Outlander (Netflix)
-Annette
***Full disclosure: Outlander is most definitely for Mature Audiences Only. And I’m recommending it, although I have not yet actually finished the series😆
I realize that I’m a little late to the Outlander party – but when several friends used the words “time travel” to describe the series, and begged me to watch it, I thought “no way!” But if you haven’t seen it yet, stick with me – it’s not time travel as in Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure or even Star Trek. In fact, I would say that Outlander is less sci-fi and more historical fiction with a bit of mystical fantasy and romance thrown in.
So what makes someone who can’t stand the idea of time travel, not only decide to watch this show, but highly recommend it? My husband and I had recently finished watching a few of our much-loved series, and we were in desperate need of something new, so we thought we’d give it a try – and we’ve never looked back!
Outlander is most definitely an historical fiction romance. But it’s not a romance in the over-the-top Harlequin book style (ok, but there is some bodice ripping😬) The series begins with a married English couple, Claire and Frank, who have reunited after the end of World War II. They are experiencing some awkwardness and uncertainty in their relationship, having been apart for so long. While they are away on a trip to the Scottish highlands, Claire visits a site famous in local superstitious lore, and is taken back in time to the same location in the Highlands in the 1700s.
Not only is the story romantic, but the scenery of the Scottish landscape alone provides plenty of romance. But let’s get back to the characters….. almost immediately upon her arrival in the 1700s, Claire is taken in by the McKenzie clan (she also has a run in with her current husband’s ancestor, but that’s another topic). Claire turns out to be highly valued by the McKenzies, because of her medical skills (she was a nurse during WWII). Also upon her arrival, she meets an extremely handsome young man, Jamie, who lives with the clan.
As one would expect, huge tension arises between Claire and Jamie. And as the series continues, this only increases. An inevitable relationship between the two gorgeous characters eventually begins, and the slow, seductive love scenes are swoon-worthy! (Apparently the series continues on with more time travel, to different countries and periods in time, but I haven’t gotten there yet.)
The build-up of tension, the growing relationship and the passionate love scenes are clearly told from a woman’s perspective, which is what makes Outlander so popular among my female friends. And that is almost entirely why I’m recommending it! So much of streaming now seems to give a man’s perspective – loud, fast, rough – and those are just the action scenes! In so many shows that are popular (Ray Donovan, Billions, Narcos, etc) there is almost never any type of subtlety or slowness in the “love” scenes, much less any romantic build-up between characters over time.
So watching Outlander can be even better than couples’ therapy! There’s something for everyone – a love story with beautiful scenery for romantics, lots of facts and old architecture for history buffs, and even plenty of violence and blood (it is eighteenth century Scotland after all!) But most important – love scenes that will improve any relationship😆 So it’s great to watch with your partner, but not your kids!