As for now...

I know that the ‘Full HD’ option on Netflix is turned on because I can literally see the layer of bb cream they slathered on LMH’s face.

I really love badass female characters and Tae Eul is quickly becoming a favorite. 

This is 2020, let’s stop with the slowmo.

You know you have a good otp when you have… HEIGHT DIFFERENCES

Not that Sam & Cait aren’t believable as Jamie & Claire - they were dynamite in OL S1. BUT, the books did describe Claire as being noticeably smaller than Jamie, while Cait isn’t much smaller than Sam. I couldn’t see the disadvantage at first.

Then I watched LMH & KGE and voila their height difference is magical ✨ Their bodies fit so well together and deliver some of the best onscreen body language.

I know Tumblr is OL’s stomping ground, so at the risk of OL fans murdering me, read on...

Watched TKEM with the husband (who also was bribed to watch OL) & he thought I was crazy to draw the comparison. Love TKEM, surprisingly even more than OL. Thematically though, there are the time travel, the which world do I belong, the “King” title (JAMMF as King of Men), the committed eternal love, the threat & pain of separation, the question about changing fate...

What surprised me was that elusive chemistry of the leads. Outlander’s claim to fame is the Jamie-Claire love story. Since watching OL in 2015, for the last 5 yrs I thought Sam & Caitriona set the chemistry gold standard. But came Lee Min-ho & Kim Go-eun and their Lee Gon & Jeong Tae-eul blew JC out of the water. A tall order given #TKEM is a foreign language series for me.

You can’t watch the way LGxJTE gaze at each other, hug, hold hands (their acting with their hands is in a class of their own) and not feel their intensity or intimacy.

If you’ve watched Outlander (especially S1), you’ll know the pedestal I put LGxJTE on. They hit me so hard with the feels without the benefit of the love scenes Outlander was privileged to have (don’t get me wrong the OL scenes were beautiful & not gratuitous).

LG&JTE’s intimacy is artiscally delivered through the details of their interactions that production invested screen time to show, the beautiful cinematography that took complete advantage of the perfect height difference between LMH & KGE, and the dedication of LMH & KGE to showing that soulmate love.

Diana sure has a big mouth we know that lol no place for sentiment... smh at these losers. that's what was so magic in s1. they are doomed.

No, because there was plenty of wasted time in these episodes. Adding in Laoghaire into the Brianna episode after she stumbles around the countryside for 12 minutes without a crutch that an MIT Engineering student would have made out of two blades of grass, was a waste of time.

And also they missed an opportunity to include Jamie and Claire talking about her instead of the added Frank scenes.

Watching Roger walk behind a horse over and over and over was a waste of time.

In the podcast for 412 Toni said they ADDED to the idiot speech in the Hut the day before. They added the part of Roger escaping, he never escaped in the book because Jamie and Claire were there. (Also, how come we’re expected to believe that an out-of-shape historian can outwit and outrun the Mohawk on several occasions.)

In the 412 podcast Maril and Toni brought up twice at the beginning in rather somber tones that they know people want Jamie and Claire and they’re the heart and soul blah blah. Toni said that they are writing season 5 now and that some of the things that fans had hoped to see in season 4 may show up in season 5.

Carpenter Sam opening the episode in his ruggedly fancy open air studio with glorious curly hair.

Did Willie wade in the stream, get leeched, put his socks and shoes back on and then yell for help?

Awkward reunions and curtsies.

More awkward dinner conversations.

Jamie and Claire flirting silently over the dinner table despite the awkward.

The Gaelic confirms for Willie that it is indeed Mac, whose words don’t quite make sense. No, I didn’t work at the stables… but I remember you fondly… I dinna ken why I didn’t acknowledge our acquaintanceship…

Claire loves Jamie so much that she can say Willie is very handsome.

Hand holding.

Claire’s moan when Jamie has to tear away.

I’m not sure about how I feel about Murtagh’s presence in the story if he’s just there to complain and judge Jamie. It can get one dimensional. Will reserve judgment.

How long have they been on Fraser’s Ridge if Jamie’s already brewing whisky and it’s drinkable even if terrible?

“Do you feel yourself content?” “Home, honourable work. My wife by my side.”

Jamie flinging Willie up the horse. That’s not a small kid but he manages it with so much ease.

They’re trying to show that Willie isn’t a brat, he only has haughty manners and is a quick learner.

Lord John might be ill but Claire still won’t take no shit. She tells him how she and Jamie were robbed of the opportunity to raise Bree together. A pang in my heart whenever I’m reminded of this.

These conversations between John and Claire are quite problematic thanks to DG. But it is a good sparring and I think the actors must enjoy filming them.

Dandy Fraser. Jamie’s Ridge wardrobe is on point.

Jamie is trying to educate his son as best as he can in this short time. About Indians, hunting, fishing, and how his wife is a fine healer.

“This is all your fault,” says Willie. Somehow I have a feeling Bree will say something like that too hmm. 

Jamie has made me cry so much this season. Sam is carrying the show and deserves all the praise and that needs repeating.

Confession of a dying Lord. Telling Claire about Jamie’s offer. Shitty for him to do but on the one hand, he thinks he’s dying, and on the other, I don’t mind that Claire knows. If anything she understands why Jamie did it and wouldn’t take it the wrong way. And that’s one of the things that I love about their love. Rock solid. Can’t be spoilt.

The shock and sorrow on her face.

Jamie’s prayer before his “execution” is about Claire and his children.

Claire has a “heart to heart” with Lord John, and shares how she and Jamie are deprived of 20 years together. I know, Claire, I know. Empathy and compassion are Claire’s biggest traits and I’m grateful that this writer remembers. (I’m still not over the other writer who doesn’t).

Jamie telling Willie why he didn’t look back when he was leaving Helwater offers closure for Willie. I agree with this change about Willie recognising him. It makes a lot more sense.

Finally the bath and ring scene we’ve been teased for so long. Claire is swept away by Jamie’s love and that’s why she came back to him. She’s horny and touched and happy. The show does well with the rings by giving them more meaning.

Claire being so moved and in awe really gets me. They don’t have a lot of possessions and don’t give each other gifts often but when they do, they give from their souls.

Hand kisses are exquisite and intimate.

One. [Laughter]. 

But no counting to 1,000 even with Clare’s way of counting? That’s false advertising.

The look of satisfaction.

————-

Yes! You can read the full thing here. I just screen capped all the Jamie/Claire stuff that they cut. 

The script had some good dialogue about it that was edited out.  She talks about how she’s still shook about Lesley being killed in front of her.  She talks about worrying that Jamie will eventually have to fight in a war again.  She talks about living a half life if she loses him again.  And of course the parting words of Jocasta were weighing on her.

Shame on the editing “gremlin”.  Shame on these choices.  

I don’t need the “minister’s cat” game - I don’t care how “iconic” people think it is - it was stupid in the book and it’s stupid in the show.  

Humans. Pokémon. Ryan Reynolds.

Wait—Ryan Reynolds?!