Outlander

[TerraNovan]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

It looks like a good setup, and if I had the neurology that wasnt so dissimilar to a womans I might like it. However emotional content either bores me, or makes me depressed.

 

[davejames]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

Well I've always had a soft spot for a good romance, as long as it's not some overly sappy and ridiculous Notebook kind of thing.

But what's really interesting me more so far is the attempt at portraying a real, historical period. And watching Claire try to adjust to the very different customs and attitudes of the time. Or just the fun of watching the Scots react to her strange behavior.

Plus from what I've read the story takes some very interesting twists and turns after awhile, and I think it could be fun to watch those play out.

 

[Mister Fandango]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I enjoy period pieces. While this has started off slow, I still like it and will stick with it for a bit longer.

 

[Agent Richard07]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

Production-wise, it's very well made, as I'd expect no less from Ron Moore, and Bear McCreary's music is excellent as always. Story-wise, I'm not into period pieces and found this to be a little on the dull side but something about the time travel set-up hooked me and I like the lead character and actress. It's nice to be able to put a name to the model in the St. Ives commercial. Apparently I've seen her before in Super 8, Escape Plan and Now You See Me. She's also in H+, a web series I've been meaning to catch.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

H+ is a trick.

It's 50 something chapters, so you think you need a month to watch it.

Each chapter is 2 - 5 minutes long.

 

[Pingfah]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I must admit I only watched this because of the name.

Everything I have seen with Outland, or Lander in the name, or in fact called Outlander, has been at least entertaining, and this is still true.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

What's your opinion on the Australian sitcom Outland?

 

[Pingfah]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I've missed that, but i'll certainly add it to my list, as according to the rule it must be good.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

The bit where the kid got his ear nailed to that post.

Ewwww!

 

[AvBaur]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

Can we maybe change the name of the thread, if this is going to be the place where we continue to discuss Outlander? Because I don't find it dull at all so far.

 

[Sindatur]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I watched the first two episodes, because it was recommended, though it didn't really hook me, it wasn't a chore either. Then when I watched Episode 3, I found I was actually attached to it. 4 Episodes in now, and I'm still enjoying it, I'm really enjoying the chemistry between the leads Claire and Jamie, and I'm enjoying the period Drama part of it as well.

 

[Guy Gardener]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

Can we maybe change the name of the thread, if this is going to be the place where we continue to discuss Outlander? Because I don't find it dull at all so far.

Most people get off proving me wrong.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I've enjoyed the show a great deal now that its gotten into the period piece (or period-er than WW2 piece) after the rather slow premiere, though it might grow tiresome if every episode consists of Claire's attempt to get back to the stones at Inverness being thwarted in some new way.

So, does anyone else think the red-haired Duncan woman who's the healer in town and everyone thinks is a witch is also another time traveler? She seemed to give a knowing grin and tone when Claire talked about how she'd grown up "all over the place" as a child, as if that clued her on that Claire was also from the future. Plus she's taken up the same profession and has a similar dislike for the social conventions and beliefs of the era.

I wonder if she could have been the source for the song about the other time traveler? Either from when she first arrived or if she had been jumping back even further in time before settling in 1743.

I love the music, but then I've enjoyed most of Bear McCreary's work. He seems to capture the spirit of whatever setting he's working in perfectly.

 

[Sto-Vo-Kory]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I love the music, but then I've enjoyed most of Bear McCreary's work. He seems to capture the spirit of whatever setting he's working in perfectly.

Agree completely. After seeing the first two episodes of Intruders, I would've sworn that they'd gotten Mark Snow to provide the music, since the producers are aping the X-Files style right down to the slow fade-outs at the end of acts. But I was surprised to learn from our friends at IMDB that McCreary was responsible.

His score perfectly fits that series and actually elevates my regard for the entire show. The music is very evocative of Mark Snow (hence my misattribution) without straying into bald imitation or unintended parody and my mistaken assumption that this was brand-new Mark Snow compositions that I was hearing is actually a very high compliment from me (big Mark Snow fan, obviously).

His work on Outlander, Intruders, Agents of SHIELD, Walking Dead and, of course, Battlestar Galactica is so varied in style yet so perfectly fitting for the project's tone and setting that he is, hands down, the finest contemporary soundtrack artist working on television today.

 

[1001001]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

We actually had to purchase Starz for the sole purpose of my wife being able to watch this series.



My wife has been reading the books since they first came out.

She says the show is pretty good so far. I'm not watching it.

 

[Locutus of Bored]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

^ Check out Banshee on Starz on demand if they have the first couple of seasons on there. It's an awesome show and might be more to your liking.

It's about a criminal who poses as the sheriff of a town with various criminal elements (really, it's the most murdery town not inhabited by Buffy or Jessica Fletcher) after their new sheriff was killed before showing up for his first day. He uses the job to hide from his enemies, rob local banks and casinos with his team, try and reconnect with his ex, and occasionally be a pretty good sheriff too, in the TV sense where you're allowed to break all the rules.

If you like Roadhouse, Amish Mafia, Billy Jack, Walking Tall, Priscilla Queen of the Desert, Eastern Promises, Ocean's Eleven, and Cool Hand Luke, Banshee punches all of those in the face and then sleeps with their wives, eventually fathering a hybrid of them all.

I'd also recommend Strike Back as well, which is a counter-terrorism series with some very cinematic action.

Hopefully that gets you your money's worth.

I love the music, but then I've enjoyed most of Bear McCreary's work. He seems to capture the spirit of whatever setting he's working in perfectly.

Agree completely. After seeing the first two episodes of Intruders, I would've sworn that they'd gotten Mark Snow to provide the music, since the producers are aping the X-Files style right down to the slow fade-outs at the end of acts. But I was surprised to learn from our friends at IMDB that McCreary was responsible.

His score perfectly fits that series and actually elevates my regard for the entire show. The music is very evocative of Mark Snow (hence my misattribution) without straying into bald imitation or unintended parody and my mistaken assumption that this was brand-new Mark Snow compositions that I was hearing is actually a very high compliment from me (big Mark Snow fan, obviously).

His work on Outlander, Intruders, Agents of SHIELD, Walking Dead and, of course, Battlestar Galactica is so varied in style yet so perfectly fitting for the project's tone and setting that he is, hands down, the finest contemporary soundtrack artist working on television today.

He also does Defiance, and he composed an epic choral and orchestral sequence to highlight the huge events which were happening in the Season 2 finale. It really reminded me of his work on BSG (in a good way) while also remaining true to the sound of Defiance. It hugely enhanced the scenes it was featured in, which were already pretty amazing.

 

[Destructor]

Re: Outlander is mercilessly dull.

I watched the first two episodes and thought they were pretty rad.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

I don't have Starz, so I picked up the first half of the season as a blind buy this week. Last night I watched the pilot. I haven't read the books, but I was aware of them (and their relationship to Doctor Who).

I was quite intrigued. I thought the pilot was well-made. I probably could have done without the voice over or the sex scenes. The attempted rape was cringe-worthy. Otherwise, the writing was good, the production values were solid, and I liked pretty much every actor. I don't feel I wasted my money on the blind-buy.

 

[Marc]

I don't have Starz, so I picked up the first half of the season as a blind buy this week. Last night I watched the pilot. I haven't read the books, but I was aware of them (and their relationship to Doctor Who).

I was quite intrigued. I thought the pilot was well-made. I probably could have done without the voice over or the sex scenes. The attempted rape was cringe-worthy. Otherwise, the writing was good, the production values were solid, and I liked pretty much every actor. I don't feel I wasted my money on the blind-buy.

There's an episode later in the series that will if you were uncomfortable with the sex scenes in the first ep it won't be your cup of tea.

In Canada it's being advertised as returning on April 15th so I have to get around to watching the last part of the last ep.

 

[Allyn Gibson]

There's an episode later in the series that will if you were uncomfortable with the sex scenes in the first ep it won't be your cup of tea.

I've heard about the wedding night episode, if that's the one you're referring to.

I wasn't uncomfortable with the sex scenes. I'm not a prude. I used to watch The Tudors, and that had plenty of unnecessary sex scenes over the years.

I understood why they were there -- here's a couple who spent the better part of the last five years apart, and they're rediscovering who they are and how they work as a couple. I felt the first one, with the shaking chandelier, made that point well enough. I didn't feel that the oral sex scene in the ruins was entirely necessary, but I suspect it will become more meaningful later; I'm assuming she'll have a sexual encounter with Jamie in the same room. The make-up sex scene with Roger and Claire, however, just felt gratuitous.