“Outlander” (2014-present) returned from its winter hiatus better than ever, supported by a talented cast and strong plotlines. The Starz show, now in the second half of its first season, is based on the “Outlander” book series (1991-present) by Diana Gabaldon. The series tells the story of English World War II nurse Claire Randall (played on the show by Caitriona Balfe), who is on vacation in Scotland with her husband, Frank (Tobias Menzies), shortly after the end of the war. While on this trip, Claire takes a solo visit to a tourist site that is historically known for being associated with witchcraft and magic. She finds herself transported to Scotland in 1743 with no idea how to return home. Tensions between Scotland and England are high at that time in history, so Claire needs to carefully maneuver her relationships with those around her, especially since witchcraft is still punishable by death. In the first half of the series' premiere season last fall, Claire developed a romance with a Scottish soldier, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), and the first half of season one ended with their marriage.
At this point in the story, Claire has somewhat come to terms with the fact that she may never see her husband Frank again, which makes it easier for her to let herself fall in love with Jamie. This love triangle is unique in that there is no interaction between the two men, who are both from different time periods and unaware of the other’s existence. While Claire and Jamie's love story is playing out, there is another complex sub-plotline: Claire must make sure that no one knows she is from the future, otherwise she will likely be tried and killed as a witch. Despite her numerous attempts to make it back to the same site that transported her back in time, tense relations with the Scottish people who surround her make that journey very difficult. The “Outlander” book series currently comprises eight books, with another currently in the works. The series' continuation is no surprise -- the story is well written, so the directors of the show have a lot to work with.
The most compelling relationship on the show is undoubtedly that of Claire and Jamie. Though their characters come from different centuries, Balfe and Heughan have incredible chemistry. Their marriage was primarily a tool to prevent Claire from being captured and kept as a prisoner. Claire was hesitant because she still felt ties to her husband, but realized the marriage was necessary. There are many slight changes in their relationship as they become more comfortable and intimate with each other. Both Balfe and Heughan are able to portray these changes with ease and artful subtlety.
Balfe, however, is the real star of the show. She plays a determined, sometimes “brash” -- by 1700s conventional standards, anyway -- female role. It’s refreshing to see a main female character on a successful TV show who isn’t only concerned with the opinions of men and isn’t defined solely by her relationships with them.
The remainder of the first season of “Outlander” will most likely focus on Claire and Jamie as they work to ease relations with those leading the Scottish rebellions, and Jonathan Randall (also played by Tobias Menzies), an English knight who is attempting to violently suppress the Scottish rebellions. At the beginning of the season, Claire’s first encounter with Randall was a near-rape, and since then, Randall has been obsessed with capturing Claire and killing Jamie. If the drama of this plotline and the previous episodes are any indication, the second half of the first season will be just as enthralling as the first.
