Outlander - Episode 4 - The Gathering

***Spoilers ahead - kind of.  If you haven't read the Outlander series by Diana Gabaldon and want to, you might not want to continue reading.  If you've read the books, you know what's going to happen...the show is one interpretation. ***

***Outlander follows the story of Claire Randall, a married combat nurse from 1945 who is mysteriously swept back in time to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world where her life is threatened.  When she is forced to marry Jamie, a chivalrous and romantic young Scottish warrior, a passionate affair is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two vastly different men in two irreconcilable lives.*** 

You can watch the first episode for free until June 2015 on Starz play.  Other episodes are only available with a Starz subscription.

Most of my "review" is written live while watching the episode and then edited for clarity.

We open on Claire running through the forest and the guards aiming their guns. Eep.  Good thing she's playing with the kids huh.

What does a Scotsman wear under their kilt? Claire knows!  Her cockiness at Angus and Rufus is cute.

Rufus distracted.  Now for Angus.

Geillis is a snooper.  Claire is so careful to not say Frank is dead, "he's not alive."

Veiled warnings from Geillis...do they make Claire nervous?

Adorable Mrs. Fitz to outfit Claire again.

Slight appearance in The Hall for the oath-taking.

Diana Gabaldon's guest appearance! She did beautifully! Lovely little quip exchange with Mrs. Fitz.

Haha! Carus didn't recognize Colum without his beard. She doesn't like it.

Hee, DG just shushed Murtagh. I'm with Claire in appreciating his interpretation of Colum's Gaelic speech.

Column can hold his alcohol!

And there's how Claire is going to ditch Angus. Spiked port.

Time for the escape!

Waylaid by Loaghaire...for a love potion. Nice quick thinking on her feet. Also, absolutely hilarious with the Wizard of Oz reference there.

And that stairway is proof of why you shouldn't be trying to escape Claire. Just start kissy kissy with Jamie already.

Ahh. Jamie seems so distraught that his Sassenach teasing might be hurtful to her.  Her remorse about knocking Dougal out is cute.

Is that Angus in the group 'escorting' Jamie? It's going to take me ages to figure out who's who. I'm guessing on Angus, Rufus, and Murtagh - mostly Angus and Rufus.

Ahh, there's Angus. Still standing after all that port. Wow.

Uh oh. Dougal is conscious in time for Jamie's oath. What is Jamie going to do? Die now or die later? *Snort* Murtagh didn't mince words for Claire. "This is all my fault." "Aye, it is."

That's a lot of daggers and swords being loosened.

Yay, a smile from Colum! It works.

Chug chug chug!

The Hunt!

Suspenseful. The building crescendo of banging on the shields was very fitting.  Is that what they did/do when hunting boars? 

The death is another good insight into Claire's personality. For us and Dougal. And Dougal's personality too.

Sports are a good way for Dougal to take his grief out. Poor Jamie though.  Well, he did hold his own. More so that poor guy with the crotch shot.

And another great ending spot - Dougal to Claire: Hey, you just became more interesting so now I'm going to parade you around to see what we can find out about where you came from and why.

I have been happy with where they are choosing to end the episodes.  It doesn't feel like it's a complete cliffhanger, but you are excited to see more.  

I think this week has released the most previews/trailers of the next episode (I believe it's called Rent) since the previews leading up to the first episode.  Is it going to be a significant episode?  I have been avoiding all of the previews.  I was excited for each and every trailer leading up to the release but now that it's out I want to enjoy some extra anticipation. 

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What do you think? Whose your favorite character?  Besides Jamie or Claire. (I like the show Claire a lot more than I like book Claire... I like her fine in the books but I'm not as attached to her as some of the other characters - Jamie, Roger, Brianna - not sure why.)  Are you making lists of knitting/crocheting projects with me?