Outlander... does it get better?

[AntonyF]

Spoilers up to episode two. I know all opinions are personal but I want to check the wisdom of the crowds.

I should love this in theory. Ronald D Moore AND Ira Steven Behr... I thought this was a slamdunk. Then Bear McCreary music too. Heaven.

But I'm on episode two and I'm finding it dreadful... dodgy accents, predictable story broadcast a mile off... oh she's met someone who's good looking, they'll be love interests soon (fast forward to the very next episode and they're almost kissing). Her ass is out, another woman's boobs are out... so straight away setting the scene there ala Game of Thrones. And she has to have a flashback about something her husband said, to explain how she knows how to do lie (yeah, little lady... don't think for yourself.) And in fact pretty much all so far is about the husband, the new love interest... it reminds me of Twilight with it being all about her men rather than her (not that I know much of Twilight!).

But anyway, does it get better? I find it hard to even seen the scope of the show - where they can do with it. I think if RDM and Behr are involved it surely MUST be more than it seems on the surface surely?

 

[AntonyF]

And I just saw a moment where she calls a kid someone's son... which was a weird jump, as there was no evidence of that and I never thought that.

Then EIGHT reaction shows. EIGHT.

 

[Marc]

It's slow moving that's for sure, well acted, well produced probably not everyone's cup of tea.

A review for S2 made the comment that they've followed the book a bit to closely to the detriment of the show.

The final episode of the first season is not particularly pleasant to watch because of it's content (if you make it that far) and probably wasn't much fun for the actors either.

 

[AntonyF]

I found that I couldn't make it beyond episode two... moved on to other stuff now. But this fundamentally grates at me!

 

[stardream]

I read the first book as a result of all my friends gushing about it. It was ok but there was nothing about it that made me want to keep reading the series. I highly doubt I would care for the TV series either.

 

[auntiehill]

My sister is NUTS about this show and is always trying to get me to watch it; to me, it looks just like some cheesy romance with time-travel thrown in. No thank you.

 

[The Nth Doctor]

I watched the first season, but I largely stuck around for Frazer Hines' appearance on the show (significant because his Jamie inspired the author to write this Jamie), which didn't occur until the final episodes. After that, I stopped caring. Aside from Hines' character, I was only ever interested Graham McTavish. Tobias Menzies is good in his double performance, but the villain is dubious in nature, feeling like he's cruel for cruel sake. Bleah.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

I read the books up to the fourth but I couldn't hack the show. There's nothing wrong with it, it just was not my thing. I don't like historical romances and it is very much more of that and less of time travel, at least to me. I suppose in the books they presented the time traveling culture shock etc.. as more of a major story line in itself.

It was just really slow and not.. colourful enough. Nothing to alleviate the slowness in either witty lines or characters you love to watch.

So I'll be reading this thread in case it took an abrupt turn and got fab and I missed it heh.

This thread should be in SF n' F except.. the show is so very much NOT SF n' F

 

[Guy Gardener]

80 percent of the first episode was on horse back in the rain.

I like it, but Outlander is definitely made for 40 year old virgins.

 

[Stephen Lee]

I watched the first season, the WW2 nurse trapped in time aspect/time travel peaked my interest. Then it became a romance novel and I lost interest.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

I've been watching it with my wife, who enjoys costume dramas, historical romance, and strong female leads. And I loved the Highlander franchise and time travel. Its pretty good for our tastes, slow burning as it is.

The second season moves the action to France, which we're also enjoying a lot as we were there last summer for a couple weeks. I'd say that on the level of intrigue plus the plot of actually trying to change history is worthwhile, though it's assuredly not for everyone.

Mark

 

[Marc]

The second season moves the action to France, which we're also enjoying a lot as we were there last summer for a couple weeks. I'd say that on the level of intrigue plus the plot of actually trying to change history is worthwhile, though it's assuredly not for everyone.

The underlying plot for S2 is more in line with what we've seen with any number of time travel stories in some-one from the future trying to change the events of the past.

 

[Destructor]

I love it! You probably shouldn't keep watching if you didn't enjoy the first two episodes as it's not like there is a sudden uptick in quality or anything, but I think it's great.

 

[TEACAKE'S PLEATHER DOME]

The past bores me.

 

[AntonyF]

Thanks for all the feedback, it does reassure me. I think because two sci-fi greats are involved I want sci-fi... but they are allowed to do other stuff I guess.

I ended up watching the pilot of Turn which was infinitely better, and I do need to remind myself at times that there's just far too much TV to watch without guilting myself into watching something.