故事发生20世纪初期的澳大利亚，以早期澳大利亚移民内陆开发为背景。神父拉尔夫（Richard Chamberlain 饰）与新西兰移民家庭克利里家族交好，家中的小女儿麦琪（Rachel Ward 饰）从少女时期起便爱上了他，神父与麦琪相爱却不能相守。成年后的麦琪嫁给了不懂风情卖力工作的丈夫，因缘际会二人又再次相遇，但还是因为世俗压力不得不分开，从此以后拉尔夫都暗中照顾麦琪和她的两个孩子，克利里家族在十几年中也发生了一系列的变化，拉尔夫一直不知道麦琪的孩子和自己有着怎样的关联，直至二十多年后最后命运悲剧的发生。 本片改编自澳大利亚当代作家考琳·麦卡洛的同名小说，本剧获得过七项艾美奖。
荆棘鸟 (季节 1)
Part 1 8.8
播出日期: 1983-03-27
运行时间: 144 min
概述: When the wealthy but now elderly owner of a large sheep farm in the outback of Australia realizes that her affections towards a banished but ambitious young priest will never be returned, she sets out to manipulate his life and career from the grave once she discovers him giving his attention to her young niece instead.
Part 2 8.3
播出日期: 1983-03-28
运行时间: 97 min
概述: Having left Australia with a significant sum of holdings in hand willed to the Catholic Church by the wealthy socialite and sheep farmer Mary Carson, Father Ralph de Bricassart finds himself courted by power brokers within the Vatican. Meanwhile, the Drogheda Ranch suffers a devastating brush fire that spawns more tragedy in the Cleary family, and eventually leads to an uneasy reunion between Meggie and Father de Bricassart. However Meggie soon meets a young suitor who captures her heart.
Part 3 8.3
播出日期: 1983-03-29
运行时间: 97 min
概述: Now married, living on a sugar cane plantation, and working as a maid in Queensland, Meggie finds her new husband is more interested in his own work and dalliances than in her. She bears him a child but is still unable to change his ways. Meanwhile, Father de Bricassart has moved up in the Church hierarchy and eventually returns to Australia as a Cardinal. And in yet another uneasy reunion between himself and Meggie, he finally succumbs to temptation by consummating forbidden love and breaking his vow of chastity.
Part 4 8.3
播出日期: 1983-03-30
运行时间: 144 min
概述: Meggie has repeated the mistakes of her past by favoring her son over her daughter. She finally admits the truth about Dane's paternity to Ralph and reconciles with both her mother Fee and her daughter Justine.
季
集 4