• Air date: 12 Jul '05 13 episodes
      Outrageous Fortune is a New Zealand comedy-drama television series, which ran from 12 July 2005 to 9 November 2010 on TV3. The series followed the lives of the career criminal West family after the matriarch, Cheryl, decided the family should go straight and abide by the law. The show was created by James Griffin and Rachel Lang and produced by South Pacific Pictures. Like the show itself, episodes took their names from Shakespeare quotations. The show concluded after 6 seasons and 107 episodes making it the longest running drama series made in New Zealand. The primary cast for the show's run consisted of Robyn Malcolm, Antony Starr, Siobhan Marshall, Antonia Prebble, Frank Whitten and Kirk Torrance; Grant Bowler appeared in a sporadic role throughout the show's first five seasons. The show premiered on 12 July 2005 and was welcomed by high acclaim. It won many of the major categories in the New Zealand television awards for its first 4 years, with Malcolm's performance warmly recognised by...
  • List of Episodes (13)
    • 1. Slings And Arrows

      12 Jul '05
      When Cheryl's husband Wolf is sentenced to prison, she decides that the family is leaving the crime business.
    • 2. The Rub

      19 Jul '05
      Van ends up working for the Hong family to pay off his debts. Pascalle is forced to get a job, and Cheryl sticks up for her coworkers.
    • 3. A Little More Than Kin

      26 Jul '05
      Pascalle has a new career, Jethro lies about having Kiwi heritage and Cheryl receives some undesired attention.
    • 4. The Cause Of This Defect

      02 Aug '05
      Wolf is on day release to attend a funeral, and all hell breaks loose for the West family.
    • 5. The Infants Of Spring

      09 Aug '05
      As Cheryl starts to realise that going straight is harder than it looks, the family tries to help out in the only ways they know how to.
    • 6. But Never Doubt I Love

      16 Aug '05
      Pascalle realises she has a secret admirer, while Grandpa West finds love.
    • 7. Foul Deeds Will Rise

      23 Aug '05
      Loretta has to attend school again; Jethro and Caroline announce themselves as a couple while Grandpa says he is moving away with Margaret.
    • 8. My Dearest Foe

      30 Aug '05
      Pascalle discovers all is not beautiful in the modeling world, Grandpa takes up poker and Cheryl has yet another job.
    • 9. When The Blood Burns

      06 Sep '05
      Van starts a race war and Jethro realises he lacks the ability to say 'sorry'.
    • 10. The Fat Weed That Roots Itself

      13 Sep '05
      Pascalle bags herself a real live TV star and Hoochie Mama's finances end up in the wrong pockets.
    • 11. It Cannot Come To Good

      20 Sep '05
      The crime of the century - in a Van West style; Cheryl is the victim of rumour and innuendo; and Pascalle gets a taste of fame.
    • 12. To Be Honest As This World Goes

      27 Sep '05
      In the fallout from the Tongan job, Van's having problems with the woman in his life; Cheryl's having problems with the men in hers; and Wolf is presented with a 'Get Out Of Jail' ticket.
    • 13. Go, Bid The Soldiers Shoot

      04 Oct '05
      Will Wolf get out? Will Van go inside? Will Draska get her man? Has Cheryl got one man too many?