Outlander - 1x08 Both Side Now - Review

So close...yet still...so far

After getting married to Jamie Fraser, Claire has grown accustomed to her newfound life in 16th century Scotland. Unfortunately her comfort turns to discomfort as a startling event reminds her of the life that she once had. The life that she used to dedicate herself to want to go back to. Meanwhile in the 1940s, Frank is being convinced by everyone around him that his wife probably left him for another man. But only one woman holds the answer to Claire's disappearance. And if he heeds her words, he may be reunited with his wife again.

Claire is in a place of comfort. A lot more comfort now than she had been from the beginning of her time travel. She is married to Jamie, someone who has been there for her since this whole thing started. Two lost souls finding each other. And it is a love for one another that started as friends, but after their marriage it has become so much more. It is so believable that any memory of her previous marriage seems to have disappeared all together. It would just be acceptable to see this as a love story finally reaching its climax with them living happily together. But as this series goes. Nothing lasts forever. When Jamie learns that there is possibly a witness who can clear his name, he takes his chance of meeting this witness. Claire and the usual MacKenzie bunch join him to ensure that things go down smoothly.

Things don't go down smoothly. When Claire and Jamie try to have some alone time away from the MacKenzie Bunch, they are attacked by two Red Coat deserters. As Jamie is forced to watch as one of the Red Coats rapes Claire, she takes the initiative of using a concealed weapon to kill her rapist. Jamie then takes the opportunity to kill the Red Coat who has him held at gunpoint. While Jamie is feeling a strong amount of guilt for not being able to stop this from happening before it got to the point that it did, Claire is feeling anger. And surprisingly not anger towards her getting raped. Because at that moment while being raped she remembers the one who matters to her the most. Her husband, Frank. While she does still feel the emotional shock and trauma of what happened to her, she is clearly more disturbed by the fact that she might die in this time period knowing that her husband will never know what happened to her. This is the moment that she remembers what her mission was in the first place: to return to Craigh na Dun, the stone circle that flung her through time. She didn't care about Jamie at the moment. She was thinking of Frank.

And indeed, what is going on with Frank? In this episode we finally get to see him dealing with Claire's disappearance. It is interesting that the show has not spent any time showing his present predicament, as all of Frank's appearances in previous episodes except the Pilot have been flashbacks. And of course, we do see Frank in the past in the form of his ancestor, Captain Black Jack Randall, but that guy is a completely different animal than Frank. And this is where I praise Frank and Black Jack's actor, Tobias Menzies. This guy really is a scene stealer as Captain Black Jack, but what is heartbreaking is his portrayal of Frank who is in the midst of despair. It is a huge contrast of what the show has displayed with Frank because again most of Frank's scenes are flashbacks. And in those flashbacks he has always been portrayed as subdued yet loving with small sparks of spontaneity. But now we really see that he is going through hard times. It is a testament to Menzies great ability of switching back and forth between these two completely different characters that make him one of the most compelling cast members of this show.

Everyone has pretty much reached the conclusion that Claire has left him for another man, a highlander Frank claims to have seen watching her during a stormy night. That highlander just happens to look like Jamie Fraser. Or at least the sketch does. But back to the point. Frank has been thinking of every possibility and comes down to the conclusion that everyone else has. Except for one. The palm reader from the Pilot reveals that she is aware of the legend involving Craigh Na Dun's notoriety for sending people back in time. Of course for Frank, this sounds crazy, but because of the desperation we see his thought is, "why not?" And by some act of fate or pure coincidence, as Frank approaches Craigh na Dun, Claire is not too far away in her time period. It is the most heart wrenching scene in the entire series so far and while it is cliche, because of the nature of the show, you want to believe that the two of them will be reunited. But again, because of the nature of the show, we know that there is no way they'll be together at the midpoint of the series.

And so it ends with Claire being captured by none other than Captain Black Jack. And her predicament escalates from pure depression to pure terror. A very bitter way to end the episode. Especially since the season returns in April.

This was definitely a way to end things by bringing the audience back to a place where we remember that Claire and Frank are still married but she has genuinely accepted that she's in love with Jamie. This is probably the most weakest we've seen Claire from the series so far, but she has grown as a character. And this was the moment when she had to be weak, because we've reached the point of despair. We'll have to wait till April to see how she gets out of Captain Jack's grasp, but till then, this is definitely one of the best new shows of the season.

SCORE: 8.9/10 - Claire was a victim in this episode a little too much, but necessary for story

STATUS: Continue to Watch - Let's hope the mid season premier can live up to the first half

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Outlander - 1x07 The Wedding - Review

The episode where Jamie loses his virginity

And gets married. In order to prevent sending Claire back into the hands of Black Jack Randall and the Red Coat English, Claire is persuaded into becoming a full Scotswoman. However, the way to do that is for her to marry a Scotsman. And the one that she has to marry? Well, my header says it all: Jamie. The man who has been in her debt and protected her since she arrived in this old time period. And it can't only just be a marriage on paper, it has to be consummated.

The episode begins with a sweet moment between Claire and Frank in the 1940s or probably late 1930s before the war. It shows Claire and Frank on their way to meeting Frank's parents until Frank stops in front of a registration office. There we see a newly wed couple having their picture taken. Seeing this, Frank decides that both of them should marry now at that moment before he introduces her to his parents. This spontaneous moment and the sheer amount of happiness on Claire's face was a painful reminder of her life before becoming an unwilling time traveller. So much joy can be read from Claire, and it is a testament to the chemistry between their actors, Caitroina Balfe and Tobias Menzies, that they can make you truly believe Claire and Frank are in love. All that tenderness comes to an when we get back to where the last episode left off.

Claire is now married to Jamie Fraser, the Scotsman who has been a part of her life in this time period since she first dropped into it. It shows the "you may kiss the bride" moment of the ceremony first then immediately goes to the after party. Claire has hold herself up in the room that is to be her's and Jamie's, drinking her sorrows away. At this moment we see that Claire is extremely bothered by the entire ordeal, even if it means she doesn't have to go back to the English. Probably the one who feels the most awkward about this whole ordeal is Jamie. This is really when we get to see Sam Heughan stand out (pun intended immensely) in a brilliant performance as Jamie. Despite being the object of desire for many young women in Castle Leoch, he is still a virgin and is a little frightened knowing that Claire isn't one. The build up to their first time is handled nicely, especially with how Claire stalls the moment by asking questions of Jamie's family in order to get to know him better. And when the moment comes... it is really quick. And really confusing for Jamie.

That could've easily have been the end of the episode, but it isn't. In fact it was just the beginning. The remainder of the episode deals with Jamie describing what the ceremony meant to him. On one hand it was meant to protect Claire's life from the ruthless English red coats and Captain Black Jack Randall. But on the other hand, it was an important moment for him. We learn throughout the rest of the episode that he would only agree to do the wedding under three conditions. The first one being that it be a proper church wedding. The second, that a key to something in his possession be used to forge into the wedding ring. And finally that Claire gets the perfect wedding dress. And at that point we automatically know that Jamie is a romantic. But not only that, his attraction for Claire has been a lot more than a physical one. He wanted everything to be perfect for the wedding, even if it is just to keep Claire in Scotland and away from the Red Coats. But the amount of care that he went into making this something he'll remember.

All these actions and his honest nature really move Claire so much that they pretty much continued to have sex the remainder of the episode. Jamie learns a lot of things from this experience. But one thing we also learn is that Dougal MacKenzie, Jamie's uncle, also desires Claire very much. I say desire, because it is pretty ambiguous as to what his words mean. We've seen him try to rape her before, yet we've also seen him treating her with kindness and extreme protection. Even in the last episode when she thought the idea of marriage was intended for her to marry him, he laughed at the idea. Yet for some reason now we can see that he kind of regrets not being the one she has to marry. But in the end, all this revelation does is drive Claire back into Jamie's bedroom to show him another sex position that he'll enjoy.

The episode ends on a bittersweet note when she finds the wedding ring of her husband from the 1940s in her current wedding dress. With the exception of the beginning of the episode, Claire seems genuinely happy to be with Jamie. But the ending once again brings that beginning full circle. She still loves her real husband. And it was all handled beautifully. Not as thrilling as the previous one, but given that this episode was suppose to be a bittersweet romance, it achieved it tenfold.

SCORE: 9/10 - A terrific episode for a bittersweet romance

STATUS: Continue to Watch - I gotta see where this goes

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Outlander - 1x06 The Garrison Commander - Review

"A Masterpiece..."

After agreeing to see the commanding officer of the English garrison, Claire finds comfort among her own people from a different time. However that sense of comfort immediately gets swept away once the notorious Captain "Black Jack" Randall enters the picture.

I'm just going to say this upfront. This is THE BEST episode of the series by far. And I'll be thoroughly surprised if Ronald D. Moore and his cohorts can top this. But I'm pretty sure they can.

The episode begins where the last one left off with a question. A question that gets answered by Claire, letting her current situation be known as a harmless one. Despite this, the English garrison requests that she speaks with their commanding officer. She goes as long as she's escorted by Dougal MacKenzie. There she becomes reacquainted with her people, albeit a past version of her people. It is all there, everything that one would expect from stereotypical Brits with all the pomp and guffawing. It could've gotten old real fast if it weren't for the slight back and forth Warcheif Dougal had with Commander Thomas. Luckily the whole ordeal was handled with a montage in order to shorten Claire's rather comforting reciting of her tale in Scotland to her British compatriots. It was nice to see Claire feeling comfortable and being treated properly. Though it does seem more fun to be in the MacKenzie halls of Castle Leoch than to have an intellectual conversation with the high ranking officers. It goes so pleasantly well that they even offer to grant her safe passage back to where she came from, something that obviously filled her with complete joy. But given that this is a series, we know that this joy wasn't going to last. We just hoped that it wouldn't be taken away immediately.

Enter Black Jack Randall, whom Claire last encounters in the Pilot of this series. And that encounter was a near rape if it weren't for the MacKenzie clan intervening. His entrance and his demeanor automatically signals a huge contrast to the high ranking officers that Claire has been spending time with. The aura he gives off is almost similar to Hans Landa from Inglourious Basterds, but instead of being slightly witty, he is more subtle and a master class interrogator. It would be hard not to compare the two, because I shouldn't, but that was who immediately came to mind for me. This shouldn't be to the shows discredit, as we now have a really powerful antagonistic force taking complete hold in the show. Tobias Menzies does an incredible job playing a completely different character than the caring Frank Randall in the future. It is a true testament to his acting caliber that let's us know immediately that this man is the embodiment of evil. If it isn't his presence that convinces you, then it is his conversation with Claire that will.

Black Jack has Claire interrogated through a simple conversation. There is no acts of violence or torture, just a simple conversation. A conversation filled with intense animosity and incredible defense from Claire. It was mesmerizing watching the two of them exchange words as Black Jack tries to accomplish what the MacKenzies failed to do, get the truth from Claire. But here we see that Claire is extremely capable of fairing against interrogation, as she had slight experience with the botch attempts from the MacKenzies as well as from her husband Frank. However here, it really gets put to the test when Black Jack simply picks apart every single word she says then later feigns his aggression in order to bring back her comfort level. It is a classic interrogative trick in order to feel as if building trust among the one being interrogated. However Claire does a little bit of interrogating herself, and with a swift reference to Jamie, Black Jack seems to break. He recounts a moment that he  still haunts him. A moment involving the flogging of Jamie. The flogging that gave Jamie the infamous scars on his back. In flashback we see this moment, and with very specific narration by Black Jack, we learn that it was the moment that he knew he was a monster. It was a powerful delivery, and no matter how I describe it, the only justice to give for the scene is to watch it for yourself. There is so much we learn from Black Jack here. Where his sadistic personality comes from and just how extremely intelligent he really is. It was a powerful battle of words and wits between Claire and Black Jack that makes this episode incredible.

For those who have read the books, then they know that the ending of this episode is pretty much the one that they've been waiting for. For those of us who haven't, I can only guess that this is the moment that all romance novel lovers immediately fell deeply in love with this book. Because at the ending of this episode, the big moment happens between Claire and Jamie. And it is a moment that is better to be seen as to how and why it happens. 

This episode delivers the goods that was lacking from the previous one, and you can be sure as hell I'm officially on board for anything else this show has to offer.

SCORE: 9.9/10 - I didn't give it a 10 out of hope that there might be something that tops this

STATUS: DEFINITELY CONTINUE TO WATCH

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Outlander - 1x05 Rent - Review

On the road

Claire finds herself on the road with Dougal, Jamie and other members of the MacKenzie clan to collect rent from the clans who could not make it to the gathering. There her feeling of being an "outlander" starts to weigh on her, especially being the only woman in the group. But she soon discovers that the path they are on right now may lead them to history. A history that dictates that the clans will fall, and England will triumph. A history that begins to concern Claire.

As I stated, this episode really shows Claire as an outsider more than the guest she was in previous episodes. She describes her road journey as being similar to being at Castle Leoch in that even though she's out in the open world, she still feels like a prisoner. Even when she gets a lovely encounter with some Scottish maidens using piss to help dye some cloth, she still feels like a prisoner. We really do get the sense that there is no way she can escape from the MacKenzie Clan no matter what she does. There were no opportunities that presented themselves for her to escape, and except for that one moment with the women, she never gets time to herself.

However the bulk of the episode is dedicated to Dougal, Jamie, Angus, and all the other men of the MacKenzie clan. While we are introduced to a friendly lawyer who becomes acquainted with Claire, we get a real big taste of what the men are about. We learn that Dougal uses Jamie, particularly Jamie's scars, as an example in order to bribe the other clans for extra money. Of course, they're claims are that if they pay them extra, then they can guarantee that no one will suffer like Jamie again. This bothers Jamie, yet he begrudgingly allows it, much to dismay of Claire. There is also the large amount of antagonism shown from Angus towards Claire as he clearly doesn't trust her, nor do the other members of the clan save for Jamie. This really paints a curious image to the audience as for a majority of the episode we see the men acting as the worst of men. They get drunk, they cheat, they constantly tell sex jokes, and they don't have much respect for Claire. But then the writers of this episode, and I'm guessing author Diana Gabaldon as well, throw a curveball when the men brutally attack another clan in a bar. When Claire was ready to write them off as being just men, they reveal they fought the other clan because they insulted her honer. It was definitely a small realization for Claire as she sees that they do have some respect for her. If only they didn't follow up this act of chivalry by saying, "We're the only ones allowed to insult you." Great guys, just great.

Of course it should be noted that this episode was the first one since the second episode to bring back the presence of the Red Coats. They have been referenced but never fully seen since that second outing. Here their presence is made known, and that is where Claire really starts to fear for herself. She knows what is going to happen, and she knows that the people that she is with right now will not survive this rebellion against the English. Here she finds herself torn between keeping her secret or possibly altering history. However it is so unlucky that this moment doesn't happen until the end of the episode. But what it does is leave us with a cliffhanger that would've been more stronger had this idea of her being torn between secrecy and history had been the center of this episode. 

It is a pretty good episode where we learn more about the people surrounding Claire and Jamie, but there was a lot that could've been done with this to make that cliffhanger ending more effective.

SCORE: 7.5/10 - A pretty good episode, but it could've been used more effectively

STATUS: Continue to watch because that cliffhanger is still a cliffhanger

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Outlander - 1x04 The Gathering - Review

Loyalty or death

The plan for escape is now, as Claire decides to use "The Gathering" as her opportunity to get back to the ruin stones that flung her through time. But as we all know, no escape plan goes without its problems. Some of them are small and can lead to success. While others are large and can lead to failure. Her road to escape unfortunately leads to failure, and possibly cost the life of Jamie.

The desperation shown in Claire to try to escape has definitely escalated. Having done intricate recognizance in the form of playing games with children to get the layout of the land and using gossip to get her "shadows" to be lured away, everything seems about easy for Claire. But that is not the case here. Claire seems to have underestimated how important she's become to the MacKenzie clan, so much to the point where they would allow an Outlander such as her to be a part of "The Gathering."

This Gathering is...well, a gathering of all the MacKenzie clansmen who pledge their loyalty to Collum MacKenzie. That includes Collum's brother, Dougal MacKenzie. With everyone gathered to pledge their allegiance, this definitely seemed to be the right time to escape. She even goes so far as to pick out a horse for her to use in her escape plan, which she claims will be for the great boar hunt the following day. However, her stable friend, Jamie, is nowhere to be seen to help her pick out a horse. She learns from the stable master that it is best for Jamie to remain hidden till the day of The Gathering is over. This completely goes over her head, but will prove very vital later in more ways than she can consider.

As I stated before, her importance to the clan and all the people she's met has made her presence more of an obstacle in her route to escape. First Mrs. Fitz distracts her escape by having her dressed for the ceremony. Next she gets hold up by the young girl that is quite fond of Jamie who wants a potion that speeds up the desire of the heart. Which she claims she's not asking for a love potion, but that is pretty much what she's asking for. Claire makes up some gibberish by claiming dried horse dung is a special magic powder and reciting "there's no place like love," over and over again would work as a "not love" potion. To make matters worse, after she feels she's back on track she nearly gets raped by three drunk clansmen who have wandered off from The Gathering. Luckily she's saved by Dougal, who unfortunately also tries to rape her. She manages to fight back and knock him out before getting to the stables.

And just as she's about to get on her chosen horse, Brimstone, who stops her from escaping other than... Jamie. He's apparently been in hiding for reasons he does not digress, but Claire could care less about that right now. She makes it clear that she wants to escape, something that Jamie finds obvious but tells her that her plans are pointless given the extra amount of clansmen and guards present for The Gathering. Jamie offers to take her back to the castle, knowing full well that him going back to the castle with Claire would be very deadly for him.

It is upon Claire's escorted return that she discovers the reason for Jamie wanting to hide. As he is the nephew of the MacKenzie brothers, if he is to pledge his loyalty to Collum it would mean he acknowledges being the next in line to replace him as Laird of Castle Leoch. This would put him in the direct crosshairs of Dougal, who has a claim as Laird once Collum passes away. And all of a sudden Claire feels guilt for what she has done by not realizing that allowing Jamie to take her back to the castle could possibly mean he could be killed by Dougal. However lucky for all of them, Jamie is a smart man of not pledging allegiance but obedience to the MacKenzie clan. As he is a wanted man by the British, and the only place of refuge he has is with the MacKenzie's in Leoch, it was a wise choice of words that just may keep him out of the line of succession.

This episode was really about how Claire's self absorbed actions of wanting to act alone could've cost her everything. We gain some insight into where everyone stands in the MacKenzie clan. But most importantly we learn more about Dougal MacKenzie. We now know that he does have an attraction to Claire, and is determined to keep his place as the next in line for the MacKenzie clan. Also during the boar hunt, we see his softer side as he comforts one of the clansmen who was gored by a boar. It was a touching moment for him, but also made him realize the strength that Claire faces in the presence of a man dying from violent causes. It really was about us understanding him as a character and where his relationship stands with Jamie. Dougal and the politics of this land reign for this episode, which is good for developing characters. But as for Claire, her chance for escape may have yet to come.

SCORE: 8.5/10 - Not as strong as the previous, but it does develop Dougal and Jamie

STATUS: Continue to Watch - Claire may have a chance for escape soon

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Outlander - 1x03 The Way Out - Review

This century sucks

Or at least that's what I would be thinking if I was Claire. In this episode, having been charged as the MacKenzie Clan's healer, Claire fully embraces her role by using her more advanced medical practices in a lesser developed yet still slightly advanced time. She also learns just how harsh the world she lives in truly is by witnessing the punishment of a boy and the near death of another boy because people blame it on Satan rather than seeing it is a curable affliction. The once beautiful and simple world around her, starts showing its almost uncivilized face.

The primary focus of this episode was placed on Claire's job as the MacKenzie healer. Given her previous occupation as a nurse during WWII, she excelled in this occupation. Her hopes are that if enough people are in fact cured ore healed by her, then perhaps the MacKenzie brothers will let her go. Unfortunately, her prowess in healing is the reason why the MacKenzie Clan won't let her go. This point for keeping her in the castle gets enforced when she is confronted with a huge dilemma. A boy, Mrs Fitzgibbons' nephew, has been possessed by the devil, and the local priest has him restrained to a bed in order to perform an exorcism on him. Given that this is the 1700s, it can be understandable why his symptoms would be mistaken for a demon possession. But given that Claire is from the 1940s, she has 200 years worth of new medical knowledge to know that what is going on is not a demon possession. If only everyone else would believe her. This is when she is confronted with a position that could possibly put her at odds with everyone in town. They all have their religious beliefs, and she has no problem with that. What her problem is she fears being called a witch for testifying against the priest in concern for the health of the child. She has played out a scenario in her head in which she tells Mrs. Fitzgibbons that she's from the future, which ends with her being declared a witch. It is this internal fear of being outed as a demon that looms over her, and I'm thankful that the narration doesn't try to beat that point across the head. However because Claire is a healer, she does feel a sense of duty to helping the poor child. Unfortunately, her fear does take the best of her.

However luckily for her, a visit to her new friend, Geillis, brings her to another scenario involving a young boy in a difficult position. And lucky for all of them, Jaime is there to help Claire confront her fear and remember who she is suppose to be. While it seems like a bad thing to say the handsome man come saves the damsel in distress in this episode, it is a very fitting way of saying it. Claire has a lot to be afraid of, and while she may be strong willed she has a lot to lose if she pushes her modern sensibilities too far in this time. It really is lucky for her that Jaime is a man of their time who understands a woman of her time. This could be viewed as a detraction from the "strong female" character that Claire has been portrayed as. From the first two episodes she has shown herself as competent and headstrong individual, but in here she really has reached a crisis. I'm actually very thankful for this crisis. Because with crisis shows character building. And it took seeing a boy getting punished by being nailed to a post through his ear and Jaime helping her save that boy from excruciating pain to get her to reinforce her beliefs. Jaime had to save her, not from a distressful situation, but from a moral situation.

It is a great to see that this show knows how to handle its characters and not lose sight of what is going on. Claire does not belong in this time, and the strain of dealing with her newfound setting is finally beginning to show. Also, from the opening scene, we're reminded that her husband from the 1940s, Frank, is still on her mind. For a show that is obviously setting things up for Claire and Jaime to wind up in bed together, it also reminds us that Claire is married. And from what was seen in the first episode, she is clearly in love with Frank and Frank loves her just as much. So it is clear that although we know that there is going to be a love triangle, there will definitely be a struggle of emotions. And given with what happens at the end of this episode, one might even hope that Claire does return to her husband and away from all that is happening to her. We know that's not what's going to happen, but at least the thought is there.

SCORE: 9/10 - A really well executed and well acted episode
STATUS: Continue to Watch, because this show knows what it is doing

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Outlander - 1x02 Castle Leoch - Review

Spies and Politics

After finding herself teleported into the past and into the arms of her husband's unsavory ancestor, only to be rescued by Scottish Rogues who do not trust her, Claire's world has definitely been completely turned upside down. Although she has proven herself to be an efficient healer by tending to the young and extremely handsome Jaime, the MacKenzie clan that has taken her in is still suspicious of her character. Who is this English woman wandering alone in Scotland while the English have soldiers occupied to enforce Britain's hold over the country? How is she so knowledgeable about healing? What the hell is a brassiere? All the answers to those questions are known to the audience. But for Claire, she cannot let anyone know who she is. Even if it means she'll be labeled a person of suspicion.

From that synopsis, it is obvious that Claire is going to have a hard time adjusting to her new setting. Given the politics that are going on in 1774 Scotland and their relationship with the English, it is no wonder that she would be a subject for extreme scrutiny. However Caitriona Balfe continues to display a strong sense of survival through her need to "acclimate" quickly. If one was not aware that this is what she's doing, then the voiceover would've. Yes, the voiceover narration is still there. However this time around I didn't mind them. Probably because it wasn't as numerous as the Pilot, though I wish it were gone all together. Balfe's acting as Claire and the visuals alone are enough to tell us what's going on. We don't need to know the internal struggles she's having about being a time traveler, because we can already see it in her face. That's how good of an actress Balfe is. Of course, the entire cast of this production needs praise. Mainly because in this episode do we finally get proper introduction of all the players that we know will be sticking around for a while.

First of all there is Mrs. Fitzgibbons played by Annette Badland. She is definitely a welcoming addition to the growing cast of characters. Sure she is the no nonsense den mother archetype we've all seen before, but there is just something lovable about her character. From the way she treats Claire with kindness, to her confusion as to what a bra is, everything about her just comes off as genuine. Badland really convinces you that she is definitely a woman of the time, and not an actress playing a woman of the time. Here's hoping that we'll see more of her in future episodes, as she was definitely one of the highlights.

Then of course there is the MacKenzie clan lead by the two brother Colum and Dougal. We are introduced to Dougal as the man who rescues Claire from being raped by Black Jack Randall and brings her in to the MacKenzie clan. His suspicions of her from the first episode have definitely not disappeared in this one as he continues to have his men monitor her whereabouts. On the flip side is his elder brother Colum, the leader of the MacKenzie clan and is much more welcoming of Claire into Castle Leoch. However this is all a ploy in hopes that acts of kindness will reveal her true nature, but Claire is definitely smarter than that. It also shows that Colum and Dougal don't like being outsmarted by a woman, as their suspicions of an English woman are very valid. However the truth may not dispel their suspicions of her as it would be impossible to believe someone has indeed time traveled.

We are also introduced to a rather peculiar woman. Her name is Geillis Duncan, and she is a self proclaimed witch due to her prowess of being a healer. She is fascinated by Claire as she's never seen someone so knowledgable or perhaps more knowledgable about herbal remedies than her. It is this trait that the two find common ground and become fast friends. However it is hard to tell if she is truly a genuine friend, or if this is another ploy by the MacKenzie leaders to get Claire to confess of her true nature. This episode has all been about mistrust from the clan, so it would be no surprise of later on it is revealed that Geillis is not really a friend to Claire.

Luckily for Claire, the closest thing to a friend she has in this time is Jaime. In this episode we learn more about Jaime's backstory as well as his position as an outcast in the MacKenzie Clan. The reasons for this, I will leave up to you as a viewer to discover, but it does help give Jaime a trait that only Claire can understand: the feeling of being an outsider. They are both accepted into the fold of the MacKenzie clan, yet at the same time they're outcasts from their society. It definitely helps their friendship grow, especially during a moment when Claire breaks down after explaining that her husband "is not alive." There is definitely a strong attraction that is edging towards sexual attraction between them, but at the moment they are both respecting each other's space. With Claire wondering about what her husband is doing in the future, the audience can only wonder when is it that she'll finally let Jaime have her. Though if it was soon, then this series wouldn't really be worth watching then. It is good that we know these two understand each other as it gives Claire someone to relate to and a chance for actor Sam Heughan to deliver a very likable potential love interest. This is definitely romance done right.

SCORE: 8.7/10 - A good follow up to The Pilot and offers more characters, development, as well as an idea of the world Claire is living in

STATUS: Continue to Watch

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Outlander - 1x01 Sassenach - Review

"It means outlander..."

There was a big fuss about this show being brought to life. From the romance novel fandom to those hoping for Ronald D. Moore's (showrunner of Battlestar Galactica) return at the helm of a new show, this series has been hyped as possibly the next Game of Thrones. However I would not call this series an equivalent of Game of Thrones. No, this is definitely something else. Part historical drama, part time travel enigma, yet the encompassing genre of this series can only be described as one genre: Romance.

Sassenach, the title for this episode deals with introducing viewers to the heroine who will find herself in two worlds. Her name is Claire Randall, a WWII nurse played by Irish actress Caitriona Balfe. She is on a second honeymoon trip with her husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) in Scotland not knowing that a flower called a forget me not would lead her to another time.

Let me just start right off the bat with my one single negative/annoyance about this episode: THE NARRATION! I completely understand that based on a book, this is probably how the story is told. If it is then I understand why it is there. But as someone who loves to watch a story unfold, the narration does seem to get in the way of my personal enjoyment. However it wasn't such an annoyance that I had to quit. In fact some of it was genuinely good, like when Claire was describing what time travel felt like. I hope this doesn't become a staple of the series, but if it is at least I know I can tolerate it.

Okay, now that's out of the way. Let's begin. Balfe who most mainstream audiences may remember (but most likely not) her as Joe's mother in Super 8. Don't remember the mother? It's okay. Regardless of that point, she does an excellent job in the Pilot as Claire. When a show rides on the believability and likeability of the lead, it definitely rides on her. Claire is a believable woman in every sense of the word. She's feisty, caring, knowledgeable, and has sexual needs. All of those traits are not overblown to turn her into a stereotype. She's very layered and would definitely remind you of one or several women you may know. Most likely that woman would be someone you admire. That is the best way to describe her.

The believable nature of her character comes from her interactions with her husband, Frank, played by Tobias Menzies. Frank is definitely a man of few words trying to speak more words for the sake of maintaining a loving marriage. Having been separated from each other for five years during WWII, Frank may come off as someone who is far more interested in retracing his genealogy in Scotland rather than a full blown Second Honeymoon with his wife, but whenever it seems that way, he pulls back to put her first before his hobbies. it really shows that these two still genuinely love each other despite the separation. Their intimate moments are beautiful and never forced. It is natural, the way you would see a married couple acting. Not some absurd lovey dovey thing that is overplayed in most romance or romantic comedies. It just works. Which becomes even more heartbreaking when the audience knows that just when these two are finally reconnecting... they get split apart.

As fate would have it, Claire is sent back in time to the 1700s. In there she encounters Blackjack John Randall, the ancestor of her husband Frank and also played by Menzies. A redcoat in charge of bringing down the Scottish rebellion, he doesn't buy Claire as some lost soul but rather someone he can rape. Lucky for her a Scottish rebel saves her life and brings them to their enclave. When confronted with whether or not she could be a valuable asset to them, she uses her skill and knowledge to keep her in their good graces. Her skills save the life of a young handsome Scottish rebel named Jaime played by Sam Heughan and her knowledge of history saves the Scotts from an ambush from the English. As this portion didn't really come to till the third act, the world of 16th century Scotland under British occupation is not entirely flushed out. We don't know the true politics of the time and the details of why things are happening are unclear. Especially the fated encounter of Claire and Jaime, which from the previews strongly suggest that her love for her future husband may be strained by an attraction to a man from the past. But luckily for now, no such attraction exists. But it is obvious that this is where the show is going to go.

While it is clear that this is mostly targeted for a female audience, especially the ones into romance novels, it is also clear that this show can appeal to anyone. Yes, there is a romance element in the show that encompasses it, but as I stated before, other genres inhabit it as well. There is definitely a lot of genres melding together into a romance one, but it definitely is not coming off as a sappy romance movie. It is a welcoming change compared to what Starz channel is more notoriously known for with Spartacus and Da Vinci's Demons. Yes, there is still graphic violence and fully nude sex scenes, but they are not overplayed yet used at the right moments. I could even argue that the one sex scene in this episode was not there for the sake of showing sex, but rather to show the beauty of a relationship. That is definitely an accomplishment from the guys who brought us Spartacus.

This is a slow burn story told at its most efficient. Guillermo Del Toro's The Strain is also a slow burn show, but this one doesn't leave me anxious in wanting something to happen. I'm glad for the slow build, because romance doesn't happen instantly. It takes time.

SCORE: 8.5/10 - A good start and great introduction to a new world... if only that pesky narration wasn't there it would've been a 9
STATUS: Continue to Watch

Review of Next Episode - CLICK HERE

Hercules - Analysis and Review

The Legend comes to life... No not the one with Kellan Lutz

This year saw the arrival of two movies about the legendary Greek Demigod Heracles...I mean Hercules. Sorry, Greek Myth nerd here. Hercules is the way Romans say his name. Heracles is his Greek name. But since the Roman name sounds better, people just stick with it.

The Plot

After accomplishing his legendary 12 Labors, Hercules (Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson) wanders the Earth as a mercenary after suffering a traumatic loss. With his band of mercenaries, they are recruited by King Cotys of Thrace (John Hurt) to train the Thracian army into an efficient fighting force against a massive army of Centaurs that have divided their land.

Analysis

If you read my Educating the Audience article about Hercules then you know that I have a lot of knowledge on the subject. From his story being an influence to the hit video game God of War to knowing this film is based on Steve Moore's graphic novel, The Thracian Wars. So one can assume that being this knowledgeable would make me a harsh critic for this film. I am, but not as much as one might think.

Review

Remember that movie back in January called The Legend of Hercules starring Kellan Lutz and a bunch of stunt guys from 300 and Spartacus? The film is considered an atrocity. And for anyone who saw it, immediately proclaimed that they are now extremely excited to see Brett Ratner's take. Which given Ratner's reputation as the man who ruined X-Men: The Last Stand, that is saying a lot.

I'll say this right off the bat so that people who haven't seen it yet can go in with this expectation: the fantasy elements of the story are not real. Given that the film is based on the graphic novel Hercules: The Thracian Wars, I partially predicted this would be the case. All the scenes of The Rock... I mean Hercules killing and beating the living shit out of monsters was just a story used to build his reputation. It helps as a great prologue, yet also adds a little bit more dimension to the character as a man who has to live up to a reputation he believes he can't. A reputation that gets him and his companions hired for jobs. And if you looked like The Rock, you would believe all those exaggerated stories are true.

The plot unfolds the way one would think. It is a fairly predictable movie once you know the fantasy element is gone. When someone claims they're going to be fighting centaurs, it actually means whoever saw this was really high and just saw a bunch of people on horseback. But just because it's predictable doesn't mean it isn't enjoyable.

Despite having some really cheesy dialogue, and I do mean really cheesy dialogue, the actors in this film relish it. They don't seem ashamed of what they're saying, because they're having so much fun. And while usually that would detract from the movie, the performances are so good that you'll be having fun along with them. Particularly the major comic relief characters of the film played by Rufus Sewell and Ian McShane as Hercules' best friend and really high fortune teller. They have some of the best lines in the movie, especially McShane's character. 

But it is Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson who shines in this movie. While his performance isn't groundbreaking, his charisma carries this movie well. With what little emotive acting he can muster, it is just enough for us to believe the inner demons he possess. This movie could've easily had a dark and brooding Hercules, but luckily it didn't go that route. They take advantage of The Rock's charisma as a man who puts on a front as a proud and welcoming hero who hides his trauma. After all, keeping appearances is part of the con for a man pretending to be the son of Zeus.

I do find it very odd that super models Irina Shayk and Barbara Palvin, who were heavily promoted in commercials, were in the film very little. Palvin was only in it for 6 seconds. Shayk on the other hand was in it for a fair amount of time. Though the promos made it seem like she would be in it a lot  longer. Shayk plays Megara, Hercules' wife and mother of his children, and only has one line. She does play an important role into Hercules' backstory but other than being a loving mother in one scene and naked in another, she didn't really have much to do. Given that she's a model and not an actress (she even stated this in interviews herself) it was obvious that she was meant for just eye candy. But given what her role was, it could've been expanded to add a bit more to Hercules' backstory and weight given what happens to her character.

The action scenes in this film are solid. They are obvious rip offs of Gladiator and Troy, but at least they are good rip offs rather than The Legend of Hercules which does a horrendously bad rip off of the over done fighting style in 300. While this film is suppose to be a realistic take on Hercules, the way he fights does come off a bit too unrealistic. Again though, if you're going to sell to people that you're demigod then the action suits him just fine.

Final Thoughts

There hasn't been any good Greek Mythology films in a long time. By a long time I mean since the Ray Harryhausen era. But this is a suitable film to sate the need for Greek myth movies. Is it amazing? No. Is it bad? Kind of but not terrible. Is it fun? ABSOLUTELY! The way I'd describe it is that this is the movie Brad Pitt's Troy and Sam Worthington's Clash of the Titans wishes it could be. More Troy though since that was a more realistic take than mythological, and they have the same costumes. But all in all, this was fun.

SCORE: 6.5/10 - The best Greek Myth film of this generation...yet not the greatest Greek Myth film of all time

300: Rise of an Empire - Analysis and Review

The return of the Historically Inaccurate Manly Movie!

300 was a movie that spawned a rebirth of stylized slow-mo action films back in 2007. It along with Sin City (both the comic book creations of author Frank Miller) also helped upsurge the comic book film genre and the hyper stylized green screen filmmaking. Both were considered revolutionary at the time that they were made as well as being lauded for being literally accurate to the text and images of their respective graphic novels. But the key words there should be "at the time."

The Plot

In this follow up to the original smash hit, Rise of an Empire shows a different side of the war. While Leonidas and the Spartans held the Persians back at the Hot Gates, the Athenian Navy held the Persians back from making complete landfall on Greece. Leading the charge of the Athenians is the military commander Themistocles (Sullivan Stapleton) who goes against Persia's most vicious naval command and military genius, Artemisia (Eva Green). While the Spartans may rule the land, the Athenians rule the seas in an epic battle that will stain the ocean with blood!

Analysis

It is a wonderful thing to be considered a "revolutionary" film. Whether small or big, if something comes along and then others try to emulate, then that film really should be called revolutionary. Unfortunately, that usually means imitators are to come. Now, the TV Show Spartacus may be a stylistic rip off of the testosterone, blood shedding, female nudity bonanza of 300. Coming off of the 300 craze there was a definite need to fill that void and Spartacus does that. But like The Matrix caused an abuse of bullet time, 300 would result to an abuse of "ramping." As in the action slows down then speeds up then slows down to put emphasis on a certain attack. It works wonders the first time it is seen, but when used over and over again it is clear that there is not much originality with action. At least it is not as bad as the shaky cam action introduced in the Bourne Films.

Then of course there is the other subject that has to be addressed: Historical Inaccuracy. I can argue that the narrative of the 300 graphic novel was meant to be a visual propaganda storytelling by a soldier trying to rally his troops for war. So of course the story is exaggerated and the enemy is made out to be monstrous. Though in the movie they took the "monstrous" portion of the propaganda to the extreme. But then again the best propaganda does make the enemy literal monsters. And that's how the story was intended. A soldier rallying his troops by telling them an exaggerated story of true events that make them feel superior and the opposing party as monsters. Unfortunately because of the times we live in, people will not see it that way and they have every right to see it that way.

The Persian Empire were not monsters and they were in fact more civilized than the Greeks who were known for keeping slaves, something the films and the comic completely leave out. But because the movies is visual propaganda to serve the movie's storyteller, it does come off as a literal propaganda against modern Persians. It is their right to take offense in this. I have a Persian friend who is offended by this. But at the same time I could say that I should be offended by Act of Valor for portraying Filipinos as monsters. But I'm not. And is it the same thing? No, because at least the Filipinos still looked Filipino whereas the Persians in 300 look like monsters. But this brings me to another point. Everyone is capable of being a monster, but it takes an intelligent person to see that. It also takes an intelligent person to know that this movie is not by any means trying to be historically accurate nor claim that this is historical truth. It is a film that is meant to just give a simple message of freedom is worth fighting for but the characters just happen to be based on real historical people.

But does this sequel have the same message? Well...

Review

I enjoyed the film. That doesn't mean I think it is good. But I enjoyed it enough to where I think it meets up to the standards of the previous film. But it doesn't surpass it. The fact that the most memorable scene in the movie is the ultra violent and extremely hot sex scene between Eva Green's Artemisia and Sullivan Stapleton's Themistocles, and I mean this is one of the hottest sex scenes I've ever seen in recent films so far, then that kind of tells you something about the rest of the film.

Zack Snyder was working on Man of Steel when this film was in production so directing duties got passed on to Israeli director, Naom Murro, who does an adequate job of mimicking Snyder's style from the first film. But that's where the problem lies, the director was mimicking the exact same style from the first film. That shouldn't be a problem when dealing with a sequel, but when the notion of bringing in a new director to take on an established property usually means something has to be changed. The stylistic difference between Kenneth Branagh's Thor and Alan Taylor's Thor: The Dark World are obvious but they still feel like they're related and connected. Murro doesn't show a distinct style difference or flair here the way Snyder does when he was at the helm. This may not be his fault as this is his first foray into large action epics having only directed a romantic comedy previously. And while the Naval Battles are indeed fantastic there wasn't really a memorable moment that stood out. All the action was just fine and acceptable entertainment for the time. I could even say that it wasn't as gory as the last movie. Hmmmm.

Usually I'd go on to say how the actors are incredible, but for this film that praise only belongs to one person: Eva Green. She comes in to this saga as Artemisia, a Greek Woman who was forced into slavery then rescued by Persians who would then breed her into the ultimate military genius. It is interesting that the film would acknowledge that the Greeks had slaves yet completely ignore it when they keep establishing that the Persians are the ones who enslaved people. So that was a little odd, but it is her backstory. And Eva Green fully loses her self in the role. She is a powerful presence who remains in one's memories well after the movie is over. She is the ultimate villain, far more interesting and scarier than King Xerxes from the previous film, who in here even he has reason to fear her. And like I said, her sex scene with Stapleton's Themistocles is incredible and extremely hot. And I saw that in IMAX 3D with a lady friend who dragged me to movie... Thank you IMAX 3D.

Which brings me to Sullivan Stapleton. The only memorable thing about him in the film was he was the guy who got the savage warrior woman to bend over. But I really have to place a lot of blame to the script more than his acting. His character is not Leonidas and his army is not the Spartan army of killers but an army of ordinary people who really want to fight for their people. So he's not as testosterone fueled on overdrive as Leonidas but rather a smart and caring leader who does worry when his troops die. This would work great if Gerard Butler's Leonidas was not a precedence. It leaves Themistocles and his forgettable supporting Athenian cast looking like terrified soldiers rather than the manly blood thirsty soldiers introduced in the previous film. While it does offer a clear distinction that Sparta really is different from Athens, that distinction lacks the punch this film needs.

Final Thoughts

This is an enjoyable passable entertainment. It is not a history lesson so don't view it that way. This is more like a historical fantasy imagined by a teenage boy who just discovered that girls look better naked. That is not necessarily an insult, but that's how it feels like. It is still entertaining and weirdly enough it can be edited with the previous 300 film into a single 3 hour epic. It is possible to do that with these two films. And that would be incredible. But as a standalone, it is just okay.

SCORE: 6.7/10 - Eva Green is ridiculously hot... oh yeah and cool action