tomstuzi

Bartholomew

Dolores

Norman

Harold

Magnolia

Names that are normal for babies but weird when you're old:

Maddison

Tanner

Skylar

Mckenzie

Logan

Names that are normal for old people and normal for babies:

Elizabeth

Mary

Michael

Finnegan

Peter

Names that are weird when you're a baby and weird when you're old:

Radish

Kerosene

Australopithecus

Anthill

Hedgemony

Names that are weird when you're normal:

Balthazar

Romulus

Clandestia

Persephone

Kremulon

Names that are normal when you're weird:

JESSIE BUCKLEY for Entertainment Weekly

My main requirements are:

- at least one of the protagonists being female. Female POV or multiple POVs

- at least one of the main male characters being a genuinely good person (without complete anti-male narrative)

- no "perfect" characters. Everyone has flaws

- historical (preferably pre-1980s) HOWEVER, any really good modern-set shows are of interest too 😊

- family drama

- conflicts like physical fights, injury illness, etc

Here’s something I’ve had in the back of my mind for almost as long as I’ve been an Outlander fan.

Jamie and Claire have always and will always find each other. Literally.

Claire is born in 1918 and falls through time in 1945. She arrives in 1743, spends 3 years there, goes back to the 20th century, stays there until 1968, goes back to 1766. Presumably lives the rest of her days with Jamie until she dies (Diana Gabaldon has repeatedly said that she expects the series to end circa 1800, in Scotland, but then again she said that Book 5 would be called “King Farewell” and that there would only be one more book after that…but I digress…)

Anyway, the key point is that even if Jamie and Claire pass away circa 1800, Claire will be born again in 1918. She’ll fall through time again in 1945. She’ll meet Jamie again in 1743. Etc.

So they’re in an endless loop of finding each other, losing each other, and then finding each other again.

Here’s food for thought: If Jamie and Claire are in this loop - and have been in it countless times - what iteration are we reading about in the Books? Is this their 10th go-round? 100th?