Outlander
Tags: historical fiction

Plot synopsis:
Flashback: Claire and Frank are happily strolling down a London street. Suddenly, Frank stops in the middle of the road and, with a smile, asks Claire if she is ready. Puzzled, Claire wonders what she should be ready for, and turns as Frank nods toward the City of Westminsters Registry Office, where a newly married couple are standing on the steps posing for newlywed photos. Claire is astonished. "Now? What about your parents? Theyre waiting at the restaurant!" Frank persuades her with little trouble, and finally asks "Will you marry me?" "Of course," says Claire, kissing him . . ."You may kiss your bride . . ." intones a Scottish voice, and suddenly, Claire is tentatively kissing Jamie at the end of a candlelit wedding ceremony.Later, she is sitting in their room in the inn, with most of her wedding finery discarded, and musing over how different this wedding was from her wedding to Frank and how at some point, one chooses to move forward with their life. Jamie enters the room, and as the door opens, the sounds of merriment can be heard below. Claire notes that the wedding party is still going strong, and Jamie hesitantly observes that "they will keep it up, until we make it . . . official." Claire looks down, and mutters that its a wonder that they arent watching. "Only Rupert and Angus," observes Jamie, and at Claires startled glance, he tells her that it was "just a wee joke." "You're a regular Bob Hope," she sighs."Was he a funny man?" Jamie looks about, at a loss, and Claire suddenly suggests a drink. Jamie offers a gallant toast: "To a lady of grace, a woman of strength, and a bride of astonishing beauty -- my wife, Claire Fraser." Jamie sips his drink, but Claire downs her in a single gulp, earning a raised eyebrow and a refill. She tosses back the second glass, ignoring Jamies raised glass, and obligingly, he pours yet another glass. After her third glass, he realizes that she is drinking from nervousness, and reassures her that he has no intention of forcing himself on her. She has questions, and first and foremost, she wants to know why he agreed to marry her. "I didnt have much of a choice . . . but you!" "I dinna have much of a choice, either," admits Jamie.Flashback to the day before: In the stable, Dougal and Ned are explaining to Jamie and Murtagh that Claire needs to be married to a Scottish husband to become a Scottish citizen and to therefore avoid being harshly questioned by Black Jack Randall. Ned is very clear the marriage must be consummated, either with actual witnesses or at least witnesses in the same building. Jamie is taken aback, and demands to know if Claire is aware of the particulars. Dougal shrugs off the question, indicating that Claire doesnt have a choice. Murtagh looks questioningly at Dougal and observes that he didn't think that Dougal believed in rape. "Not rape . . . persuasion," purrs Dougal, but then Dougal warns Jamie that the marriage must be consummated, with no secret agreements where they say they have, but they havent. Dougal goes on to say that it shouldnt be difficult, and that with Claire's figure, he wouldnt mind having sex with her himself. Jamie angrily tells Dougal that if Claire is to become his wife, then he would thank Dougal to stop talking about her like she was a common whore. Dougal reminds him that Claire has already bravely taken a few blows from Randall, but asks him to consider what Randall may do to her if he gets his hands on her again. Jamie turns away, considering . . . Claire smiles at Jamie. "So, you married me to keep me safe?" she asks him, and he agrees, with a small smile. Then seriously, he tells her that she has his name, his clan, his family and, if necessary, the protection of his body, as well. Claire comes to sit next to him on the bed, gazing at him consideringly, and holding his hand gently. Jamie gently leans in for a kiss, but nervously, Claire forestalls him, stammering, "Tell me about your family!" He stops and chuckles. "How many generations back?" he asks wryly. Relaxing, Jamie begins to tell her about his mother and father, and how they eloped and were married. They spend the next several hours drinking, talking and getting to know each other for the first time. Jamie charms her with his storytelling. Suddenly, the door bursts open, and Angus and Rupert are in the doorway, sent by Dougal to see if they have consummated their marriage, yet. Angus declares that they havent, "they still have their clothes on!" he exclaims as Jamie shoos them out the door. Claire giggles nervously at Jamie's return, and there is a moment of silence as they both consider the next step. Taking a deep breath, Claire suggests that it is getting late, and perhaps they should go to bed. "To bed . . . or to sleep?" inquires Jamie carefully. "Wellll . . . ." Claire says consideringly, smiling at Jamie. Jamie offers to help her take her corsets off, and begins to unlace her. Quickly, the many layers are discarded, leaving Claire in her shift as Jamie gently caresses her. "My turn," she whispers, reaching for his kilt. They begin to kiss passionately, and she draws back, surprised. "Where did you learn to kiss like that?" she asks. "I said I was a virgin, not a monk," he tells her. "If I need guidance, Ill ask . . ." He turns her around so that her back is to him and begins to fondle her. She turns to face him, and they collapse onto the bed, not bothering to finish undressing. In his eagerness, he does not realize that he is crushing her, and she whispers, urging him to a slightly different position. In a moment, its over, leaving them both gasping for breath. As they lay back, catching their breath, they exchange tentative smiles, and Claire asks him, curiously, if it was like he thought it would be. "Almost," he admits."I thought . . . " he breaks off, embarrassed, and Claire encourages him to tell her what he had imagined, promising not to laugh. He tells her that he didnt realize it was done face-to-face. "I thought it was done the back way . . . like horses!" Claire cannot contain her giggles, and even Jamie starts to laugh. He asks her if she liked it. She lowers her eyes, not answering immediately. A disappointed look crosses Jamies face, and he murmurs "Murtagh was right about that, then." Confused, Claire asks, "Murtagh?" Jamie tells her that Murtagh told him "that women generally do not care for it. He . . . and Rupert. And Ned. They had a lot of advice on the subject last night," he shrugs, and glumly sits on the edge of the bed. After a moment, Claire sits up and tells him, softly, "I did like it, Jamie."Crossing the room, she is suddenly struck by the fact that she is both a bigamist and an adulteress. Shaking the thought from her head, she declares she is going down to fetch some food. Jamie tries to stop her, but she steps through the door in only her shift, forgetting the crowd downstairs. As she appears at the top of the stairs, she is taken aback by the raucous cheers and greetings of the McKenzie clansmen, who have been celebrating Jamies marriage with enthusiasm. Suddenly realizing her state of undress, she quickly retreats back to the room, leaving Jamie to good-naturedly bear the brunt of the clansmens lewd comments as he gathers some food and wine to take back to the room.As Jamie starts back upstairs, he hears Dougal voice, softly, under the laughter of the other men: "Ye didnt thank me," reminding Jamie that he was the one that has provided Jamie with a bride. Jamie considers him for a moment and then tells him, "Thank you -- truly." Dougal warns him that he shouldnt be too eager to run back to his bride, because, as Jamie tells Claire later, it gives her too much power over him. As Claire and Jamie eat together, he tells her what Dougal has said, and she asks him what his response was. "I told him I was completely under your power and happy to be there," he replies. He brings more whiskey, and as he tops up her glass, he reaches out with his other hand to gently touch her hair. Involuntarily, she flinches and he moves away, disappointed. She catches herself and smiles at him, and he returns, leaning on the back of her char and contemplating her hair. "Mo nighean donn," he murmurs, and when she asks what he means, he tells her it means "my brown hair lass." She dismisses her hair color as dull, but Jamie thinks it beautiful. Tentatively, he caresses her bare shoulder, but she self-consciously pulls up her shawl and, searching for another topic of conversation, sees his kilt crumpled on the floor and notes that he had a new kilt for the occasion. "Those are Fraser colors," he explains.Flashback to the previous day: Murtagh presents Jamie with a kilt with the Fraser colors, and when Jamie asks where he found it, Murtagh tells him that it belonged to the widow of a Fraser who lived about five miles away. He tells Jamie that the widows wants the kilt back, and grumbles that he almost didnt bring it anyway, as there are so many Redcoats in the village. Jamie says he knows, thats why hes not collecting his own wedding clothes, but Murtagh is skeptical and worried: "What do you think will happen, when you prance out of here with red hair, your size and wearing Fraser colors? You may as well paint a target on your back." Jamie tells him that he only plans to get married once, and he wants to do so in a way that would make his mother proud. Murtagh shakes his head ruefully. Jamie asks him what he thinks of Claire, and Murtagh tells him that she'll do. When Jamie asks if his mother would approve, Murtagh is gruff, but then asks if Jamie still has the broach. As Murtagh runs his finger over the broach, he tells Jamie that his mother had a sweet smile, and that Claires smile was just as sweet.Claire is surprised by Jamies story about Murtagh, and Jamie then goes on to describe his negotiations with Dougal over the wedding . . .Flashback to the previous day: Jamie has three demands before he marries Claire. Dougal is impatient, declaring that it would be easier just to kill them both. Jamie is adamant: First, that they be wed properly, in a church, before a priest . . .Dougal and one of the McKenzies rustle up a priest, a rather sickly specimen of a man, and drags him to the cold, tumble-down church. The priest nevertheless refuses to marry Jamie and Claire without the banns being read. Exasperated, they pull a sword on the priest and threaten him, but he has a small knife of his own, and isn't afraid to use it. When they point out that he is outnumbered, he cannily observes that he is the only priest, so they can't kill him if they want a marriage ceremony. The priest goes on to protest that he must follow the law of reading the banns. Dougal almost explodes, but the MacKenzie clansman with him stops him, and begins to reason with the priest, and they enter into a spirited argument of doctrine, law and Biblical intent. After a few exchanges, Dougal, impatient, finally threatens to kill the priest, and the priest admits that he would rather die in hell, because it would be warmer than the miserable cold of that church. Dougal strikes a bargain: If the priest performs the ceremony the next day, he will provide windows for the church . . . Jamie finishes the story for Claire: "And Dougal said the wee man didnt skip a beat before asking what time he wanted the ceremony." They laugh, and as she offers him a tidbit of food, he takes the food away and tenderly kisses her wrist. "What were your other conditions?"Flashback to the previous day: Rupert and Angus have been tasked with obtaining a wedding ring. They locate the village blacksmith, who also fashions jewelry, and strike a bargain with him to make a ring out of a key that Jamie has given them. The blacksmith agrees, saying that it will be ready next week, but Angus demands that the key be ready that day. "It'll cost ye," the blacksmith says, and Rupert pays up. Claire admires her ring, but asks Jamie, "The key to what?" Jamie shrugs and says that it was just something that he had in his sporran. "What was your third condition?" she asks, and he turns and smiles broadly at her. "I left that to Ned," he laughs.Flashback to the previous day: Ned has been tasked with obtaining a wedding dress. He visits the village brothel, thinking that the women may have a pretty dress he can buy or borrow. The residents are delighted to see him, and parade various frocks for him to choose from, as well as merrily offering their own services. The madam shoos them away, and tells Ned that she had had a client who had a dress made for his wife, but then was short of money to pay for his services at the brothel, and paid with the dress instead. She notes that it hasnt been worn before, which makes it a perfect dress for a bride. Ned pulls out his purse to pay for the dress, and the girls, excited by the sight of so much money, immediately throw themselves on him. The madam suggests that they could offer him some entertainment while she sees to having the dress wrapped up for him, and he eagerly agrees.Claire laughs outloud and accuses Jamie of making things up, but he tells him that Ned related the story himself, blushing all the while. "He even brought the strumpet to the wedding, did you not see her?" Claire is surprised, but admits that she didnt really pay attention. Jamie then asks her what she had been up to all day. She laughs self-consciously, and then holds up the bottle of whiskey suggestively.Flashback to earlier in the day: Murtagh throws back the covers of the bed, revealing a disheveled Claire, who had drunk herself into oblivion the night before at the prospect of marriage. The innkeepers wife is disapproving of Claire's obviously hangover. Jamie asks if she remembers anything about her wedding, and she assures him that she does, but also ruefully admits that she had a monstrous hangover. He tells her that he remembers every moment, every second . . .Jamie comes out of the church, dressed in a fine kilt and coat, to meet Claire in the churchyard, surrounded by admiring MacKenzies and curious villagers. She stands very still, and the innkeeper's wife, acting as her maid, removes her cloak, revealing Claire in a stunningly beautiful dress of richly embroidered pale grey and mossy green. "It was as if the sun came out," he tells her of his first sight of her. He bows low to her and whispers, "your servant, madam." In a moment of panic, Claire blurts out, "I cant marry you, I dont even know your name!" Jamie smiles, and introduces himself, slowly emphasizing each name:"It's Fraser -- James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser." She stares at him for a moment, and then puts her hand out for a handshake. "Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp," she responds politely. He takes her hand and holds it gently, and as they exchange a gaze, Dougal gruffly breaks in, with the suggestion that "if you two are finished, let's get on with it". Claire turns to enter the church, suddenly glancing down at her hand to see Franks wedding ring. Slowly, she draws it off, and slips it down the tight bodice of her dress. They exchange their vows in the candlelit church Jamie gazing intently at Claire as he repeats his, and Claire, not meeting his eyes, but looking down at their clasped hands, repeating hers. After the ring is blessed, Jamie slips it on her right ring finger, and she stares at him. Suddenly, Dougal draws his knife, and to Claire's shock, Jamie holds out his arm, wrist up and Dougals sword makes a cut across Jamie's wrist. Before she can make sense out of what is happening, he grasps her wrist and cuts it, too, and Jamie places their cut wrists together. As the blood mingles, Dougal ties their wrists together, and Jamie tells her to repeat the Gaelic words after him, which she does slowly and unsteadily. Afterwards, they kiss a lingering kiss, which sparks a look of hope on Jamies face. He tells her that the wrist binding is an old Gaelic custom, and the worlds mean "Blood of my blood, bone of my bone . . ." and then says, hesitantly, that the way she kissed him, he thought that maybe she didnt mind so much having to marry him. With a slight smile, she lightly runs her fingers along his shirt-clad arm. Rising, she tells him to stand up, and take off his shirt. "I want to look at you," she says softly. Holding her gaze, he removes his shirt, and slowly Claire circles him, allowing her fingers to brush against him in a lingering, admiring exploration. "Fair's fair -- take off yours as well," he says, his voice low. She steps away and removes her shift. Jamie stands, staring, and she asks lightly if he has never seen a naked woman before. "Aye, but not one so close -- and not one that's mine." A spark is lit, and their embrace quickly becomes passionate. As she reaches a climax, Jamie is surprised, and asked if that happens every time. "Only if the man is a very good lover," she tells him breathlessly, and she begins to play the aggressor, teaching him, to his delight, the pleasures of a woman who takes an active part in making love. Gasping at the end, he tells her that he thought his heart was going to burst . . .As Jamie falls asleep, Claire rises, and seeing that there is no more whiskey, she wraps herself in Jamie's plaid and ventures downstairs to the darkened tavern, finally quiet for the evening. As she gathers some food and more drink, Dougal enters the room, and tells her that he has been to visit Captain Randall, to tell him the news of her marriage. "What did he say?" she asks him, curious, and Dougal comments that there's probably even a limit to her tolerance for bad language. He tells her that Randall has "more important things to worry about than chasing after one stray Sassenach, no matter how pretty," and that he knows better than to kidnap Colums nephews wife. As she smiles in relief and turns back, he stops her and tells her that he "commends her for doing her duty, but it shouldnt stop her from sampling . . . other . . . pleasures," caressing her chin and lips suggestively. "I find you to be a most singular woman, Claire." She frowns, and reminds him that she is Jamies wife. She stares at him, aghast, and they are interrupted by Rupert, who comes into the room. Claire takes the opportunity to leave, but before she leaves, she thanks Rupert for his efforts for her that day, "the ring is magnificent!" Rupert, beaming, tells her that she is welcome, and offers her congratulations on her wedding day. She thanks him, and returns to their room, and Rupert observes to Dougal in a low voice and a nod after Claire that "Young Jamie may not have much experience, but that one looks well ridden!" Dougals fist suddenly slams into Dougals face. "Ooof! What did you do that for?!" complains Rupert, and Dougal tersely tells him to look after the horses. When Rupert tells him that he already has, Dougal tells him to do it again. Claire observes the byplay from the shadows of the stairs, and leaves Dougal alone, drinking in the darkened inn.Back in their room, Claire sits at a table, staring into the fire as Jamie sleeps. He awakens, and seeing her sitting there before the fire, he quietly rises from the bed and pulls something from his sporran. Coming up behind Claire, he drops a single rope of pearls around her neck, startling her. "They're Scotch pearls," he explains. "They belonged to my mother, and now they belong to my wife." As Claire examines them, he tells her that the necklace is one of the few things he has to remind him of his mother, "and they are very precious to me -- as are you, Claire," he tells her softly. Wearing nothing but the pearls, she reaches over to kiss him, sits astride him and they make love.The next morning, Jamie is in a cheerful mood, quickly getting dressed and declaring that he is so hungry that he could take a bite out of her. "I think you've already done that!" she teases him, stretching languorously. He grins quickly and with a leer, tells her that he looks forward to doing it again, too. Claire laughs, and as Jamie leaves, she begins to straighten up their room. Fetching her wedding dress from the floor, she gently shakes it out and is surprised when her wedding ring with Frank falls out of the bodice and rolls across the floor, lodging in a crack in the floorboards. Carefully, she plucks it up, and slides it on her left ring finger. Sinking to the floor, she holds up both hands, gazing at both rings.

Review: I've recently been reading (actually listening to the audio-books) the Outlander series of books having completed 5 so far so when I saw the Starz TV series was coming out I just had to watch it.
In this case, I don't think people who are would be disappointed anyway as the screen writers did an excellent job of translating the 1st part of the book to the screen (I've only seen the 1st episode but I'm already hooked so I'm sure I'll enjoy the rest).
From the 1st episode I think they producers will not be shy to include the more sexual aspects of the Outlander books, as they do have this erotic element that actually makes the love between Claire and Jamie the driving force of their relationship which allows it to span centuries, even when they are no longer together.
I'm looking forward to the Claire Jamie love scenes hopefully to come...
I'm also going to enjoy the Scottish history and scenery, and loved the way they so far have included it in the TV series.
There must be millions of us around the world that love these books and I'm sure like me many of them will order the cable channel just to watch this.
Additionally, Starz bought 16 EPs rather than the usual 10, so that RDM has time to develop the story line and the many characters that appear in the book.
You don't have to read the book to enjoy the show and I believe new viewers who give it a chance over the next several EPs as the action in the story picks up won't be disappointed and will appreciate what all the fan fuss is about..
Having discovered Gabalton's novels only recently (generally reserving my limited reading time to the likes of Bernard Cornwell and Patrick O'Brien, more swords;less romance),I was pleased with the quality of the production, casting, pace and overall presentation of this complex story.
Yes. However, if the mini-series story line continues in keeping with the books (as seems likely)it will likely unfold into dovetailing themes of sacrifice,duty,honor,jealousies and complex loyalties that even many of the male viewers will relate wholeheartedly to.
We binged through the whole of Series 1 and became involved with Claire and Jamie, their story, friends, foes and family..
The forests, mountains, castles, give a unique impression to this wonderful series.The characters come to life on paper in talented actors and perfect for the roles.
Based on viewing only the first episode I think this is a wonderful adaptation of a much loved series of books.
A much anticipated series, the first episode, which was made available free by Starz on You Tube, sees Claire, a world war 2 nurse being transported back through time to Scotland prior to the a battle of Culloden where she meets Jamie and Captain Randall, two very different men who will come to play a large part in her life.
Just watched Outlander for the last 2 weeks, OMG the best series EVER, My husband and I love historical films, when browsing our New Amazon prime saw this and completely hooked , stayed up late every night to watch at least 2 episodes, last one tonight, my goodness didn't expect that ending, please, please tell us there will be a series three.
Some of this information is pertinent, and certainly some introduction into the character's life BEFORE being thrown back in time is necessary to really grasp how unsettling and inexplicable what she sees is, but unfortunately 40 minutes was just too long.After that somewhat arduous 40 minutes, when the protagonist Claire does wind up in the middle of the Plaid wearing sword brandishing Scottish highlands, the episode was phenomenal.
I think now they have fully introduced the back story future episodes will have more freedom to focus on the heart of this time travel tale.
Firstly, let me state, I am a 64 yr old male, from Scotland, who is an avid fan of the Outlander books, and not easily, or usually, impressed by film adaptations of my favourite books, much less the lower-budget, less accomplished, TV versions I've watched all of the first half-series, and can now say that I'm mightily impressed by the entire production so far The casting has been perfect, with both Jamie and Claire having just the right level of good looks and charm, without it turning into that ludicrous Hollywood glamour, which would spoil the whole earthiness needed to portray the characters as 18th century ScotsSpecial mention going to Tobias Menzies as Frank/Jack Randal - What a sympathetic husband, and what an utter scumbag of a soldier - He nails it The accompanying cast of highlanders and soldiers are beautifully cast, and the direction, through different in style from episode to episode, has carried the book's plot faithfully and with great artistic flair The music and scenery are both exquisite; showing Scotland at it's most powerful, and gloriously pretty I do feel sorry for those who've labelled it as merely being "cheap erotic fiction" - they obviously haven't read the books, or really watched enough of the story in its entirety to "get it in context" It's an adult love story, and is portrayed as such - and all the better for it Yes, it's both sexy, and rather violent too, in parts, but so is the series of books It is also historically fascinating, has a highly complex plot structure, multi-dimensional characters who aren't the usual hackneyed clones that mainstream cinema thrives on, and a sweeping saga which spans many decades; even centuries Those who have slagged it & put it down, have totally missed the pointTheir loss My wife and I are loving it, and found episode eight to be an absolute jawdropper of a finale to the half -series Can't wait for the rest Bring it on!!.
Seasons 1, 2 and (arguably) 3 were fantastic with Sam Heughan perfectly cast as Jamie Fraser a man whose honour, morals and care for others came before all else and whose love for Claire is no doubt the envy of many viewers.Yes, it would be fair to say we enjoyed it that much that we binge watched it...
make sense...But no, the same ridiculous story continues into Season 4, with lazy script writing resulting in cringe worthy episodes, bordering on the realms of irritation.
if by some 'magic stone circle' miracle a producer for Outlander does happen to read this, then please, either bring the show to a suitable end or raise the bar higher whilst discussing the story and script for future seasons.....
Glimmering and romantic series about love stories and passionate relationships in different times and two irreconciliables existences under historical background.
Focusing a beautiful nurse called Claire Randall who becomes involved with two vastly different men, as she is recently married to Frank Randall, Tobias Menzies, and being mysteriously thrown into a dangerous world in which she is forced to marry an impulsive Scotsman, Jamie Fraser : Sam Heughan as a romantic young warrior , it ignites a deep love story.It is a dramatic adventure romance series that certainly hits the mark, being plenty of thrills, fights, love scenes, luxurious costumes, shimmering photography, catching score, wonderful outdoors , all meld together under Ronald B.
This is a pretty good series based on the popular novels written by Diana Gabaldon, in which a women is swept back in an unknown Scottish world where her life is threatened, tearing her heart and suffering pain, danger, punishment, but also a real love.
What got off to a slow start kept me interested with the inclusion of time travel, burly men I wanted to believe I could become and a decent love story of two souls from different times - literally.This is exactly what the TV series portrays, only much worse.
Answer: A believable story line, good pacing and direction, intelligent social context reflecting values of the 18th century rather than that of the 21st.As to bodice ripping and dialogue like "I'll thank ye to take yer hands off me wife," this is adolescent storytelling at its most laughable.
After the first episode, which held much promise, I started reading the novels which, despite flaws in research and formulaic repetition of plot, I've found enjoyable and within 5 weeks was onto book 5 where I remain as the story begins to lag and indulge and dwell on insignificant detail.Some of those criticisms I could repeat for the series but accompanied by more.Much has been made of the comparisons with Game of Thrones and this is one of the reasons why I hoped so much for this series to be good.
It's not surprising no British network opted to show this prior to the referendum as it could have been as incendiary as it was false (at least to those who think Braveheart is realistic and reason to 'hate the English').These diversions are at the cost of key plot points and character development in the book which are completely lost or glossed over.
What I have come to find is that the character of Claire is a turn-off - both the series and the book.
Outlander is complete sh!t, I tried so hard to like this rubbish but after 8 episodes of rape, I lost all hope of salvation for this romantic soft porn drivel.there is no need for more words here but as IMDb requires it here goes...
The only difference with Outlander and a run of the mill soapie drama is that the sets are more elaborate and the scenery pleasant on the eye.Shoddy story telling and unrealistic characterizations of people in this series made it tedious to watch.
This could have been a great series with more realistic, believable characters and better story lines..
The show stars Caitriona Balfe as Claire Randall, a married World War II nurse who in 1945 finds herself transported back to the Scotland of 1743 after touching some ancient stones, after travelling back in time she encounters the dashing Highland warrior Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and becomes embroiled in the Jacobite rebel uprisings.
I can see that some of the reviewers on IMDb are not happy about this but i myself think that the explicit graphical nature of all the different parts of life that this show has to offer and its no holds barred story-line makes the show that much better to watch.
Having approached the first episode with a large degree of excitement, having loved reading the books in the series, I was pretty disappointed to find myself completely underwhelmed by Claire.Her performance is just disappointingly awkward and wooden and I can't find it in me to relate to or sympathise with her.
A less beautiful actress with even a touch of appeal or charisma would have done much better.Since this most central character is failing so dismally I can't see myself watching for much longer, but I'll give it another episode or two in the hope of improvement..
There are even a few musical numbers!But what really grabbed me by the throat and wouldn't let go was the sublime combination of epic, heart-melting romance and brutally graphic realism, featuring (in the final two episodes of season 1) some of the most violent and sustained scenes of male rape and torture that I've ever seen.I cannot emphasise enough how thrilling it is as a viewer to be treated like a fully-rounded and intelligent human being, equally capable of being swept away by a dreamy romance, and enduring unspeakable horrors - all within the same dramatic framework.
While the wedding night sex scene was well done and added to the story, the continuous showing of Claire's breasts and her and Jamie's love-making became voyeuristic and added absolutely nothing to the story-line - it is there simply to titillate sex starved women and 14 year-old boys.
I do not understand how a series can get worse, you would expect it to get better when the actors grow into their parts more and more.Jamie is irritating me more and more; absolutely not the character from the books.
Everything in a bumpy slow-motion, like watching a Kung-fu movie from the seventies!But the worst of all is that the makers of the series invented a complete storyline for Frank!
He is absolutely not interesting or relevant and certainly not captivating enough to devote half of the episode to!It it too bad, because I was really looking forward to the series, but I'm done with it!
The on screen romance of Jamie and Claire is like nothing I've seen in any other movie or show.
I have only read the first book and I felt like the first season mirrored it pretty accurately and did a wonderful job bringing these characters to life.
In fact, it's VERY similar to a book I read in the 70's - beautiful woman visits old English castle and is transported back in time to fall in love with handsome knight who lives there.
This show is a powerful example of a well executed piece of art,this is nothing, short of a masterpiece with every single person even the extras putting in a superb performance, although special recognition have to go to Catriona Balfe and Sam Heughan with the latter putting in a career defining performance, not to forget Tobias Mendez, who did his role so well that it gave me the chills.You can easily without an effort root for Claire and Jamie,they do their scenes so well that you even think they are real couple.
It's a great escapism hour for anyone and though there is a theme of romance and history in it, it's bound to be attractive to men too with the political struggle and the life like effects ( which can be brutal at times but was reality in those days).
If you'd like to watch a good series, look for something else..
This series, like the book, is highly over rated.
I read the first book a few times, then realized that I didn't like her story, the male chauvinism (true in the 18th century, but not appealing all the same).
Her characters aren't really all that interesting, the stories seem to follow the same theme.Now I know what kind of responses I'm going to get from Outlander fans--definitely hostile ones.
I would have given the series a 9/10, until the last episode of season one.
Or is that just the avid/excited fan talking.If you haven't read the books, I do think you would still be able to follow the story line, and hopefully the same quality of story lines runs throughout this series.I don't know how I am going to wait until next week.
I don't care that this was a "good" book; the series' appalling writing, appalling acting and appalling direction can be excused at first by at least an interesting if not original concept of traveling back in time to Braveheart Scotland.
It's a good thing that the series is filmed in beautiful Scotland and that there is exquisite attention to authentic detail in costuming and setting, because readers and viewers alike will be either so grateful or intrigued that it might take a few episodes to realize that something important was missing.
The beginning episodes would have been more interesting and exciting and have kept the continuing love story of a "rare mutual passion" on point if Claire's POV revealed her attraction to Jamie along with Jamie's more obvious interest in her.The odd diminution of Jamie Fraser's presence throughout the series by the exclusion of key moments that reveal his strong inner character, intelligence, and innate good humor--the things that make him such a beloved literary character-- does a great disservice both to an unforgettable book character, Jamie Fraser, and a wonderful actor, Sam Heughan.
I must of have watched each episode of season one for four times at least.
When I started to watch this show, the story line looked very interesting.
Having been someone who has never read the books and coming to this new, season one and it's first few episodes really hooked me to it.
The next time before making vile scenes like the prison one with Jamie and Randall, maybe they should consider conducting a survey to find out whether heterosexual, homosexual and anyone in other sex labels would want to watch a scene as disturbing and graphical as this one they presented.
There are British actors who have wonderful american accents, but she's not one of them.Also, shouldn't a series based on books written by an American woman pay homage to that fact and cast the American characters appropriately?.
To my fantasies of what Claire, Jamie, Frank, Sir John, Dougal and the myriad other beloved characters looked like in my mind's eye.
I don't see Claire in Balfe.I see a little bit of "my" Jamie in Heughan -- at times around the eyes and occasionally in his smile.
But it wasn't until the very end of the first season that I felt the character was behaving like Jamie.
Although it has been a long time since I read the first book (over 20 years!), the Jamie that I remembered was not so boyish as he is portrayed early in the series.So there's that.
Fans of the books love Scotland and the scenery and (to a lesser extent) the costumes deliver.I give this series a 4 instead of a 3 because, as I've written before, at least they tried.
I haven't read the book but this is such a beautiful series, amazing atmosphere, picturesque characters and wonderful places, perfect costumes and altogether very credible as far as picturing the historical context goes.
I am a history film nut and I love story about time travel so I decided to check out Outlander to see if I go get into it.
After several re-reads, I was looking forward to watching the beginning of the series and the question was: will it be up to the challenge of the story?