I’ve rewatched Outlander multiple times. As it’s the anniversary of the Outlander series premiere airing, it’s time to do another recap of the series. Let’s take a look at five thoughts after rewatching yet again.
Opinions about books and shows change the more you read or watch them. That is certainly the case with Outlander. At least, it is with the TV series. The more I rewatch the episodes, the more moments I notice. As it’s the anniversary of the Outlander series premiere (well, it was yesterday), it’s the perfect time to take another rewatch of the series.
While rewatching the Outlander series premiere yet again, there are some bits and pieces that I picked up on. I’ve picked up on them before, but the more I watch, the more meaning they have. This is especially the case now that I’ve read the books (I’m a show first fan and make no apologies for that).
With that introduction in mind, here are my five thoughts after rewatching the series premiere once more.
5. The first two seasons were completely foreshadowed
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There are many moments throughout the first two seasons that are foreshadowed in the very first episode. One of the most important moments is the bit about the Duke of Sandringham. I know the first time I ever watched the premiere, I’d missed the point Frank and Reverend Wakefield talked about the duke.
However, the reverend brings up that the Duke of Sandringham died under mysterious circumstances. We know now what those mysterious circumstances were, but this was the moment that foreshadowed Claire would be a part of those circumstances.
Considering the talk of Jacobite rebellions, Black Jack Randall, and the tea leaves, it would have been very easy to completely overlook this. In fact, it is easy to overlook it.
There were other moments foreshadowed, but none that quite stood out as that one. The tea leaves do stand out but they were put there very purposeful and clear. Others were more winks to those who had read other books.
4. The sounds from the stones are different to later
In the second season, we hear a buzzing from the stones. Claire, Brianna, and Roger all hear it. That’s not what you hear in the Outlander premiere. There’s no buzzing or extremely loud noises pulling Claire anywhere.
Since reading the books, the sounds used in the premiere seem a little closer to what is described. There’s more of a sense of people possibly stuck in the stones–those who get lost along the way through time.
There’s also a sound of drumming. It’s more like you’d expect from Druid or Pagan ritual. It seemed more fitting after the previous ritual at the stones. Every time I rewatch the Outlander series premiere and am reminded of this sound, I get a little disappointed in the future sound near the stones.
3. We don’t get to see the bond between Claire and Mrs. Graham
The first time I ever watched the Outlander Season 2 premiere, I struggled with Claire’s decision to trust Mrs. Graham. I never got the sense of bond between the two. The more I watch the series premiere I understand why it felt so odd.
We never really got a chance to see a bond form between the two characters. There was never a reason for Claire to trust Mrs. Graham would really understand or even believe her. Of course, it was a risk she was taking considering everything she’d been through, but it really was this episode that failed to create that sort of relationship.
This is a problem with turning a book series into a TV series. So much can be lost. Mind you, just having one scene between Mrs. Graham and Claire after the tea leaves might have helped to ease some of the discomfort I felt in the premiere of the second season.
2. There was instantly a difference between Frank and Black Jack Randall
Tobias Menzies is an extremely skilled actor. He was one of the reasons I gave Outlander a chance in the first place. I’d known there was going to be a difference between Frank and Black Jack Randall and roughly knew that Black Jack was not the good man that Frank believes him to be.
However, what is interesting in the premiere is seeing just how many differences there are in these two characters. The way Menzies holds himself as the two characters, the look in his eyes, and the subtle changes in his faces are all clear.
The subtle changes come out with each rewatch. I also see more of the subtle looks between Claire and Frank and then Claire and Jamie to see how these relationships start and change as the series continues.
1. The Gàidhlig in the background
Once Claire falls through the stone and finds herself in the 18th century, it’s instantly clear from the sounds that this a very different Scotland to the one she’s come from. I remember the first time watching and hearing the Gàidhlig, I questioned if I’d set my TV into a foreign language by mistake. Or if I was missing subtitles.
Then I realized that we were meant to be listening to all this from Claire’s view. We were the outlanders like her.
But what was missing throughout was the Gàidhlig in the background. While we were focused on conversations between Claire and Jamie or Claire and Dougal, there were conversations in the background. You can hear Rupert and Angus joking. Then there are others who we never really get to know conversing with others.
This is all part of immersing us into this other time; into the 18th century Highlands. It’s a beautiful way of adding in this part of Scottish history.
Minor notices
As well as the main thoughts, there were a few things that I thought about during the episode.
- I don’t hear the “mine” still — it just sounds like Frank breathing
- Claire’s voiceover still annoys me and takes me out of the story at times
- Some of the buildup to the stones could have been skipped because of flashbacks
What have you noticed when rewatching the Outlander series premiere again? What moments stand out for you with a rewatch? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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