BACK IN TIME WITH OUTLANDER

Thanks to the wonders of Netflix, I’m spending the deep, dark days of winter wrapped in the warmth of one of my favorite romance stories—again. Yes, friends, there is nothing like settling down on the couch with a blanket, a warm drink and a few episodes of Outlander to heat things up on a cold night, no matter how frigid the air may be outside your cabin window!

The new (fifth) season of the historical romance series based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon starts this Sunday on the premium STARZ network, but you can stream the first three seasons now on Netflix free if you have a subscription. And, if you’ve never been introduced to this story of a fiery-tempered WWII nurse who falls through a circle of stones in 1945 to land in Scotland in 1743 only to fall in love with a brawny Highlander, you really must take advantage of this opportunity to find out what the fuss is about.

 

Claire and Jamie: Eyes for only each other

I first met nurse Claire and Highlander Jamie through a free copy of the first book in Gabaldon’s nine-book Outlander series, given to those of us who were lucky enough to attend her speech at the New York City Romance Writers of America® conference a few years back. Gabaldon said in her talk that her book had been a hard sell at first. This was in the days before Highlander romances were vastly popular; there was virtually no such thing as a time-travel romance; the book was too long, had too much history in it, was impossible to categorize. (Does any of this sound familiar, SFR authors?) So, she started challenging potential agents, editors and publishers with this: Take the book, open it to any page and start reading. I guarantee you won’t be able to stop.

People, that’s what you call chutzpah! I wish I had half that much confidence in my writing.

The result, of course, is that Gabaldon started a whole new genre of her own in romance writing. Highlander romances are everywhere now, and time-travel romances are no longer unusual. In fact, in paranormal romance, they’re very common. Thanks to Diana Gabaldon and the overwhelming success of Outlander.

I’ve read the entire series several times. My husband has read it, too. I’ll admit I like historical romance, and both the settings (first Scotland, then France, Jamaica and North Carolina) and the time period are interesting. But those aren’t the only attractions. The greatest appeal for me, and undoubtedly for the millions of Gabaldon’s fans, is the couple at the heart of the books—Claire and Jamie Fraser. 

On the surface, they appear to be the cliché’d spunky heroine and stalwart hero. Oh, but they are so much deeper than that. Gabaldon has imbued them with real quirks and flaws, with individual mannerisms and world views, with souls we can see so clearly, it’s as if we know them from the first page we meet them. We can be frustrated with Claire’s stubborn streak and her impetuous temper. We can roll our eyes at Jamie’s macho posturing and naivety. Because in the next chapter, Claire’s generous heart and Jamie’s poetic soul redeem them (and bring them back together again). And the sexual attraction between these two, though it’s seldom graphic in the novels, can really steam up the pages!

Then there is the complication of what Claire has left behind in 1945—her husband Frank, who she genuinely loves. But maybe not as passionately as this Highlander who is obviously her soulmate. 

And just happens to look exactly like Claire and Jamie’s 1743 nemesis,Captain Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall. Every story needs a villain to match the power of the romantic bond, and, boy, does this one live up to the role. Randall is irredeemable. Evil with a capital “E.” And he finds every opportunity to get in the way of Claire and Jamie’s happiness, often succeeding for months, or years. (Yeah, the series has a long timeline.) Of course, he can’t succeed forever. Outlander is a romance, after all.

The television adaptation is a sumptuous treat, gorgeous to look at, accurate in its period detail and beautiful in its Scottish Highland scenery. And the actors chosen to play Claire (Catriona Balfe), Jamie (Sam Heughan) and both Frank and Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) are perfect for their roles. I am constantly in awe of their performances, particularly in Season One, when Black Jack does his worst. (Warning: Some of these scenes are definitely not for the squeamish. But Gabaldon was incredibly brave to write the original scenes in the novels; Ronald D. Moore was just as brave to include them in detail in the televised version; and the actors above all deserve praise for depicting them onscreen.)

Best of all, Balfe and Heughan bring Claire and Jamie to life in a way I could never have thought possible. She, taking Claire from waspish to tender in a moment. He, taking Jamie from boyish eagerness to steely courage in a heartbeat. And together? Fireworks! (Including some much more graphic sex on the screen.

Yeah, I’m really enjoying this, and I think you will, too. I can’t wait for Season Five! 

Cheers, Donna