OUTLANDER is a vast and stunning adaptation
of Dian
Gabaldon’s first novel (at least the first half as the second half of the first
season doesn’t start airing on Starz until April 2015). The series
follows the epic journey of
Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe) who is thrown back in time by over two hundred
years to 1743 Scotland (while on a second honeymoon with her husband Frank)
where she encounters the handsome rebel James Fraser (Sam Heughan) while trying
to avoid the unwanted attention of the cruel ancestor of her husband, Captain
“Blackjack” Randall. She must survive
her new time while trying to find a way back to the stones of Craigh na Dun (so
that she can get back home to her own time).
It is an epic adventure/ historical romance. Clare finds that Jamie
Fraser has fallen for
her and she starts to get to know him where she may end up having her heart
being torn between two men (the one that saves her in 1743 and the one she is
trying to get back to in the 20th century). Captain “Blackjack” Randall is a tricky
villain as you think he is a bad man who can bee redeemed only to find he might
not want to be a good man.
The eight episode ends on a cliffhanger that
fans of the
show will either have to wait for Starz to start showing the series again in
April, the second volume of Season One to be released to blu-ray and DVD,
or read the first book which the first season is based on. Ronald D. Moore has
created a wonderful
adaptation of the first novel so far and I hope STARZ sticks with the show for
several years so that the other seven books can be adapted for television. The
cast is great as the characters and I
can’t wait to see the actor who played a certain Doctor Who companion (and
source of inspiration for the character of James Fraser) to guest star in the
second half of the first season.
SPECIAL FEATURES:
21 deleted scenes which amount to over 45 minutes
of
deleted, alternate, and extended scenes with the most cut scenes from CASTLE
LEOCH and THE WEDDING.
Featurettes:
DISC 1-
OUTLANDER: AN EPIC
ADAPTATION- interviews with Ronald D. Moore, Diana Gabaldon (author of the
OUTLANDER novels) and others trace the origins of how the first book became a
series.
AUTHENTIC IN DESIGN: THE DRESSES & KILTS
OF OUTLANDER- a
look at the costumes of OUTLANDER as designed by Ronald D. Moore’s wife
CASTING OUTLANDER- a look at the casting of the
roles for
the series where Calire took the longest to cast where they though James Fraser
was going to be the difficult one to cast (he ended up with the right actor
rather quickly for Jamie).
DISC 2-
ON LOCATION: CASTLE LEOCH AND
THE MAGIC OF SCOTLAND- a look at the locations they used for OUTLANDER
EMERGING A SCOT: CAST
GOES TO BOOT CAMP-
a behind-the-scenes look at the actors training to be like 18th
century Scots and be able to ride horses.
A WALK THROUGH WITH THE
SETS AND STAGES WITH RONALD D. MOORE- Ronald
D. Moore (while wearing a kilt) gives a tour of the various departments and
sets of the show.
The version of OUTLANDER Season One Voulme One
that I have
is in a hardback book with 16 pages of photos, excerpts form the script, an
introduction by author Diana Gabaldon, and a place to securely hold the
discs. It comes enclosed in a box which
has a hologram which switches between the Volume One cover and what I assume
will be the cover for Volume Two of Season One.
FINAL ANALYSIS:
I
wish the whole first season of OUTLANDER was included, but the smart thing
about this collector set is it has a place holder for the second volume of
Season One when it is released.
OUTLANDER is a great and vivid adaptation. Scotland
is a great character as you experience the journey Clare takes to get back home
as you learn about 1743 Scotland
and clan life while she has her heart torn between two men. I can’t
wait for the second volume to come
to blu-ray.
This review is ©3-23-2014
David Blackwell and cannot be reprinted without permission. Send all comments
to feedback@enterline-media.com
Like Enterline Media on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/enterlinemediaweb
and follow on tumblr at http://enterlinemedia.tumblr.com
