Anyone watching 'Outlander'?

Subject: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: michaelr
Date: 14 May 15 - 06:52 PM

I've been enjoying this TV series based on the book(s) by Diana Gabaldon (which I haven't read). The heroine is an English nurse at the end of WWII who walks through a circle of standing stones on Halloween and finds herself transported 200 years into the past. It's the Scottish highlands on the eve of the (second? I'm a bit fuzzy here) Jacobite rebellion, and our gal Claire has a series of perilous adventures, marries a young outlaw and has a tough time convincing the Highlanders that she is neither a witch nor a British spy.

The show walks the line between historical fiction and bodice-ripper. It's great fun and beautifully filmed, from the wonderful scenery and great costumes to the fact that the protagonists are quite easy on the eyes.

Who else is watching?

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: michaelr
Date: 14 May 15 - 06:56 PM

Sorry, this should probably be BS... except that the soundtrack music is quite nice as well. Which brings me to a question that has puzzled me for years: Why is it that films about the Scottish highlands always feature the uillean pipes on the soundtracks, while St Patrick's Day parades invariably include the Great Highland Bagpipes?

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: BobKnight
Date: 14 May 15 - 07:01 PM

There were two Jacobite uprisings. The 1715, and the 1745. This series is based on the '45. It wasn't very well promoted and so I've missed it, don't even know which channel it's on.

Pipes? Do American film producers know the difference - do they care? :)

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: michaelr
Date: 14 May 15 - 07:08 PM

The Irish should...

"Outlander" is a production of the Starz cable channel.

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: GUEST,punkfolkrocker
Date: 14 May 15 - 07:26 PM

In the UK it's currently exclusive to Amazon Prime.

Mrs punkfolkrocker has it on her watchlist as she is a time travel
& romance fiction addict..

2 boxes ticked...☑☑😜

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: olddude
Date: 14 May 15 - 08:23 PM

Dang right it's awesome

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: CupOfTea
Date: 14 May 15 - 09:52 PM

I started watching it but ran into time crunch & after the first 3 shows it's been piling up on my DVR. Sometime after I watch the last series of Dr Who, I'll get to it...but then I've got most of a season of "Forever" to watch, too (English doctor living in NYC, who can't stay dead for the last couple centuries & pops up naked in the East River every time they kill him).

I don't know if I read the book it's based on or not, but I do have a vague memory of reading a book that was of a similar plot line, recommended to me by a librarian. More memorable ones tend to stick in the mind. (loved the time-travel story where they guy goes back to when the Book Of Kells was being written)

I've no idea why uillean pipes are used so much on tv/move soundtracks, but I'm not sure I'd be able to distinguish them from other small cauld wind pipes. I tend to think of them as having a wider range of melody than highland pipes, but not even sure if that is technically true.

I'm curious to know the opinion of the historical accuracy from those much more educated on this time period. I feel like I'm getting a slice of English history of the last century from watching "Call the Midwife" which sounds like they strive for accuracy.

Joanne in Cleveland

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: michaelr
Date: 15 May 15 - 01:15 AM

I have meanwhile realized that uillean pipers can't very well march in parades in addition to everything else they have to do while playing. But St Paddy's being an Irish holiday, might they not be allowed to ride on a float?

As for movie soundtracks, the less GHB, the better, IMO...

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: Tattie Bogle
Date: 15 May 15 - 05:01 AM

Yes, uillean pipes have a bigger range.

Another friend thought the presence of a trombone in one scene might be anachronistic, but trombones, and sackbuts before them, have been around for centuries.

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: Little Robyn
Date: 15 May 15 - 05:45 AM

NZ isn't showing Outlander yet but I've read the books - up to number 6. I wish I could find a stone circle and step through into the past, though the '45 uprising was a bit violent.
I don't know why the producers chose uillean pipes, tho' the sound is much more mournful (and tuneful?) than war pipes.
I don't recall any of the characters playing pipes, or even travelling to Ireland, but they go to France and North America later on.
I guess I'll have to wait a year or more for the series to reach NZ.
Robyn

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 15 May 15 - 05:54 AM

Started watching yesterday. Though the first episode was all you say I found it a bit disappointing overall. The Mrs says it gets better so I will stick with it.

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: GUEST,Dave the Gnome
Date: 16 May 15 - 05:18 AM

Couple more episodes in and it is getting better. Not sure what it was about the first - Probably just a bit slow for my shallow tastes :-)

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: GUEST
Date: 16 May 15 - 07:36 AM

Anybody know if there are any plans to show the series on 'normal' TV in the uk?

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: michaelr
Date: 16 May 15 - 04:41 PM

I was moved by the scene of the women singing in Gaelic while waulking the tweed. A very nice detail.

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: Gallus Moll
Date: 16 May 15 - 08:14 PM

Terry Dresbach the costume designer has a blog / website

There is also an Outlander facebook page with lots of photos and some film clips

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: olddude
Date: 16 May 15 - 11:00 PM

Tonights episode was pretty lame. I like the show but some things don't make logical sense

Subject: RE: Anyone watching 'Outlander'?
From: GUEST,Allan Conn
Date: 17 May 15 - 04:17 AM

Actually there were more than two Jacobite Rebellions. Three major ones and at least one other (ie the 1719 rebellion) which didn't make such an impact. There was of course the 1715 and 1745 rebellions which are better known in England because they impacted on England but there was also the first Jacobite Rising which was 1689 where there were three battles in Scotland (Killiecrankie, Dunkeld and Cromdale) and of course the Battle of the Boyne in Ireland. There were some smaller ones which didn't get off the ground too.

In 1689 James lost his throne in England after he fled when William of Orange brought his army across. The Scottish Parliament reconvened (James had been ruthlessly suppressing the Presbyterians/Covenanters) and the Presbyterians reasserted their dominance. Both William&Mary and James were asked to present their cases as to why they should be monarch of Scotland. William's was conciliatory whilst James just claimed divine right etc and questioned the parliament's authority to ask such a question. So James was stripped of his throne and proclaimed a traitor. Viscount Dundee was his only significant supporter in parliament and so stormed out to head for the Highlands to start the 89 rebellion. In truth he had no choice as he was the chief henchman of James during the Killing Times etc so his cards would have been marked anyway. Dundee was killed at Killiecrankie though the Jacobites won that initial battle.