<p>Ohhh…found this thread! I’m a big Outlander fan, discovering the series in 2006…devouring all 6 books through the year. My first wait was Echo, which I was extremely disappointed…followed by the new one MOBY…which I disliked immensely. It was so boring with flickers of DG’s brilliance spread throughout (but that is just my opinion). Anyway…the show! I think it’s a great adaptation…especially the third is picking up steam. Sam Heughan will never look like ‘my Jaime’, he is too pretty/handsome, but I think he’s doing a good enough job. Same with Cait…she looks as close to Claire as could be expected (in the face anyway). Geillis IS Geillis…she’s doing a magnificent job, as are the rest of the main cast (Laogharir Dougal Mrs. Fitz). There are some things I don’t like, but there just nitpiky. I do think hope that Sam’s acting picks up a bit. He seems to just have 3 -4 different types of facial expressions.</p>
<p>coronax2, thanks so much for the closed captioning idea! Looking forward to using it on the next Outlander episode.</p>
<p>LOL I was noticing Claire’s fuzzy big infinity scarf or whatever it is - I like it.</p>
<p>I’m reading Written in My Own Heart’s Blood. It has been a long time between books but DG seems to expect people can pick right up on the plot and timelines. I’m having trouble keeping the relationships, illegitimate children their importance and the timing straight. The family tree at the beginning isn’t much help, it is extremely complicated. I don’t want to put down any spoilers here but things are growing progressively confusing at least to me.</p>
<p>LOL! yes…love that infinity scarf…I would love to have it. Plus that fur infinity she was wearing earlier, plus Gellis shaw in the herb garden. They are doing a great job with costuming.</p>
<p>I personally think the last book is a mess.</p>
<p>Well, I’ve really enjoyed all the episodes so far. I wish Jamie was as tall as the book describes (because in the book, his size was actually a part of his character), but I think otherwise he is quite appealing. I remember the first time I read the book, it took a bit to realize the importance to the story he was going to have. I was mentally focused on Claire’s desire to get back to her husband, so much so that when she fell in love with Jamie, it was almost a surprise. So I’m thinking they are keeping Jamie’s presence in the series somewhat low key as the book did, and will let the relationship proceed gradually as it did in the book.</p>
<p>Last night I saw an episode of Inspector Lewis for the first time, and the actor who plays his sidekick, Laurence Fox, would IMHO been a <em>superb</em> choice for Jamie. Tall (6’3"), red-haired, blue-eyed, a natural authority and air of intelligence, a Viking look, very attractive but not pretty: longer hair and he’d be perfect. His father is James Fox and his uncle in Edward Fox: both educated at Harrow and served in the Coldstream Guards, which may have something to do with his aura that is so right!</p>
<p>^^^^Name?!?!?!</p>
<p>ETA, Laurence Fox is his name, duh.</p>
<p>@Nrdsb4 - Regarding Jamie height, it’s not so much that the actor isn’t tall enough. He’s 6’3", and I believe novel Jamie is 6’4", which could easily be remedied with only a slight shoe adjustment. It’s that the actress who plays Claire, at 5’10", is taller than novel Claire, so there isn’t the visual contrast on screen. I think the actress is doing a terrific job, but she isn’t my vision of Claire at all, but Jamie is almost exactly how I envisioned him.</p>
<p>
</p>
<p>coronax2, WOW! That is very interesting! You are right, I’d never have guessed he was that tall. I think the actress who plays Claire is pretty similar to the character in the novels in that she isn’t supposed to be classically drop dead gorgeous, but yes, the fact that she is so tall is probably influencing my perception of the Jamie actor. Also, DG made a huge deal of Claire having golden eyes. I realize that is a rare thing in real life, but it is something that is referenced over and over. Maybe if they had tried to recreate this with contact lenses, she would appear more like the woman we envisioned.</p>
<p>In the novels, Jamie towers over everyone with whom he comes into contact, as it was probably rare in those days, due to illness/nutrition, etc., for anyone to be that tall and hearty. I think maybe many of the actors cast in the series are taller than they would have been in those days, so we aren’t getting the visual impact of Jamie’s size in comparison. I don’t want to overstate the importance, but DG mad MUCH of Jamie’s physical being, so I don’t think it’s insignificant.</p>
<p>Very interesting: I didn’t realize Sam Heughan was that tall! I think you’re right: the rest of the cast is sufficiently tall that he doesn’t tower over them.</p>
<p>Unlike some others, I love the actress who is playing Claire. I think she’s very well cast. She could be a bit more bootylicious, though. :)</p>
<p>BTW, I could swear that I saw Gabaldon herself in a bit part at the gathering. Did anyone else?</p>
<p>She did have a small part in the gathering and Mrs. Fitz made a cutting remark about her dress. </p>
<p>I’ve liked the series except for the last episode which just dragged along. I’m sure the book dragged along in that section too so I hope the series doesn’t follow the books too slavishly. </p>
<p>FWIW, here is Diana Gabaldon’s reaction to Sam Heughan’s audition:</p>
<p><a href=“Casting Commentary | DianaGabaldon.com”>http://www.dianagabaldon.com/2013/11/casting-commentary/</a></p>
<p>@Nrdsb4, that’s a good point about people today on average being taller and the contrast of Jamie’s height not having the same impact by today’s standards. </p>
<p>I read that the reason they didn’t put Claire in colored contacts was that she was in basically every scene and with much of the action being outdoors, and they were concerned her eyes could become irritated. The actress who plays Claire was a model, and she has the typical model’s physique and height . Claire was so often described with a completely different build, I just can’t see her in my mind’s eye as Claire. </p>
<p>Those quibbles aside, I’m absolutely loving the series. </p>
<p>I agree about Jamie and keeping him a little in the background…so I wish they would dispense with the “touching hands” and stuff like that throughout the series. I also agree that Jamie doesn’t seem as tall, because all the other scots are fairly tall. I’m sure that it was hard to find shorter actors that fit the role, as people throughout the generations get taller all the time. Even Cait is about 4 inches tall than Claire was. It’s a good adaptation, but I keep telling my DH that the book is so much better and richer…but that’s usually the case.</p>
<p>If you can get my DH to watch just a little of something, he is EASILY hooked. Both DDs used to watch Pretty Little Liars. He would tell me, “I can’t believe they are watching that drivel.” Then he would stop as he walked through the room…“Who is A?” And “How are they all getting those texts without knowing who sent it?” One day he walked through the room and asked D2, “So what time is Lying Little Bitches on?” We died laughing.</p>
<p>So I started watching Outlander when he was in the vicinity. “Why is she doing that?” “Why is he mad?” He would stop for a moment while walking through the room. “Oh, she’s gone back through time? Cool.” He’s now hooked, and never knew what hit him. He says funny things like the husband in the blogs referenced before. “Whoah! I didn’t know they did that back then!” Lol.</p>
<p>I just saw the episode where “Black Jack” reveals what a sadistic sociopath he is. And next week is the culmination of all the slow building up we’ve seen between Claire and Jamie. Claire asks Jamie, “But don’t you mind that I’m not a virgin?” I love it when he says, “No…not if you don’t mind that I AM…I figure one of us should ken what they’re doing.” And ducks his head and runs off…</p>
<p>This is why so many of us fell in love with the book…</p>
<p>Not sure if I hadn’t read (and fell in love with) the books if the show would interest me. I am thoroughly enjoying the show though. Oh, I loved the scene where Black Jack revealed what a ■■■■■■■ he is even though it was not true to the book. </p>
<p>^^^Agree with the last two sentences.</p>
<p>LOL on Pretty Little Liars. I did the same thing with my DD on that and even moreso on Gossip Girl. By the last couple of seasons I was totally hooked.</p>
<p>I still have to watch episode 6 of Outlander. </p>
<p>What your DH said about Pretty Little Liars is hilarious! Well, Tobias Menzies was absolutely terrific in Episode 6. Snowdog, don’t want to give anything away if you haven’t read the book, but one of my favorites lines in the whole series is at the end of the show and I think Sam did a poor job with the delivery. You couldn’t understand him very well, and it just wasn’t delivered like my imaginiation. I was disappointed, but I’m sure I’m in the minority. Good scene and all, and if you haven’t read the book you wouldn’t know the difference.</p>
<p>I’ve read all the books, working on the new one (is there any major 18th century historical figure Claire hasn’t met personally by now?..just asking). Now I’m wondering what that line is, it’s been about 10 years since I read book 1. Will find out soon enough!</p>