“Outlander”— The Importance of Different Perspectives

where to watch: Netflix

when to watch: when you’re looking to escape into another world (so, NOW). when you’re ready for some epic romance. and some drama.

you should note: Based on the books by Diana Gabaldon; female writers and directors!

tl;dr: During a trip to Scotland with her husband, a WWII nurse gets transported back to the Highlands in the 1780s.

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Outlander is another show that I would directly credit with causing me to start this blog. You’ve likely heard of it. I’ve been waiting a long time to recommend it, but if ever there was a time to start a four-seasons-and-counting soapy show about a time-traveling bigamist in the Scottish Highlands, during the coronapocalypse seems like it. This show is just so frickin’ entertaining. 

The sets are stunning, the people are gorgeous, and the story is compelling. The score is beautiful. The characters are developed (and very attractive). The world is so well-constructed, from buildings to costumes to customs, that it is impossible not to feel immersed. 

a shift in perspective

I’ll admit, I didn’t truly appreciate all that Outlander was until I watched Game of Thrones, particularly Season 8, and I felt like misogyny was thrust in my face at every turn. I was sitting in my college dorm lounge with my friend watching GoT together, and I kept telling her, you have to watch Outlander! You have to see how different it is, I said to her (and now you), when a story like this is from source material written by a woman; when women are actually involved in the writing of the show.

Now, don’t get me wrong. Game of Thrones tells a story of a much much broader scope, and the worlds are pretty different. Most importantly, of course, GoT is in a fictional world, and Outlander is extremely rooted in history. I honestly don’t think the two shows are that similar, but they have often been compared. Both on premium networks, they have the same “epic” feeling about them, with wars, prominent families, and months of traveling around on horseback. 

I didn’t really think much of their similarities until I realized that there is one area where Outlander does way way way way way waaaaay better than Game of Thrones—how it deals with women having sex. Namely, in Outlander, women actually have some agency when it comes to their sexuality. A truly novel concept, I know!! 

Both shows feature gratuitous nudity and sex. But where GoT focuses on rape and is basically an 8 season meditation on the male gaze, the sex in Outlander is motivated by its protagonist.  From the very first episode, our main character, Claire, is depicted as someone who enjoys sex and is allowed to have it. Throughout the show, despite the historical setting, Claire is never shamed for her sexual desires. 

a capable woman

Beyond the sex, it’s nice to have a fantasy/historical epic show with a female protagonist. And, perhaps even more importantly, a capable female. Because this isn’t a story of a rich, spoiled housewife who suddenly finds herself in less-than-comfortable circumstances and has to learn to get along. No, this is a story of a highly-skilled World War II nurse who is literally not afraid to get her hands dirty. She gets transported to 1780s Scotland, and she adapts rapidly to survive. She’s incredibly strong-willed and sometimes stubborn to a fault. She’s not a strong female character that’s just a man written as a woman; she’s not a strong female character who turns out not to be that strong (cough cough *Cersei*), she’s a smart, skilled, woman. She’s a character written by a woman. 

It’s because of the juxtaposition between GoT and Outlander that I highlight women writers and directors on my blog—because different perspectives tell stories differently. 

(Side note: if you’re interested in hearing more about my various misogyny-related issues with Game of Thrones, please let me know! I’ve thought about writing an essay on the subject.) 

But anyway, back to Outlander. 

a couple warnings

I would be remiss not to warn you of a few things. Outlander is a show from a premium network, i.e., it’s graphic. Claire is a trained nurse, and the show doesn’t shy away from showing some pretty gruesome injuries. Still, it’s easy to look away when you need to.

As I mentioned, there is also quite a lot of sex. It can be a bit much sometimes. 

But finally, especially season 1 gets gory. There is some torture throughout the season, but the worst of it is in a few scenes at the end of season 1. They feature both rape and pretty intense physical and psychological torture, and I will be the first to admit I think the show goes a little overboard with what they show in these scenes. However, these scenes are a very small proportion of the show, and you will be able to see them coming. The rest of the show is worth it. 

Okay, there’s one more thing I have to warn you about. Outlander tends to rely a little heavily on voiceover, especially in early episodes. I kind of hate voiceover, but if you don’t mind it, no worries! They also use it less and less as time goes on, and you stop noticing it. 

in conclusion

Despite the things above, I encourage you to give Outlander a shot. If you like history, period shows, developed female characters, or romance, I guarantee you will fall in love. The show is so full of adventure and heart. 

Now more than ever, I find myself turning to TV as an escape. What better way to do that than transport yourself to a completely different country, culture, and time that has been painstakingly recreated on-screen for us to get lost in? All you need to know about the show can be demonstrated by it’s beautiful (and long) opening credits sequence. I guarantee the song will get stuck in your head. 

you might also like: Poldark, The Witcher, Dr. Thorne