Outlander
About this.
A while ago, I sat with a friend at lunch discussing good shows. I mentioned Yellowstone.
She said “Outlander.”
Immediately I rolled my eyes (In my head. I don’t generally roll my eyes because it’s rude and best to keep rude reactions private because it saves friendships.) because she would watch Outlander. In fact, if I had to matchmake shows to people, I would match her and her husband to Outlander first thing.
Listen, I didn’t really know what Outlander was about, but I knew it took place in a time period I didn’t especially care about (the 1700’s) and besides, it looked very dramatic. And Scottish. And war-y. And just. The second she said it, I thought, “next!”
Some time after, Jeremy announced we needed a new show and put Outlander on. Jeremy is always just putting things on. No discussion beforehand. No “hey, would you want to watch this one?” Just —click—it’s on and I guess we’re watching this now. “No, not this one!” I wailed. “Why? He said. I heard it was good.” And apparently that’s all the convincing I need to watch something I don’t want to watch.
Except we turned it off before the episode ended.
Because have YOU seen the first episode of Outlander? It’s got all the things we hate. Gratuitous sex, an apparent ghost sighting, and talk of pagan traditions in the town where they’re staying. Like, why do shows have to do this? For once, can’t a show be about a peaceful non-controversial life? Anyway, a while ago, Jeremy and I decided we wouldn’t watch any shows with gratuitous sex, or continuing immoral storylines or characters that don’t get dealt with, rebuked or redeemed. This, no matter how good the story is. Goodbye, Game of Thrones! Truthfully, I only made it through three episodes before swearing that one off for good.
These guidelines left us with home design shows on HGTV as our nightly viewing options. This is what we watched for a while.
Until another person we respect started to rave about Outlander. Said it was the most captivating show she’s ever seen. Said she became obsessed with it. Says she’s embarrassed to admit she almost joined an Outlander Facebook fan page as a result. Says she had to step away from it and detox because the show had started to control her life. The only thing she wanted to do was binge Outlander. Said it was an epic love story. The most epic one ever, even.
So long story short, we gave it another shot and it was so good that now I’m reading the book, which yeah, is a little romance novel-y but also quite good.
Full disclosure: I’m only at the end of season two (and season two started off s.l.o.w and off-putting, but I’m glad I pushed through because my efforts were rewarded by the end) so I don’t know where the story goes from here, but I do know where it’s been.
Listen, things happen in this story—yes, things do. You might not like it. But may I suggest, there is such a thing as a fast forward button? And so far, each thing has been redeemed or dealt with which makes me very happy indeed. This is why I keep watching. And reading.
But know this, I can’t recommend it. I am not here to recommend it. I am only here to say that despite my first impressions, I have fallen hard for these characters and this story and Scotland for that matter. Aye, Sassenach. I dinna know I would. (That last sentence is supposed to be written in a Scottish accent).
At this point you might be saying “I can’t believe Krysta watches that”—OR— “Krysta is a prude because Outlander is not a scandalous story.”
I hear both of you. But can I tell you something? You sound pretty judgmental.
Say what you will. Listen, I only tell the truth here and the truth is this: So far, I love this book and I love this show.
And I don’t recommend it.