There was a time when Aussie dramas were cringe-inducing and worth avoiding (Ten’s short lived version of A Country Practice) for the most part, like our cinematic attempts on the big screen, but over time we’ve produced just as many hits as we have misses.

Packed to the Rafters (Tues 8:30, 7) has been our number one series for four years in a row. Despite an exodus of the lead girls (do NOT leave the show Rebecca Gibney or there’ll be trouble) it’s still a warm and fuzzy series. SLiDE (Tues 7:30, Fox8) explores lives of five horny Brissie teens and features funky music, great fashion and coarse language – and its addictive! Spirited (Wed 7:30, W) stars Claudia Karvan, who almost single-handling made Aussie dramas high quality, with the first season of Secret Life of Us in 2000 and then transformed the pay-tv landscape in the mid-00s with Love My Way. She’s in love with a ghost and socializes, at times, with her gay polygamous neighbours. Home & Away (Weeknights 7pm, 7) heated up with the River Boys this year, a stunning trip to Hawaii & a few new romances, plus the addition of Georgia Parker for a three year stint and at least a year with acclaimed Marcus Graham doesn’t hurt either. Wild Boys (Sundays 7:30, 7) harks back to the colonial times and the bushrangers with Dan MacPherson, our straight bear buddy & is set to win the hearts of men and women everywhere, though Underbelly: Razor (Sundays 8:30, 9) is focusing on the 1920s and two women who ruled the Sydney scene and might be a force to reckon with after a stellar marketing campaign.

Crownies (Thurs, 8:30, ABC) is a superb look inside our Justice Department, with work and social aspects of their lives in play (Todd Lasance and Indiana Evans, former H&A vets, ensure the youth demo is clearly in focus.) Throw in new seasons of Winners & Losers (after last fortnight’s epic finale thank Gaga it’s returning!) and Offspring in 2012, with ABC’s Alex Demitriades and Melissa George in The Slap & Foxtel’s third season of Tangle (Matt Day, Kat Stewart & Justine Clarke) next month and you’re mad not to try some home-grown flavours.