Outlander Season Two, Episode Four: Let's Talk About THAT Scene

 

Well this week was certainly quite an interesting one, and much like last week, it was quite snappy and quick, blazing through everything in what seemed to be a very short hour long episode. It was a good episode but it's also drummed up some controversy in the Outlander fandom which has led to quite a bit of polarizing. The great thing about television and books is the ability to share your opinion on them, and hopefully my opinion does not cause outrage because the last thing I want to do is piss people off. So let's just dive right in.

The most controversial part of this entire episode was actually a scene taken from the book. That scene, was of course, the rape of young Mary Hawkins. Now I did read a few different review takes on that particular scene and in the comment section, it got nasty. Now I'm all about being able to have your opinion and if I disagree with an opinion, I don't berate and belittle the person who spoke though I might scratch my head and wonder how the heck they came to that conclusion. Much like I scratched my head at the woman who wrote to Diana Gabaldon that after the "hiding under a blade of grass" bit of dialogue, she took it to mean he was gay.

I've seen plenty of drama on the particular review calling out the rape that happened though I don't quite agree with the reviewer's reasoning especially when she called Outlander a "fun" and "light hearted show." That being said I too have issue with the amount of rape in those books. Look I get it alright. Back then rape was one of the most common weapons used against a woman in order to subdue her, to hold power over her and to punish her. It happened and it happened a lot. So within historical context, Diana I suppose isn't wrong to include it within the story line BUT I do feel sometimes that rape is a convenient plot device to move a story along.

I wrote a blog post a while back comparing Outlander to Game of Thrones and how the two shows differed in their handling of rape and I do stand by comments made back then. Game of Thrones definitely has more gratuitous rape scenes that aren't even plot devices and I've always considered rape to be one of the laziest ways to get a plot going. So yeah, Mary Hawkins rape was a cheap lazy way of making her unable to marry her fiance and set up her eventually marrying Black Jack Randall.

All that said, the show is not to blame for the lazy plot devices and for everyone railing against the inclusion of this rape scene there are equally as many saying that it was necessary and that without it the plot couldn't have gone on the way it did.

I see both sides of the situation, and I do love the Outlander books. You really couldn't find someone more passionate about these books and this show, but that's not to say the books aren't flawed. A guy friend of mine that watches the show said that Diana uses rape in the same way that George RR Martin uses death. It's to shock the reader until the shock just wears off and you're just left numb every time someone else suffers assault. Is Diana being historically accurate? More than likely yes, and I know that she has received plenty of letters and emails thanking her for showing rape for the horrible horrible crime it is against men and women.

Contrary to that single reviewer, the show and books are not light hearted in fun. Sure there are moments of humor in order to keep the show balanced but ultimately the story of Outlander is one of deep romance, drama and history that turns into a story of family love and survival throughout it's course. I expect for a period drama, there to be plenty of horrible things and while we could have arrived at the same conclusion concerning Mary without her being raped, it doesn't change the fact that it does happen in the books as well. Whether you agree with that plot device or not, is based on your personal opinion and I won't fault you for drawing your own conclusions but I do hope that other assaults in the book are left out though I know of at least two, should the show last that long, that will definitely be included.

Perhaps Diana writes out these scenes in order to show how different people handle the trauma. We've seen it with Jamie, and Claire has certainly been nearly raped in the show on more than one occasion and we have seen how Jamie's dealt with the PTSD thanks to that horrible disgusting thing that Black Jack did to him. Could it have been handled differently? Yes. Definitely, but my two cents would be that if you did not like it, do not blame the show for what it derives from the source material. Disagreements are certainly going to happen. Millions of people have read the books and watched the show and have formed their opinions about certain things. Not everyone is going to agree about certain aspects of the show and their opinions should not be invalidated, but you should be able to give a differing opinion without resulting to name calling and mud slinging. The author of the aforementioned review was certainly allowed to voice her opinion and while I do disagree with some of her points and scratched my head a bit, she's entitled to that opinion without having to be attacked for it even if that opinion is unpopular. You can respectfully disagree with someone without being nasty and tawdry. One review is just that. A review. It's meant to be agreed with or disagreed with and I know plenty who were on either side of the argument.

So what did YOU think of that scene? Please comment below, and don't be afraid to voice an opinion that might be unpopular. I'd hope there would be no attacks beneath. If you disagree with me, feel free to tell me why. I love hearing differing opinions because if everyone agreed completely with everyone, the world would be a very boring place.

Until next time, Sassenachs!

- G

Outlander Season 2, Episode 1: The Night Outlander Fans Lost Their Minds

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Picture it. April 9th, 2016. A hungry crowd of American women and men sit in front of their TVs, heart pounding and biting their nails in anticipation. This was it. The moment that eleven months of Droughtlander finally ended with the words "Previously on Outlander." There was a collective scream of excitement in households all along the East Coast and beyond and people on the edge of their seat as the first scene opened to Caitriona Balfe's Claire, laying on grass.

I don't know about you guys, but I feel like we're in for some depressing shit.

"I wished I were dead." Melancholy sets the tone for the first half of this episode. Gray tones in the cinematography create the environment that feeds into the depression that Claire is obviously feeling, as evident by the first words she utters and the horrifying scream as she gazes at the stones. We of course, soon realize that she has been brought back to her own time and the year is now 1948 and her plans of stopping the complete evisceration of the Jacobite Army at Culloden Moor has failed.

After the slightly altered opening credits and Skye Boat Song (partly sang in French) commence, we're back to the story and Frank purposefully steps into our lives again after a long eight episode absence. He's the concerned husband, a man shocked to discover his wife has been found after disappearing near on three years ago and you can see the nerves as he slowly enters into the hospital room where his wife lay, staring out the window.

 I wish I had a funny and clever caption for this scene, but it's just too depressing.

Now this entire first half of the episode was not written like this in the book but I think what Ron Moore and the writers did with the material was fantastic, and I'm going to go out and just say that TV Frank is far superior to Book Frank. In the book, Frank flips out when Claire tells him her story, and literally loses his shit. Now, for a lot of people, this turns them off of Frank in the books and makes him out to be some sort of super dick for it, even though he's completely within his rights to flip his shit. I've written an entire article on the issues I have with the Frank Hate in this link here, if you want to read more detail about that. TV Frank, on the other hand, is very humanized. He's seen throughout his time on screen as understanding, hopeful, angry, relieved, nervous, and desperate.

 Seriously, TV Frank is way better than Book Frank.

TV Frank's acceptance of her story, mirrors Jamie's acceptance of her time travel way back in The Devil's Mark of Season One. He tells her he believes her, and he's on board with everything until Claire tells him she's pregnant. At first, he's ecstatic, but then she reinforces that the child is not biologically his and we see him lose his sense of understanding for a split moment. It's a tense moment and you can see the anger he feels, his fist clenching up at the fury and then he just stumbles out of the room and the house of the reverend to a shed and tears it to shit. I found his behavior, not at all to much, or to out of place considering the situation, and I think aside from the fact that Claire was carrying a man's child, his own manly pride was hurt in that he could never give her a child, but this stranger had. It was something, I believe, that reinforced his lack of self worth because as a man of that time, not being able to have children was something worthy of shame. He, perhaps, did not feel like a whole man because he was unable to create a child.

After he cools down and talks it over with the Reverend, it seems that a cool head prevails and he and Claire have a bit of a chat. Start from scratch, renew their life together. I found it rather touching that he was so willing to be there for her and for the child in her belly. That he was going to stand by her when he had every reason to leave her to raise a child on her own and face the stigma of being known as that "crazy runaway wife with the bastard child." It showed that Frank was indeed an honorable man, who was so willing to start over with his wife and begin again. He's a good guy, a little flawed for sure, but ultimately, a good man to Claire.

So, Frank and Claire are onto new beginnings, but what happened that led her back to the stones? A question that is starting to be answered when the scene transitions back to the past and to France.

The depression and melancholic look of the film is replaced with a bright and bustling port and with Claire and Jamie and Murtagh. I don't know about you guys, but finally seeing Claire and Jamie together made me literally scream out loud in happiness. FINALLY! As great as Frank was in the first half hour, I was so ready to see Jamie's sexy ass again and there he was, dressed well enough, still pained, his hand bound and dealing with a good bit of sea sickness. At least he's finally got his sense of humor back eh? At least of a fashion.

 Murtagh's look of disgust as he talks about Frogs really mimics my own face when I get told to stop obsessing about Outlander.

Obviously, Jamie is still recovering from his terrible ordeal with Black Jack Randall and there's almost a motherly feel to the scene when she tells him "I'm here." Her voice is soothing and soft, reaffirming that she isn't going to let him go so easily.

They set their goal to try and stop the Jacobite uprising so as to prevent Culloden. Of course, it has already been revealed that the terrible Battle of Culloden Moor will happen, so it makes the optimism of Claire and Jamie a little harder to swallow and we as the audience, cheer them on, even though we know their endeavors will end in failure. Meeting Jared Fraser was certainly interesting and it's a shame we shan't see to much more of him. I like the passionate guy, that's for sure. Jared promises to get Jamie in on the Jacobite cause and to meet with the leaders of said cause, while also giving up the reins of his winery as he goes off on another business venture. It is after this meeting, that there is a panic on board a newly docked ship and as Claire is not the type to hold fast and leave things be, she jumps right in and lo and behold, the ship is infested with Smallpox.

"Seriously Sassenach, can you stop being selfless for once?There's no room in the past for you to be a decent person."

Smallpox being one of the most dangerous diseases in the world before vaccines were invented, causes everyone to panic and it is then that we meet Stanley Webber's Comte St. Germain. Now, I've seen Stanley Webber act before as Juan Borgia in Netflix's Borgia but seeing him in that powdered wig did make me giggle a little (not even gonna lie). Even so, the man cut's an intimidating figure and thanks to Claire's selfless act, he now has to deal with the fact that he's losing an entire shipment of cargo that he would have willingly put to the masses, knowing about the possible spread of small pox. Greedy selfish bastard.

 Is it bad that I think he's kinda hot?

Of course, losing all of that cargo certainly would put quite a hole in his finances so it's really not all that surprising that he would try to save himself money despite the horrendous outcome of spreading possibly small pox tainted cargo. Jamie notes that it sure doesn't take Claire long to make enemies but he still loves her anyway and they have a big ole smooch right there as St. Germain's ship lights up the night sky.

I'm sure the Comte will forgive them for making him lose a fortune. He seemed rational to me.

Now I did find the pacing of this episode a little off and while the Frank and Claire moments were engaging, words can't describe how happy I was to finally see Claire and Jamie together again after months upon months of waiting to see them back in action. I do think it's obvious that Season 2 will blaze through the source material a little faster than the original season of Outlander did with it's book. I don't think that's necessarily a bad thing, though with the liberties taken to Frank's story line might make some people upset. I'm not going to be upset because I really found Frank's character far more endearing here than I ever did in the book. I happen to like that such liberties were taken with the story line but that's of course, my own personal opinion.

Overall, the first episode was really great, and while the original premier of Outlander seemed slow to start, this one was full of raw emotion from the very beginning, gripping us by the heart strings and holding us tight through all of it. It set's the scene perfectly and makes sure to immerse us once more in a story we all love.

Though I love Wee Roger most.

So what were your thoughts on the premier? Did you enjoy it? Anything negative to say about it? I'd love to hear from you so be sure to leave a comment below or leave one on our Facebook page or on Tumblr.

Also OutlanderSassenach will be uploading PODCASTS every Monday following new episodes so stay tuned for that!

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Until next week, Sassenachs!

Now Featuring a Podcast! Listen HERE!
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The Top Ten Sexiest Men in Period Drama

Previously on this blog, we discussed what makes period dramas so awesome and with a few top ten lists already under my belt with The Top Ten Claire Moments and Top Ten Jamie Moments of Outlander Season One, I decided to throw my hat in and do something a little differently. Why not a top ten list of men I think are sexy in a Period Drama. Now this is just in period drama roles, and not overall and it's a perfectly debatable top ten list since beauty is of course, in the eye of the beholder. This list will include men featured in miniseries, television shows and feature films. Don't agree with this list? Want to add to it? Feel free to comment with your own personal favorite or someone I didn't mention. That being said, onto the list!

#10 - Jonathan Crombie, Anne of Green Gables

My first book boyfriend come to life, Jonathan Crombie played the infuriating, and ultimately wonderful Gilbert Blythe. Starring as Blythe in the entire Anne of Green Gables franchise,  he had boyish charm, a competitive spirt and ultimately a well felt love for Megan Follows' Anne with an "e". Watching him progress from boy to man over the course of the three different miniseries was perhaps the start of my love affair with men in period drama.

#9 - Clark Gable, Gone With the Wind

No one else on this earth could play Rhett Butler so well. Timothy Dalton tried to do so in the made for tv miniseries Scarlett (based on the sequel of the same name that was written by Alexandra Ripley) but there is no one that could play the dashing scoundrel with such ease as Clark could. His sarcasm, wit, and charm were well delivered thanks to Clark's impressive timing and though he actually hated the role, you couldn't tell when he played opposite Vivien Leigh's Scarlett O'Hara.

#8 - Heath Ledger, Casanova

Heath Ledger is no stranger to period drams. He was in quite a few before his untimely death at the age of 28 but my favorite role for him, has to be Casanova. Charming, debonair, fly by the seat of his pants type. He was charming, sexy, and arrogant, and yet it was far to easy to love him. He and Sienna Miller had true chemistry in this film and it will forever be a treasured favorite to see him avoiding inquisitors and realizing what true love is after all.

#7 - Ewan McGregor, Moulin Rouge

Another star crossed lover's story is Moulin Rouge. We have a down on his luck writer with a gift for song and a love for a dancer/courtesan. While Baz Luhrman's Moulin Rouge is flashy and full of pizazzz, Ewan doesn't need any of that to stand out above the rest. He's a hopeless romantic, handsome, full of love and light and optimism despite all obstacles. His voice is heart melting alone but when he looks at you, you feel like the only woman in the world.

#6 - Tom Hardy, Wuthering Heights

Dark and depraved Heathcliff is played excellently by Tom Hardy. He manages to be as charming and handsome as he is frightening. He manages to be so cold, and yet there is nothing one wants more than to be Cathy and let him kiss you as passionately as he can. Yes, Heathcliff was truly a terrible anti-hero when one considers his actions but there is no denying that Tom Hardy makes you want the bad boy even more.

#5 - Sean Bean, Lady Chatterley

Aside from being known as "that guy that dies in every movie" Sean Bean is an exceptional actor and has appeared in quite a few period pieces like The Black Death, Scarlett and my personal favorite, Lady Chatterley, where he plays the married groundskeeper to the Chatterley estate, and consequently, Lady Chatterley's lover. Witty, sarcastic and passionate, he lights up the screen and makes more than few smiles that might very well knock your socks off.

#4 - Richard Armitage, North and South

Often, the characteristics of a great period drama include broody men who are tall and dark haired. Mr. Thornton, played by Richard Armitage, is one such character. His presence is powerful and despite the air of command he exudes, there is gentleness as well as an honesty in his manner in disposition. You get the keen feeling he will protect you and hold you close, but not be afraid to speak his mind. And honestly that kiss at the train station was a cherry on top of a perfect miniseries romance.

#3 -  Henry Cavill, The Tudors

Playing opposite Jonathan Rhys Meyers as his best friend and the Duke of Suffolk, Henry Cavill brings a bit of elegance, charm and ruthlessness to the role of King Henry VIII's best friend. More than a little debauched, it was totally worth all of the screen time when he was busy walking around naked and showing his taut buttocks. Most people who don't enjoy period dramas probably only see him as Superman but to those of us that have been fans of period dramas since the dawn of time, you will have noticed him in a few roles aside from this one, but for me, this role was my absolute favorite.

#2 - Sam Heughan, Outlander

I'm an Outlander blog so OF COURSE Sam is going to make this list, but he is not my number one. Shocking right? Well he is my number two. Red hair, tall, built, he personifies Jamie Fraser in a way no one else could and man can he act! Sexy, and easily playing a man both generous, innocent and at the same time rather worldly, Sam Heughan pulls it off effortless. And let's be honest, who doesn't enjoy a man in a kilt?

HONORABLE MENTIONS

So this is a top ten list, as such plenty of sexy men did not make the cut. Leonardo DiCaprio for Titanic, Dominic Cooper from The Duchess, Cillian Murphy from Peaky Blinders, Tom Hiddleston from Crimson Peak, Jonathan Rhys Meyers from The Tudors and Francois Arnoud from The Borgias were narrowly edged out. You don't know how hard a time I had deciding between all these men who are each sexy in their own, unique ways.

So, without further adieu, let me introduce my number one pic for sexiest man in a period drama

#1 - Colin Firth, Pride and Prejudice

Colin Firth, is the ONLY Darcy. Let's be real here. Sure, Matthew MacFayden did a good job in the 2005 version of Pride and Prejudice opposite Keira Knightly but ultimately, the crown will forever be held by Colin. He is perfectly Mr. Darcy. Of course, this was not his only period drama either but it is perhaps one of his most iconic roles. He is sophisticated, tall, brooding, dark haired, handsome, and even be taken down a few notches by Elizabeth Bennett. He is Darcy, he is sexy and I have just three words for you to epitomize my reasons for making him number one. The pond scene.

So, do you not agree? If not, who do you think should be number one. Feel free to tell me who I missed, and who I got wrong.

Until next time Sassenachs.

Gearing Up For Season Two!

Hello all, it's been a super long time since I updated this Outlander blog and a lot has happened since my last top ten list. What with the Golden Globes, and the Critic's Choice Awards and the People's Choice Awards and the BAFTAs and all the other awards of the season. I have been super busy getting settled into my new place, role playing (basically writing a story with another person) and trying to keep up on the latest news. Thankfully life has settled down and wouldn't you know it's nearly just in time for the start of Season Two. Last April, if you had told me I would have to wait a whole year for a new season, I would of told you I wouldn't of made it. Droughtlander 2.0 has truly been that. The worst kind of drought imaginable.

There have been quite a few casting reveals but as of this post we are still not aware of who they have cast as Bree though Richard Rankin was announced as Roger Mac way back in the middle of December. Outlander production says they are close so finger's crossed we at least have that. Come on Ron, announce it for Valentine's Day and we'll love you forever (maybe).

So, with Season Two being just roughly over two months away (depending on when they decide to premier since we only have April and not a specific date), I think it was time to discuss a game plan to really get back in the Outlander Spirit. I for one, have quite the plan to which I will share with you lovely people, my dear readers who are honestly the most amazing people there are.

First thing's first, I'm going to start a reread of Dragonfly in Amber. It's only my eighth time, but honestly, I might of missed something. You never know. Amiright?

I was also hoping to revisit the first season of Outlander by watching two episodes a week over the next couple of months, if only to pass the time until the Season Two Premier. Even though the last eight months have been agony, these months leading up to the premier are true and total torture because it's SO CLOSE and yet SO FAR! Ya feel me?

I'm also enjoying discussions in my favorite Facebook groups that center around all that is Outlander and I started coloring in my Outlander Coloring Book but I'm not the best coloring person, as calming as it is. I really fucked up the skin tone of Claire standing with that printed dress on and I'm completely and totally ashamed. I was trying to color blend and used way to much of this pale yellow color to add something besides just peach. It didn't turn out so well.

OH! I forgot to mention that I also started up a facebook page. I know a lot of people don't follow twitter or tumblr and aren't big fans of joining facbeook groups. It's much easier to click like on a page. I get it, which is why for shorter posts that don't warrant a blog, I've now created a facebook page that ties in with everything else that is OutlanderSassenach. I will post the link at the end of the blog post if you care to give it a like. No pressure though!

Anyways, so while I spend the next couple of months re-emersing myself in the world of Outlander, I'm curious. What will you all be doing to gear up for Season Two? Feel free to reply in the comments.

Until next time Sassenachs!

OutlanderSassenach Facebook Page:  https://www.facebook.com/outlandersassenachpage/

Sam Heughan is a True Winner

This morning, Outlander fans waited with bated breath, waited for the Golden Globe nomination announcements with fingers crossed. Surely, the Golden Globes would nominate Outlander after the Emmy's snubbed us. And sure enough, we were nominated. We were nominated for Best Drama Series next to heavy-hitter Game of Thrones. Caitriona Balfe received a nomination for Best Actress in a Drama and Tobias Menzies received a Best Supporting Actor nomination in a Drama. For the first time, on a stage that didn't rely on fan voting, we were legitimized. But almost immediately, there was drama within our fandom over the fact that Sam was not nominated for Best Actor. There was anger, a lot of it, over the fact that Sam did not receive a nomination, more anger than I remember when the Emmy's snubbed the entire show.

The problem with award shows like this, is that usually there is a lot of back door politics going on, not to mention, a lot of the basis for a nomination depends on screen time for the actors within the show. As it stands, Jamie's character was a side character, at best, for the first eight episodes and didn't become a full main character until after the wedding. Blame Ron Moore, blame the writers, that's just the way it panned out. So no, Sam did not receive a nomination. But to me, that doesn't matter, because Sam is the true winner.

Since becoming Jamie, Sam has dealt with a lot. Harrassment on social media, for his behavior, for his significant other, for not answering questions on his personal life, for dealing with crazy obsessed fans who get jealous of any woman in his life who might be his girlfriend; for being to thin or too buff; for having a beard and not having one at all; for anti-shippers who scream and throw fits on twitter and tumblr just so they can try and rub it in shippers faces that he isn't with Cait (I'm not a shipper myself but shipping them doesn't bother me in the slightest). He's handled it all fairly well, though it must be quite an adjustment to go from a small actor to catching the biggest break of his career and becoming the human embodiment of one of the greatest literary men in modern literature. He has handled it all graciously and humbly and to those who've met him in real life, they say he is nothing but a true gentleman.

So even though Sam did not get a nomination, to me he is still a winner. He has handled transition from unknown actor to a top tier actor gracefully. He involves himself in charity work, he has a life that is actually quite normal outside of his role as Jamie and his acting is superb. When the Emmy's snubbed us, everyone was angry. Emmy's and Golden Globe nominations legitimize television actors to most and there are plenty of actors in smaller TV shows that never get the recognition they deserve. Much like everyone knows that Leonardo DiCaprio deserves an Oscar more than plenty of men who've won over him. We know that despite never winning one, that he is a fantastic actor. So even though Sam did not get a nomination, I know that he is still a winner. I know that he is still a wonderful actor. That even though he did not receive a nomination, he is still one of the best actors on television right now and he will only grow as an actor as the show progresses. As I said when we were snubbed by the Emmys, we do not need these nominations to legitimize these actors, because they are already legitimized in our eyes. I'm excited that Cait, Tobias and the show nabbed nominations and am I disappointed in Sam being snubbed, a little yes, but at the same time, I know that he is an actor that is utterly wonderful, and just because he doesn't win a nomination, doesn't make him any less wonderful in my eyes. So congrats to Cait, Tobias and Outlander, and especially to Sam, who will no doubt treat his snub with quiet dignity and grace. To the fandom, Sam Heughan, you are indeed a true winner, regardless of the backdoor politics in Hollywood.

Slàinte mhath!

Outlander Season 2 Cast: Master List (update 12/14)

Actor: Caitriona Balfe

Character: Claire Beauchamp/Randall/Fraser

Actor: Sam Heughan

Character: Jamie Fraser

Actor: Tobias Menzies

Character: Black Jack Randall / Frank Randall

Actor: Richard Rankin
Character: Roger Wakefield/MacKenzie 

 

Actor: Duncan Lacroix

Character: Murtagh Fraser

Actor: Laura Donnelly

Character: Jenny Fraser-Murray

Actor: Steven Cree

Character: Ian Murray

Actor: Grant O'Rourke

Character: Rupert MacKenzie

Actor: Stephen Walters

Character: Angus Mhor

Actor: Graham MacTavish

Character: Dougal MacKenzie

Actor: Gary Lewis

Character: Colum MacKenzie

Actor: Finn Den Hertog

Character: Willie

Actor: Claire Sermonne

Character: Louise de Rohan

Actor: Laurence Dobiesz

Character: Alexander Randall

Actor: Marc Duret

Character: Monsieur Joseph Duverney

Actor: Margaux Chatelier

Character:  Annalise de Marillac

Actor: Andrew Gower

Character: Bonnie Prince Charlie

Actor: Rosie Day

Character: Mary Hawkins

Actor: Dominique Pinon

Character: Master Raymond

Actor: Romann Berrux

Character: Young Fergus

Actor: Audrey Brisson

Character: Sister Angelique

Actor: Robert Cavanah

Character: Jared Fraser

Actor: Stanley Weber

Character: Le Comte St. Germain

Actor: Frances de la Tour

Character: Mother Hildegarde

Actor: Lionel Lingelser 

Character: Louis XV