What Was “The Thorn Birds” About?

Based on Colleen McCullogh's best-selling novel, this 1984 BBC five-part serial was set in rural Australia. It chronicles the love of Meggie (Rachel Ward) for Catholic priest Ralph de Bricassart (Richard Chamberlain.) Beginning with a childhood crush, Meggie's passion persists into adulthood despite marriage to farmer Luke (Bryan Brown) and the birth of a daughter (whom Meggie is unable to love fully). Eventually their love is consummated in a dramatic, though not very explicit encounter (so many people felt the need for a cup of tea after watching this episode that all the plugged-in kettles were said to have caused a power cut.) As a result, Meggie has a son; however, Ralph believes him to be Luke's child, and continues to believe this even when the adult Dane also enters the priesthood. He only learns the truth after Dane's death, by which time it is too late to restart his affair with Meggie.

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