Will Crownies offend?

There’s some question today about whether ABC1’s new drama series Crownies is likely to offend Muslims because a woman is asked to remove her niqab before testifying in court.

As the Daily Telegraph notes, a judge even asks the Prosecution if his witness is “a letterbox?”

Charming.

But this is one of the more engaging dilemmas in the 2 hour premiere, because the woman faces the dilemma of compromising her beliefs in order to see her local streets rid of a drug pusher.

If anybody comes off looking bad here, it’s the judge with her unfortunate wording. The scene highlights ignorance, and in that context shouldn’t be cause for offence. That said, it would probably be best to let the audience decide, rather than media.

If Crownies is likely to offend it’s for the overt sex that romps through the DPP office and for an opening episode that doesn’t really hit the mark. It’s trying to set up too much as an opener. But there is still a lot of value here that should prove worthwhile as the series settles.

If we’re going to get picky about the use of religion in television shows, then The Amazing Race Australia sees contestants lugging crucifixes through the streets of Israel next week and Judith Lucy’s Spiritual Journey is also about to premiere on ABC1 -but don’t be fooled, there are cheeky moments but there is also considerable lesson-learning at work here.