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How was ITV’s trans drama Butterfly ever made?

34 replies

MidsomerMurmurs · 16/04/2024 07:32

Great article about watching Butterfly then (2018) and now (Spectator has a paywall but it let me read it free).
https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-was-itvs-trans-drama-butterfly-ever-made/

‘Please darling… We only did what we thought was best,’ stammers Vicky at one point to Maxine’s furious and neglected older sibling. For all involved in this beautifully made, flawlessly acted and – in the light of what followed – shatteringly irresponsible and proselytising piece of television, that defence may now be the best one left to them.

Also reminded me of a great tweet by James Dreyfus bemoaning the content warnings on innocuous old TV shows:

https://twitter.com/DreyfusJames/status/1779836721107992942

Perhaps Butterfly needs to be preceded with a content warning about “offensive attitudes of the time”.

How was ITV’s trans drama Butterfly ever made?

In the wake of the Cass Report’s damning verdict on the reckless ‘social transitioning’ of children and the prescribing of puberty blockers to minors, it’s perhaps an apt time to recall a mini-series that appeared on ITV a few years ago cheerleading fo...

https://www.spectator.co.uk/article/how-was-itvs-trans-drama-butterfly-ever-made/

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RethinkingLife · 16/04/2024 08:51

CantDealwithChristmas · 16/04/2024 08:46

You jest but I would genuinely want to watch a film about a detransitioner. The struggles and strength of people like Ritchie and Keira Bell never fail to impress me, they are truly the epitome of bravery. Speaking one's truth and exposing a corrupt industry against the will and opinion of the bien pensant is difficult and brave. I'd ewatch that.

Especially if it had a scene showing the Glorious Terf brigade (JKR, Maya, Julie Bindel et al) when they had their meet-up at the pasta restaurant. I'd watch it just for that tbh.

Show quote history

I wasn't jesting.

A drama about a detransitioner would be eye-opening. It would be a public service as to what an unbelievable aberration it was to think that young people could actually give informed consent for this. That parents were being told to consent because the options was suicide/unaliving.

HoneyButterPopcorn · 16/04/2024 08:50

And those pushing this clown show get their day in court /jail.

CantDealwithChristmas · 16/04/2024 08:46

RethinkingLife · 16/04/2024 08:39

I was wondering about a detransitioner version as a follow-up…

Show quote history

You jest but I would genuinely want to watch a film about a detransitioner. The struggles and strength of people like Ritchie and Keira Bell never fail to impress me, they are truly the epitome of bravery. Speaking one's truth and exposing a corrupt industry against the will and opinion of the bien pensant is difficult and brave. I'd ewatch that.

Especially if it had a scene showing the Glorious Terf brigade (JKR, Maya, Julie Bindel et al) when they had their meet-up at the pasta restaurant. I'd watch it just for that tbh.

RethinkingLife · 16/04/2024 08:39

HoneyButterPopcorn · 16/04/2024 08:35

Can you imagine a 2024 follow up version? That would be beyond grim.

I was wondering about a detransitioner version as a follow-up…

NotBadConsidering · 16/04/2024 08:37

HoneyButterPopcorn · 16/04/2024 08:35

Can you imagine a 2024 follow up version? That would be beyond grim.

Maybe Anna Friel’s character can be shown setting up a helpline while Maxine struggles with a myriad of health issues and the slow realisation he will never know what sex feels like.

HoneyButterPopcorn · 16/04/2024 08:35

Can you imagine a 2024 follow up version? That would be beyond grim.

CantDealwithChristmas · 16/04/2024 08:34

The sheer propaganda of this show was spine chilling. Pro child growth stunting and castration. Horrifically offensive and regressive attitudes towards women. All dressed up in a schmaltzy, stifling sentimentality.

If a show was made about a 'camp-acting' little boy being forced to wear calipers to make his walk 'more masculine', beaten for having a Barbie doll, forcibly injected with testosterone to render him 'more manly' and forced against his will into taking up boxing, would that be made by ITV with a huge budget and have Anna Friel gushing about how privileged she felt to play the role of his mum? No, the producers of the show and everyone who starred in it would rightly be a pariah. As the people beind this should be.

RethinkingLife · 16/04/2024 08:15

I know.

I feel like that about a number of storylines and dramas. They were acting as advertising for the dismantling of women's rights and the safeguarding of children.

Runskiyoga · 16/04/2024 08:09

Thank you, there's several related articles linked there and I just looked up this week's issue of the Spectator on my library app, it's leader is titled 'sense prevails' and reminds me that The Spectator never looked away from this story. I thank them for that.