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To think 'The Prince' US cartoon is too much?

202 replies

jozipozi31 · 04/08/2021 10:27

I couldn't find a thread about this but - there's a new cartoon series coming out, which is basically a bit like 'Southpark' but with the Royal Family as the focus.

I watched a bit of a taster. It has Prince George at its centre. And Charlotte. It's completely no holds barred and has literally appropriated these real people's,and children's, lives.

I don't care about US 'cool' media and piss-take culture. This is something so appalling to do. The children are under 10. Really, really what gives anyone the right to do that? And what the hell is wrong with Harry, I'm sorry, for having declared open season on his own family? His lead on this has made the way clear for this kind of 'creative' attack.

Worse than anything levelled even at Trump. To an entirely innocent and beautifully brought-up little boy, who is only just 8.

Too much.

OP posts:
JacquelineCarlyle · 04/08/2021 12:20

@Justcallmebebes

His new BF and neighbour, Orlando Bloom is one of the voiceovers. Plus some actress I've never heard of kicked off massively because her young daughter was snapped by the paps and "didn't ask to be in the spotlight". This woman voices Charlotte.

Plus Cringe and Whinge have kind of opened the doors to open season on the royals.

I do think it's out of order to focus on the kids which is what they are doing. I'm not sure any of you lot would appreciate a satirical cartoon featuring your v young kids which, royal or not, is what they are

I agree with this - sounds horrible.
JacquelineCarlyle · 04/08/2021 12:22

@2LostSoulsSwimmingInAFishBowl

I wonder if the hand wringers would be upset if the cartoon was about Archie and Lili instead of George and Charlotte?
I'm not a hand wringer but absolutely wouldn't want Archie or Lili to be subject to this either - children should be off limits!
NoviceNewMN · 04/08/2021 12:32

The problem with this cartoon is three fold
one it is taking place in 2021 when due to the internet and social media, it's penetration in to society/ social awareness of it will be far higher than any particular form of satire historically.

two it is creating a nasty personality for Prince George. It's more than just general mocking satire. He is portrayed as a nasty, self entitled camp brat.

three Prince George is only 8 years old.

All of this combines to mean that you have an 8 year old boy who will facing a very high social awareness amongst his peers and wider society of a nasty personality created for him. It really is bullying of the worst kind.

It's not a clever satire (of the sort say of Animal Farm) that is merely mocking wealth and privilege/Royal status. It is giving a little boy - who is a real person and actually exists but who as yet has no public 'reputation' in terms of his personality - a nasty fictitious reputation.

That is the big different. Adult satire - such as Spitting Image - generally takes something that is known about the adult and exaggerates it for mocking effect. There in lies the humour. This is totally created and nasty.

It's bullying in my view.

TrickorTreacle · 04/08/2021 12:34

Surely some of you used to watch Spitting Image back in the 80s and early 90s?

If you found Spitting Image offensive, you shouldn't have watched it. The same goes now with South Park and The Prince.

Take some responsibility on what you watch on TV and stop being offended!

UrAWizHarry · 04/08/2021 12:34

As with all things, if you personally don't like it, don't watch it.

The alternative is censorship based on some arbitary criteria which is a dangerous road to go down.

Notonthestairs · 04/08/2021 12:36

I won't watch it and that's all the control that I can exert.

SnottyLottie · 04/08/2021 12:38

I posted this is another thread but this clip of Chelsea Clinton on Graham Norton perfectly sums up how I feel about the situation

m.youtube.com/watch?v=Opky3PNH8SU

NoviceNewMN · 04/08/2021 12:47

If you found Spitting Image offensive, you shouldn't have watched it. The same goes now with South Park and The Prince.

Take some responsibility on what you watch on TV and stop being offended!

I'm not offended by it at all. It doesn't bother me personally from an 'offended' huffy point of view. But I do think it is bullying of prince george. And as I said above, the big difference with Spitting Image is that it mocked adults for known but exaggerated traits - like a cartoon.

Prince George is 8. He's a child. He's done nothing to warrant being picked on and having his personality (that no one knows anything about) being characterised so nastily.

NoviceNewMN · 04/08/2021 12:49

& people saying 'don't watch it' are missing the point. It's not about me or you or anyone individually.

The point is that Prince George's school peers/teachers etc will either watch it or be aware of it and as a consequence he will have to deal with something that no 8 year old should have to deal with that is totally not of his making.

TrampolineForMrKite · 04/08/2021 12:49

I can’t get het up about this. Also, have you watched the trailer @jozipozi31? It looks genuinely very funny. I feel like you’ve just decided to be outraged about this because “THINK OF THE CHILDREN!” and actually it’s not half as bad as you think it is.

HeadNorth · 04/08/2021 12:52

Personally, I blame Harry for absoultely everything. Yes, I include climate change in that. And drug deaths in Scotland. And the immigrant crisis. The ginger bastard.

Icecreamsoda99 · 04/08/2021 12:53

Watched the trailer, didn't even crack a guilty smile which I have at Family Guy and American Dad, I don't think it will do very well and probably be cancelled soon, it's very limiting in what it can do. I have to say I love the Windsors, but they don't attack the children or the Queen.

I actually think the Crown is far more dangerous, they make stuff up and present it as fact.

At least no one will watch this shit and think it's real.

eightyfourandahalf · 04/08/2021 12:53

@NoviceNewMN

& people saying 'don't watch it' are missing the point. It's not about me or you or anyone individually.

The point is that Prince George's school peers/teachers etc will either watch it or be aware of it and as a consequence he will have to deal with something that no 8 year old should have to deal with that is totally not of his making.

don't be silly.

People who know him will already know he's nothing like that...

and it will come as no surprise to anyone at all to discover that he's the future King of England, raised as such.

Everyone has seen Charlotte having a tantrum (in real life), George being told off by his mum (in real life), George made to wear questionable clothes (in real life). Probably much harder to deal with than some silly cartoon.

EsmaCannonball · 04/08/2021 12:53

The Windsors on Channel 4 is one of my favourite comedies and far more outrageous than this, but the creators astutely avoided including any royal minors and the Queen and Prince Philip in the line-up.

eightyfourandahalf · 04/08/2021 12:55

I actually think the Crown is far more dangerous, they make stuff up and present it as fact.

no they don't. Confused

Viewers have decided to take it as a factual documentary!

Icecreamsoda99 · 04/08/2021 13:01

@eightyfourandahalf they have to take responsibility for that, if you present that the queen's cousins were locked away so they didn't make her look like she had tainted blood, or that Philip's father blamed him for his sister's death then people are going to take that as truth, unless they research it for themselves. It's not set in an alternative reality, all that "some scenes may be dramatized for your entertainment" etc doesn't cut it in my opinion. It's a cracking series though!

OutwiththeOutCrowd · 04/08/2021 13:07

Stephen Fry tells a story about Princess Diana being desperate to get home from a party to see Spitting Image. She told him that the others hated it but she loved it. Prince Andrew also seems to have rather enjoyed making use of his own Spitting Image puppet in somewhat unusual ways. It’s hard to predict how high profile adults that are sent up by these sorts of shows will react to their own portrayal.

When it comes to children, it seems better to err on the side of caution. Prince George might enjoy being portrayed as a bit gangsta or he might be in a state of cringe at school, whilst being ribbed by his classmates about it. Given the uncertainty, it’s best for the programme makers to assume the latter and look for opportunities for humour elsewhere.

Trampolean · 04/08/2021 13:11

It looks disgusting, so fucking weird for a grown man to write a series based on real children. I don't see why it's up to Harry to speak out though, it's more the cesspool that is showbiz that finds these things acceptable and creates a demand for them. His audience on Instagram is smaller than on a mainstream American channel to be fair, and he was vile to all members of the Royal family, not just Harry and Meghan (whose children are notably not in this series, probably as he fears being sued); the Royal family has always been notorious for having a policy on not speaking out, so not sure how them being quiet about some insta posts that wouldn't have been taken down anyway and would have drawn more attention is in the same league as creating a likeness to 3 real children about inappropriate topics. The 'jokes' about the Duke of Edinburgh are fucking horrible too, anyone who has the energy for saying they were treated unfairly should have the same for 3 innocent children who cannot stick up for themselves imo. Adults it's still odd but slightly fairer game.

Sophie Turner who voices Charlotte said just before this was aired that her daughter didn't choose fame so she wanted privacy for her, someone make it make bloody sense. These children didn't choose this life either, they haven't been able to have a say yet, such a hypocrite, as well as Orlando bloom who said the same about his son but voices gerorge.

NoviceNewMN · 04/08/2021 13:11

People who know him will already know he's nothing like that...

It's not about that. It's the teasing that will follow. When he moves schools, he'll probably have loads of catch phrases and stigma attached to him.
Children latch onto this type of thing.

Why should he have to deal with it at 8 years old? He hasn't done anything to ask for it.

Trampolean · 04/08/2021 13:13

@UrAWizHarry

As with all things, if you personally don't like it, don't watch it.

The alternative is censorship based on some arbitary criteria which is a dangerous road to go down.

Personally I think being against taking the piss out of 3 real children is an okay boundary re censorship.
eightyfourandahalf · 04/08/2021 13:14

Blame his parents.

They are the ones who are choosing to put him in the public eye as "heir of the throne" privileged royal.

They could have decided to keep him out of the spotlight until his teen years at least, and stick with a couple of photos. They preferred to do differently, so there you go.

Trampolean · 04/08/2021 13:16

@eightyfourandahalf

Blame his parents.

They are the ones who are choosing to put him in the public eye as "heir of the throne" privileged royal.

They could have decided to keep him out of the spotlight until his teen years at least, and stick with a couple of photos. They preferred to do differently, so there you go.

But that's the agreement they have with the press, they release photos like on his birthday etc to try and keep some privacy. Also if that's how you feel, how is that the children's fault?
eightyfourandahalf · 04/08/2021 13:16

People can't have it both ways.

Either he's a normal child, and should be treated like one (which we should)

Or we decide that he's the future Monarch, and people take the piss of the status.

You can't pick and choose!

eightyfourandahalf · 04/08/2021 13:18

But that's the agreement they have with the press, they release photos like on his birthday etc to try and keep some privacy. Also if that's how you feel, how is that the children's fault?

where am I blaming the child? I said it was a decision from his parents.

They are not trying to keep privacy when they take the kids to "official" panto, football match and so on.

He's a "normal" child unless it suits them! Releasing a few pics is different. The foreign press releasing candid photos when they are out is a different thing.

We NEED the right to laugh at official figures.That's all we got.

Itreallyistimetochangethings · 04/08/2021 13:19

I don't care about US 'cool' media and piss-take culture. This is something so appalling to do. The children are under 10. Really, really what gives anyone the right to do that? And what the hell is wrong with Harry, I'm sorry, for having declared open season on his own family? His lead on this has made the way clear for this kind of 'creative' attack.

@jozipozi31 😳 It'a bit of a reach to blame this on H&M too. 🥱**