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.

[–] liscarkat (19418) 4 years ago

Today we are so uptight we make the Victorians seem laid back. In 20th century rational times, the relationship between Ralph and Meggie would not have been thought of as a heinous offence, or even much of a big deal.

As for Woody Allen, he did not creep on a child. He consensually married an adult woman who was not related to him in any way, genetic or adoptive. He was later accused of molesting a seven-year-old girl but after two lengthy investigations the police, child psychologists, and child welfare authorities all concluded that the child had not been abused or molested in any way, and that her mother had most likely coached her to lie.

[–] Mustang (5571) 3 years ago

He never touched her as a child but it was creepy watching it recently and seeing the pseudo romance between them.

Times were different back then though. A lot of the topless page 3 girls were mid teens and it was perfectly legal.