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Outlander. wtf?

134 replies

SmallLegsOrSmallEggs · 04/01/2016 01:12

Just started watching Outlander and I am wondering if they could have made it any more inaccurate.

Ok so picking up on things like referring to Inverness as a city in the 1940s is maybe a bit picky (it didn't become a city until very recently).

But the constant references to the redcoats as the 'English'. FFS. Surely if they had done even a teeny tiny amount of research they would know it wasn't Scots v the English!?!

The Highland Gaels who speak both Gaelic and English.

Or I am too early in and all the inaccuracies turn out to be because it's all on her head?

Anyone else wants to pick holes? Or to try to convince me it is worth sticking with?

OP posts:
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7
Twinklestein · 07/01/2016 17:18

I agree that you'd think, given that she bothered at all, Gabaldon would have wanted to make it in some way accurate. But some Americans just don't get history at all. An affliction that seems to be spreading.

Some people appear to think there's some genuine link between GoT and the Wars of the Roses for example, and they're not all American.

TheHiphopopotamus · 08/01/2016 11:26

Some people appear to think there's some genuine link between GoT and the Wars of the Roses for example, and they're not all American

When I watched the first episode of GoT, I thought that GRRM had got inspiration from The War of the Roses Confused so I'm not sure what you mean by that (I obviously realise that dragons had died out by the 15th Century, I'm not that daft Wink ).

As for Outlander the TV series, it's enjoyable tosh, but the books are terrible. Does anyone know if the author had actually visited Scotland before she started writing them?

pixieg1rl · 08/01/2016 12:06

Thank you for you pictures of Jamie - I've just gorged on finished the box set and I absolutely loved it.

I have very little knowledge of Scottish History (you think you get none in Scotland, you get bugger all in England) beyond whoever Henry VII married his daughters to and Mary Queen of Scots so didn't get too bothered by the historical inaccuracies, though I imagine they are legion. I managed to watch The Tudors despite their entire re-writing of history, but I draw the line at Reign even if Ben Aldridge is in it.

I am left with a massive crush on Jamie, kilt on or off. This clip of how to put on a great kilt is ahem enlightening...

FannyFifer · 08/01/2016 13:31

Want to watch clip but just checking it's not a spoiler.
Think I'm up to episode 11.
Seriously though Jamie is getting more attractive with each episode, major crush.
I am totally stalking him when they filming in Falkland. WinkGrin

pixieg1rl · 08/01/2016 13:35

I think it's from 11 or 12, but not really a spoiler, more an appreciation of his thighs. Seriously that man can fill a kilt.

Definitely do some stalking. If they were anywhere near me I'd be there like a shot.

SenecaFalls · 08/01/2016 14:08

Diana Gabaldon had not been to Scotland when she wrote the first book, which was published in 1991. She wrote the book as an exercise to see if she could write a novel, with no view of being able to publish it.

I wouldn't say the historical inaccuracies are "legion," but there is that major one (which features in other historical fiction as well) of the Jacobite rising being between the English and the Scots. There are also some geographic issues as well. I can't remember exactly; it's been a long time since I read the first book, but there is some travel between places that would have taken a lot longer in the 18th century than is described in the book. And there are some mistakes about what people wore. And her Gaelic was off, too.

But Gabaldon has been to Scotland many times since the first book was published, and the subsequent ones, and especially the later ones, are much more historically accurate.

In some ways, I actually like the TV series better than the books. I think the casting is excellent. They are paying attention to detail. The accents are differentiated. Jamie uses a Highland lilt. Ned Gowan is pure Edinburgh. And the production values are very high.

Redglitter · 08/01/2016 14:43

Have you seem the map of Scotland in one of the books. It's ridiculous how inaccurate it is.

I love the books though have read them all several times

TheHiphopopotamus · 08/01/2016 15:10

Diana Gabaldon had not been to Scotland when she wrote the first book

That would make sense Grin

In some ways, I actually like the TV series better than the books

Me too. I agree about the casting especially the lovely Sam (although having seen pictures of him in real life, I much prefer him in a kilt).

SenecaFalls · 08/01/2016 17:53

Sam is lovely, and according to some MNetters who have posted on past threads, and who have met him or know his family, he is a very nice person in RL. Smile

FannyFifer · 17/01/2016 00:17

Finished the series at last, jeezo last episode was a bit heavy going eh?!! ShockShock

gingerboy1912 · 17/01/2016 19:35

Just discovered Outlander last week and am up to episode 14. I'm loving it. The combination of time travel and history is fab. Agree that Sams character Jamie is scrumptious but not so keen on pictures of the actor in real life. The kilt def does it for me.Grin

cardoon · 17/01/2016 19:50

It's funny isn't it - I think he looks too clean cut, threaded eyebrows or something in real life. Much prefer him a bit tousled Wink

Twinklestein · 17/01/2016 20:09

I don't find the actor attractive in any other character but Jamie. And also with his hair shortish as it is season 1, don't like his hair tied back at all (in the trailers to season 2).

gingerboy1912 · 17/01/2016 22:52

Just finished watching it all, omg that last episode was ShockShockSad

TheHiphopopotamus · 17/01/2016 22:59

It's funny isn't it - I think he looks too clean cut, threaded eyebrows or something in real life. Much prefer him a bit tousled

Yeah, it's weird. I wouldn't be attracted to him at all in real life. He looks very well groomed and clean shaven and, oddly, a lot smaller Confused He is utterly amazing as Jamie though.

gingerboy1912 · 17/01/2016 23:01

Both the lead actors seem to have brilliant chemistry on and off the screen though.

TheHiphopopotamus · 17/01/2016 23:13

Yes they do.

Although Claire/Catriona's montone did start to get on my nerves after a bit and the Jamie-lite episodes dragged sometimes. Looking forward to series 2 though Grin

cardoon · 18/01/2016 06:51

When does season 2 start and how/where are you all watching it?

gingerboy1912 · 18/01/2016 12:55

I agree her voice was a flat in tone.

Still Sadover the last episode found it hard to watch tbh.

hudyerwheesht · 19/01/2016 11:05

Can I join if this thread is still going?

Just watched the entire series over a week and need somewhere to obsess about it. There are other older threads but they discuss the book series as well so there are potential spoilers for the next series.

Are they still filming S2? I thought it was due to come out in Spring and I've already seen a trailer for it.

Am not liking the look of Jamie so much in the next series - like pp I prefer him rugged and unkempt.

wafflerinchief · 19/01/2016 12:36

Op at least carry on watching until you get to the wedding episode. Thanks for the gratuitous Jamie pics btw, he's utter gorgeousness in kilt form :) I agree, I don't think I'd like seeing him in modern day getup, totally ruins the fantasy.

gingerboy1912 · 19/01/2016 12:39

Yes apparently series 2 is out in April. all set in Paris, around Bonny prince Charlie. I hope some of the highlands is in it though part of the attraction for me has been the scenery

TheHiphopopotamus · 19/01/2016 12:41

I don't know if they're still filming. As far as I know, they haven't cast a certain important character yet (won't say who, in case hudyer doesn't know Grin).

I prefer his hair shorter although the long hair is closer to how he's described in the book. Tbh, I'm hoping they deviate from the books, coz they're pants.

hudyerwheesht · 19/01/2016 13:39

No, I don't know thehiphopopotamus - intriguing.... I guess the trailer I've seen is based on what has already been through post production.

One thing that is bugging me that I don't think has come up in the threads is the "ghost" Frank sees in the first episode, staring at Claire. I couldn't tell if he was young or not but either way it suggests that he will die before Claire but from what I know of the books they both live until they're a good bit older.
Or is that now not going to happen because she's gone back in time and I'm just over-thinking things?

MyVisionsComeFromSoup · 19/01/2016 13:47

I don't recall the books ever explaining the ghost, I think it was just "one of those things", more a teaser for what was to follow in the storyline, rather than an actual event as it were.

Not sure how much I'm looking forward to series two, it's a book I very rarely re-read, apart from the non-France bits (desperately trying to avoid spoilers, especially as we don't yet know how they're going to handle those, do we?).

What I really want is for DG to stop faffing around, and get the next book finished, as the last one ended on a pretty massive cliffhanger, and I need to know why the characters did what they did Sad

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