Outlander

[smitten]

I thought that episode was amazing. They’ve changed things quite a bit and I’m excited to see where the rest of the season goes. And it was a great showpiece for Sam, which he deserves!

I’ll go back and read all your opinions now!

[Ladybug]

I love it whenever Jamie wears his little glasses.

[kostgard]

The Fug Girls are recapping the show again.

Which I love because of the ballad format, and the way they love Jamie:

Next, Claire’s Periodic Narration of Whoops We Need to Handwave Some Stuff comes in softly and explains to us that Fraser’s Ridge has really blossomed, full of settlers, and we can even see that Jamie has been busy building himself and Claire a brand new big house, which would have been a great opportunity for Roger to learn which end of the hammer makes the pointy metal thing go boom. However, this mansion was not even a glint in the Highlander’s eye when they left to chase down Roger. Then they had to journey back from River Run. Bree’s baby is big, but not THAT big, I don’t think, besides which I don’t think they’d have waited super long to get her married to Roger. EVEN with the help from the settlers, it feels like Jamie has erected this mansion in about two weeks. I know the man can get things up quickly thanks to his masterfully handled equipment, but that’s fast even for him.

And the way they hate Brianna:

Claire sniffles all over Brianna’s wedding dress, which is very pretty and also a tablecloth, and praises her to the heavens while Brianna just beams and accepts all these good words because of course.

Brianna just is… the worst. This entire scene, Sam Heughan is giving everything he can, and Sophie just kind of looks like she’s asleep. She and Jamie toast, and then Jamie walks her outside to meet Claire, who once again tells Brianna she’s gorgeous, and Brianna simply nods.

Yes. Yes, I am that.
I don’t need to thank you for
just telling the truth.

Also? Because they know Roger sucks:

Yes, our montage is set to the excruciating soundtrack of Roger strumming a guitar for Brianna and singing Nat King Cole’s “L.O.V.E.” No, seriously, he does that. I have to point out that while he is slightly off-key in parts, Richard Rankin is not a bad singer — but somehow, coming from ROGER, it manages to be terrible? That is quite a magic trick.

[Millis]

I gave up on the show half way through last season because I despise Brianna and Roger so now I'm just reading the Fug Girls recaps! Sam Heughan really is a great actor, I wonder if it would translate to other roles or if he's just born to play Jamie?

[Ladybug]

I am tickled to see that the Fug Girls appreciate young Ian as much as I do. He's my #2 after Jamie and I can't wait for him to return!

[smitten]

So I can see the negativity that a lot of you have, maybe I was more impressed with this episode because I had very low expectations. I didn't think last season was well done at all, and this is my LEAST favorite book. So really there was nowhere to go but up!

Maybe I'm just happy that the wigs finally look decent!

Yes, Brianna, was wooden but I'm trying to explain it as holding in her emotions in front of her parents. She did a good job selling the shock about Bonnet still being alive. And good grief, how many years of "American" lessons does Sophie need?!?! So I think she did ok. Rankin is bothering me more, he's too weak.

It's interesting - during the novel Fiery Cross, Brianna is still VERY annoying, but Roger never really is, so I'm not sure where they're mis-stepping here but I definitely think and agree that they are. In fact Roger is pretty freaking awesome in almost all the books, so I don't know how they've messed him up so badly while getting Jamie and Claire sooooo on point. As I've said before, Bree is problematic, but she does get better. Did they change casting directors? Or get too caught up on looks over talent?

I was happy to see Fergus and Marsali, and I hope they're storylines get the same service in the show that they do in the book.

I gasped when Jocasta mentioned Duncan Innes. I thought they had given up on that storyline. I wonder if he'll be in the same state as he is in the books.

And Spoilers below for other book readers:

SPOILER: Click to show

Spoiler
I hope they actually do the whole "treasure heist" intrigue from the book. It's the only thing that makes this whole era interesting before the war and it would be sooo fun to watch these actors play it!!

I also hope they include Jamie's snake bite!!!

[Deleted]

Feb 20, 2020 1:46:06 GMT -4 kostgard said:

The Fug Girls are recapping the show again.

Which I love because of the ballad format, and the way they love Jamie:

Next, Claire’s Periodic Narration of Whoops We Need to Handwave Some Stuff comes in softly and explains to us that Fraser’s Ridge has really blossomed, full of settlers, and we can even see that Jamie has been busy building himself and Claire a brand new big house, which would have been a great opportunity for Roger to learn which end of the hammer makes the pointy metal thing go boom. However, this mansion was not even a glint in the Highlander’s eye when they left to chase down Roger. Then they had to journey back from River Run. Bree’s baby is big, but not THAT big, I don’t think, besides which I don’t think they’d have waited super long to get her married to Roger. EVEN with the help from the settlers, it feels like Jamie has erected this mansion in about two weeks. I know the man can get things up quickly thanks to his masterfully handled equipment, but that’s fast even for him.

And the way they hate Brianna:

Claire sniffles all over Brianna’s wedding dress, which is very pretty and also a tablecloth, and praises her to the heavens while Brianna just beams and accepts all these good words because of course.

Brianna just is… the worst. This entire scene, Sam Heughan is giving everything he can, and Sophie just kind of looks like she’s asleep. She and Jamie toast, and then Jamie walks her outside to meet Claire, who once again tells Brianna she’s gorgeous, and Brianna simply nods.

Yes. Yes, I am that.
I don’t need to thank you for
just telling the truth.

Also? Because they know Roger sucks:

Yes, our montage is set to the excruciating soundtrack of Roger strumming a guitar for Brianna and singing Nat King Cole’s “L.O.V.E.” No, seriously, he does that. I have to point out that while he is slightly off-key in parts, Richard Rankin is not a bad singer — but somehow, coming from ROGER, it manages to be terrible? That is quite a magic trick.

This is my least favorite book in the series but the Fug Girls make it hilariously entertaining. That recap was a thing of beauty.

[kostgard]

Guys, I think even the show is starting to realize that Rog and Bree suck.

First, Bree’s sketch of Bonnet looks nothing like him, and I’m dreading this storyline with him. Like, why does he give a crap about the kid? Someone like that probably has illegitimate children all over the place. Not looking forward to this at all.

And Bree’s Time Cop routine was annoying. As Claire pointed out, Bree played god herself, so maybe she should shut it. And her argument that they are better off in the past because their kid will never die in a car accident? Just...what?! Like, I get that’s how Frank died, but that was super-stupid. And again, Claire pointed out that yeah, he’s not going to be in a car accident but he could fall and skin his knee and die of an infection that would have been nothing in the 20th century. Bree is dumb.

And I love the “Roger is Useless” hour. Jamie leaves him behind, because...yeah. Bree kicks his ass at hunting, and then Roger requests an EYE EXAM because he couldn’t accept the idea that he just sucks at shooting and Bree is better at shooting. I just...Roger is just some of the worst of toxic masculinity. Like the only way he could suck at shooting while his wife doesn’t is if there’s something wrong with his eyes. But I loved that Claire was all, “Soooooo, y’all should be heading back to the future now, right?” Dude, even Claire wants them gone.

But I LOVE the idea of Marsali becoming Claire’s apprentice. The show clearly looked around and thought, “Okay, Marsali is awesome. We need to give her more to do” and I am 100% behind this decision.

[Spinderella]

Mar 11, 2005 14:51:31 GMT -4 kostgard said:

First, Bree’s sketch of Bonnet looks nothing like him, and I’m dreading this storyline with him. Like, why does he give a crap about the kid? Someone like that probably has illegitimate children all over the place. Not looking forward to this at all.

I think that the first time we see her sketching Bonnet, it looked a lot like him. You could tell that she starts to make it darker and more evil as she progresses. I'm sure in her mind from such a trauma, that he's going to look horrible. I don't really begrudge her artistic representation on that.

Mar 11, 2005 14:51:31 GMT -4 kostgard said:

And Bree’s Time Cop routine was annoying. As Claire pointed out, Bree played god herself, so maybe she should shut it. And her argument that they are better off in the past because their kid will never die in a car accident? Just...what?! Like, I get that’s how Frank died, but that was super-stupid. And again, Claire pointed out that yeah, he’s not going to be in a car accident but he could fall and skin his knee and die of an infection that would have been nothing in the 20th century. Bree is dumb.

Sooooooooooooooooooo dumb. So what if it's not a car, Bree? Do you know how many people died from carriages? A LOT. Even in the 20th Century, people were still using carriages well into the 1920s and I've read countless deaths from them in my line of work. Car? Horse? Carriage? Wagon? whatever. Death comes in many forms, Bree.

Mar 11, 2005 14:51:31 GMT -4 kostgard said:

But I loved that Claire was all, “Soooooo, y’all should be heading back to the future now, right?” Dude, even Claire wants them gone.

HA! It finally dawned on me through that scene that he was having his eyes checked because he couldn't understand why Bree was such a sharp-shooter. Bitch, please. You've said so many times that you're an ACADEMIC. That "Oxford didn't prepare me" for all this shit or whatever. Frank may have been an academic too, but he was also a military man that knew how to handle a gun. Your father was a PRIEST. Gee, I wonder what skills were passed on to whom? Idiot.

Mar 11, 2005 14:51:31 GMT -4 kostgard said:

But I LOVE the idea of Marsali becoming Claire’s apprentice. The show clearly looked around and thought, “Okay, Marsali is awesome. We need to give her more to do” and I am 100% behind this decision.

I loved that so much! And even the showrunners said that at the end of the episode. GOOD. Marsali has a better grasp on things and is a tough chick. I get that blood and guts isn't for everyone and I didn't expect Bree to handle it well, but I'm glad that Claire will have someone that can help her and we get more of Marsali in the mix. I loved that she had to question Claire just one more time to make sure she wasn't a witch. Hee!

[lea1977]

Where I would actually find Bree and Roger tolerable would be in the 20th century. I hope they travel back (or I guess ahead?) because I am thinking Bree’s roommate she left in Boston must be wondering where she is.