Outlander Season One
Creator: Ronald D. Moore
Writer: Diana Gabaldon (novel)
Genre: Drama, Fantasy
Cast: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies
Country: USA
Production Companies: Tall Ship Productions, Sony Pictures Television et al.
Certificate Rating: 18
My Rating: 5/5
Sing me a song of a lass that is gone,
Say could that lass be I...
1945. World War Two is over. Claire Randall has reunited with her husband Frank and they venture to Scotland to have their second honeymoon and where Frank can research his family lineage. Travelling to Inverness the couple visit some standing stones and are told legends and folklore about the mysteries of these stones. Claire revisits the stones one morning and soon finds herself transported back to 18th Century Scotland, a very different time where Jacobite Highlanders are fighting the English Red Coats.
Adapted from Diana Gabaldon's best-selling series of the same name, Claire must find a way to survive and get back to her husband in the future.
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The narrative is gripping. Scotland is known for its magical myths and folklore and the show really emphasises it through key plot moments. The most obvious being the standing stones which Claire time-travels through unknowingly. The gothic genre is identified throughout the show's narrative, imperatively with our feisty heroine Claire and her adventures through dark highlands, the fight for what is real and right, religion, and most importantly moments of superstition. Scotland's paganism heritage features through legends and folklore which play a role when people suspect Claire of being a witch or an English Spy. We can not forget the epic romance that ensues throughout the show too.
I love Claire Randall, played by Caitriona Balfe, she holds true female empowerment throughout, mostly as she has been brought from 1945 back to the 1700's and her knowledge of modern day medicine and sciences aids in her survival. Her wits and feminist prowess helps her to stand out from the crowd. Following literary tropes she is the heroine of the show as at times she is seen to be saving people, no matter how big or small the ordeal is, and yet Claire is also lead the damsel-in-distress, trapped in a time unfamiliar to her and also in need of protecting when her words get the better of her.
The show wouldn't be spectacular without your typical love triangle romance; Claire married to Frank Randall in the modern day, meets Jamie Fraser, a Scottish Highlander who fights for what is right and protects who he loves. Your "bad-boy" trope is ever-present and fans of the show cannot help loving him. Played by Sam Heughan, Jamie Fraser is an amazing character; a handsome man with defining muscles, who has no problem charming the ladies, plays to the stereotype of bad-boy with a good heart. Once Jamie and Claire meet, sparks fly between them and he wants to protect Claire just as much as Claire wants to protect Jamie. A note to viewers this show has a lot of sexual themes throughout.
Likewise while watching the show Claire's dilemma of trying not to fall in love with Jamie, makes us feel a little sorry for her husband Frank, trapped in 1945 frantically looking for his missing wife. Although this soon comes to pass as the character development between Claire and Jamie really takes hold and the viewers become transfixed in wanting a happy ending for the pair. Frank Randall is the anti-hero of the story, whilst not the villain he somewhat prevents Claire from true happiness as she wants to do what is right without hurting the people she loves. Unlike Frank's historical counterpart the English Red Coat Black Jack Randall (both played by the incredible Tobias Menzies) who is the true villain of the show, becomes infatuated with both Claire and Jamie in a plot-twist mind-bending ending to the first season.
The dramatic last two episodes of the season is what has truly shocked and hooked me in to Outlander. As the season plays out there are many moments that lull then the action grabs your attention once more, but none other than the climactic moment that Black Jack Randall has Jamie Fraser imprisoned. Without revealing too much this horrific moment which plays out over both episodes is truly impossible to watch and you can't help feeling emotionally traumatised for the characters at hand. Beware this show is rated 18 in the UK for this subject played out in the show.
Outlander is a great programme for anyone who has a love for history, romance, gritty and gruesome battle scenes, almost to the likes of Game of Thrones, and of course an adventure that gets bigger and bigger as the story progresses. The cinematography is beautiful in capturing the vast landscapes of the Highlands and most of the locations are impressive enough to tell their own story just by looking at them. I love the opening credits which features breathtaking landscapes and uses the iconic Skye Boat Song that I can't help but sing and have stuck in my head for the rest of the day. I think it's brilliant how they changed the lyrics from "lad" to "lass", as seen above in the post, to suit the show's storytelling. Beautifully shot and with a great story I love the first season and cannot wait to start the second; the books have been added to my 'To Be Read' list.
Have any of you seen Outlander? If so leave a comment down below of your favourite character or what you love most about the show.
I'm off to start season two.
Enjoy x
Outlander IMDb
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