Fans Keep Asking: What's Erik Thomson's Best Show After All Saints?
Erik Thomson's best shows
Erik Thomson's best-known and strongest TV work starts with All Saints, then moves through audience favourites like Packed to the Rafters, 800 Words, The Luminaries, Aftertaste, and Critical Incident. If you want the shortest answer, those are the shows most worth watching because they show his range from grounded hospital drama to warm family comedy and darker prestige storytelling.
Thomson became widely associated with Dr. Mitchell Stevens on All Saints, the long-running Australian medical drama that ran from 1998 to 2009 and helped turn him into a familiar face across the country. He then built a second wave of popularity with Packed to the Rafters and later anchored 800 Words, a series that made his steady, understated style central to the show's appeal.
Why these shows stand out
What makes Erik Thomson such a reliable screen presence is that he rarely overplays a scene, which lets emotional beats land cleanly. In practice, that means his best shows usually combine character-driven writing with roles that ask him to be both ordinary and memorable, a combination that suits him especially well in ensemble drama.
His career also shows unusual consistency across genres. On one end, All Saints and Packed to the Rafters lean into mainstream, relationship-led storytelling; on the other, projects such as The Luminaries and Critical Incident give him material with more tension and moral ambiguity.
Best Erik Thomson shows
- All Saints - The essential Erik Thomson role, where he played Dr. Mitchell Stevens and became closely identified with one of Australian TV's biggest dramas.
- Packed to the Rafters - A major family-series success that showed his ability to play warmth, authority, and emotional restraint.
- 800 Words - One of his most audience-friendly leading roles, built around a relatable father figure with humour and heart.
- The Luminaries - A more atmospheric and literary series that demonstrates his fit in ambitious, higher-concept drama.
- Aftertaste - A sharper, more contemporary project that lets him play irritation, vulnerability, and comic timing.
- Critical Incident - A recent example of Thomson in serious procedural storytelling with a tense, modern feel.
Ranked viewing guide
- All Saints for the definitive breakthrough performance and maximum cultural importance.
- 800 Words for the most accessible lead role and a strong showcase of his natural charm.
- Packed to the Rafters for mainstream popularity and emotional range within a family ensemble.
- Aftertaste for a more modern, character-comedy edge.
- The Luminaries for prestige drama atmosphere and a different tonal register.
- Critical Incident for a darker recent turn and contemporary relevance.
Show-by-show snapshot
| Show | Role type | Why it matters | Best for viewers who want |
|---|---|---|---|
| All Saints | Hospital drama lead | His breakout mainstream success and signature TV identity | Classic Australian drama and character arcs |
| Packed to the Rafters | Family drama ensemble | Showed his easy authority in a beloved prime-time hit | Heartfelt ensemble storytelling |
| 800 Words | Comedy-drama lead | Made him the centre of a lighter, more intimate series | Warmth, humour, and seaside settings |
| The Luminaries | Prestige supporting role | Placed him in a more layered, period-minded production | Atmospheric mystery and literary adaptation |
| Aftertaste | Contemporary comedy-drama | Gave him a sharper, more ironic character texture | Food-world satire and adult humour |
| Critical Incident | Procedural drama | Shows his continued relevance in newer Australian TV | Tension, realism, and modern crime drama |
All Saints as the benchmark
All Saints remains the benchmark because it gave Thomson the role that most viewers still associate with him. The series was a ratings-heavy Australian staple, and Thomson's Dr. Mitchell Stevens became one of its most recognisable characters through a run that helped define the show's emotional core.
The role matters historically because All Saints was not just another hospital drama; it was one of the key long-running titles that shaped Australian commercial television in the late 1990s and 2000s. Thomson's exit from the series was also widely noticed, which is usually a sign that a performer has become part of the show's identity rather than just one contributor among many.
Later-career highlights
800 Words is arguably Thomson's most effective lead vehicle after All Saints, because it lets him carry a series with quiet confidence rather than loud charisma. The show's appeal depends on a believable central figure, and Thomson's measured style fits that requirement almost perfectly.
Packed to the Rafters is another major point on his résumé because it placed him inside one of Australia's most widely watched family dramas. That mattered for his career because it proved he was not only a medical-drama star, but also a dependable ensemble actor who could add emotional stability to a large cast.
What critics and viewers notice
Thomson's performances tend to work best when the writing gives him room to look thoughtful, slightly weary, and quietly funny at the same time.
That quality explains why Erik Thomson often lands in roles that feel lived-in rather than flashy. Viewers remember him for credibility, which is a major advantage in long-form television because audiences return to characters they trust.
A useful way to think about his career is that he has done two things well at once: he has carried popular mainstream drama, and he has adapted smoothly to more ambitious or offbeat series. That combination makes his filmography unusually easy to recommend to different kinds of viewers.
Best entry points
If you are starting from scratch, All Saints is the best first watch because it defines his public reputation and shows him at the centre of a large, emotionally driven series. If you want something lighter and easier to binge, 800 Words is probably the smoothest entry point because it balances humour, family dynamics, and scenic escapism.
If you prefer ensemble drama, choose Packed to the Rafters. If you want a more recent, moodier option, try Critical Incident or The Luminaries.
Watching order
A practical watch order is to begin with All Saints, move to Packed to the Rafters, then watch 800 Words, followed by Aftertaste, The Luminaries, and Critical Incident. That sequence tracks the evolution of his screen persona from breakout medical-drama star to seasoned lead actor who can move across genres with ease.
For fans of Australian television, the larger value of that list is that it captures how Thomson helped carry several different eras of local drama. For new viewers, it is simply the fastest route to seeing why Erik Thomson remains such a dependable and respected screen actor.
Everything you need to know about Fans Keep Asking Whats Erik Thomsons Best Show After All Saints
What is Erik Thomson best known for?
He is best known for All Saints, where he played Dr. Mitchell Stevens and became one of the most recognisable faces on Australian television.
Which Erik Thomson show should I watch first?
All Saints is the best first choice if you want his signature role, while 800 Words is the best first choice if you want something lighter and more recent.
Is Erik Thomson mainly a drama actor?
He is primarily known for drama, but his best work also includes comedy-drama, family series, and procedural storytelling, which shows real range.
What is his most underrated show?
Aftertaste is a strong underrated pick because it gives him sharper comic material and a more modern tone than his earlier mainstream hits.