History Series / PrisonerCellBlockH

Although sometimes the object of derision for its infamous shaky sets and weak continuity, ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' is a cult show, and it found success not only in Australia, but also the United Kingdom, USA (where it rated higher than Johnny Carson in one state), Canada (under the named ''Caged Women'') and Sweden. It also spawned two successful stage spin-offs.

The show's success in the UK helped pave the way for other Australian Soap Operas like ''Series/{{Neighbours}}'' and ''Series/HomeAndAway''.

* LuxuryPrisonSuite: The women fake this in order to try and convince the other officers that Ferguson is plying Hannah Simpson with luxuries in exchange for sexual favours.

* ImprovisedWeapon: Regularly the women used their jug kettles as such. There was also the stream press to punish people. Also there's [[spoiler:Bea's]] zip gun.

** The longest example of this in the series is The Freak herself, each attempt the inmates or even the staff try to get her fired it fails either because what little evidence is destroyed or she gets ahead of them it thankfully starts to end.

* Kath Maxwell was sentenced to life for her daughter's death but her situation was not helped by being taunted in court, lacking a character witness, and dealing with a biased judge.

** After Joan is given LSD by Lionel Fellows' gang, she has a nightmare of a trip, with her on trial with Meg Morris as judge, the jury being the inmates she harmed. It ends with Joan stabbing her beloved dog to death.

** Joan Ferguson might be a terrible person, but she hated racism and slapped Rodney Adams when she found out he insulted Sarah West and her social worker. Also she hated Child Abuse; she found out about Ruth Ballinger's crimes she confronts her with stream coming out of her ears.

* HellholePrison: While Wentworth was a harsh place, compared to Blackmoor it was a palace.
* HesBack: Well three in the series did characters return with memory loss and it's clear they might get a early release but in Wentworth it doesn't go smooth.

** But also there was the Reward Cell which was part of Ann Reynolds' reform plan to encourage good behaviour.

** After Marilyn is back in due to returning to prostitution, Bea convinces Monica to give Marilyn and her boyfriend Eddie her Milk Bar to keep her straight which from all suggestions she did
** Pat O'Connell, manages to go straight once her original case is overthrown and she is rewarded with her two younger children.

** Sheila Brady is released and becomes a pop star but she considers Judy Bryant deserving of the royalties since the song was written by Judy for Pixie. Once Judy is released Shelia picks her up and they start a song writing career.

** Pat O'Connell was in for aiding her husband and oldest son David's escape. She tries to go straight but her son escapes and she helps him again. However he ends up shooting a guard and after his hearing goes bad he [[DrivenToSuicide kills himself]]. Pat gets a happy ending; she appeals her first conviction, gets a divorce and is out on parole with her younger children returned to her.

** The first one is Helen Masters, a Make-Up businesswoman accused of Hit and Run, she acts snobbish towards the women and complains about everything, but by the end, she promises to help the prisoners. She is found innocent but it turns out she was guilty and her assistant who lied ends up fired he threatens to reveal the truth she reveals she can't be tried again and he would go to jail instead. Later on she turns on the inmates on TV.
** There is Angel Adam. She is presented as a picture of innocence but in fact she is a monster. Her grandmother suspects her of having murdered her own parents. Anger later arranges [[spoiler:Meg Morris to be raped]] but the other prisoners cause her to expose her crimes, sending her to a mental hospital.
** Then there is Eve Wilder, who is in for shooting her lover. She claims it was accidental when in truth, she shot him because he was leaving her. She manipulates her lawyer to hide evidence. She later beats [[spoiler:Joyce]] into a coma for overhearing her admit the truth. Later, she tries to get the laywer to murder Joyce. Instead he writes a confession of Eve's crime before shooting himself. Later on Eve turns out to be [[spoiler:The Phantom Lagger]] which costs her her life.

Although sometimes the object of derision for its infamous shaky sets and weak continuity, ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' is a cult show, and it found success not only in Australia, but also the United Kingdom, USA (where it rated higher than Johnny Carson), Canada (under the named ''Caged Women'') and Sweden. It also spawned two successful stage spin-offs.

** First there is Angel Adam. She is presented as a picture of innocence but in fact she is a monster. Her grandmother suspects her of having murdered her own parents. Anger later arranges [[spoiler:Meg Morris to be raped]] but the other prisoners cause her to expose her crimes, sending her to a mental hospital.

* CordonBleughChef: Mrs. O'Reagan was the cook for the early years. There were regular jokes about her food being terrible and she blamed the inmates working with her. She finally left after being scalded by hot fat.

*** We are meant to feel sorry for Nola also killing her husband's friend, a police officer, and due to being in Western Australia she was looking at death row. Then she escaped and committed armed robbery, framing Hazel for the crime. However Paddy found out and lagged on Nola, revealing the truth of who she was [[note]] she'd used the false name Jean beforehand[[/note]] and she now faced deportation and her possible end. However she remains in Wentworth by [[spoiler:drowning Paddy]], making the sympathy disappear.
** Another example (if brief) is Sarah West, the only Aboriginal prisoner. She grew up with racial abuse despite having a loving foster family. She is in there for arson and assaulting a cop. Once inside, she is abused by two prisoners who paint her white, white]] so she poisoned the air conditioning. Rita Conners helps her understand that some of the inmates could have died. Sarah is counseled by Conners to stop being angry at the world and her foster parents reveal they found her real father[[note]] it turns out her maternal grandmother was looking after her, while her White father and Aboriginal mother worked. Someone alerted the authorities and despite her parents attempts to find her they never could[[/note]]. After Rita returns from Blackmoor, Sarah says goodbye and promises to be good and also visit her father.

** Pat O'Connell, manages to go straight once her original case is overthrown and she is rewarded her two younger children.

* CardboardPrison: Barnhurst is such a low security prison that it doesn't even have a fence. It's deemed unnecessary as it's 10 miles from the nearest town, meaning the guards would pick up the prisoners.

!! This show provides examples of:

* NiceJobBreakingItHero: When [[spoiler:Sister Anita Selby]] lags on the others for [[spoiler:framing Joan]] it's clear no one will forgive her knowing that they will face not only [[spoiler:Joan when she returns]] but will be seen as deceptive to Reno. To really add salt to the wound they take her accepting bail [[spoiler:from the Church]] as her real reason for lagging.

-->-- ''BirdsOfAFeather'', "[[Recap/BirdsOfAFeatherS7E3Cheers Cheers]]"

* TheOldConvict: Lizzie Birdsworth.

* GetIntoJailFree: Judy Bryant does this in order to keep her relationship going with Sharon Gilmour

** First there's Toni McNally who killed her husband's Lover, she causes a little bit of trouble for the status quo because she is part of Wentworth's underworld she can pull a few stings, at her trial she is acquitted however her luck runs out when Ros Coulson her victim's daughter shoots her.

** One example where we really don't know is Sandy Edwards, she drove Kate Peterson mad and was going to finish her off behind the bins but she disappears. The character's disappearance was [[spoiler: due to the actress being pregnant]], however it's up in the air if she was murdered by Peterson or she escaped in the truck.
** Sonia Stevens, was a policeman's wife who replaced Bea Smith as Top Dog after she left for good, she began playing the prisoners and The Freak, she ends up being kidnapped by a gangster to get her husband out of hiding [[spoiler:he faked his death and is killed afterwards]], she escapes and is on the run when the police catch up with her... and the storyline ends there, fans still question what happened to Stevens.

** Also Ernest Craven is this at Blackmoor, then at Wentworth, thankfully he gets what comes to him [[spoiler:he is murdered by Lorelei after threatening her again and she exposes his corrupt behaviour]].

*** We are meant to feel sorry for Nola also kill her husband's friend a police officer and due to being in Western Australia she was looking at death row, she then escaped and committed armed robbery, however she framed Hazel into the crime however Paddy found out and lagged on Nola, revealing the truth of who she was [[note]] she'd used the false name Jean beforehand[[/note]], she now faced the deporting and possible end. However she remains in Wentworth by [[spoiler:drowning Paddy]] making the sympathy disappear.
** Another example (if brief) is Sarah West, the only Aboriginal prisoner, she has grown up with racial abuse despite having a loving foster family, she's in for arson and attacking a cop. She receives abuse from a two prisoners [[spoiler: they painted her white]] so she poisoned the air conditioning, however Rita Conners helps her understand that some of the inmates could have died. Sarah is conceived by Conners to stop being angry at the world and her foster parents reveal they found her real father[[note]] it turns out her maternal grandmother was looking after her, while her White father and Aboriginal mother worked, someone alerted the authorities and despite her parents attempts to find her they never could[[/note]]. After Rita returns from Blackmoor, Sarah says goodbye and promises to be good and also visit her father.

* TheDitz: Doreen Burns could pass for this, Joyce Pringle can be sometimes and of course the prefect example Pixie.
* DrugsAreBad: Drugs are presented negatively, several characters died and Top Dogs and dealers end up badly:
** Bea Smith [[spoiler:lost Debbie]] to an overdose and would stop at nothing to keep them out of Wentworth. During her first time at Barnhurst, Top Dog Marie Winter has Bea's food doped with Magic Mushrooms, Bea finds the trip terrible and finds the staff willing to turn a blind eye as it stops the inmates misbehaving. She bashes Marie.
** After Joan is given LSD by Lionel Fellows' gang, she has a nightmare of a trip with her on trial with Meg Morris as judge, the jury being the inmates she harmed, it ends with Joan stabbing her beloved dog to death.
** Reb Kean was dealing what she was told was Cocaine it was PCP and after being given a overdose and smashes up her cell. The only good thing was it scared Bobbie off drugs.

* EarlyInstallmentWeirdness: In the early episodes Lizzie was more Franky's friends and disliked Bea, also in the 16 first episodes Doreen was more of a background character but once the show was extended she was fleshed out.
** Also Barnhurst was described as a Medium Security in early episode but by the time of the final series it's a low security, mixed prison farm that allows couples to be closer.

** Joan Ferguson might be a terrible person, but she hated Racism slapped Rodney Adams when she found out he insulted Sarah West and her social worker. Also she hated Child Abuse, she found out about Ruth Ballinger's crimes she confronts her with stream coming out of her ears.

* TheFaceless: In Blackmoor, Joan Ferguson knows a contact called Cynthia Leach, she helps Joan punish the transfers from Wentworth, however we never see her face when she appears and her voice is the only noticeable feature [[spoiler: this was because her actress had played a very iconic character in her previous appearance]].

* GuileHero: In the final few episodes [[spoiler:Rita Conners]] has Cancer and has [[spoiler:Joan]] to escort her for treatment, while chatting she reveals that she planned to rob a Finance Company with the idea that she fools the cops [[spoiler:by pretending to throw the money to someone, but instead hide it in the toilets for someone to get later]]. The offer of [[spoiler:$250,000]] tempts [[spoiler:Joan]] and they commit it, however [[spoiler:Joan is arrested with the money]] and it's revealed that [[spoiler:Rita]] double crossed her and thus ends [[spoiler:Joan's time in Wentworth]].
* HellholePrison: While Wentworth was a harsh place compared to Blackmoor it was a palace.

** Also Jessie Windom and Mabel Morgan who clearly dot on Lexie Patterson with Mabel caring for Lexie's dog while she's inside and Jessie going into to jail to protect her [[spoiler:the reason is because she is Lexie's biological mother]].

* HollywoodPsych: Laura Gardiner has Dissociative identity disorder [[spoiler:formally known as multiple personality disorder]] her other is Brandy a foul mouthed prostitute, upon realising it Dr. Weissman cures her with hypnosis in a short time which is impossible.
* ImprovisedWeapon: Regularly the women used their jug kettles as such, there was also the stream press to punish people. Also there's [[spoiler:Bea's]] zip gun.

** Lizzie Birdsworth takes the blame for the [[spoiler:manslaughter of Kay White]] in-place of [[spoiler:Linda Jones]] whose parole was soon and so she could be free and be with her son.
** Myra Desmond who was the second good top dog died during the Ruth Ballinger siege, she was given the choice of who died next and choose herself.

** Also after Lexie Patterson insults Joan Ferguson's recently dead Father, Joan cuts her hair in anger leaving her with a boyish bob.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After the missing Anne Yates is found dead in a Tumble Dryer, [[spoiler:Vera Bennett]] realised she closed the door when she ran passed it and suffocated Yates but goes with the agreement that it was a accident.

** Lou Kelly's face after she hits [[spoiler:Nora Flynn]] in the stomach causing her a miscarriage.

** Pat O'Connell, manages to go straight once her original case is overthrown and she is rewarded her two younger children
** Sheila Brady is released and becomes a pop star but she considers Judy Bryant deserving of the loyalties [[spoiler:the song was written by Judy for Pixie]] once Judy is released Shelia picks her up and they start a song writing career.
** Lexie Patterson also leaves never to return partly because of The Freak's words remaining her that she needs to be a responsible Mother for the sake of her son also because of Jessie.
** Bobbie Mitchell, a thief with anger issues due to a poor family life, she loses the anger, makes friends with the officers and inmates, learnt a skill and fell in love while working on day release, she is paroled to a kind old retired officer and returns for a wedding showing off her old friends her engagement ring.
* NeverMyFault: Ros Coulson, believes she shouldn't be in jail, but she still murdered Toni Mcnally for murdering her mother, she tries to escape but in the end accepts it and focuses on her studies.

* ShoutOut: The series was based on Within These Walls, a UK Prison Drama and several references are possible to see:
** Within These Walls focused more on the Prison Staff and their private lives with only a few of the Prisoners as focus.

* AmbiguousCriminalHistory: Doreen Anderson's criminal history is briefly suggested that she was in and out since she was younger but the full list is never given. Then there's Barbie Cox, a DumbBlonde that says about three lines; even The Freak is lost for words when she reads the chances [[spoiler:it has been suggested the writers didn't know why she was in jail]].

** Pat O'Connell was in for aiding her husband and oldest son David's escape. She tries to go straight but her son escapes and she helps him again. However he ends up shooting a guard and after his hearing goes bad he -[[DrivenToSuicide kills himself]]. Pat gets a happy ending; she appeals her first conviction and is divorced and paroled with her younger children returned to her.

** Nancy [=McCormack=] took the blame for the murder of her abusive husband by her son Peter. She finds the prison difficult, but in the end becomes a mother figure to the inmates. However after realising that her son has been abusing his new wife, she makes him confess and she is freed.

* BeingGoodSucks: Anita Selby, a nun was witness to the other women framing Joan for attacking Lou [[spoiler:Joan was suffering from Blackouts due to a Blood Clot on her brain]]. She tells the girls she has to lag on them, Myra (Top Dog) warns her of the consequences of Joan returning. Doesn't matter she still confesses and asks the women to try and forgive her but they can't.

** If you are speaking to Ferguson don't insult her lesbian or her Father (after his death). Otherwise she will make your life a living hell until she can destroy you.
* BitchInSheepsClothing: First we have Angel Adams, she is presented as a picture of innocence but in fact she is a monster, she is suspected by her grandmother to have murdered her own parents and later arranges [[spoiler:Meg Morris to be raped]] but the other prisoners cause her to expose her crimes sending her to a mental hospital.
** Then we have Eve Wilder who is in for shooting [[spoiler:her lover]] she claims it was accidental [[spoiler:it wasn't, he was leaving her]], she ends up manipulates [[spoiler:her lawyer]] to hide evidence, she later beats [[spoiler:Joyce to a coma state]] for overhearing her admit the truth, she tries to get the [[spoiler:laywer]] to murder [[spoiler:Joyce]] however [[spoiler:he]] writes a confession of Eve's crime before shooting [[spoiler:himself]]. Later on Eve turns out to be [[spoiler:The Phantom Lagger]] which costs her [[spoiler:her life]].
* BreakingOutTheBoss: Ruth Ballinger's husband, a crime lord gets a group of terrorists to cause a siege killing a few prisoners and get her out. [[spoiler:However Joan and police fool the group and Ruth is sent to Blackmoor.]]

** The Freak might be a monster but she has spent her life trying to impress her father, also she had a Prisoner girlfriend who was murdered which resulted in her stony behaviour.

* CatFight: The Show was filled with them.
* CantHoldHisLiquor: Joyce Pingle was easily drunk, she ends her husband's birthday party trying to answer her phone with her shoes.
* ChippendalesDancers: Twice one comes for Bea Smith's birthday and the second dances on a van hired by Jessie Windom after her release.

* CoolOldLady: Lizzie Birdsworth, she is for some of the women in the prison a mother substitute.
* CordonBleughChef: Mrs O'Reagan was the cook for the early years, there was regular jokes about her food being terrible and she blamed the inmates working with her, she finally left after scalded by hot fat.
* CrossCastRole: Chrissie Latham's daughter Elizabeth is played by a baby boy. Lorelei Wilkinson's daughter Zoe was played by young twin boys, one of which refused to let the producers put him in a dress or make him carry a girl’s doll.
* CardboardPrison: Barnhurst is such a low security prison that it doesn't have a fence, but it's unnecessary as it's 10 miles from the nearest town meaning the guards would pick up the prisoners.
* CrowdChant: In [[spoiler:the final episode]] the girls chant [[spoiler:Ferguson]] revealing to her and the whole of Wentworth that they know she's here possible [[spoiler:ending Rodney Adams' career at the same time]].

** Bea Smith's daughter died of a drug overdose after her neglectful father kicked her out of the house.

* DealWithTheDevil: [[spoiler:Joan]] does this with [[spoiler:Ernest Craven]] after he offers to remove [[spoiler:Ann Reynolds and make Joan Governor]]. However she didn't realise this would mean the mental health of [[spoiler:her old friend Lorelei Wilkinson who is in jail raped and falsely accuses Ann of making her say it]], thankfully it goes very wrong, [[spoiler: Ernest pays with his life and Joan escapes firing and will remain a officer]].

Although sometimes the object of derision for its infamous shaky sets and weak Continuity, ''Prisoner: Cell Block H'' is a cult show, and it found success not only in Australia, but also the United Kingdom, USA (where it rated higher than Johnny Carson), Canada (under the named Caged Women) and Sweden. It also spawned two successful stage spin-offs.

The show's success in the UK helped pave the way for other Australian Soap Operas like Series/{{Neighbours}} and Series/HomeAndAway.

* AmbiguousCriminalHistory: Doreen Anderson's criminal history is briefly suggested that she was in and out since she was younger but the full list is never given. Then there's Barbie Cox who is a dumb blonde that says about three lines, even The Freak is lost for words when she reads the chances [[spoiler:it has been suggested the writers didn't know why she was in jail]].

** Pat O'Connell, was in for aiding her husband and oldest son David's escape, she tries to go straight but her son escapes and she aids him again. However he ends up shooting a guard and after his hearing goes bad he kills himself. Pat gets a happy ending, she appeals her first conviction and is divorced and paroled with her younger children returned to her.
** Noeline Burke's whole family are thieves, like she says to her daughter they don't take charity they just take.

** Reb Kean is very harsh to her rich parents explaining that parental neglect caused her behaviour.
** Nancy Mccormack took the blame for the murder of her abusive husband by her son Peter, she finds the prison difficult, but in the end becomes a mother figure to the inmates, however after realising that her son has been abusing his new wife, she makes him confess and she is freed.

** If you are speaking to Ferguson don't insult her Lesbianism or her Father (after his death), she will make your life a living hell until she can destroy you.

* MyGodWhatHaveIDone: After the missing Anne Yates is found dead in a Tumble Dryer, [[spoiler:Vera Bennett]] realised she closed the door and suffocated Yates but goes with the agreement that it was a accident.

* TheReasonYouSuckSpeech: Doreen confronts Vera in her own home, Doreen was working in a hospital and after Vera went with [[spoiler:Chrissie to see Elizabeth]] Vera had remarked about Doreen's term in prison, resulting in Doreen being moved to another ward, Doreen upset dresses down Vera that if she died tomorrow nobody would mourn, when Doreen leaves Vera is really hurt by her words.[[note]] It doesn't helped that Erica has warned, in fact promises Vera that if Doreen loses her job, Vera would be reported and if she displays similar behaviour again she would be fired.[[/note]]

** Sheila Brady is released and becomes a pop star but she considers Judy Bryant deserving of the loyalties [[spoiler:the song was written by Judy for Pixie]] once Judy is released Shelia picks her up.
** Lexie Patterson also leaves never to return partly because of The Freak but also her baby.

* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: Meg Jackson/Morris, without a doubt. Even her anger towards the women after her husband's murder only lasted a couple of episodes. Also Joyce Barry, despite her clumsy behaviour.

* NotSoDifferent: Erica Davidson and Vera Bennett butt heads over how to treat the Prisoners. However both had poor relationships with their mothers and with men.
** Ironically Vera accused Erica of running Wentworth as a holiday camp, however she became Governor of Barnhurst and it remains a low security Prison that was more like a holiday than a punishment.

* CrossCastRole: Chrissie Latham's daughter Elizabeth is played by a baby boy. Lorelei Wilkinson's daughter Zoe was played by young twin boys, one of which refused to let the producers put him in a dress.

** Pat O'Connell, was in for aiding her husband and oldest son David's escape, she tries to go straight but her son escapes and she aids him again. However he ends up shooting a guard and after his hearing goes back he kills himself. Pat gets a happy ending, she appeals her first conviction and is divorced and paroled with her younger children returned to her.
** Noeline Burke's whole family are thieves, they don't take charity they just take.