferguson (Pamela Rabe) realises the power that Bea has and is forced to both release her from solitary confinement and ask her to end the riot.
It’s a defining moment outlining the power struggles between the prison guards and Bea.
BRUTAL ATTACK – SEASON FOUR, EPISODE THREE
By season four The Freak has fallen from grace after murdering an inmate, and she’s become a prisoner herself. After her cruel treatment of inmates when she was in charge, it’s clear The Freak has many enemies.
Despite ongoing threats, The Freak asks to be released from solitary and into general population. It doesn’t end well. She is attacked in the showers by Lucy ‘Juice’ Gambaro (Sally-Anne Upton) and ‘The Boys’ – a horrific and shocking moment for viewers.
DEATH OF THE TOP DOG – SEASON FOUR, EPISODE EIGHT
After feuding for two seasons The Freak and Bea’s relationship comes to a dramatic climax at the end of season four.
The Freak has proved herself to be utterly ruthless, organising and committing murders and sending Bea’s love interest Allie Novack (Kate Jenkinson) into a drug-induced coma. This leads to a confrontation where Bea taunts The Freak into killing her.
Bea might have died but by dying she’s outsmarted Ferguson and the rest of the prison once again. Her legacy lives on.
Love interest: Bea shares a moment with Allie (Kate Jenkinson)
PRISON VAN RESCUE – SEASON FIVE, EPISODE FIVE
Kaz Proctor (Tammy MacIntosh) is the Top Dog of the prison and one of Bea’s supporters who suspects that recently promoted Deputy Governor Will Jackson (Robbie Magasiva) is supplying drugs to the inmates. Things come to a head when Kaz is trapped inside a prison van in a ridiculously tense scene in the show.
Will comes to Kaz’s rescue and the pair manage to turn their relationship around in a scene that came as a shock to everyone.
PRISON BREAK WITH A TWIST – SEASON FIVE, EPISODE 12
There is nothing more dramatic than a prison break and Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva) and Allie have hatched the perfect plan at the end of season five. The Freak tries to join Franky in the escape but her plan goes awry and she is taken to bushland and buried alive.
She realises what’s happening as she sees a picture of Bea tucked inside the locked crate she’s trapped in. Bea’s death is being avenged and in a shock twist it’s revealed that Will is digging her grave.
Will they make it? Franky Doyle (Nicole da Silva) and Allie hatch a plan to escape
Home free? Franky is seen hiding inside a box as she tries to break out of Wentworth
INNOCENCE PREVAILS – SEASON SIX, EPISODE THREE
Every criminal claims that they’ve been framed but it’s an emotional moment when Franky’s innocence is finally revealed. The episode begins with Franky wounded and in need of help from her lover Bridget Westfall (Libby Tanner).
As the cops finally track her down it’s revealed that they know the truth about her alleged crime. Franky is whisked off for medical treatment and viewers are afforded a moment of happiness in the dreary world of Wentworth.
Finally some good news! Franky’s innocence is finally revealed
SHOWDOWN SEASON SIX, EPISODE 12
Where do we even start? The final episode of the last season was an absolute cracker from start to finish. The stalker is revealed to be ex prison officer from season four Brenda Murphy (Katerina Kotsonis), prison officer Jake Stewart (Bernard Curry) discovers that now Governor Vera Bennett (Kate Atkinson) is pregnant with his child and she tells him she doesn’t want him involved.
Rita Connors (Leah Purcell) reveals that she’s an undercover cop to her sister Ruby Mitchell (Rarriwuy Hick) and takes her place in a fight that leaves another inmate dead.
Regional Director of Corrections Derek Channing (Martin Sacks) kills Murphy thinking that she’s The Freak and Will and Jake pin their crimes onto Channing. Rita’s transfer for Ruby completely collapses after she is cut loose by her police officer contacts.
Final scenes: Rita Connors (Leah Purcell) reveals that she’s an undercover cop before taking part in a fight with another inmate
Tragic consequences: The final episode of season six saw Rita kill another inmate
Does Vera really plan to bring up a baby on her own? What will happen to Rita now that the police have washed their hands of her? Will Jake and Will’s crimes stick to Channing or will these come to light? Who will be top dog of Wentworth?
The new season has SO many questions to answer. Hands up who can’t wait? We can’t either.
Wentworth, the new season, returns exclusively to Foxtel on Tuesday May 28. Stream seasons 1 – 6 on Foxtel now
