MovieChat Forums > Little Mosque on the Prairie (2007) Discussion > Incredibly Offended by Magees 'Replaceme...

Incredibly Offended by Magees 'Replacement'

posted 14 years ago by YourSock
17 replies | jump to latest

The replacement is NOT a man of the cloth
His actions and the things he says are horrendous
This is not darker and edgier, nor is it offensive for pushing boundaries. Its offensive as that portrayal is beyond unrealistic, any priest that behaved that way would face serious disciplinary action, and would not be put in charge of a small congregation. If they did decide to "banish" him to the boonies to allow him to cool off and learn the MOST important lessons of Christianity, they would have taken his expensive car away from him

I'm hoping Fred gets a competing shock jock to "bring back" the edge that was never really there and the show gets back to what it was a heartwarming sitcom

[–] Navaros 14 years ago

I only saw one or two episodes with the new priest and in those episodes his actions didn't seem too bad. One of them was the first one when he joined the show and he gave the Muslims back their offices just to appease some old ladies, even though he didn't have to.

What are some examples of un-priestlike things that he has done since then?

[–] Navaros 14 years ago

I saw a commercial which makes it seem like he is pretending to wear a neck brace even though he isn't really injured. That's crap writing to make him dishonest. They should have made him cunning like he originally was, but not dishonest.

I guess the illusion I previously had that writers finally did one good thing on this show by introducing that character was formed because of a combination of lifting the character from a different show + the actor's immense talent & charisma, rather than the writers having done anything good.

[–] Tamooshka72 14 years ago

I really like the actor(Brandon Firla), and think he does a marvelous job portraying someone deceitful, self-interested and just plain weasly. Imagine if he were portraying an unscrupulous local college professor who was competing with Baber for tenure instead--HI-larious. But this, this is ludicrous. I am not religious, and know very little about Anglicanism, but truly if a priest were this underhand and downright spiteful, he would probably be in jail, not just booted out of the ecumenical life! They could have made him actually wicked, you know, in a really over-the-top way for edginess, but it would be farcical and would dampen the well-meaning vibe of the show. Or they could have made the show meaner and more cynical to begin with, but that would have caused a host of problems for the CBC. The writers need to find a specific tone for the show and stick to it. It doesn't have to be reprobate to be amusing, and it doesn't have to be treacly to be nice.

[–] 14 years ago

[deleted]

[–] YourSock 14 years ago

The scrappy strikes again

agree wholeheartedly with it would have been great if he was a college professor competing with baber

hoping the show will return to its lighthearted sitcomness soon

It just really bugs me how snide he is almost completely the opposite of what he should be if they had to replace magee with another priest it would have been nice if it had been a woman and they could have pushed the edgyness of imam versus clergy plus first female clergy

Its just sad that it could have been done better

Someday IMDB WILL make the signature a signature and not an ad hock ad on to the post

[–] Tamooshka72 14 years ago

Frost612,

Your idea of a woman replacement for Magee is actually brilliant--that would have created an interesting dynamic exploring whether the mosque is basically liberal or conservative, and in a meaningful way. The character of Layla, who was otherwise the only one pushing that envelope, is virutually absent this season.

I personally doubt the place for edginess on this show is in the pastorship of Mercy Anglican; isn't that what the Fred Tupper subplot is for? I really like Reverend Duncan because he was sort of the paterfamilias of the religious setting: Amaar could go to him in his little crises and get good advice. Plus it showed how easily all "People of the Book" can get along if they just try to be civil. That's the problem with Thorne. He's completely without civility, save for the talking through his teeth Noel Coward-style when someone bakes him cookies. On the other hand, what could the writers have done with his character? If they want to make him a "my religion is better than your religion" chauvinist, they need to make it more pointed, instead of just Thorne muttering snide little barbs.

[–] Navaros 14 years ago

whether the mosque is basically liberal or conservative

It has always been quite obvious that the mosque is liberal and that no real Muslims attend it.

That's why in the first episode (IIRC) the fake women Muslims were talking about Desperate Housewives during religious services.

That's also why it never shows any of the alleged Muslims on the show behaving as Muslims do in real life, other than with a few perfunctory clothing items and mentions of praying.

[–] Tamooshka72 14 years ago

Navaros,

Please explain how the Muslims at Mercy Mosque "never" behave as Muslims do in real life, save for mode of dress. I mean, never? Really? Apart from a couple of them apparently watching "Desperate Houswives" and talking about it before prayer, which is indiscreet. The women are separated from men at the mosque, they all eat only halal food, and they don't engage in vice. Except Baber; vituperating must be against at least one of the Prophet's directives. The mosque itself is make-do, which is part of the premise and has to be taken into account. If we are going by Tehran standards, then clearly the mosque is liberalized in some of its policies. But as to its being truly liberal, well, I don't know. And don't say it's because Sarah doesn't cover her head or because Rayyan is frequently in Amaar's company, alone.

[–] Navaros 9 years ago

they don't engage in vice

Of course they do. They watch Desperate Housewives, which is a show that glorifies adultery & fornication, two things that all real Muslims are strongly against. By true Muslim standards, them watching that is in and of itself a form of engaging in vice. Even worse, they probably also engage in all of the same behaviors as do their role model "heroes" from that show, otherwise why would they idolize those adulteresses?

which is indiscreet.

Talking about a fornication/adultery-glorifying show in a mosque during religious services is far worse than 'indiscreet'...it is blasphemous/sacrilegious/ deeply offensive to God. At least, it would be if they were real Muslims. But since they are fake Muslims who don't care about God, they go ahead and do those things.

Please explain how the Muslims at Mercy Mosque "never" behave as Muslims do in real life

This post has done a good example of that. In real life, if a Muslim woman told another Muslim while they were in a mosque that she loved to watch Desperate Housewives, the real response from the true Muslim would touch on all of these points:

1. Why are you blaspheming God in his holy house?

2. Why are you debasing yourself by watching a show that promotes immorality?

3. Why are you idolizing immoral women who live lifestyles that are 100% antithetical to your Muslim faith?

But you never see anything of that sort in this show, because real Muslims and their moral standards & fidelity to God are absent from it.

[–] scifi_queen 14 years ago

Actually, it's not unrealistic. I've researched many different aspects of Christianity and this attitude is still very prevelant in some branches. I can't stand his character either, because he is too real for me.

The best show on television right now is "The Big Bang Theory"!

[–] hooper-xxx 14 years ago

any priest that behaved that way would face serious disciplinary action

So, let me get this straight. A priest can bugger little boys for decades with impunity, but acting like a douche will result in disciplinary action.

[–] Arkangel1973 14 years ago

He's Anglican, not Catholic. No vow of abstinance to sexually repress their Priests. While I'm sure it does happen -- just as I'm sure that it happens in every religion -- it's not as prevalent.

[–] Nick-1003 14 years ago

Isn't the fact that he's unrealistic, funny?

I do miss McGee. I hope he's not gone for good.

[–] azizian 11 years ago

If the show wasn't already canceled I'd say the writer who came up with the character of Thorn should be fired. I find myself fast forwarding through season 4 on hulu. Haven't found a single redeeming quality in the new priest yet. Someone please tell me he improves in season 5. Otherwise its a very disappointing end to a show I actually liked.

[–] Hagelblass 11 years ago

Someone please tell me he improves in season 5.

He improves in season 5.
Thorne gets his comeuppance in the last episode of season 4. After that, he's still not the nicest guy around, but he isn't a complete a$$#%!e anymore, either.

[–] azizian 11 years ago

Oh good...I was worried I'd have to write the show off. :)

[–] EdmundOG 11 years ago

Yeah, he becomes more of a slightly underhanded wacky neighbor, and even becomes Amaar's friend, though they never quite lose their rivalry.

SMALL SPOILER FOR PREDICTABLE PLOT POINT

He's even considered for the position of Amaar's best man.