As the episode begins, Ryland Webster (Wayne Pygram) is named the new Prime Minister. The next day is Anzac Day. Cleaver (Richard Roxburgh) is awoken by the neighbor’s kids once again. He tries to hide from his neighbor. He gets a call from Nicole (Kate Box) who tells him about his upcoming events. The doorbell rings. Soon, Dennis and Mrs. Clifford interrupt. The other man is a process server. He gives Cleaver a summons. Cleaver complains to the Cliffords before Melissa (Adrienne Pickering) arrives with the baby. She announces that she is going to be his press secretary. Nicole interviews candidates for press secretary. Joe McGregor (Mark Mitchinson) and Gareth (William McInnes) discuss the new PM. Joe says that they’ll make their move in six months. The new PM doesn’t know the real story about the terrorist attack.

Joe admires the painting that Cal McGregor (Damien Garvey) wanted. Jakub (Jacek Koman) tries to give Cleaver advice. Jakub reveals that he may want a favor in the future for giving Cleaver money now. Penny Evans (Jane Turner) speaks against the sale of Noyce Industries to the Chinese. Cleaver finally wakes up. Cleaver reviews the application for the possible new press secretary. He admits he hasn’t told Frank (Jim Daly) that he is fired yet. Nicole is worried about the defamation case. Wendy (Caroline Brazier) speaks with a client. She becomes fed up with it and retreats to a safe spot to scream into a pillow. Cleaver speaks with Nicole about the ice cream and Noyce industries. Cleaver isn’t sure why they’re wasting time with it. Cleaver doesn’t like that Penny is getting so much positive attention for speaking about the ice cream.

Cleaver speaks in parliament about his father and fishing. He goes on to talk about the Oz Ripple. He uses Nicole’s story as his own. Penny harasses Cleaver outside of chambers. She tells Cleaver that she is going to hurt him. Carl learns that he will be working with someone else. The show is now called Cal & Cait. Cal and Cait (Sara Wiseman) start their first episode together. Cait claims that Cal might benefit from the sale of Noyce Industries. They argue about the sale. Cal is not happy. Cait basically takes over the show. He goes off on everyone once it goes to a weather man. Nicole throws coffee on Cleaver for using her story. Cleaver tells her that the story has made him red hot on social media. Cleaver doesn’t have a change of clothes. He meets up with Frank at the bar.

Frank wants Cleaver to ditch Nicole. Cleaver wants Frank to stay at the bar and listen to the people. He pretends that he is promoting Frank to director of communications. David Potter (Matt Day) runs into some big news. Wendy listens to voice mails of Cleaver complaining about Wendy. Cleaver works with Melissa. He tells her that she needs to do everything in her power to destroy Penny. Cleaver tells her that she’ll be sharing an office with someone else. The Cliffords eat while they chat. They make themselves at home. Penny goes on and on about Oz Ripples. Cleaver makes his own speech. David prepares for his speech. He claims that Noyce Industries paid three senators to act as intermediaries in the proposed sale of Noyce. The men deny it, but one of them steps down. Nicole rubs it in to Cleaver a short time later.

Cleaver works to find a way to fix things. He is adamant that David won’t get away with it. Cleaver tells Melissa to prepare for a press conference. When Cleaver jumps into the car, he is greeted by another man who tells them there is about to be a coup. It is among the drivers. He tells Cleaver to put his faith in Yaakov Novak at his own peril. Jakub returns. He tells him that these are complicated political times. David speaks about Noyce Industries. Cleaver prepares to speak at the school. He rushes through the entire event. Cleaver is shocked by the next speaker. Melissa learns that only one person arrived for the press conference. It isn’t even a journalist. Cleaver listens to the woman speak about global warming. A short time later, Cleaver introduces himself to Li-Ming Wu (Tasneem Roc).

She mentions David Potter. Cleaver tells her about Potter’s murder charges. She turns down his offer for dinner. She agrees to have lunch with him at Wang’s. Cal arrives home and Jane (Sonia Todd) doesn’t speak to him at first. There is a vacancy in the house. Jane wants it. He agrees to help. Cleaver goes to work on his environment policies. He wants to know more about Li Ming Wu too. Nicole says that he is wasting his time. Penny wants to team up with Cleaver to bring down David. Cleaver isn’t interested. Joe and Gareth speak about Noyce. Joe believes they can sneak their own person into the open seat. Cal finds out that the show’s name has been changed to Cait & Cal. The producer tells him that he seems weaker and softer. Cal gets a call that makes him happy.

Cleaver is harassed by his neighbor at the restaurant. Wu joins him seconds later. Cleaver tries to win Wu over. They speak about Burkina Faso. Cal meets with the new prime minister. The PM needs to fill Allkirk’s rep seat. Cal suggests Jane. The PM wants Cal. He agrees to make Cal a minister straight off. He even suggests making Cal PM in the future. Cleaver tries his best with Wu. She prepares to leave. Cleaver admits she is out of his league. He offers to tell her what he has been campaigning for but doesn’t. He tells her a little of the truth before letting her go. Jakub tells Cleaver that he will receive a call from Mohamed later tonight. He tells Cleaver know to listen to him. Cal’s driver encourages him to go to Jane and tell the truth.

Cal tries to get his story straight. Soon, he runs out of the house and tells his driver to drive quickly. Gareth and Joe talk about Noyce and its owner. They learn about Cal being appointed to the seat. Joe is not happy. Joe wants to put a plan into action to get rid of the new PM. Cal speaks to the press. Cleaver speaks to the Cliffords. An Oz Ripple commercial comes on the television.

 

Rake Review

The fifth season of Rake is nowhere near as good as the previous ones. Nevertheless, I enjoyed this episode. It had some good comedy here and there. It was also fun to see David get the upper hand on Penny and Cleaver. It should be very interesting to see Cal back in the game. I am hoping things get better and not worse. The episode was pretty decent. It scores a 7.5 out of 10. Catch up with previous recaps of Rake now!