I know, every Outlander-episode is marvelous, but man, this thrilled me so much I can barely breathe! I know they don't exactly follow the books all the time, but who cares if the result is a piece of art anyway? I can't wait to see the next episode.
11 Reviews
Fraser Ridge
vickicarver29 November 2018
Best since Season 1
flansmith26 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
I loved season 1. Season 2 and 3 were good but didn't quite stand up to season 1. This season is comparable to season 1 and may exceed it. I cannot wait to see more, and am so excited for Brianna to meet her dad. CAN. NOT. WAIT!!
Tantoo Cardinal is a national treasure
marit-4405719 October 2023
Warning: Spoilers
So nice seeing Tantoo Cardinal, she is much loved and respected here in Canada. A rather slow but good episode - the bear-man was a bit...odd, and I seem to have developed a fondness for Meyers in a similar vein to Rupert, so I was glad they didn't kill him off.
I am really loving John Bell as Young Ian, he has been my favourite "new" face in my delayed watching of this show who is still with them thus far in S4. I dread getting attached to any character, but I still find myself doing so all the time.
PSA: As someone who grew up in the Canadian north, I can assure you that it is a pretty stupid idea to go traipsing around the woods at night looking for bears. They don't generally want to eat you, or be near you, but tempting fate and limiting your own vision by holding out a torch in front of you is a good way to get attention you don't want. I know it's fiction but it makes me nuts every time they do things like that.
I am really loving John Bell as Young Ian, he has been my favourite "new" face in my delayed watching of this show who is still with them thus far in S4. I dread getting attached to any character, but I still find myself doing so all the time.
PSA: As someone who grew up in the Canadian north, I can assure you that it is a pretty stupid idea to go traipsing around the woods at night looking for bears. They don't generally want to eat you, or be near you, but tempting fate and limiting your own vision by holding out a torch in front of you is a good way to get attention you don't want. I know it's fiction but it makes me nuts every time they do things like that.
Comparison of the book and show Part 2
amanda_parsons5 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
I'm currently still reading the book, but I did notice a few differences. Jamie was mauled by a real bear and attacked it. In the show, Meyers gets attacked by the bear. Jamie kills the bear and not some one dressed as a bear and the aboriginal people see him. They share the bear meat while one aboriginal tends to Jamie's wounds and Jamie gives them whiskey. They all smoke and laugh. Jamie never drags anything to their place.
In the book, the tribe does meet with Jamie and Claire and they do exchange things. An elder woman does tell the story of the white raven. In the book, all three women are speaking French.
In the book, Roger finds out about Jamie and Claire's death while researching in the library. He tears out the page and debates with himself whether Brianna should know. In the show, Roger requests info from an American author and she sends him files. Roger reluctantly calls Brianna. It is possible I haven't gotten to the part where he tells her.
In the book, Ian goes on hunting trips with his new aboriginal friends in the winter. One night Jamie has gone out as well and his long absence worries Claire enough for her to go out to find him. She tracks his steps to different traps until she finds him face first in the snow. He has apparently hurt his back and she makes a little hut to keep them warm. I'm not sure if this is an allusion to the hut we see in the show and Claire looking for Jamie in the snow.
I still need to read, but overall a good adaptation.
In the book, the tribe does meet with Jamie and Claire and they do exchange things. An elder woman does tell the story of the white raven. In the book, all three women are speaking French.
In the book, Roger finds out about Jamie and Claire's death while researching in the library. He tears out the page and debates with himself whether Brianna should know. In the show, Roger requests info from an American author and she sends him files. Roger reluctantly calls Brianna. It is possible I haven't gotten to the part where he tells her.
In the book, Ian goes on hunting trips with his new aboriginal friends in the winter. One night Jamie has gone out as well and his long absence worries Claire enough for her to go out to find him. She tracks his steps to different traps until she finds him face first in the snow. He has apparently hurt his back and she makes a little hut to keep them warm. I'm not sure if this is an allusion to the hut we see in the show and Claire looking for Jamie in the snow.
I still need to read, but overall a good adaptation.
I think we need new writers
schmittinger8326 November 2018
Warning: Spoilers
As with last year, I'm really disappointed with the writers. Hard to believe that they ever read Diana's books. Where is Duncan Innes, who is suppose to marry Aunt Jacusta. No Polyanna last week, and now no bear, just some guy dressed up! I think maybe they need to extend the series? You can't take epic novels such as these and cram them into 13 weeks. I don't want to get into what they've done to Brianna and Roger!
Common Ground
bobcobb30117 January 2019
Warning: Spoilers
Tskili Yona was so crazy and yet in the world of Outlander it somehow worked.
So far this season has been pretty solid. Not crazy about the idea of Brianna going back in time to be with her mother, but we'll see how that plays out if it does go down that route.
So far this season has been pretty solid. Not crazy about the idea of Brianna going back in time to be with her mother, but we'll see how that plays out if it does go down that route.
An Episode that Captures the Essence of its Source Material
jmansmannstjohnslrev27 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
It would be impossible for the showrunners to capture all of the events of Drums of Autumn, but this episode does give you a sense of the Frasers struggle for survival in building their new home on Frasers ridge, though it leaves out some of the more harrowing moments of its source material in this respect. It's always hard to rate episodes like this because on the one hand, it is relatively forgettable, with the natural threats of the North Carolina wilderness that were found in the book giving way to a more generic Indian threat in the tv show. The problem is, Sam and Cait are so talented and have such great chemistry that it would be enjoyable to watch them read a phone book together. The one thing that is so great about the first half of Season 4 is that you just get to see Jaime and Claire finally live together and build a life without a constant threat of war and imminent death hanging over their heads.
Again, my biggest problem with the episode is that the betrayal of Roger MacKenzie continues as the showrunners continue to spit on Roger MacKenzie's character from Seasons 2 and 3. Roger MacKenzie again goes out his way to research and find information on whether Claire made it back to Jaime. But unlike his actions before, he does it for a selfish reason, to try to worm his way back into a relationship with Brianna. I swear, it is as if the showrunners decided that they were going to try to make Roger as unlikeable as possible. Were they concerned that if Roger came across as a good guy it would take away from Jaime's character?
The same is true when Roger decides not tell Brianna about the obituary. In the tv series, the reason he gives in this episode is that her mother is already dead and has been for hundreds of years (oh just wait, the showrunners make it even worse later), a limp excuse considering that Brianna can time travel. You see, in the book he doesn't tell Brianna for a much different reason. After hearing Claire's story, he is convinced that it is impossible to change the past, since Claire and Jaime couldn't stop Culloden. He believes that telling Brianna would do nothing but cause pain since it would not be possible for them to change the past even if they were to go back to try to warn them. Once again, the plot matches the original material, but the explanation and reasons given are different and hollow in the tv series. At this point, it is really hard to have any good feelings for Roger which is such a shame considering his status in the books.
Once again, another Outlander episode that would be unwatchable except for the fact that Cait and Sam are so incredibly talented and can, on their own, carry a mediocre story.
Again, my biggest problem with the episode is that the betrayal of Roger MacKenzie continues as the showrunners continue to spit on Roger MacKenzie's character from Seasons 2 and 3. Roger MacKenzie again goes out his way to research and find information on whether Claire made it back to Jaime. But unlike his actions before, he does it for a selfish reason, to try to worm his way back into a relationship with Brianna. I swear, it is as if the showrunners decided that they were going to try to make Roger as unlikeable as possible. Were they concerned that if Roger came across as a good guy it would take away from Jaime's character?
The same is true when Roger decides not tell Brianna about the obituary. In the tv series, the reason he gives in this episode is that her mother is already dead and has been for hundreds of years (oh just wait, the showrunners make it even worse later), a limp excuse considering that Brianna can time travel. You see, in the book he doesn't tell Brianna for a much different reason. After hearing Claire's story, he is convinced that it is impossible to change the past, since Claire and Jaime couldn't stop Culloden. He believes that telling Brianna would do nothing but cause pain since it would not be possible for them to change the past even if they were to go back to try to warn them. Once again, the plot matches the original material, but the explanation and reasons given are different and hollow in the tv series. At this point, it is really hard to have any good feelings for Roger which is such a shame considering his status in the books.
Once again, another Outlander episode that would be unwatchable except for the fact that Cait and Sam are so incredibly talented and can, on their own, carry a mediocre story.
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