Water Rats

Water Rats (1996-2001, 177 episodes), Channel Nine.

Catherine plays: Rachel Goldstein (1996-99, 109 episodes; credited in two episodes in 2000).

Ah Water Rats. It is a little bit dated when you watch it these days (clothes and technology - the big mobile phones, especially in the earlier seasons, always make me laugh). But it is still a great show, though maybe I am a little bias because it is one of my favourites. Detailing the lives of the men and women who worked for the Sydney Water Police, the concept of it was quite different from other police shows of its time, given that they were the water police and not a homicide squad (Homicide, Murder Call) or a country town police squad (Blue Heelers). It also has a pretty good CD soundtrack, including some songs that featured in episodes - like Goldie's Theme - and some that weren't - like Breathe by cast member Raelee Hill.

Like a lot of shows, the first season of Water Rats established the main characters over the course of its 26 episodes, and the actors grew into their roles. To me, Rachel is a great character, even in the first season, but she definitely got even better as the episodes and seasons went by. In season one, there is quite a bit of tension between Rachel and her detective partner Frank Holloway (Colin Friels), particularly in the first few episodes. Rachel doesn't help this by sleeping with Frank's younger brother Kevin (Jeremy Callaghan), but Frank gets over it in time as they both tell him it was a one night stand. It is also established early on that Rachel is in fact Frank's 'boss', despite being the same rank and a fair amount of years younger than him. A number of significant storylines happen in season one, some of which are mentioned in season two - namely, Rachel shooting and killing her boyfriend, corrupt cop John 'Knocker' Harrison (Peter Mochrie). It was this storyline to me that really began to develop Rachel as a character and also Catherine's acting at that stage was getting better and better.

The first few episodes of season two sees Rachel still dealing with the 'fallout' of shooting Knocker three months later, with several characters calling her 'Gunner' Goldstein. To show how much the relationship between Rachel and Frank had changed from the very first episode, Frank sticks up for his partner a number of times, even having a go at one of the officers who is calling her 'Gunner'. It is during season two, also, that the detectives (mostly Frank) bring up their out of work relationship and question what it would be like if they got together. Rachel, however, doesn't think it would work and of course, nothing happens. Later on, Rachel meets another man, department store owner Michael Jeffries (John Adam) and they go out until the end of season two. Amusingly, when Rachel first meets Michael, she tells him she is a wine taster, but he eventually finds out the truth.

Season three introduced a new love interest for Rachel, one that would be the most significant for the rest of her time on the show: tough-talking Balmain detective Jack Christey (Steve Bisley). It is obvious that Jack likes Rachel upon meeting her, though the same could not be said of her feelings for him. Though never really said in words, I think it is safe to say that one of the main reasons behind Rachel constantly pushing Jack away after they slept together, is probably because of her relationship with Knocker in season one. Trusting another cop like that would have been hard for her. Jack though, clearly had no idea about this, and it's quite easy to feel sorry for him as well. It might also be safe to say that Rachel's unsaid feelings for Frank may have also influenced her defensiveness with Jack.

Adding to the show's dynamic, in season four, another detective is added to the mix, Michael Reilly (Aaron Pedersen). Also, Rachel and Frank's feelings for each other are brought to the surface when Frank decides to take long service leave and pursue a forgotten dream of sailing to Venezuela. He wants Rachel to go with him: "it would be so fantastic if you wanted to go - if you could come". Rachel, however, with young son David (Treffyn Koreshoff), couldn't make that decision to go with him for two years. As a result of Frank leaving, Jack came back to the Water Police which once again created tension between he and Rachel, mostly thanks to him getting the sergeant's position and her not returning his phone calls or letters. Their relationship though, to me, is really quite cute from the moment Jack comes back (even in season three as a matter of fact). It wasn't until later on that they rekindle their outside work relationship, which happens only a few episodes before Rachel is stabbed and dies in Jack's arms - not before he tells her that he loves her.

Catherine's final episode was so sad. Both she and Steve Bisley gave excellent performances the entire episode. As a viewer I really loved the relationship between those two characters (their working relationship and their romantic relationship), so to see it end the way it did was just that little bit more heartbreaking to watch. Rachel Goldstein really was, and still is, a terrific character, and Catherine did such a wonderful job bringing her to life for 109 episodes.