Description: 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 in which 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.
Creator: Ronald D. Moore
Starring: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan
Info from IMDb
I finally finished season 4 of Outlander. I know. I know. But at least I finished BEFORE season 5 started! If just barely! Now that I’ve finished, I have feelings. Feelings that need to be shared. Here’s the spoiler warning, in case you are even more behind than I am and care about spoilers!
Here are some things I really loved:
First and foremost, the award for outstanding changes from the book goes to the Outlander producers for keeping Murtagh alive! That was one of the best decisions they could have made! I love older and even crankier Murtagh! It gives us an in with the Regulators, affection with Fergus, and flirting with Jocasta! So darn good. Murtagh is the cool uncle all the rebel kids want to hang out with. We all need more Duncan Lacroix in our lives!
Lord John really has won my heart. I said it in my Season 3 review and it’s just as true now. The vulnerability he shows during Blood of My Blood really tugged the heartstrings. When he honorably steps in to save Brianna from all the suitors Jocasta has lined up for her, I might have done a little jig! It is a tad bit sexy to save our Brianna. Though, he really needs to work on holding his assignations somewhere other than a hallway!
It may be somewhat controversial, but I think that Ed Speelers is perfectly cast as Stephen Bonnet. I don’t so much ‘love’ his character, but the story line and acting are on point. We really get that somewhat charming and then also reprehensible character we meet in the books. Great job here, even if I did fast-forward through that one scene between Bonnet and Brianna. You know the one if you’ve read the book. Not worth watching if you ask me!
What I didn’t really like:
There is A LOT of violence in this season. Is it realistic? Yes. Is it necessary? Probably. Did I enjoy it? No. I was watching most of the episodes at the fitness center, constantly checking behind me for people seeing my phone during these scenes. Between the priest in the Mohawk village being burned at the stake, most scenes with Stephen Bonnet, and every beating that Roger receives, I really needed more sunshine to balance out the dark!
My Favorite Episodes:
Man of Worth: A very aptly titled episode if there ever was! We rescue Roger, but loose Ian. We have a new baby! And a happy ending for Roger and Brianna. We really see character growth throughout the season that culminates here. I love Ian’s success at the Mohawk gauntlet and Roger tearing into Jamie after his rescue. Plus we totally get a boudoir scene that no one was expecting but was amazing! Everything about this episode really works!
If Not For Hope is a close second favorite for those scenes between Brianna and Lord John! Great to see Lord John giving some hope back to Brianna when she needs it most.
My overall thoughts:
Honestly, I’m glad that I powered through 8 episodes over the past two weeks. Watching the episodes in a row, without the hindrance of having to wait week after week, made the watching experience much more emotional and enjoyable. Drums of Autumn is where the Diana Gabaldon’s writing style of scenes that aren’t really interconnected started to get on my nerves. And I’m interested to see what the next season brings. Will we have Ian’s POV? What happened to Stephen Bonnet? Will that whole overly long section Fiery Cross at the gathering be much shorter? We can only hope.
What about you? Are you caught up on Season 4 and ready for Season 5?
