On the anniversary of Outlander Season 2, Episode 9, we look at how the ratings fared
On this day in history, Outlander Season 2, Episode 9 aired for the first time. This is our chance to look back at the ratings to see how the episode fared.
It was a big episode for the lead-up to the Battle of Culloden. After Lord Lovett refused to let his men join Jamie’s cause, his son chose to defy orders. Now it would be up to Jamie to lead a group a mostly farmers in a war they simply weren’t ready for.
Meanwhile, we got a look at Claire’s life as an Army nurse during World War II. This episode gave us a flash of the past—well, of Claire’s past but the future, I guess. It was an interesting look at how PTSD can suddenly affect a person, especially when that person believes they’ve dealt with the trauma they faced.
Ratings for Outlander Season 2, Episode 9
The episode saw a big dip in the live ratings. According to TV Series Finale, the demo dipped by 22%, while the audience dropped by 11%. This had been after a drop the previous episode.
Was it the storyline? Possibly. Honestly, Season 2 isn’t my favorite season. I’m not sure whether I would have tuned in live each week had I watched the show back then. One thing that kept me going when I just got into the show was the fact that I could binge-watch on Netflix.
I still believe that putting the 1948 storyline as the first episode meant I wasn’t as invested in the season as I should have been. This isn’t just a fault with the show. I found it a fault in the novel, too. Knowing what was to come meant I didn’t feel invested in Claire and Jamie’s attempts to prevent Culloden and then their attempts to win the battle.
But the ratings dip never mattered anyway. The show had already been renewed for Seasons 3 and 4 by this point.
What did you think of Outlander Season 2, Episode 9? Share your thoughts in the comments below.