The Time of Our Lives

When Chai Li, the adopted daughter of the Tivollis, is jilted on her wedding day, her close-knit family rallies around her. But they’re all facing their own troubles: Matt and Caroline struggle with their spoiled son and own estrangement; happy couple Bernadette and Luce try to cope with her return to work; and close family friend Herb entices Luce to join him in a risky business venture.

With the wreckage of Chai Li’s wedding behind them, everyone adjusts to new circumstances. Matt has decided to end his marriage to Caroline, but his plans to tell her are thwarted. Bernadette struggles to balance home life with her return to work as a school counselor, and Chai Li is still searching for an explanation for Joel’s no-show at the wedding, but her family just wants her to move on.

Secrets are running rampant within the Tivolli family. Georgie conceals the true reason for posting a raunchy profile picture on Facebook, Caroline struggles to keep her crumbling marriage a secret from Bernadette, and Matt hides his relationship with Alice from everyone around him.

Herb and Luce entice radio star Garrick Graham to do stand-up at the comedy club, but the gig is a disaster. Compounding his problems, Georgie is showing signs of unhappiness at school and home. Meanwhile, Chai Li comes face-to-face with a regretful and apologetic Joel, who wants her back—without the wedding vows.

Georgie is excited to discover her dad is working with pop starlet Clara Bell. Luce himself is less than thrilled but hopes the job may lead to a better-paying festival gig. When Bernadette sees Matt kiss Alice, she delivers him an ultimatum.

Tensions in the Tivolli family are running high. Facing court for drunk driving, Luce calls on Maryanne for help, and Bernadette struggles to cope with her intrusion into their lives. Meanwhile, Herb confronts the impact of his mother’s drinking when he becomes Lenore’s caregiver after she suffers a serious fall, and Alice feels sidelined by Matt’s family.

Bernadette treads a fine line at work when she delves into the family life of a student. Luce is hurt and confused when Georgie decides she wants to stay with her mom and not come to Luce and Bernadette’s on her regular days. Meanwhile, Chai Li is left feeling like a third wheel when she spends a night at the comedy club with Herb and his date.

Herb gets the chance to fulfill his dream when he’s invited onto Garrick Graham’s morning radio show, but he ends up spilling stories about his friends that they’d rather he not share. Chai Li views her upcoming work trip to Cambodia as the perfect opportunity to search for her birth mother in Vietnam, and Matt and Caroline confront their emotional baggage during custody negotiations.

Matt negotiates time with his son Carmody but ends up taking care of an AFL client at the same time. Caroline is lonely without Carmody but receives surprising comfort from elsewhere.

Struggling to draw boundaries with a disadvantaged student, Bernadette brings him into her home over Luce’s protests. Luce deals with his own tricky situation as he starts to develop feelings for a fellow musician. Chai Li invites Ewan to stay the night, despite Herb’s unsubtle attempts to stake a claim on her.

When Chai Li and her dad Ray travel to Vietnam in search of her birth mother, it brings up many painful memories for Ray. Chai Li experiences highs and lows herself as her quest appears destined to fail. Back in Australia, Herb continues to navigate the politics of radio but makes a bad call when he pulls a prank on his powerful cohost. Alice drops an unexpected bombshell on Matt.

Bernadette struggles to lead a motley group of kids in rehearsals for a school concert and asks Luce for help. Although reluctant at first, the experience proves to be a learning opportunity for more than just the children. Chai Li and Herb’s argument over her perceived insensitivity towards Rosa when she talks about returning to Vietnam comes to a surprising conclusion.

Herb and Chai Li continue to dance around their growing attraction, which causes tension in the family when Luce tries to step in and play protective brother. Bernadette contemplates her mortality after a health scare, and Matt and Caroline reach a new peace in their relationship.