Is it worth watching all of the Outlander seasons?
May 25, 2021 11:43 AM Subscribe
I am interested in watching more historical fantasy television and some people have encouraged me to checkout Outlander. I hear the show has mixed views and that it has plummeted over time. Some people think season one is the best and should stop after that. Some have said the seasons can be repetitive and too dramatic. I have not read the novels.
Yet, would it be worth watching all of the seasons? Or should I only stick to the early seasons? Which seasons are the best?
It does go downhill after time. It is also very graphically violent at many points. But I still watch it bc I like the production design/wardrobe and (some of) the actors and find it mildly entertaining. My best friend watches it to get pointedly angry at the historical inaccuracies, which is pretty funny.
posted by greta simone at 12:11 PM on May 25, 2021 [2 favorites]
posted by greta simone at 12:11 PM on May 25, 2021 [2 favorites]
Not a fan of the books (quit halfway through book one and put the friend who recommended it to me on the "gives bad recos" list in my brain)
Not a fan of period fiction in general
Not a fan of romance fiction in general
I am not this show's target audience. That said, I have seen 3 seasons.
Season 1 was real rapey and gross. I like whatshisname's sister and almost everyone else sucks and is boring.
The best moment of the entire series is in season 3 when [redacted] returns in a scene in their bath. I may have cheered watching it, I don't remember. If they release the [redacted] cut where it's only the scenes with [redacted] I think I would be a huge fan of that show.
Skip it. There's other things to watch.
posted by phunniemee at 12:17 PM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
Not a fan of period fiction in general
Not a fan of romance fiction in general
I am not this show's target audience. That said, I have seen 3 seasons.
Season 1 was real rapey and gross. I like whatshisname's sister and almost everyone else sucks and is boring.
The best moment of the entire series is in season 3 when [redacted] returns in a scene in their bath. I may have cheered watching it, I don't remember. If they release the [redacted] cut where it's only the scenes with [redacted] I think I would be a huge fan of that show.
Skip it. There's other things to watch.
posted by phunniemee at 12:17 PM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
Outlander has come up recently in AskMe - contains spoilers and stuff:
Outlander (TV) Content Warning?
How to skip the violence in Outlander
I would argue that "rapey and gross" applies to all of the seasons.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 12:25 PM on May 25, 2021 [3 favorites]
Outlander (TV) Content Warning?
How to skip the violence in Outlander
I would argue that "rapey and gross" applies to all of the seasons.
posted by See you tomorrow, saguaro at 12:25 PM on May 25, 2021 [3 favorites]
Lots of people like the series (including later seasons), lots don't. You aren't really going to know which group you're in without watching it. If you don't enjoy it, you can always stop watching at any time. There continues to be violent content, including sexual violence, after Season 1 so if that's a dealbreaker for you I'd skip it, but aside from that issue there's plenty of people who have enjoyed the show too.
posted by randomnity at 12:41 PM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by randomnity at 12:41 PM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
I wrote that “how to skip the violence” question and I wound up just bailing. It’s pornographically violent.
posted by HotToddy at 1:17 PM on May 25, 2021 [7 favorites]
posted by HotToddy at 1:17 PM on May 25, 2021 [7 favorites]
I watched Seasons 1-3. I do like the show but it does get awfully rapey. Now I just read episode recaps to know what happens!
posted by aclevername at 1:21 PM on May 25, 2021
posted by aclevername at 1:21 PM on May 25, 2021
I have seen the first season and parts of the second.
My feeling was that the quality dropped precipitously around the end of the first season -- if I remember right, episode 14 or 15.
It is, in my opinion, a very steep cliff. Up to that point, there's urgency, suspense, drama, and you even feel like you're learning something about other times and ways of life. It has a sense of space, and of place. I won't say it's realistic but it draws you into a world.
Then the plot takes a ridiculous turn. And then, in the next season, the show moves to an entirely new setting where the characters adopt new agendas that don't make a lot of sense and make the previous characterization irrelevant.
The good news is, you're not gonna miss the cliff. If you watch through episode 15 and you're like "what? this is fine! wonderful, even!" that just means we have different tastes and you can keep going with my blessing. And if you watch it and you're like, "This is awful, what the hell?" Then you'll know it's probably time to call it quits.
posted by grobstein at 1:59 PM on May 25, 2021
My feeling was that the quality dropped precipitously around the end of the first season -- if I remember right, episode 14 or 15.
It is, in my opinion, a very steep cliff. Up to that point, there's urgency, suspense, drama, and you even feel like you're learning something about other times and ways of life. It has a sense of space, and of place. I won't say it's realistic but it draws you into a world.
Then the plot takes a ridiculous turn. And then, in the next season, the show moves to an entirely new setting where the characters adopt new agendas that don't make a lot of sense and make the previous characterization irrelevant.
The good news is, you're not gonna miss the cliff. If you watch through episode 15 and you're like "what? this is fine! wonderful, even!" that just means we have different tastes and you can keep going with my blessing. And if you watch it and you're like, "This is awful, what the hell?" Then you'll know it's probably time to call it quits.
posted by grobstein at 1:59 PM on May 25, 2021
I live in Scotland and within just a few miles of many of the show’s key filming locations. I’ve met a number of people who decided to come here just to visit locations but who then got induced into an interest behind the original history. Personally I’d follow the show up to those parts where it is about Scotland or France. Then come along and traipse around some derelict castles, places where we burned witches, atmospheric river gorges and other places the show will lead you to.
posted by rongorongo at 3:47 PM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by rongorongo at 3:47 PM on May 25, 2021 [1 favorite]
I really enjoyed Outlander, though there's a lot of violence that seems gratuitous at times. You might start off with Men in Kilts, which has two of the main actors exploring Scotland. There are a few clips and references to the show woven in, but no violence.
posted by Ostara at 5:45 PM on May 25, 2021
posted by Ostara at 5:45 PM on May 25, 2021
Fans of Outlander might enjoy the 1964 drama-documentary "Culloden" - available here on Youtube. It was an extremely innovative film at that time - and, I think, gives a great impression of the key players on the field and what it must have been like to be there.
posted by rongorongo at 2:09 AM on May 26, 2021
posted by rongorongo at 2:09 AM on May 26, 2021
If you want to try it, definitely start at the beginning.
posted by TimHare at 8:25 AM on May 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
posted by TimHare at 8:25 AM on May 26, 2021 [1 favorite]
Big Outlander fan here. Will not dispute the prevalence of sexual assault and general violence, but I WILL say that I'm very sensitive to both those things and enjoy the show regardless. I've been told that shows like Game of Thrones are much worse in that regard.
The first season is absolutely the best, but there are good things to be had in all 5! And they are currently shooting 6 and planning for 7, so if you like it, there's lots of content to be had, including the books.
My spoiler-free verdict on the seasons:
- 1: Definitely the best. If you've fallen in love with Jamie and Claire by the end of the season, you will probably be helpless to stop watching because you want to see as much of them as possible. Content-wise, beware the last two episodes, as they are the most graphic and violent of the entire series.
- 2: There's a venue change for the first half, but they do eventually return to Scotland. This season has some of the best acting of the series, and the last episode is maybe the best episode of TV I've ever seen. It makes me weep and gives me chills every time I see it.
- 3: The first half hurts so good; the second half is a ridiculous, super fun romp. Probably my favorite season after 1.
- 4: Most fans regard it as a disappointment, but even disappointing Outlander is still a better watch than many other things. I've since rewatched it and liked it better than I remember. There's a lot of focus on a secondary character who I do NOT like.
- 5: Right up there in quality with season 1 and 2! The main stars (Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan) were made producers in this season, and their (excellent) influence is seen in the second half. Most fans I know really love this season and it's made them really excited for 6, assuming the Sam/Cait will continue to have a good influence on the storytelling. Content warning, the last episode of the season is pretty brutal but less so than the end of season 1.
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 8:31 AM on May 27, 2021 [1 favorite]
The first season is absolutely the best, but there are good things to be had in all 5! And they are currently shooting 6 and planning for 7, so if you like it, there's lots of content to be had, including the books.
My spoiler-free verdict on the seasons:
- 1: Definitely the best. If you've fallen in love with Jamie and Claire by the end of the season, you will probably be helpless to stop watching because you want to see as much of them as possible. Content-wise, beware the last two episodes, as they are the most graphic and violent of the entire series.
- 2: There's a venue change for the first half, but they do eventually return to Scotland. This season has some of the best acting of the series, and the last episode is maybe the best episode of TV I've ever seen. It makes me weep and gives me chills every time I see it.
- 3: The first half hurts so good; the second half is a ridiculous, super fun romp. Probably my favorite season after 1.
- 4: Most fans regard it as a disappointment, but even disappointing Outlander is still a better watch than many other things. I've since rewatched it and liked it better than I remember. There's a lot of focus on a secondary character who I do NOT like.
- 5: Right up there in quality with season 1 and 2! The main stars (Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan) were made producers in this season, and their (excellent) influence is seen in the second half. Most fans I know really love this season and it's made them really excited for 6, assuming the Sam/Cait will continue to have a good influence on the storytelling. Content warning, the last episode of the season is pretty brutal but less so than the end of season 1.
posted by leftover_scrabble_rack at 8:31 AM on May 27, 2021 [1 favorite]
you will probably be helpless to stop watching
I was absolutely not helpless to stop after the last 2 episodes of the first series.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 7:37 PM on May 27, 2021 [2 favorites]
I was absolutely not helpless to stop after the last 2 episodes of the first series.
posted by HiroProtagonist at 7:37 PM on May 27, 2021 [2 favorites]
Agree on the first season being the absolute best. The second season is good, worth watching but it goes downhill from there IMO. Similarly, the first book of the series is amazing and I'm not typically a fan of this genre.
posted by bluesky43 at 8:27 AM on May 29, 2021
posted by bluesky43 at 8:27 AM on May 29, 2021
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posted by TWinbrook8 at 11:56 AM on May 25, 2021 [4 favorites]