The red dress from Season 2 in France is a smashing success…

Author: Artsy Chow Roamer

Are you Watching Outlander?

CHRISTMAS BINGE WATCHING

If you aren’t watching Outlander, you are missing something fantastic that should be on your Christmas Netflix schedule. After all the holiday season is all about bingeing (yes, that is an accepted spelling); food, drinks, socializing, games, presents, movies and thanks to streaming - entire series. Here we take a look at why I’m telling you this is the one to watch.

Based on the eight books by American writer, Diana Gabaldon, Outlander follows the story of 20th-century British nurse Claire Randall (played wonderfully by actress Caitriona Balfe), who time travels to 18th-century Scotland and finds adventure and romance with the dashing James Fraser (played by actor Sam Hueghan but read Fabio here….only red hair…blue eyes…different accent…similar body). 😍

Now if I had known it was based off a book series I would have already been all over it just like I was Game of Thrones before it came out on HBO. I like to read the books first so you know if they are staying true to the story.

HEADS UP: This post will have spoilers in it so beware!

So the show itself is a cross between historical fiction, mystery, adventure and science fiction/fantasy with a lot of romance thrown in too. Claire’s husband teaches and studies British history. We get quite a lesson on the efforts of the Scottish to free themselves of the British while they are visiting Scotland on a much needed trip trying to recapture their relationship after the separation during WWII.

Of course the show opens with beautiful haunting music that is hard not to sing along with and imagery from The Dance of the Druids. A dance that will be watched in the night from afar by tourist Claire and her husband which is where we first experience the place with the stones.

STUNNING PHOTOGRAPHY ON LOCATION FROM SCOTLAND

It feels like you are taking a trip to Scotland with stunning photography and locations as the intriguing plot starts to develop. Claire believes she left something behind and needs to go back and visit the stones. Next thing we know, she wakes up in a strange place in the middle of a battle with British soldiers in uniform.

Not her 20th century ones-but 18th century ones. She tries to run and hide not understanding what has happened but she is a clever lass and starts to figure it out. Then we are introduced to Black Jack (played to genius by Tobias Menzies, the same actor playing her 20th century husband), We are obviously supposed to think he is on her husband’s Ancestry line somewhere but this guy is definitely bad news and will continue to turn up like a bad penny.

Her 20th century dress looks like a slip conforming to her every curve and Black Jack….well let’s just say rape is something he enjoys anytime anywhere. But a small group of fighters we will come to know well that includes James Fraser rescues her from that particular horror just in time and a chemistry begins to form even though they suspect as did Black Jack that she might be an English spy.

A BRILLIANT ENSEMBLE CAST

The brilliant ensemble cast keeps us interested in all the stories happening around Claire and Jamie. They find out very quickly that Claire has great healing knowledge that will come in very handy in the war torn days ahead; in fact she is almost like a white witch to them.

She knows about germs, infection, cleanliness, herbs and such. She is so steady and kind and manages to save people in impossible circumstances the men come to respect her and even like her as Jamie promises to protect her. Although she is a strange duck to them; liable to cuss at the drop of a hat or chastise them-not your average gentle lady by far! 🤣

CLAN MACKENZIE ARE FEROCIOUS FIGHTERS

The boys were making their way back to the gathering of their clan under the leadership of Colum MacKenzie. His brother Dougal and Jamie seem to have a history which causes a lot of tension and he begins to have more than a passing fancy for Claire as well.

Claire recognizes the symptoms of Colum’s obvious deformity to be the same disease that killed the famous artist, Toulouse-Lautrec. Through helping to ease some of his symptoms, Colum comes to understand they need Claire and he does not want her to leave.

He also understands she needs protection as a single woman and insists she marry. Hence, the romance and some pretty hot sex scenes begin between Jamie and Claire as they slowly and genuinely start to care for each other and fall in love as war and adventures happen all around them.

STEWARTS JACOBITES AND THE BATTLE OF CULLODEN

Now remember Claire knows the future. She watches Dougal raising money and all the talk about Stewarts and she realizes that he is a Jacobite and wants to see them returned to the British throne. Claire already knows this is leading to the Battle of Culloden, certain death and the terrible losses involved.

We find out Black Jack’s full name as a direct descendant of Claire’s husband to be Johnathan Wolverton Randall. He gets his hands on Claire again and we find out he is the one who flogged Jamie to within an inch of his life leaving the horrible scars of it on his back.

We begin to see just how mentally unhinged he is; a rapist and a sadist who finds pleasure in it all. Dougal saves her from him the second time and Jamie again on the third. Black Jack has a thing for the two of them and he’s gonna make it personal.

Now she tells Jamie the truth about her time traveling and that they will lose their battles in the long run. He tries to help her go back home but she decides she can’t leave him and asks to go home with him instead.

THE LAIRD OF LALLYBROCH

Jamie takes her to his home, Lallybroch, and we meet his sister, Jenny, and other family members. Claire’s healing talents again come into play as she helps her new sister-in-law through a very difficult pregnancy. They forge a very good bond.

We find out that Jamie has a price on his head and Black Jack has made it a mission to find him. When he gets taken we find out just how personal he is going to make it. He smashes Jamie’s hand, he sodomizes him and generally makes him his jailhouse bitch.

This time it is Claire and clan MacKenzie to the rescue. Claire must do surgery on the hand and help Jamie through the near PTSD he is suffering after his time with Black Jack. We hope we are rid of him now but that is never how it turns out

They escape by ship and Claire explains that France is where the rising is going to begin with Charles and suggests perhaps she and Jamie should go there to try to change history. That is how we end up in France for Season 2.

CHRISTMAS BINGEING AT IT’S BEST

As you can see, Outlander has a very intriguing plot. There is something for everyone. Brutally violent war scenes and all the history seem to appeal to the men as they make up 50% of the watchers even with a woman as the central character in the series.

The romance and love scenes along with the breathtaking scenery, photography and fashion seem to appeal to the ladies. While the second season finds you in France, the third which I am binge watching right now takes us to Jamaica and the beautiful surrounding tropical islands.

I have no idea yet where the fourth season takes us and the newest fifth season is due out in February on Starz. Eight books will take awhile to get through folks. Personally, I can’t wait to watch more and to read the books as well.

CONCLUSION

Watch Outlander….trust me you will like it. Wait until you see where these two are going to take you. You probably will want to visit Scotland. I know I do and have it on my bucket list even as we speak. It is a beautiful mysterious historical place.

I hope you enjoyed reading about my favorite binge right now. Everyone needs a good series for the Christmas holidays. If you enjoyed reading about this you might also enjoy other blogs under Explore the World and Just Because.

Hey, don’t be a stranger! Let me hear from you on whether or not you liked Outlander or what your favorite show is to binge watch this season OK? Watch for my updated blog on New Year’s resolutions next week. Thank you, Constant Reader, for your support and love over this past year. I wish you and yours the best of holidays. Until next time…

Cheers,

ArtsyChowRoamer

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