If you are obsessed with Game of Thrones (GoT), then you would love Outlander. Based on a book series by Diana Gabaldon, we follow the story of a WW2 combat nurse who, through the magic of some time portal stones in the Scottish countryside, finds herself transported back in time to Scotland in 1743.
From its story line, cinematography and characters, here are the top 10 reasons why you should watch Outlander.
1. Claire Fraser
Claire Fraser (played by the flawless Caitriona Balfe) is definitely Kajo girl-material.
As one of the main protagonist in the series, she is a combat nurse from 1940s England.
As a woman ahead of her own time, she fiercely values her own independence and freedom.
Even in tough times, she stubbornly refuses to be part of any patriarchal social system or take orders blindly without questioning them.
However, there are a few times in the series where her need to make a stand (usually at the wrong time) can make you grab your hair in frustration because it usually gets her in trouble.
2. Jamie Fraser
Just watching Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan) is enough to turn anybody into a fictiophilia.
If you’re wondering how to pronounce Sam’s last name, in a 2013 Facebook post where Outlander author Diana Gabaldon first announces Heughan as Jamie Fraser, she relates how she asked him to pronounce his last name: “HEW-an is good or if you can, insert the Scottish throat clearing/spitting sound in the middle… HewCH-an. Hard to get right first time without spraying close friends with saliva.”
3. Time traveling factor
While on a second-honeymoon in Scotland with her husband Frank Randall (played by honey-voiced Tobias Menzies), Claire accidentally time travels to the 1700s through a circle of standing stones.
In her confusion, there she first bumps into Jonathan ‘Jack Black’ Randall, a mirror-image of her husband Frank. (If you’ve been paying attention from the beginning of the episode, you’ll find out how they’re related.) Eventually, she will bump into Jamie Fraser’s clan, and she will eventually learn of the Highlander struggle for Scottish independence from the English.
If you think that Outlander is going to be one of those typical time travel stories where either one of them has to follow the other to the future or stay back in the past, you’re almost right.
4. The unnecessarily attractive cast of Outlander
Is it necessary that they all have to be attractive?
Apart from our favourite couple Jamie and Claire, the cast of Outlander look more like runway models.
While most of them might be covered in dirt, blood, sweat and tears, they are still insanely gorgeous at the same time.
It is also unfair that Jamie and Claire have an unnecessarily attractive daughter as well (oops….spoiler alert).
5. The many Vogue-worthy moments (mainly Claire’s wardrobe)
While the clothes from the 1700s in Europe look suffocating and heavy, that does not mean they have to be unfashionable.
From season 1, Claire’s outfits have been eyecatching and praise-worthy. However, the stakes in fashion really got an upgrade in Outlander when they moved to France.
6. The books by Diana Gabaldon are still ongoing!
Outlander is the same as GoT in that the series is based on a series of books.
First started by Diana Gabaldon as a personal project on what it took to write a novel, today the Outlander series have spanned eight books… and two decades. The first one was published in 1991, and the latest, Written in my own heart’s blood, in 2014.
Like GoT, the series is yet to be completed, with the ninth one – Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone – forthcoming and fans are dying to know what happens next.
7. Scotland: A holiday-mode destination
Taking place in historical Scotland, the series were shot in numerous places such as the Doune Castle, Stirling; East Linton, East Lothian, Newtonmre in the Scottish Highland, Rothiemurchus Forest; Bathgate; West Lothian and Aberfoyle, Stirling.
While watching Outlander, one can’t resist but think of it as a traveling channel as you might find yourself unintentionally planning an imaginary vacation to Scotland.
8. Stay for the history
While the characters may be fictional, some of the plot lines in the series are based on real events and sometimes refer to real people throughout history.
In the final episode of Season 2, the storyline is set in the time of the Battle of Culloden which took place in April 16th, 1746.
9. Plenty of time to catch up
As of now, Outlander has produced three seasons with 16 episodes in Season 1 and 13 episodes for both Season 2 and 3 respectively.
So if you are planning to watch the latest season, you have plenty of time to catch up.
Apart from that, the straightforward and uncomplicated plot line makes it easy for fans to process and digest.
10. Outlander has been renewed for two more seasons!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FzQcnVVhDAg
According to some reports, Outlander has been given a two-season renewal, taking the series into six seasons.
Season 4 of Outlander is set to air sometime in November this year. The latest season is said to be based on Diana Gabaldon’s fourth book, Drums of Autumn.
To know more, click here.
