Outlander season 1 - does it get better?

[ScoobyDon]

Everyone raves on about this so I’ve given it a go. I’m on season 1 but god it’s slow isn’t it? Does it get any better?

Does she eventually get to go back to her own time period and if so, when? I feel like I’m just trudging through the episodes waiting for her to get back to the 1940s!

Have you read the books?
If you are waiting for her to get back, then perhaps this isn’t the series for you

Oh so the full story stays in the 1700s? 😞 no I’ve not read it

People love it - not me - slow and tedious did not enjoy it at all - gave up after series 1 - move on OP and spend time on a show you enjoy!

Well we loved it! Have watched 6(?) series so far. The majority of the story is not in ‘real’ time. Maybe watch the whole of series 1 and then give it up if you are not enjoying it.

I tried to get into this & found it really slow so gave up. Was surprised as it gets raved about.

I didn't like it, I just watched season one

The first few seasons are great.

Without spoiling anything, she only briefly returns to her own time (and even then not quite) but the whole series is based on time shifting / different historical periods & locations. Some work better than others.

I found in later series it all got too confusing & I don't watch now.

But the early seasons, and Claire & Jamie's initial relationship, is amazing.

So she does go to other time periods? That’s reassuring because I was starting to worry that the whole thing was going to be set in the 1700s. If that was the case it might as well just be a drama set in the time!

I've just finished watching it all and loved it. It is primarily set in the 1700s, in various locations. It isn't a 1940s drama if that's what you're looking for, it's about her falling in love with living in that time.

Basically, if you don't go gooey eyed at Jamie Fraser it's probably not going to get much better for you.

We watch it, but in this house we renamed it Outlandish around series 3.

Further on, it's been further renamed Outrageous.

It is set in the 1700s a lot - but there is a fair bit of moving countries that goes on, so you do get a change of scenery. Series 3+ there is also a bit of moving through time periods. But it's not every episode - it's not like Quantum Leap

She does go back to the 1940s halfway through season two and quite a few episodes are set then. But then she returns to Scotland but twenty years after the season one time period.

I know what you mean OP. Even Claire herself talks so slowly I nod off. I’ve watched the first three seasons and was just thinking today about buying season 4. So I keep getting pulled back.

I love it but I'm really into history and a bit of woo with the time travelling stones. So it's perfect for me. But can see why others would find it slow and a bit samey. I love the later seasons where they go to different places and it jumps in time (without saying too much).

It has its attractions…

Lol I’m one of the few who hates the series - though I did enjoy reading the first book yonks ago.

If you like time travel romances that aren’t as slow as treacle Timeless is probably the best one out there (even if it stopped at 2 seasons). There are a few Korean ones too but if you’re not into Mongol history they won’t make much sense to you.

I read all the books and quite liked the initial tv shows but haven’t bothered with the most recent one yet.

The books are looonnggg. And go off on many tangents. Many many tangents.

But it is mainly set in the 1700s with a few travels back and forth but not many.

The books and tv shows have a huge following in the US with lots of tourism into Scotland as a result. A taxi driver in Edinburgh told me that quite a few taxi drivers had read the books and watched the series and now take American tourists on Outlander trips.

Must admit I went to Doune castle last week which was in Outlander and also visited the print shop in Edinburgh.

No you not alone I hate the series too. I enjoyed the first trio of books, the first three were a great bit of escapism. I looked forward to the books being adapted but ugh the casting! The cast are all very pretty to look at, but apart from Tobias Menzies they are really wooden. I also couldn't get past the cheapness of the sets, and using really inaccurate locations e.g. South Africa for the West Indies and what looks like Perthshire for Carolina? It's a fairly big budget show and those choices are bizarre. I kept watching hoping it got better as a lot of people I know love it, but dropped it a couple of episodes into season 4.

No. I love outlander but season 1 is 100% the best season.

I watch it simply because it is so mindless that it’s enjoyable at the end of a stressful day 😃. You don’t have to think. “Wooden” is the perfect description for the female lead. A tad disappointing to learn it gets no better from season one onwards…not sure I cba to continue in that case … I suppose I had a vain hope that it might improve …

I think it depends on what you want to get out of it. I started watching by accident (I thought it was a SF film with a similar name.)

Unlike some up thread I certainly dont watch it for Jaimie ... but was curious about the story line, some of which just doesn't work.

And not having read the books, am not troubled about setting etc..

I think (from the tv series) it is meant to be as much about how a 20th century woman could fit in with live in 1700s.

There are lots of (far fetched in terms of plotting) references to historically important moments, where Jamie and Claire just happen to turn up at.

So needs to be taken with a pinch of salt.

I gave up on the episodes which seemed to be unecessarily graphic about violent sex.

But on one level it is shamelessly (as I assume the books are) aimed at US Scots as it gives an Americanised version of brave Scottish nationalism standing up against the horrors of english subjugation.

Which of course is hilarious as these right thinking Scots happily go off and colonise America at the expense of the existing Native population.

I gave up midway through season 2

I watched most of the first series and loved the romance/home story/time travel elements but really struggled with the sexual violence. Every time she got into some sort of scrape, multiple

Posted too soon…

*Every time she got into some sort of scrape, multiple men planned to rape her.
I realise that this was probably how things were in 1700s but it made for very uncomfortable viewing, for me at least.

I have no interest in romance so I’m not sure il get much further. I’m just on the wedding bit at the minute 🙄

Can I just say…

Jesus H Roosevelt Christ!

<mass cringe>