# Creepy family dynamics in film and TV **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [November 21, 2017, 11:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272 "2017-11-21T11:55:36Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Andy\_L](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/c67d28/32.png) [@Andy\_L](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Andy_L)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/21 "2017-11-21T22:18:50Z")
> [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](#): > > Also, consider the Barry-Gets-Amnesia episode: the _gag_ is that Wally, being black, explains that he and Barry are brothers – prompting Barry to take a close look at his own white-guy hand. But the _point_ is: of _course_ that’s what they are. When Barry was in the dreamworld, and met Joe (who didn’t know him, of course), I so wanted him to say “In my universe, you’re the guy who raised me like a son - also I want to marry your daughter” George-Michael and Maebe are first-cousins, who grew up separately (apparently in the first episode they hadn’t seen each other in years) - and first cousin marriages are not unusual at all in the course of human history, so their relationship is far less disturbing than that of Buster and either Lucille… ---
**Author:** ![Roderick\_Femm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/roderick_femm/32/14875_2.png) [@Roderick\_Femm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Roderick_Femm)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/22 "2017-11-21T22:26:52Z")
> [@Jennshark](#): > > -Altaira frolics about in skimpy miniskirts that would get her ejected from Catholic school. She also wears full makeup and is coiffed a la '50’s style. It is obviously her father who dictates her clothing and makeup It’s clear that she designs her own clothes (she can’t be more than 19, by the way, by the chronology of the related backstory). There is a scene where she describes a new dress to Robby and he makes it for her. Morbius couldn’t care less. > [@Jennshark](#): > > -A. runs around passionately kissing guys from the Earth crew, so she has sexual impulses. Well, she is a healthy but inexperienced young adult woman. She has no idea what kissing is for, until she tries it with the Captain. She has theoretical knowledge of “biology,” the film makes clear early on that she is intelligent but innocent. That’s why the tiger goes to attack her later in the movie, she has lost her innocence by really kissing (and falling in love with) the Captain. > [@Jennshark](#): > > -As the sole male and female on the planet, an uncomfortable question arises concerning legacy. The doc is in his 60s; when he kicks the bucket will A. be left alone to run things – would he spend so many years building a magnificent compound with no one to leave it to? (A. seems a bit dumb when it comes to technical stuff, she mostly frolics in her pool and pets animals). So the lurking question is if father and daughter would eventually have mated, if the Earth guys hadn’t come along, and populated Altaire to keep their legacy alive? Would she get it on with Robbie and produce human-robo kids? Early on there is a conversation where Morbius says to the Captain that he supposes he will have to send A. to Earth one day “to complete her education” (wink wink nudge nudge, it’s the 50’s so they don’t spell that out; I always presumed he meant to find a husband and come back) and the Captain (or maybe the Doctor) says “And quite soon, I think.” Morbius clearly isn’t aware that his subconscious “monster from the id” would not allow her to leave, as no-one can be allowed to notify Earth that Morbius himself has all this power and knowledge. Just watched this again the other day on TCM. It still holds up. Walter Pidgeon was an under-rated actor, methinks, always stuck in “Mr Miniver” type roles. ---
**Author:** ![furryman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/furryman/32/99_2.png) [@furryman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/furryman)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2017, 10:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/23 "2017-11-21T22:35:08Z")
Anime is pretty much a given, but I wanted to point out the series Candy Boy. The writers use just about every double entendre in the book to try an convince you the twin girls are having sex with each other. Even without the sex, the twins relationship is really odd. ---
**Author:** ![Gatopescado](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gatopescado/32/5711_2.png) [@Gatopescado](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gatopescado)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/24 "2017-11-22T04:31:39Z")
> [@BlankSlate](#): > > TIL that Earl Holliman (_Forbidden Planet_) is still alive. His character is the most fucked-up thing about that movie. He’s a cook. And he wears an apron. Like that would be a thing on an interstellar spaceship. Even as a kid, I knew that was some old bullshit. ---
**Author:** ![well\_he\_s\_back](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/3ab097/32.png) [@well\_he\_s\_back](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/well_he_s_back)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2017, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/25 "2017-11-22T16:14:03Z")
wasn’t Forbidden Planet a reworking The Tempest in space? Do the family dynamics seem as weird in the Bard’s play? ---
**Author:** ![Don\_Draper](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b2d939/32.png) [@Don\_Draper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Don_Draper)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 3:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/26 "2017-11-24T15:41:46Z")
> [@well\_he\_s\_back](#): > > wasn’t Forbidden Planet a reworking The Tempest in space? Do the family dynamics seem as weird in the Bard’s play? Not really. In Forbidden Planet, Morbius has purposely isolated his daughter Altaira on their world. In the Tempest, the backstory is that Prospero’s wife died in childbirth and out of grief and depression, he retreated into his studies, ignoring the kingdom and thereby becoming vulnerable to a coup. Prospero and his daughter are exiled against his will. I suppose a case can be made that Prospero harbors an unconscious resentment towards Miranda for her inadvertent part in the death of Mrs. Prospero (especially if you accept that Caliban is a reflection of Prospero’s dark side), but it’s all subtext. Prospero objects to Miranda’s interest in Ferdinand because he’s the son of the man who usurped his kingdom, not out of any possessive desire. ---
**Author:** ![Joey\_P](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/919ad9/32.png) [@Joey\_P](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Joey_P)\ **Post date:** [November 24, 2017, 4:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/27 "2017-11-24T16:41:00Z")
> [@Don\_Draper](#): > > And Buster and Lucille #1. Actually, even Buster and Lucille #2 is creepy as she is so obviously a surrogate/proxy for Buster’s real mother. > > How about creepy family dynamics from pop music? In 1967, Frank and Nancy Sinatra sang a duet called “Somethin’ Stupid” which was a big hit, despite the fact that it was a father/daughter singing a clearly romantic song. > > [Lyrics](http://www.metrolyrics.com/something-stupid-lyrics-frank-sinatra.html). Just gonna breeze right over Afternoon Delight? ---
**Author:** ![ftg](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ftg/32/2801_2.png) [@ftg](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ftg)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 7:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/28 "2017-11-25T19:12:04Z")
The British TV series [Taboo](http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3647998/?ref_=nv_sr_1) with Tom Hardy and Oona Chaplin is hella creepy in this regard. The title gives you a hint. ---
**Author:** ![Quercus\_alba](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quercus_alba/32/4061_2.png) [@Quercus\_alba](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quercus_alba)\ **Post date:** [November 25, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272/29 "2017-11-25T22:43:46Z")
> [@Inner\_Stickler](#): > > [Folgers](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zZnqBL6iYjA). I agree with you, it’s a rather benign portrayal of a non-emotionally stunted family being reunited after an implied long separation. If that weirds you (in the general sense) out, that’s on you, dude. OMG–that top comment! 😃 [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/creepy-family-dynamics-in-film-and-tv/802272.md?page=1)