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S01-E01: Sassenach Claire mentions V-E Day (meaning Victory in Europe Day), which was May 8, 1945. World War II officially ended on September 2, 1945, when Japan surrendered. In the books, Claire goes through the stones at Craigh na Dun on Beltane (May Day), which is typically celebrated on April 30th or May 1st. In the TV series, Claire goes through the stones on Samhain (God of the Dead), usually celebrated from sundown on October 31st to sundown on November 1st. S01-E06: The Garrison Commander It certainly was an important episode because it clarified WHY people were acting the way they were: the Scots hating the British for good reason, and the British hating the Scots as well. I thought Brigadier General Lord Thomas was great. He was funny and charming to Claire, but horribly insulting to Dougal at the same time. It was important to get a glimpse of where all of this hatred came from and what it was leading to. This episode showed us just how sadistic and evil Black Jack was, and how insanely cruel he was to poor Jamie. In his mind, the flogging was beautiful! I did watch the flogging scene peaking behind a pillow. It was harder to watch than read. And even though I had read the punching scene in the book beforehand, I wasn't at all prepared for how emotionally disturbing it would be either. I didn't really breathe again until Claire and Dougal were finally riding away together. Then they stopped for water at St. Ninnian's Spring, and Dougal asked Claire point blank if she was an English spy, and she denied it. He finally believed Claire was telling the truth and told her his plan for keeping her out of Randall's hands. That was pivotal. I don't think her marrying Jamie would make any sense without this episode showing just how dire the situation was. As much as I hated the flogging, I loved the ending, where Claire and Jamie were sitting in the grass talking about getting married. She couldn't understand why Jamie would agree to it. He liked her, and knew how evil Black Jack was, and he wanted to protect her. He didn't feel like he had anything to offer a wife, but protecting her this way was something he could do. Of course, there was more to it than that, but it made sense that he held his true feelings back for awhile. Still, it was enough of a reason that she could accept and for that she felt she owed him a debt. Then she asked him, "Don't you mind that I'm not a virgin?" and he responded, "Well, no, so long as it doesna bother you that I am. Recon one of us should know what they're doing". I got just as much of a kick out of that as when I read it the first time in the book. Everything in this episode really set the stage for their wedding! S01-E07: The Wedding Best episode ever! So glad that it was written and directed by women who gave it the sensitivity that it deserved. Wonderful job everyone! It hit ALL of the necessary points, very close to the original story, lots of dialogue from the book, very sexy, but with cute flashbacks to explain things. I usually like stories to play out chronologically, not jumping back and forth, but even though they did that with this episode, often, it WORKED for me. And even though they did an entirely different first wedding for Claire with Frank (in the story, they get married in Scotland in the same church that she and Jamie are married in), that also worked well. The only part I thought was missing was the honesty pledge, when Jamie asked her to always tell him the truth when she did tell him something, and he would do the same (recognizing that they both have secrets). They did bring that into a later episode, S01-E11, when Jamie asked her if she was a witch. It worked there, but I think it worked better on their wedding night. And the COSTUMING!!!! OMG, Jamie and Claire's wedding outfits are WONERFUL! I am VERY interested in period costumes, and Terry Dresback and her team do a phenominal job! I have made Claire's shift from this episode in a very lightweight linen, and it is my most favorite sleeping garment. Can't wait to make the slight variation on the design like Claire wears at Lallybroch at the end of S01-E12 (with the ruffled neck edge and the white lace shawl). S01-E09: The Reckoning Thank goodness Droughtlander is over, at least for 7 more weeks. So worth the wait! So much of the dialogue in this episode is right out of the book, just what the book fans want! But the VISUALS add so much! And the story played by actors who somehow miraculously BECOME the characters we love (and hate)! Perfect! Sam and Catriona did the best ever marital fight scene at the riverbank. She was right in his face, and he was in hers too. Then when he reigned it in and sat down, "You're tearing my guts out Claire", my heart was breaking too, along with Claire's! I really don't think any male actor that I've ever seen could have done that scene anywhere near as perfectly as Sam played it. These actors, and whoever cast these characters, all deserve an Emmy! Then there was Claire's punishment for disobeying Jamie! I worried about this scene, knowing what was coming. I think they handled it perfectly! Not too violent, too funny, too serious, or too sappy. Just the right balance. As has been said before, this behavior is NOT acceptable in OUR TIME, but it was exactly what was expected of a husband in THAT TIME, and Jamie would not have been respected by his comrades if he hadn't taken care of his marital responsibility to punish her appropriately. But Diana Gabaldon wrote this in such a way that a modern audience COULD understand and accept it in context. And she did that by having Jamie explain his actions to Claire, and put it all into perspective for her (and us). The whole TV production team did justice to what I expected would be a very difficult scene to show to a modern audience! And I think they did it by staying very close to what Diana Gabaldon wrote. The Laoghaire part is quite a bit different though (she didn't try to seduce Jamie by the stream), and I didn't like that they made it seem like Jamie was tempted by her—we all know that he's in love with Claire at this point, even though he's in the doghouse at the moment. But Laoghaire did orchestrate Claire going to Geillis because she thought she was ill with the intention of getting her arrested for witchcraft. They made her a little more evil than in the book. Though the fact that Jamie KNOWS it was Laoghaire who left the ill-wish does throw a kink in things in season 3 (based on Voyager). Most of the changes they've made so far to the story in the book I like and understand, but not the ring. I think the book version of the ring is better, but that's just my opinion. I'm not the only one who thinks that's one of the very few things they didn't get right. Still, we can live with it. It being made from Jamie's key to Lallybroch was a step in the right direction (at least it had meaning), even though it's kinda' ugly. The ring difference shows up here. In the book, Jamie buys Claire a beautiful wedding ring right after they return to Leoch, they have a huge fight which he's very surprised by (it's not really a continuation of her being mad about the spanking—she's very upset because she thinks Jamie married her for the rent money he's entitled to as a married man, and she thinks he's still interested in Laoghaire and went to her first thing after getting back), then he explains to her where he really was and gives her the beautiful ring he's bought. He gives her an out if she wants to live apart, she says no, that's not what she wants, then they make up and have pretty dramatic (more so than the TV version) makeup sex (the sword to the chest and fielty oath happened earlier in the book, when they did make up over the spanking). S01-E10: By the Pricking of My Thumb First of all, this is the first time we see Jamie wearing breeches (pants)! Makes sense, since the Duke of Sandringham makes his appearance and we know he has a fondness for Jamie. Pants would provide a little more protection from a pervert than a kilt would. In the book, the first time Jamie wears pants is at Quarter Day, which cooresponds to episode S01-E12. This episode is very different than the corresponding chapter, with the same name, in the book. It plays up the political differences between the MacKenzie brothers (which I think was necessary for time) and ramps up the drama a bit (again, necessary for the medium). The Duke of Sandringham part is quite different, although I think they got the jist of him spot on. They added Claire meeting with the Duke surrepticiously, the whole part about Ned writing a letter for the Duke to try to get Jamie pardoned, and the duel where Jamie was his second wasn't in the book (I like the book version better, but I see the need to condense it down for TV and heighten the drama, still they left out one of my favorite stories about how Jamie avoided the Duke's amorous intentions when he was 16). Neither was Geillis' witch-dance in the woods in the book. Dougal's wife Maura dying right about the time that we find out Geillis is pregnant, and how Arthur dies are pretty close, except Dougal didn't freak out in the book. They changed the reason why Jamie was away when Claire was arrested for witchcraft. In the book, he went on a stag hunt with the Duke of Sandringham (to try to get his support for a pardon). But having him go with Dougal to keep an eye on him served the purpose. I would have thought though that Jamie would have left Murtagh behind to keep an eye on Claire (lessons learned from her past non-obedience to his orders). But if Claire hadn't ignored Jamie's warning and hadn't been arrested, the story would have gone off-track. And they left out a really cute scene of them meeting in the barn loft when Hamish comes in downstairs wanting to ride Donas, a really spirited horse that is WAY beyond his equestrian skills. He asks Jamie a loaded question: "He-said-ye-must-serve-a-lass-like-a-stallion-does-a-mare-and-I-didna-believe-him-but-is-it-true?" This sort of ties into Jamie's lack of knowledge on the subject on his wedding night. How he answers Hamish is cute. S01-E11: The Devil's Mark This is my favorite episode so far! It's very similar to what's in the book, and even though there are some differences, the key pieces are all there and the story stayed right on track and riveting. The expression on Jamie's face was marvelous when he barges into the courtroom, holding both swords and scowling at everyone. And what he said was right out of the book: "As to that, sir, I swore an oath before the alter of God to protect this woman. And if you're tellin' me that ye consider your own authority to be greater than that of the Almighty, then I must inform ye that I'm no of that opinion, myself." The words were great, but adding the expression on his face made the moment extra powerful! I loved how they handled the end of this episode, although I would have liked a little bit less witch trial and a little more time at the stones! The weak little "Jamie, goodbye" seemed inadequate to the emotional aspect of the moment. I very much missed Jamie's statement from the book: "Lord, if I've never had courage in my life before, let me have it now. Let me be brave enough not to fall on my knees and beg her to stay." It really felt like it tied everything up though, and now that Claire has made her difficult decision, the story can move forward again without any secrets hanging between Jamie and Claire. Those of us who've read the book cringe to think of what's coming, but knowing that they'll survive it helps. Still, I'm going to have a pillow to hold over my eyes for Episode 15 (it helped for the flogging scene in Episode 6). S01-E12: Lallybroch In the podcast for this show, neither Ron Moore nor Anne Kenney remembered where it was in the book that Jamie first told Claire about what happened in Randall's office right after he saw his father, but I remembered it happened when they were walking and talking about 3 miles before they reached Bargrennan, as they were making their way back to Castle Leoch. This was after Jamie punished Claire (the spanking) for leaving the copse while he went to meet with Horrocks. This was an amazing episode! It was nice to see Jamie and Claire relatively happy and settling into life at Lallybroch as the Laird and his Lady. Just wish their happiness could have lasted a while longer. In the book they had several weeks, not several days. There were lots of flashbacks in this episode, including back to when Jamie and Jenny first met Captain Randall at Lallybroch (explaining Jamie's apprehension as they approached), Jamie's last meeting with his father (who was wearing the same coat that Jamie wore at Quarter Day), Randall's indecent proposal, and Jamie's brutal second flogging, when his father had a stroke and died thinking Randall had killed his son. All of them were very emotional, even though we'd seen most of them before. This episode really made me appreciate Tobias Menzies acting skills and dedication to the role. I'm so glad that he has the Frank role too to counterbalance how despicable and perverted Jack is. As awful as Black Jack is, when he put his bloody finger in Jenny's mouth, just daring her to bite it, my skin literally crawled! And then when she was laughing at him, mocking him as he was frantically trying to "get it up," the look on his face, how her mockery disarmed him! If she'd screamed, he would have succeeded in his goal. I'd read that scene in the book several times, but seeing it really added a huge emotional punch that words alone couldn't deliver. It was shocking on so many levels. One of the scenes I liked the most was when Jamie came back to bed drunk after teaching Ronald MacNab a lesson on the difference between abuse and discipline. "... he'll have to answer to Laird Broch Turach—That's me" (grin, smack); Claire's smile of contentment; the talk about elephants, and the hangover the next morning when she gives him "Hair of the dog" and him saying, "I think I might need the whole hound." Priceless! This show gets very dark and gruesome at times (I almost stopped reading it near the end of the first book because of that). But they balance that with love, humor, and extreme beauty. I'm so glad I kept on reading! Maybe it's the dark side that makes the light side so brilliant in contrast! I LOVED all of the quotes from the book, especially Jenny's statement in the graveyard, where she said, "And if your life is a suitable exchange for my honor, tell me why my honor isna a suitable exchange for your life. Are you telling me that I may not love you as much as you love me. Because if you are, Jamie Fraser, I'm telling you right now that it isna true." I loved how he rolled his eyes when he got the drift of what she was saying. The great acting adds SOOOOO MUCH to the already wonderful words! Thanks Ron et.al. Truly brilliant writing (book & script), and spectacular acting all around. Really everyone involved in making this show should all get the highest possible honors! If you would like to know more about the location where this episode was filmed, CLICK HERE. I know I'm bringing up lots of differences between the TV version and the book version. Don't take any of what I say as criticism! I love the books, and appreciate seeing dialogue from them in the TV episodes, but the TV show has to stand on it's own, and it DOES. The producers are walking a tight line between pleasing the people who love the books already AND those who will never read them. The show has to satisfy both audiences and give them what they want. I understand that, and am EXTREMELY happy that the story I love is being told so brilliantly and beautifully and visually by people who are at the top of their game! However, I want people to know that there is much more content in book(s) that couldn't possibly be included in the TV show (for time at least), so if you WANT more content, it's THERE, and you can read the books AND watch the show, and thoroughly enjoy both, like I AM! Like many others, I was inspired to read the books by watching the first few episodes of the TV show. I'm sure Diana Gabaldon is selling LOTS of Outlander books these days as I see them everywhere! This website is dedicated to promoting the Outlander story in both mediums. Why? Because I want Diana to keep writing, and Ron to keep the show alive until she's done telling her story and he's filmed ALL of it. And I want everyone to love it as much as I do! Honestly, I do it mostly because it's FUN and it gives me an excuse to read and watch and research. The more I do that, the more details of the story sink in and become a part of me. S01-E13: The Watch I have pretty much gotten the "why" of the changes they've made so far from the book, but there's one tiny change that is getting to me. They changed how old Jamie was when his brother Willie died from six to eight, which pushes out when his mother died by two years as well. I don't know why they did that, and can't imagine their reasoning. Seems minor, but it really irritates me (and messes up my Timeline). I really liked the change they made of having Claire deliver Jenny's baby rather than the midwife. I think it gave them a chance to get closer, which they needed to do for what's coming up in the next episode. I also liked how they expanded Horrocks role, and Ian killing him because he was threatening Jamie and his family. Ian is a hero too, not just the mild-mannered old friend. I liked the addition of the Taran MacQuarrie character, and I thought it made a lot of sense and carried the story along. The switch between the Watch being all bad in the book, to being kind of both, seemed reasonable and interesting. I loved how they brought in Jamie's wooden snake (given to him by his brother Willie on Jamie's fifth birthday) and Ellen's boar tusk bracelets (with their mysterious source -- to be revealed later I hope). In the book Jenny describes what it's like being pregnant to Claire WITH Ian and Jamie in the room, which felt kind of awkward (I would not be saying such things within earshot of my brother!). But two women talking together is more believable. I especially loved all the great quotes from the book in this episode, even though it was VERY different than the book! S01-E14: The Search I liked Claire and Jenny in the first part of the episode, working together to hunt for Jamie. I like that Jenny softened towards Claire, realizing that she really does love her brother. I'm glad that they kept the expressing milk part, and think they did an amazing job with the engorged breasts prosthetics complete with flowing milk! I was once separated from my nursing baby for a couple of days and remember being similarly engorged, to the point where I'd do just about anything to get back to my baby. Expressing milk manually helps a little, but a baby is much more effective. They changed the part with the gypsies some too, but it kept the story going and was a little clearer than in the book. I thought the search with Murtagh dragged out a bit in the book (but then, searches are like that). It kind of did in the TV version too, but I think they did a good job of it. They stayed pretty true to the story, and having Claire be the "singer" instead of Murtagh was fine. I liked her song (would like to see the words posted somewhere), and the way she finally kind of got into her act was cute. It's not one of my favorite episodes (no Jamie), but it was necessary to tell the story. The calm before the storm. S01-E15: Wentworth Prison This was an extremely difficult episode to watch. It stayed pretty close to what was in the book, but they of course added a few things, like starting off with the hangings, and MacQuarrie. Seeing Jamie up on the gallows with a noose around his neck was CREEPY, even though I knew they wouldn't kill him off. Having Black Jack ride up and "save the day" was an ODD twist. Nowhere in my mind is he a hero. Exactly the opposite. So I'm sure they were thinking this added to the drama of the story, but really, isn't it dramatic enough without embellishments? I was prepared for this episode to go VERY DARK, and it did. I reread the Wentworth Prison section in the book beforehand to sort of desensitize myself (this was about the third time). The first time through I VERY SERIOUSLY thought about just putting the book back on the shelf (or in the trash) and throwing in the towel, giving up on Outlander. But I knew there were more books, and I'd loved the story up to that point, so I gathered my courage and barreled through. So glad I did! But, while I can appreciate the talent it takes to write and act something this dark, there's no way I'm going to like it, or watch it without a pillow handy (to bury my head in). Jack is just TOO depraved for my tastes. Villians have their place in literature and film, and some villains can be very entertaining. But while I like Tobias Menzies and think he's a great actor, I'll be really glad when Black Jack finally gets his due! Sorry Tobias, but it's coming! Another change from the books was they "ruined" Jamie's left hand instead of his right hand. In the books, Jamie is "caurry-fisted" or left handed. Obviously Sam isn't (he carries his sword in is right hand), so it made sense, but that's one more difference that carries through. They removed some things too, most of which I was fine with, like Claire killing the wolf (no problem, I always thought that was a bit strange). One thing they left out that I wish they hadn't was the very touching moment when Claire is forced to leave Jamie in the dungeon and be escorted out of the prison by Jack. In the book Jamie is trying to convince Claire that she HAS to go, and he tells her that since he's going to hang in the morning anyway, it really doesn't matter to anyone what happens to him tonight. What's important is that she's safe. She tearfully but emphatically states that what happens to him matters to her! As disturbing as it was to read this section in the book, WATCHING it was even more emotionally charged. ALL THREE OF THE MAIN ACTORS WERE BRILLIANT! As much as I loathed Black Jack, Tobias played him perfectly, and I'm sure that was very hard to do. Both Cait and Sam had me in tears over and over! I could feel their characters' pain, and I think that's what great actors do, bring their characters to life so that we feel what their characters feel. I've watched a lot of great actors bring great characters to life in my lifetime, but I don't think I've ever been so totally immersed in a story before, and a lot of people are responsible starting with Diana Gabaldon, Ron Moore, all of the writers and directors, all of the actors but especially Sam Heughan, Caitrona Balfe, and Tobias Menzies, Bear McCreary for the music, Terry Dresbeck for the costuming, and all of the behind-the-scenes people as well. I was REALLY hoping that this episode would conclude with the actual rescue, but it makes sense that they're saving that for the finale. I was really glad to see COWS at the end of this episode though! But I'm worried that they're going to include more of Black Jack's sadistic torture, and less of the healing that happens after Jamie's rescue in the final hour. To me, less torture, more healing would be better, but then again, I'm not a TV producer. If they can crank up the tension even more, they will and I understand the need for a dramatic season finale. If you want more of "Jamie's healing process," read the book! Sadly, we're going to have an even longer wait for Season Two to resume the story (than between the first half and second half of season one), but it should be more than enough time to recover from the emotional trauma of the final two episodes. And if you haven't already read books 2-8, DO IT! I'm just ecstatic that this story is being told on film (even the gruesome, awful parts), and I'm overwhelmingly pleased with how well they're doing it (everyone involved is just fabulous and deserve the highest possible honors). I stumbled upon THIS POST praising Sam Heughan's incredible acting skill at portraying Jamie in the Wentworth Prison and To Ransom a Man's Soul episodes. I agree that Tobias Menzies' portrayal of Black Jack was perfect in it's awfulness, but Sam's portrayal as his victim was beyond words. Can't imagine how difficult that must have been - I don't want to even think about someone going through that, and yet Sam had to live it as an actor and make us believe it, which he did way too well for my peace of mind. I was haunted by the words when I read the book, but it's ten times harder SEEING characters we LOVE suffer. I suffered with Jamie, and hope that I'll heal along with him as well. I hope they don't shirk on the healing process and give it it's due. S01-E16: To Ransom a Man's Soul This was a very hard episode to watch, even harder than the previous episode, and that's saying a lot. I don't cry easily, but I was in tears! But even though the setting (a monastery in Scotland instead of France) and some other major plot points were different than the book, and they did collapse the timeline to fit everything into one hour (in my opinion it really should have been at least two), it was brilliantly done! I can't tell you how happy I was to see the cows charging through the halls of the dungeon early on! So much better than reading it in the book! All of the actors were so brave and talented. I think Sam Heughan had the toughest job of all, and, although I'm sure it was extremely difficult to do, his portrayal of Jamie at his most vulnerable and broken down was way too believable. And although I absolutely hate (that's too mild a word), loathe, detest (I don't have a word in my vocabulary for how strongly I feel about Black Jack Randall), Tobias Menzies portrayed Jack Randall just how Diana wrote him, but maybe the visual aspect of seeing him and Tobias Menzies incredible talent as an actor made him seem even "more" awful than I remembered. Caitriona Balfe was perfect as well. You really felt Claire's pain and frustration at not being able to help Jamie recover mentally even though she hand a handle on the physical part. Duncan Lacroix' portrayal of Murtagh in this episode was especially wonderful as well. So much more than we've seen of him before, and he's always been one of my favorites. Really, every single actor in this episode was fabulous, except maybe Richard Ashton who played a dead Marley (not much was required of him unless those rats were real, then he deserves an Emmy for not moving). The rape scenes were even more horrible and painful to watch than they were to read, but that was the story that Diana Gabaldon wrote. The story they filmed was spot on and honest. Brutally honest. I don't think they went overboard, but I agree that some viewers would consider it TOO MUCH! It was TOO MUCH but horrible, awful, unimaginable things do sometimes happen to people and sugar coating them for other people's sensitivities is unfair to the people who are victims of such horribleness. We SHOULD be shocked and appalled by such things to have understanding and sympathy for victims who need people's support to survive. Victims of sexual crimes often feel responsible and they shouldn't. This episode underscored that point! This episode serves a purpose in the whole Outlander storyline; it's not just excessive violence for the sake of violence as you so often see on TV. The stakes were very high for the main characters. Life and death. Just saving Jamie physically (rescuing him from the prison and setting his broken bones) was not nearly enough. Jamie was broken psychologically by Randall, and saving his life required Claire to dig down deep and drag the full truth of what Randall did out of Jamie, and that truth involved Jamie having to forgive himself for not being able to hold himself unresponsive while Randall tried to "made love" to him (although that is not what I call love, it was what Randall thought of as love -- YUCK!). What ultimately "broke" him was not being able to forgive himself, and THAT is so honest and real. He felt that Randall had broken his soul, and he couldn't see how Claire could ever see him the same as she had before, and he couldn't live with her seeing him as less. But Claire finally broke down that wall in his mind by saying he was hers, not Randall's, no matter what, and if he couldn't continue to live for her, then she would die with him, that was her only option. That put things into perspective for Jamie, finally. This truly is the darkest part of the whole Outlander story (8 books so far), and, although they have many more challenges to overcome in the remaining books, if you can get past this section of the story, then the rest of it will be easier to watch. This is a love story set in a very dark and dangerous time in history, and none of it is sugar coated. It was written truthfully and honestly, and adapted for TV truthfully and honestly. All of the trials and tribulations that Jamie and Claire face bring them closer together and strengthen their relationship and their love for each other. They are both very strong characters to begin with, but together they realize that they are even stronger for surviving what they have gone though together! The old saying, "What doesn't break you makes you stronger" is true. The trick is to not be irreparably broken in the process! I am so glad that the episode ended on such a good note with Claire telling Jamie that she's pregnant and him being genuinely happy, but the book gave them more time to heal, and it didn't feel so rushed. I did miss the love scene in the hot springs at the end, but I understand that would have been too hard to film. I think of that as the true ending though, and this episode's ending as the "alternate ending". Isn't it wonderful that if you want to, you can have BOTH! It may seem like I always prefer the book version of the story to the TV version, but that's not true at all. Sometimes the TV version seems a little clearer to me, and the book version is a little more confusing. I love having both versions, and really, the main jist of the story is the same so I can fully appreciate BOTH! I think I still need some time to decompress and heal myself before Outlander resumes in Season Two sometime in 2016. Probably a good thing that we have some time, and I'm sure I'll be chomping at the bit for more Outlander before long. There will be plenty of time to reread Dragonfly in Amber (maybe ALL of the books again). There is MUCH MORE to come, and like this season/book, some of it will be breathtakingly beautiful, and some of it is very painful for sure. But it's a great story, and the people who are making the TV show are doing an absolutely fabulous job of adapting this wonderful story that Diana wrote to the screen. I'm confident that they will do just as wonderful a job with it in Season Two!