Outlander Is The Best TV Show You’re Not Watching!
Outlander is the feminist answer to Game of Thrones! Did that finally get your attention? We are into episode three and we find Claire getting her footing and finding her place in this new world as a doctor of sorts.
Claire didn’t make any progress in escaping Castle Leoch in tonight’s episode, and in fact managed to make herself more valuable to Colum. It was a smart twist to make her plan backfire and illuminates how stuck she will be if she doesn’t take matters into her own hands. Claire isn’t the sort who would let a person suffer under her care in hopes that Colum would turn her out because of poor healing skills. In this case, her determined nature wasn’t beneficial.
Caitriona Balfe continues to excel in her portrayal of Claire. In some cases, the voice overs really aren’t necessary because we can read it all on Claire’s face. Whether she’s cursing, ordering about her reluctant followers, seeking the comfort of booze, Balfe commands the screen without overrunning everyone else.
Claire earned the title of being a miracle worker after she saved a boy from poisoning. That action got her in good graces with many (and gave Mrs. FitzGibbons an outstanding scene), but her healing skills made the priest an enemy. He seems like the dangerous sort to make angry in a time where people do believe in demons and witches.
The folk song at the end of the episode about a woman who traveled through time in the same method as Claire was on point but believable – it is a culture in which folktales are important – and moving. Events tonight showed Claire that she can only rely on herself to find a way out of Castle Leoch, and she needed the push to take back agency and viewers needed to see that moment. The chemistry between Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire went up several notches in the this episode. The looks they exchanged in the surgery were a little over-the-top with their longing looks and glances back and forth, but they were also cute together. Claire kicking Jamie under the table and teasing him about his swollen lip was very much like children who punch each other on the arms to show they like someone. As in really like someone. I’m glad Claire admits it’s out of jealousy, but twists it so that the flirting isn’t for the reason you think. She misses Frank, and we needed that reminder.
We’re seeing more of Jamie’s personality, and Heughan owns the role. The writers are working in lines that show he’s more open-minded and possibly wiser than we may have originally thought. Jamie isn’t put off by Claire’s straightforward and blunt approach to ummmm, everything, and he fires right back telling her how the world is; but he does so with humor. He’s still got a bit of a puppy personality about him too; how adorable was the scene at the end where he saved Claire a seat?
Geillis Duncan had a bigger part in tonight’s episode, and she is not subtle about her curiosity in regards to Claire’s past. I wasn’t sure how I felt about her sort of whimsical air, but it works, plain and simple. Lotte Verbeek nails the endearing offbeat personality – especially with the tone of her voice and the way she emphasizes certain words. And it’s intriguing because she seems to be a friend to a Claire, but her questioning nature could put Claire in even more danger. It even makes me wonder if she really wants to know these things for herself or are there others perhaps pulling her strings.
They’re not creating an entirely new world at Outlander; they’re building on life as it was back then. But, it’s the fact that they’re taking the time to put viewers right into the middle of things. We’re learning as Claire is learning. She’s seeing the various elements and threats slowly, and so are we. Not every series could pull the deliberate pacing off, but Outlander presents a place you want to spend more time in.
Tonight’s episode of Outlander pushed us further into a rich world. The amount of time spent with characters like Colum, Jamie, and even Angus means they already feel like friends – it serves to make you more invested in the story and what Claire will do next.
