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

Her - Analysis and Review

Yes, this is the best original story of 2013

Spike Jonze definitely knows how to make an original film. Sure, his most well known work is Where the Wild Things Are, but he has made some incredible films. By films I'm talking about short films as well. The guy creates worlds that can only be compared to the quirky worlds of Michel Gondry sans Green Hornet. Yet in each of those films he does have a message that he wants to convey. And the strongest point of an original film is the subtext. Although this one is obvious, the emotions of what he's trying to say can truly be felt.

The Plot

Theodore (Joaquin Phoenix) is an introvert who works as a letter writer for people who can't seem to write letters to their loved ones. After updating his computer's OS system to a new form of A.I. called Samantha (Scarlett Johansson) the two of them become emotionally close and inevitably fall in love. It is the story about a man and his computer, and what it really means to love someone. No matter who or what they may be.

Analysis

In a technological age, it is not too far fetch of an idea that something like this would happen. While the concept may not be as inventive as his other work Being John Malkovich the real inventiveness is the world that he created for this story to inhabit. I'm aware that Malkovich and Adaptation were scripted by Charlie Kaufman, but it takes a filmmaker like Jonze to really make these work as commercial films. I've always admired his films as being off or far out, even though this film is not too far out there. It still holds his touch just from the world building and how true to the nature of our world that this film touches.

The fact that this film may be a weird idea yet is not too far from being believable does tell us something about our world. Jonze sees this and it is definitely clear that this is a real commentary about the nature of love. What is it? How do we know we're feeling it? What is this emotion that draws individuals to others? That's something that he explores very deeply in this story. And the relevancy of this film is very much appropriate for the time that it was made. This is the technological age where we live on the internet. Some may even find love on the internet without actually seeing the other person's face. Is that real love or is it fake because it is not physically real? If we were to simplify it as that, then yes it is not. But love is not simple. It is complex. And with this film, the complexity level just shoots higher.

Review

It is hard to believe that a man can fall in love with an Operating System that is really just a voice on one's phone or computer. Yet in this film it is very easy to believe that such a thing is possible. Phoenix and Johansson give an incredible heartfelt performance as the unlikely couple. Phoenix is lovable as the introvert Theodore but the person who really shines here is Johansson. To top it all off, she's never seen in the movie once. Only her voice. It is a credit to a voice performance to make us believe that an OS can actually think and feel like a person. When she speaks it's almost as if she is present. Because we know what Johansson looks like we may even picture her standing there next to Phoenix. Her voice acting in this film is incredibly top notch and gives me some excitement knowing that she might voice Kaa in the new Disney adaptation of The Jungle Book. 

The rest of the cast does a pleasant job as well. Amy Adams is charming as a game designer and documentary filmmaker who serves as someone that Phoenix's Theodore can talk to about his relationship. Rooney Mara and Olivia Wilde play pivotal roles as Theodore's soon to be ex-wife and potential new love. Mara's character offers a look at the reality of the situation that Theodore is in while Wilde's offers a reality of his inner desire to just want someone physically rather than emotionally. Everyone of the supporting cast just adds something that shapes Theodore's perception of his relationship as well as build up Samantha's advancement beyond just being an A.I.

Also, not since Looper have a I seen a pretty realistic depiction of the future. While Looper is more depressing but not too post-apocalyptic, her instead shows a future that seems more optimistic and can come into existence in a matter of days instead of years. It is a testament to Jonze for selecting a mixture of different clothing styles from the past with tech from the present to make it feel like a tangible future.

The story may be what one would expect, but the emotional journey that the story goes through is definitely anchored by both Phoenix and Johansson. An interaction between an actor and a voice could easily fall apart, but luckily for them and Jonze brilliant directing it solidifies the film. 

Final Thoughts

It is very easy to see why this film won the 2013 Best Original Screenplay award. It really is an original film that feels not so original because of the world that we live in. It is a poignant love story that deals with the very nature of love and what it really means to love someone. I can say though that this movie is not for everyone. It is original and new, meaning general audiences may be turned off by its slow yet poetic pace or its large use of dialogue. But that is what this film is. If you believe you're incapable of sitting through something like that, then I don't recommend watching this film.

SCORE: 8.7/10 - A truly incredible original love story