That's great to see because it took a long time after the last season ended for the next (this) one to be renewed, as the ratings weren't that great and trending in the wrong direction. It's a quality, prestige drama and sometimes that's enough to keep it going, but the bump in popularity is certainly welcome. It's too bad that my favorite post-show podcast, The Scot & The Sassenach, is now defunct (the couple doing it divorced). No other podcast/review went into so much detail covering the episode, the screenplay, the real history and the books all in one. Oh well...
It doesn't help the renewed relationship for Claire that Frank happens to look like Captain Jack, a cruel, sadistic man. I believe she really loved Frank before the the whole time travel thing, however I do wonder about her nursing era during WW2. I can't remember, how did she be involved in the near the frontline work? I think Claire took Frank for granted during those years (whether she realized it or not), that he would always be there for her no matter what.
I thought that season 3 was easily the weakest so far. The drop-off was all the more noticeable because seasons 1 & 2 were so, so good. In part, the problem was that the book the season was based on was also considered quite poor (compared with the previous books). Nevertheless, I love the characters and I know the show is capable of greatness, so I'm looking forward to the next season(s).
That's amazing. Just finished season 3 ( just could be my favourite season) nice to see Glasgow featured in it.
This thread seems to have run out of steam. Perhaps I will start it up again. I just finished episode three of season four. It seems to have gotten its mojo back (as season three was a bit stale to me). I read a bunch of the books, I forget how many as they started to blur into each other. In fact I paused the show last night (mild spoiler) when Jaime stated that he found a place to live. IMO, this is where the books lost steam. But I stayed with it for another two, or so, books. Finally, it felt more like spending 900 pages with these characters rather than stand alone books. As much as I liked the characters, the last few books I read left me with a "been there done that" feeling. What are we up to now, book 35? So I'm wondering how I'm going to feel about the rest of the series. For now, I'm enjoying season four.
I'm enjoying this season too so far. I liked season 3 as well, but it was 2 which I struggled with (that was the largely-French based one with the pretender king wasn't it?).
I agree, season 4 is much improved over season 3, which I thought was pretty dreadful (at least the back half or so of the season). This seems to correlate with the general opinion that the book the season was based on was pretty weak. I'm enjoying season 4, but I do have a minor criticism relating to the narrative structure. The issue is that we are getting a reduced episode count these days (compared to S1) and so it sometimes feels like events are too compressed just so we can get to the next story development. One such example that stood out for me was when Claire and Jamie start to lay the foundations of their new home in one episode and then in the next it's fully built and lavishly furnished, but there was no hint of how much time had passed in between. There are other examples. Had the series retained its original 16 eps per season count, I think that would have allowed more breathing space for events to unfold a little more organically. But heck, it sure is great to see these characters again.
So, I just finished the first episode on Netflix. I have avoided it for a very long time because I just saw it as another midaevil swords and stuff movie. I don't really care for the genre. But then I saw the mid 20th century reference and I had to watch it. My wife left when the sex scenes came on (we're doers rather than watchers when it comes to that stuff), so it lost her. But I loved it, other than that. I plan on giving it a few more episodes. I should have known about the time connections since I have seen the movie, which really has nothing in common with this that I can see, storywise, other than that time travel thing.
Just finished seasons 1 and 2 on Netflix, it was terrific! I really hope seasons 3 and 4 make it to Netflix soon.
That's what we did with Suits on Amazon Prime. Several seasons were free, while the latest was pay. Each season we just waited until the latest was free and then watched it. We only watch this stuff if it's "free".
I figure with Season 5 coming in February to Starz, Netflix might have seasons 3 and 4 either just before season 5 airs or just after 5 starts. Fingers crossed. Truth be told, I just finished seasons 1 and 2 for the second time. I liked the look of the show so much I wanted to live in it for a little while longer, so twice in a month it was.
Season 4 .. stunning America locations. Season 1 & 4 are my favourites. Looks like season 5 starts February, 2020.
I have been watching Season One, and just watched this episode, and this is where I get off the boat with the torture porn. The scenes of Randall flogging Jamie earlier in the season were bad enough, but Randall smashing Jamie’s hand with the hammer and then nailing his hand to the table? What exactly is the point of that? I suppose one could argue that Randall’s torture of Jamie is an allegory for the English treatment of the Scots in general, but I think that that point could be made, or the simple point that Randall is evil could be made, without reveling in the torture scenes that to me, crossed over to the point of gratuitous violence.
Recommend staying with it. That was a real hard episode to watch (the hardest actually) but its important to show for Jaime's story in the next season.
I agree those are my two favorite seasons as well. Season three was probably my least favorite but it also had a lot of crazy and great moments. I miss Scotland but this show really makes me appreciate how beautiful my country really is.
I cheated and read spoilers for the finale, and, after watching Randall nail Jamie’s hand to the table, I don’t care to watch Randall rape Jamie next. Whatever point is trying to be made with this storyline, and the repeated scenes of Randall flogging Jamie, for me it has crossed the line to pointless sadism that I don’t care to watch, although I have enjoyed many other aspects of season one.
