Catherine Tate’s ‘Queen Of Oz’ Is Crying Out For Blak Writers
The new sitcom about an exiled British Royal sent to Australia squanders its potential by being weirdly pro-monarchist.
In the opening scene of Queen Of Oz, we meet disgraced Royal (Catherine Tate) projectile vomiting on a small child.
This incident is the final straw for her parents, who decide to ship the unruly princess down to Australia, far from the prying eyes of the British press.
While she’s down here, though, she’s also tasked with quashing any chance that Australians will vote to leave the Commonwealth in an upcoming referendum. As her family’s advisor explains, “if Australia were to fall, it could start a domino effect.” Impressively, the BBC show manages a premise — shipping someone off to Australia as punishment for their behavior and unbidden monarchical intervention in Australia’s democratic process — rooted two-fold in the core tenants of British colonialism.
Of course, this is somewhat based in reality — and not just with the whole penal colony callback, either. Back in 1983, Princess Diana and the then Prince Charles were sent to tour Australia to cool republican jets at a time when support for the monarchy was at an all-time low. Historic precedent aside, it is somewhat disconcerting to watch a 2023 sitcom whose comedy is entirely founded on disrupting Australian democracy in favour of maintaining colonial ties.
Don’t get me wrong, the cast is chockers with Australian and British comedic talent. Catherine Tate is viciously funny as our regally rude protagonist, while still maintaining her signature brand of relatability. A scene where she cruelly berates her lady in waiting for picking a winter outfit to wear upon landing in Australia in 45 degree heat is paid off when Tate, upon seeing photos of herself in the garment, remarks: “I look like I finished a marathon and celebrated with a stroke.”
Playing the straight man to Tate’s character is Rob Collins, who (handsomely) portrays Georgie’s head of security, Marc. Marc, however, has had enough of her shit within three minutes of meeting her, and there is a delightful sense of tension between the two, especially during including an accidental meet-and-greet with Marc’s loud and proud Blak family.
There isn’t a single Aboriginal writer on Queen of Oz’s writing team, though, which makes for some seriously weird moments. Marc’s family treats Georgie with fawning adulation, bowing to her and apologising for only being able to offer her a canned beer. There’s even a bizarre scene in which she rants to one of Marc’s cousins, without a hint of irony, that when you’re a royal all the Crown does is “take” from you. Sadly, I am not joking.
Then again, Queen of Oz exploits colonial bonds between Britain and Australia as a veritable goldmine for a raunchy fish-out-of-water comedy. So it makes sense the only Aboriginal people in the story either exist to serve, or are in utter adoration of a person representing the Crown. You know, the Crown? The institution that enacted the colonisation and attempted genoicide of First Nations people? It doesn’t really get much of a mention, but I suppose it would ruin the quirky “sitcom” vibe.
As an Aboriginal person and general enjoyer of sitcoms, I found myself wondering as I watched — who is this even for? Is this a series made for Australians? Are we supposed to laugh along with the British condescension and colonial intervention in our politics? Is it for the Brits? Do they care so much about keeping Australia in their colonial collection they’ll watch an entire series based on that premise?
Who knows. But I suppose it’s fine for a few solid laughs — you know, as long as you ignore the colonial, pro-monarchist energy that runs through the entire show.
Queen Of Oz screens on ABC TV on Wednesdays at 9:35pm, or you can stream it on ABC iview.
This is an opinion piece written by Merryana Salem, a proud Wonnarua and Lebanese–Australian writer, critic, teacher and podcaster. Follow them on Twitter.