MovieChat Forums > The Thorn Birds (1983) Discussion > Was it creepy in 1983?

Was it creepy in 1983?

posted 10 years ago by harpolini
22 replies | jump to latest

Just saw this for the first time and liked it very much. I wasn't even born yet when this show came out.

Question for those that saw this back in the day: Was it considered creepy that Ralph was after Meggie even though she was a child. I know this is nothing new historically, however how did this play to a 1983 audience. Was this kind of thing more of less condoned, or was it okay because it's a hunky guy after her and not some lerch? To his credit, he didn't do anything until she was older, but admits that he loved her since he was a child and some of the interactions assume more that just a paternal love when she was younger.

For comparison people are divided on say Woody Allen for essentially creeping on a child. Of course there are a few more seedy dynamics about that compared to what goes on in The Thorn Birds.

[–] highpriestess32 10 years ago

You raise a very interesting point. I was really naive at the time and a child but I found it all perfectly innocent of course but adults may have disapproved. That said, most adults of the era would have been accustomed to viewing inappropriate relationships like the original "Lolita" (Kurbrick's version).

I think in this instance he felt a paternal love for Meggie initially. He only viewed her differently as she debuted as a young woman at Mary's birthday party. But even then he told her that she must abandon thoughts of passion for him. That is not to say he felt adult love for her now but in his defence, Meggie pursued him almost relentlessly. She had him in her sites and was determined to break his resolve.

But we talk here of more lustful indications when in truth there is a whole different side to this relationship. Ralph and Meggie were kindred souls in a way - soul mates if you like. I think their love was very different to just lustful thoughts. Sure, lust came into it and at the appropriate time but I always felt that these two were thrown together by fate. They were destined to be together and realistically, Ralph's only sin was to go against his faith. He always acted appropriately towards Meggie when she was a child and I doubt he ever loved her in "that" way. He was just very protective of her and always was, even when she married Luke.

Has anyone seen my wife? - Columbo

[–] dblmaven 10 years ago

Good answer. His love for her evolved has she grew up. Her feelings for him were rooted in the protectiveness he showed for her when she as a child. Feelings change with circumstances.

[–] highpriestess32 10 years ago

Thank you for you kind appreciation and comment. I am also in agreement with you 

Has anyone seen my wife? - Columbo

[–] dblmaven 10 years ago

You're welcome!

[–] highpriestess32 10 years ago

I loved this series so much - it is a shame the board is not terribly active!

I would add that there are many instances as you and I have duly noted where Ralph is indeed protective towards Meggie. He sees how she is practically estranged from her cold mother and feels the need to form a bond with her so she can grow up as a balanced individual but of course initially she treats her own daughter differently even though she once said to Ralph that when she grew up and had children she would not show favouritism.

It was largely Meggie's influence as to how they ended up in love because from a young age she talked of them being married which of course he said could not happen as he was a priest and married to God. As we all know, Meggie put quite an enormous strain on him and I guess he was weakened over time but he did exert quite a bit of restraint and several times 

Has anyone seen my wife? - Columbo

[–] cmfalf 10 years ago

"Was it creepy in 1983?"

Yes, it was, but not because of Meggie and Ralph.
I'll have to read the book again but in the series, the Fee/Frank relationship is questionable to say the least.

[–] 10 years ago

[deleted]

[–] highpriestess32 10 years ago

I think Mary was very jealous yes. She could somehow sense in her warped mind that Meggie was going to grow into a beautiful woman although I do think Ralph just felt protective towards the young child due to the fact she was largely neglected by her mother.

Meggie represented all that was behind Mary - she was aged and bitter. Meggie was polite and innocent and beautiful. Mary had no real grounds to be jealous at that point but she hated that Ralph's attentions were always so preoccupied by Meggie.

But you might be right (I have never read the book). I think certainly we have all thought about the possibility of a growing romantic love but I am thankful it was handled sensitively for we had to care for the characters and had Ralph acted in an untoward manner we would not have later rooted for their love to blossom. Rather we would have condemned him for acting inappropriately.

Has anyone seen my wife? - Columbo

[–] Ogopogo99 10 years ago

Yep. He was basically a pedophile who didn't act out his urges. He was smart enough to wait until she was legal. But still weird because of what they expect of catholic priests.

_____________________________________
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RV46fsmx6E

[–] elisabetta611 8 years ago

Um no? And had he been a pedophile, his interest would have died once she grew up instead of awakening around the time she was 18-19.

[–] scribe-drizz 10 years ago

I didn't think Ralph was creepy in the show or the book. They were close, but I thought both versions showed very clearly when Ralph considered Meggie as an adult.

Someone posted that the Fee/Frank relationship was creepy, but I thought it was obviously one-sided. In the book, Frank was the one that was a little too attached to Meggie. He was jealous of Ralph. Before he ran away, he tells Meggie that he wishes she was older. Then he quickly takes it back and says something like it's for the best that she isn't.

[–] movie80 10 years ago

I didn't think Ralph was creepy in the show or the book. They were close, but I thought both versions showed very clearly when Ralph considered Meggie as an adult.

I never doubted about their relationship when she was a little girl rather neglected by her mom, when the family first met Father Ralph. It was a healthy care he felt for her, absolutely nothing bad in any ways. IMHO.
He only changed and started to think about her as a beautiful woman he saw her again after many years and now a young woman in that beautiful dress coming down from the stairs.

[–] thbryn (231) 3 years ago

No it wasn't creepy. With added years it became a problem and he looked to advance his career --rather than being in rural Oz-- to prevent things from becoming an active problem.

[–] MissyH316 10 years ago

No, I didn't think it was "creepy" in 1983, nor do I think so today. I don't believe Ralph had any real "adult" feelings for Meggie until he saw her on the staircase at Mary Carson's birthday party (where I'm pretty sure by that time she was of legal marriageable age). Ralph was no pedophile, no lecherous predator. But he did undoubtedly love and was devoted to Meggie, and hey - except for Frank, she sure didn't get much affection from her family, epecially Fiona.

But one thing that did make me squirm a bit was the scene with Mary Carson and Ralph while he took off his soaking wet clothes. I can't really blame her, though; Ralph / Richard WAS gorgeous and irresistable! 

"Think slow, act fast." --Buster Keaton  

[–] highpriestess32 9 years ago

Lol what's creepy is I was thinking about that naked scene as I was reading your post and hadn't yet got to the bit you wrote about that very scene!

It made me squirm too as a child watching back in the day. I would have been watching it with my mother and kids are easily embarrassed. To me Mary Carson was a haggard elderly lady pashing over a nude and much younger Priest. I must have turned bright pink during that awkward scene haha!

"These days you have to boil someone before you can sleep with them"

[–] Eva_Marrie 8 years ago

The naked scene was a lot more intense and 'adult' in the book. I was deeply disappointed by it in the show as not only was Ralph too old and unattractive, but very hairy as well (he was described as having a smooth chest in the novel).

[–] tamarajessica 8 years ago

I think with all the horror stories of pedophile-priests that have come forward in recent decades we might be looking at the story through that lens. However, if we look at the first part of the miniseries, if Ralph had wanted to be inappropriate he certainly would have had every opportunity, but he wasn't.
He loved Meggie and pitied he as he realized she didn't have anyone looking out for her. It was Meggie that began trying to change the relationship from what it was to something more.
Ralph no doubt was attracted but this happened after Maggie was in her late teens - more or less a woman. His feelings began to change when she had developed into a woman... and even then he was trying to fight it.
Don't get me wrong.., Ralph is the most selfish character I've probably ever read about... he was incredibly flawed but he he wasn't a pervert.

[–] clearthinkernow 8 years ago

Of course it was not condoned in 1983, neither before nor after.

[–] Prelude (1443) 8 years ago

When this first came out, the headline news about priest scandals or even a widespread problem of pedophilia was decades away, so I don't think anyone really thought anything of The Thorn Birds relationship at the time. All I remember was my mother loving the mini series and reading the book, and just thinking of it as an intense love story.

But then, she was okay with a young friend of the family being clearly "sweet on me" when I was only ten and he was 22 -- so my mum was just a very naive romantic in a way that it was lucky nothing bad ever actually happened to her or me. :(

Plus, as others have said, Ralph really wasn't perving on Meggie when she was a child; he loved her like a father and not with a romantic or sexual aspect until she was a grown woman.

But even so, that's a bit freaky too. If I had felt like a parental figure to someone I don't think I could switch gears just because they grew up.

[–] Popcorngal (4875) 5 years ago

I agree he was like an uncle when she was a kid. If Fee had been an attentive mom, maybe Maggie would have gotten over her infatuaton.