Outlander Review

I enjoy period pieces and have watched everything from "The Count of Monte Cristo" to "The Musketeers." Recently, someone introduced me to "Outlander." When this series premiered, I was booked and couldn't fit anything else into my watchlist. Fast forward to two seasons later, and I finally had time to watch it. However, I must admit that it took me three attempts to get through the first fifteen minutes of the first episode. For some reason, the characters annoyed me. But as they say, the third time's the charm! Once I got past those first fifteen minutes, I was hooked.

This series is a historical drama on the Starz channel. Caitriona Balfe portrays Claire Randall, a World War II military nurse in Scotland in 1945, who is mysteriously transported back to 1743. Claire finds herself in the company of a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan, and falls in love with him. And honestly, it’s easy to see why—he's quite the catch! It made me want to visit Scotland to find my own rugged Scotsman. I count that as a solid ten percent of my motivation.

The first season consists of 16 episodes, each one more exciting than the last. You witness the deepening love between the two characters as they become heavily involved in the Jacobite rising—a key moment in British history where supporters of the exiled Stuart King James II and his descendants rallied after the Glorious Revolution. The series skillfully weaves actual historical events into its storylines, allowing viewers to explore rich historical context online.

Claire cannot return to her original timeline, so she uses her nursing skills to become the town’s healer. Aware of her history, she warns the MacKenzie Clan that the Jacobite cause is doomed to fail, hoping to deter them from joining the rebellion. In the process, she marries Jamie Fraser, a Highlander, and falls in love with him. When you see him, you’ll understand.

Anyways, Jamie is captured, tortured and raped by a man who if lived in our timeline, would be on an ID channel episode of Diabolical or Evil Lives Here. This sadist named Randall, plays a dual role. He is Claires husband in her timeline and an evil raper of men in the 1700s. Just a warning, those torture scenes are just as hard to watch and some of the scenes for the cable series OZ.  If you know, you know.

Jamie is eventually saved. Claire tells Jamie that she is pregnant and they set sail for the Kingdom of France.

Season 2 focuses on Claire and Jamie's efforts to thwart the Jacobites by intercepting the funds provided to them by King Louis XV of France. Since Claire finds herself in a different time period, she tries to limit her changes to events that won't significantly impact her own timeline. However, there are moments when she must take stronger actions to ensure that certain people end up where they need to be, in order to guarantee the birth of her husband in her timeline. 

During the Battle of Culloden, Jamie becomes convinced that he will die in battle and persuades a pregnant Claire to return to her own time. Upon her return to the 20th century, she shares her time-traveling adventures with Frank, her husband. Despite the extraordinary circumstances, Frank proves to be an exceptional man. He not only accepts Claire’s child but raises her as if she were his own.

**Spoiler Alert:** Frank dies 20 years later. Claire discovers that Jamie didn’t actually die in battle, leading her to take their daughter, Brianna, to Scotland to reconnect with him. The following seasons are packed with thrilling battles, intriguing characters, and a surprising unrequited love story between Jamie and Lord John Grey, played by David Berry. I absolutely love Lord John! Though he’s not a major character, his presence leaves a significant impact on the lives of the main characters.

I can hardly wait for the season finale in November! This series is truly captivating and will keep you on the edge of your seat. I rate it a perfect 5 out of 5 acorns!