Prisoner: Season 8
Season 8 Lore Primer
Key plot threads, lore context, and character stakes you need to remember before diving into this season.
- Directly follows the overarching narrative developments of Prisoner Season 7.
- Faction dynamics and core character alliances shift under escalating external stakes.
- Crucial mysteries introduced previously reach key turning points and narrative reckonings.
- Sets up serialized story arcs that build directly toward the climactic season finale.
Episode Guide
Season 8 Progress Shield
Episode 600
Feb 20, 1986 · 47 min
Lou starts a full-scale riot in the prison, taking Joan, Mervin and Steve hostage and tying up Rita and her cronies in the dining room. Eve faces a kangaroo court and is hanged as
Episode 601
Feb 25, 1986 · 47 min
The officers and inmates attempt to get back on track in the aftermath of Lou's riot as Eve's murder is made to look like suicide and Julie is rushed to hospital in a critical cond
Episode 603
Mar 4, 1986 · 47 min
Lou and Alice face their punishment for the riot, at the hands of Rita and her bloodthirsty band of prisoners. Bob counsels an old friend whose daughter is dying of a terminal illn
Episode 604
Mar 6, 1986 · 47 min
When Ann decides to return to work, the Department make a decision about Bob's future, which could have serious repercussions. Lou finds she has no friends left, not even her once-
Episode 605
Mar 11, 1986 · 47 min
Meg learns she is to be demoted from Deputy Governor to make way for Bob. Rita and the girls begin making their own booze and let Alice out of coventry when she saves their necks f
Episode 611
Apr 1, 1986 · 47 min
Jessie is rushed to hospital in a critical condition, but Lexie is unconcerned. Lou holds Flora and Sean hostage at gunpoint, before shooting them both dead at point-blank range. D
Episode 612
Apr 3, 1986 · 47 min
With Lou on her way back to Wentworth after murdering Flora and Sean Jenkins, a grieving Alice quietly vows to kill Lou when she returns. Brought back to the infirmary, Lou finds a
Episode 613
Apr 8, 1986 · 47 min
Kath Maxwell looks set to have a hard time in Wentworth, as the women react angrily to the ""kid killer"". Rita has drugs smuggled into the prison in a remote-controlled car and th
Episode 614
Apr 10, 1986 · 47 min
Lots of bullying going on as Joan bullies Lou and everyone else bullies Kath. Janet tries to ingratiate herself with both Kath and Lou, telling Lou she knows something about Bob Mo
Episode 615
Apr 15, 1986 · 47 min
The women throw Joyce and Mervin a slap-up wedding breakfast, but the festivities are shattered with the news that Lou has been found murdered in solitary. Bob and Kath desperately
Episode 621
May 6, 1986 · 47 min
Kath and Janet team up and arm themselves with knives in a bid to usurp Rita as Top Dog. Roach and Ida decide to rob a newsagency to get money for Bongo. Joan makes a new friend an
Episode 622
May 8, 1986 · 47 min
Joan is offered $10,000 by Mrs Ryan if she will agree to help get Julie's sentence extended. Roach and Ida find themselves behind bars for robbing the newsagency and Roach realises
Episode 623
May 13, 1986 · 47 min
Joan's house is burned down by the bikies at Rita's request, after which Rita and Alice dangle her off the roof of the prison. Incensed, Joan agrees to Mrs Ryan's request to get Ju
Episode 625
May 20, 1986 · 47 min
Julie suffers a nightmarish trip thanks to Joan and Kath, accidentally stabs Nancy and ends up almost being crushed in the garbage compactor. Troublesome prisoner Merle Jones is tr
Episode 630
Jun 5, 1986 · 47 min
Marty and his two new fellow trainees - Rodney Adams and Delia Stout - discover the highs and lows of working at Wentworth. The women plot to make the Freak pay for reading Nancy's
Episode 632
Jun 12, 1986 · 47 min
Rita is gutted and becomes disillusioned when Merle knocks her out in a dispute stirred up by Kath and Janet. Rodney holds an aerobics class for the prisoners, which ends in him be
Episode 633
Jun 17, 1986 · 47 min
Following some plotting from the prisoners and some fake flirting from Lexie, Rodney is able to catch Janet's sister making a drug drop. The women tease Alice about her obvious cru
Episode 634
Jun 19, 1986 · 47 min
The arrest of Janet's sister prompts Parker to take action against Joan and she is devastated when he has Andrew knocked down and killed in a hit-and-run accident. Incensed, she ta
Episode 635
Jun 24, 1986 · 47 min
Joan goes undercover for the police in an attempt to trap Harry Parker and bring him to justice, but it's a dangerous plan that could leave her life in danger. The women try to bef
Episode 639
Jul 10, 1986 · 47 min
Deprived of her medication, Merle nearly kills herself. Kath is furious with Janet and takes action.
Episode 640
Jul 10, 1986 · 47 min
The prisoners grow excited about the impending work release on the boat, despite Rodney's efforts to have the scheme cancelled. Lexie tries to come up with a way to prevent being t
Episode 641
Jul 15, 1986 · 47 min
Lexie is stopped just in time from getting to Maternity and returned to the other women as Wentworth has to be disinfected following the Golden Staph outbreak. Kath siezes her chan
Episode 643
Jul 22, 1986 · 47 min
Stranded at sea, Joan decides to head for a nearby island to try and get help, and is pursued by Rita, intent on killing her as revenge for Slasher's death. However, Nancy is deter
Episode 644
Jul 24, 1986 · 47 min
The aftermath of the boat dramas reverberate around Wentworth as Kath plots to put Rita and her supporters in her place. Joan is still missing - until the noise of a helicopter ove
Episode 645
Jul 29, 1986 · 47 min
Rita, Alice and Nancy await their fate following Joan's unexpected return to Wentworth as she tells Ann how she managed to escape the island. Kath decides it is time for her to mak
Episode 660
Sep 4, 1986 · 47 min
Spider and Vicki attack Sarah and spray-paint her white. Incensed, Sarah takes drastic action and places poisonous chemicals in the air conditioning system, causing mass illness an
Episode 661
Sep 4, 1986 · 47 min
Spider tries to burn down the shop and is worried that Joan will bash her to punish her. When her attacker comes in the middle of the night, though, it's not Joan... Kath is made t
Episode 662
Sep 9, 1986 · 47 min
Joan catches Rodney in the process of bashing Spider. Lester's belongings are delivered to Lisa in jail.
Episode 663
Sep 11, 1986 · 47 min
Rita forces Sarah to face some home truths. Kath, Merle and Rodney go on a day out to buy contraband for the shop.
Episode 665
Sep 16, 1986 · 47 min
The Freak appears to finally have beaten Rita as she arrives at Blackmoor, where she is stunned to spot a familiar face amongst the inmates. Back at Wentworth, Kath is aiming to be
Episode 670
Sep 30, 1986 · 47 min
Inadvertantly on the run, Merle finds herself a new playmate and a comfortable hiding place from the authorities. Back at Wentworth, Ann suffers the consequences when Lorelei is th
Episode 671
Oct 2, 1986 · 47 min
Rita attempts to lure Craven into a fight to the death, intent on avenging the attack on Lorelei. Merle makes the most of her new-found freedom and has a ball with her new pal Tomm
Episode 672
Oct 7, 1986 · 47 min
Craven continues his reign of terror at Wentworth - but it is about to come to a bloody end. Merle manages to turn an innocent game with Tommy into a police siege that is only ende
Episode 673
Oct 9, 1986 · 47 min
Joan consolidates her hold on Wentworth in the aftermath of Craven's murder, but she is forced to sacrifice Lorelei to protect her own job. Meg and Joyce find themselves in big tro
Episode 674
Oct 14, 1986 · 47 min
Joan's attempt to transfer Meg, Joyce and Marty away from Wentworth incurs the wrath of the union and the threat of an officers' strike. Kath loses her trusteeship after being set-
Episode 675
Oct 16, 1986 · 47 min
Joan attempts to hide the important role she played in Lorelei's recovery. Rita, Alice and Brumby's escape attempt seems in jeopardy.
Episode 676
Oct 21, 1986 · 47 min
Rita is back but Joan is determined to break the hold she has over the women. A television news team arrives at Wentworth to investigate Meg's claims of a cover-up.
Episode 677
Oct 23, 1986 · 47 min
Kath and Rita do a deal and reach a compromise. Ann is reinstated as Governor by the Department, prompting Joan to make a surprise decision.
Episode 678
Oct 28, 1986 · 47 min
Ann Reynolds' return to Wentworth and Joan's simultaneous fall from grace are the cause for major celebrations amongst the staff and inmates alike. Brumby begins plotting yet anoth
Episode 679
Oct 30, 1986 · 47 min
Brumby's bashers are revealed and punished for their misdeeds. Marty places himself in considerable danger as he continues his attempts to help Spike.
Episode 680
Oct 30, 1986 · 47 min
Marty's attempts to help Spike could spell trouble for Lisa Mullins. Kath finally manages to find Spider's contraband, but Rita could die as a consequence.
Episode 681
Nov 4, 1986 · 47 min
Kath and Merle are forced to swallow their pride as punishment for poisoning Rita. Spider finds the evidence she needs to try and put a stop to Alice and Harry's budding romance.
Episode 682
Nov 6, 1986 · 47 min
Joan gets a nasty shock on her first day in her new job. Kath contemplates an offer from Ron Willis to get Marty and Spike. Rita arranges a meeting for Alice and Harry to discuss h
Episode 683
Nov 11, 1986 · 47 min
Rita and the girls plot revenge on Stud and Billy for the attack on Lorelei. Alice tries to find out the truth about Harry's past.
Episode 684
Nov 13, 1986 · 47 min
Rita and Alice are cleared of trouble in the incident with the men. Kath makes her getaway, but is forced to leave Merle behind. Angry and humiliated, Joan threatens Dwyer and bull
Episode 685
Nov 18, 1986 · 47 min
In the aftermath of the escape, a distraught Merle is sedated and committed to a mental institution. Dwyer advises Joan to swallow her pride and return to Wentworth. The women, wit
Episode 686
Nov 20, 1986 · 47 min
Spider finally succeeds in pushing Rita too far. Rodney makes plans to get back at Lisa. Kath's escape could end with her in a pine box...
Episode 687
Nov 25, 1986 · 47 min
Rita receives some devastating news from the doctor about her ill health. Kath finally manages to escape from her minders.
Episode 688
Nov 27, 1986 · 47 min
Rita struggles to come to terms with the news of her impending death. Returned to Wentworth and rejected by Merle, Kath feels like she has nothing left to live for and prepares to
Episode 689
Dec 2, 1986 · 47 min
Rita counsels Kath and stops her killing herself. The women find a weapon to defeat Rodney with. Rita tells Alice she has some big plans that nothing - and no-one - can interfere w
Episode 690
Dec 4, 1986 · 47 min
Joan surprises everyone when she volunteers to be Rita's constant help. Harry makes an unexpected announcement.
Episode 691
Dec 9, 1986 · 47 min
Rita escapes from Wentworth to carry out her robbery. Kath and Merle are reunited and the women learn of Rita's condition. The department assess Ann's reform proposals.
Episode 692
Dec 11, 1986 · 47 min
Rita carries out the robbery but is recaptured and brought back to Wentworth in a bad way. Joan goes to pick up the cash but chickens out. Alice gets Tom to bring in his motorbike