Outlander Season 2 – TV Show Review

Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened.

When she is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire’s heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.

From imdb.

Starring: Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe

Creator: Ronald D. Moore

 

 

 

We here at Chapter Break are very fond of JAMMF and the Outlander book series. And, it turns out, the TV series as well. Read on for our season two discussion. Insert spoiler warning here! Hope you enjoy our chat.

 

So I did finish the season finale last night. Cozy in my bed. Then remembered I forgot to set the coffee and had to get up. But it was a great episode.

 

It was a great episode. I’m hoping next season is more like that one – with the back and forth in time. And some actual emotion.

 

I definitely liked it more than season 1

Loved all the gorgeous costumes in France! And that nipple dress!! Great costume design for sure haha.

[Editor’s Note: Julie said we shouldn’t use the picture of the nipple dress. She’s probably right. But if you WANT to see it yourself, (insert explicit NSFW warning here) click here.]

 

yes – I agree. I really liked this season more. And the costumes from France were amazing. The amount of time and money and energy put into something like the nipple dress which was on screen for minutes is pretty astounding,

 

I found the book to be tedious but having the visual elements and great acting really helped me enjoy the show.

 

huh – Dragonfly is my fav of all the books!

 

I agree with that! The dress was on camera for minutes but must have cost a ton of moneys!

Rose’s too. But I wasn’t feeling it. Too much political scheming. But on screen it worked well.

 

But what I missed most from the books is the tension. The books start in 1968 – with Claire thinking Jamie is dead. And then the cliff hanger at the end of finding out he’s alive about gave me a heart attack.

It did work really well on screen. I LOVED Comte St. Germain. Stanley Webber is my new obsession.

 

Yes that was quite a shock in the book. I mean, there were future books so clearly he had to be, but it was a huge bomb to drop.

 

it was!

 

I did feel like only having the first episode and the last have flash forwards wasn’t enough

 

Right? Me, too. I think that’s why I loved the last one so much. The back and forth.

Well, that and Roger!

Yes, Roger was awesome!

Not sure how I feel about Brianna.

 

if you haven’t watched Crimson Field, you should check it out! WWI doctor/nurse show with Richard Rankin.

I’m on the fence about her, too. She was kind of whiny. And I’m not so sure her acting is that impressive, either.

 

Hmm I haven’t heard of it. Netflix?

But she does look like Sam!

 

Amazon. I think. It was on PBS. It’s a BBC show. It’s really good!

She does at that!

 

And Sam Heughan is the most perfect Jamie ever imagined.

 

lol. I’m sure there are others who would dispute that. But I’m not one of them. I really like him as Jamie.

 

I think reading the book really helped my enjoyment of the show because I understood everything going on. I wonder how it came across to someone not familiar with the story line.

 

Good point. As I watch it with friends who aren’t impressed with the show, I wonder about that, too. Like would you enjoy it more without having the emotional connection to the book?

I enjoy both (the book and the show) as entirely separate – and don’t compare them. That works best for me.

 

I definitely think being a fan already helps. Might be why I couldn’t get into GoT…

 

could be. But GoT is WAY more complicated. With a lot more story lines. I can understand not getting into that show.

But yes, I agree. Being a fan of the books is WHY I watch the show. Seeing the visualization of the scenes is great. Plus the scenery. (and I’m talking Scotland here, not Sam’s knees.)

 

I also only gave it 4 episodes. It took longer to get into Outlander season 1 but I stuck with it because I was already a fan. This season I got into it right away. I binge watched over two weekends.

Lmao at Sam’s knees. There is so much knee in this show!

 

[Editor’s note: see the source for even more knee / thigh love.]

 

wow – that’s impressive. I fell behind and it took me forever to catch up. But also because I wanted to give it my full attention while watching.

There is a lot of knee action! The benefit of the kilts.

 

I let them collect and then watched while I was sick and on the couch anyway hah

Full attention? What’s that? 😂

 

lol – Maybe the kid would like Outlander. Horses!

 

So now I wonder, are they gonna have old makeup on for the rest of the seasons? Assuming the show continues.

Cause that might take away from the visual aspect of the show lol

 

IDK – I know that’s why they picked actors in their 30’s – so they could “look older”. The grey streak in Claire’s hair might be the extent of it for her.

plus, how are they going to tell the story – flashbacks?

 

Well part of book 3 is flashbacks over 20 years so maybe they’ll extend that.

 

yes – maybe. There is a LOT of story in the third book. I imagine something’s going to get cut out.

 

I’m looking forward to more Fergus!

 

Me, too. I loved Fergus!
And we’ll get more of Jenny and the Murray’s. They are great, too.

Young Ian!

 

Yea but unfortunately more Leghair.

 

yeah. That is unfortunate.

 

I am glad they didn’t do a random long break like first season.

 

Yeah – that was REALLY annoying.
At least they learned something from GoT! Show everything at one time

Did you have a fav episode (other than the finale?)
Mine was Faith for sure – the miscarriage one.

Very emotional!

 

That one was rough, wonderful acting.

 

yes. Plus, I was kind of glad for the end of the whole France thing and going back to Scotland

 

I also enjoyed The Count getting his comeuppance

 

hahaha. That was good. And he knew it was coming!

 

And later, Duke.

 

Yes. He definitely deserved what he got! Nothing like playing both sides.

 

Hmm it occurs to me that Claire never gave the Mary and Black Jack Randall thing any evaluation. In the book she makes a big deal about Frank’s bloodline not actually being from Captain Randall.

 

right? I thought of that too. Like she doesn’t even figure it out til she’s standing there at the end and Mary says she’s pregnant. That was a bit loose on the interpretation.

 

Yea it was a lot of book to squeeze into one season. The next season might need to be longer. But that seemed like an important element.

 

I think you are right – when they cut out the background scenes, you are left wondering why Claire is so obsessed with Jamie NOT killing Black Jack. Especially after she remembers where she knows Mary from

 

Yea it would have been a one-minute explanation to tie it together

 

yes, for sure.
What did you think of the Bonny Prince?

I thought the actor accurately portrayed him.

 

Hmm not sure what to make of him. Definitely a dreamer who maybe was blinded by the glory he sought.

 

And not a very good leader.

I was with Claire and her decision to put us out of his misery

 

Yes good portrayal but he kind of annoyed me at times. He was supposed to be loved by all right?

 

I think his father was more the one who was loved.

 

Agreed. If Dougal just stayed out of it.

 

yes. for sure. Silly Dougal. Eavesdropping does not pay off.

 

And why would Jamie be in so much trouble? It’s not like Dougal wasn’t about to kill him.

 

I think Jamie was still wanted from before. And even more so after the Bonny Prince signed Jamie’s name to that declaration.

 

True, but it wasn’t until Dougal’s murder that he made Claire go back.

 

yes. I think that was a tipping point as well. He really thought he was going to die.

 

Oh – and I’m no geography expert. But how close could Culloden be to the stones? Apparently very close if they could get there in a couple of hours by horse

 

Right, less than a couple hours cause he had time to do his will and return to fight.

In the 2 hours he asked for.

 

yeah – that part is a little far fetched. Even in the book.

 

Must not be too far if they went sight seeing with Brianna all in one afternoon too

 

but at least they had a car. and roads.

 

True. Cars > horses.

 

for sure.

 

speaking of the future – what did you think of that whole sun rising over the stones? Personally a little cheesy for me.

 

But glad to see Geillis again!

 

Yea totally cheesy! “I have to go back” not quite how that happened.

 

no.

oh – and the part where Bree and Roger both heard the stones? That’s not in that book, either.

 

The Geillis scene was too fast. Didn’t she see Claire in the book before she crossed?

I thought they both did? Or was that in the next book?

 

in the next book – they meet up again. But I thought they meet – because Geillis mentions it later. (or in the past. TIME TRAVEL!) How would Geillis have known to say something to Claire without actually seeing Claire?

 

Right cause I think she recognized Claire

In the past.

 

I think so, too

 

Well I think we might be done heh

 

lol – I think so too!

So wrapping up – Solid B from me.

 

Is that like 4 star?

 

Yes – I think so

I’m good with 4 stars

 

Yea I would agree with that rating

 

Great. I’m looking forward to next season!

 

 

What about everyone else? Are you watching Outlander? What did you think about season 2?

 

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