STACK #191 Sep 2020

TV FEATURE

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If you’re among the legion of Outlander fans, you’ll already know this inventive, genre- blending series weaves a complex historical tapestry with narrative force, well-drawn characters, time travel, and steamy romance.With the fifth season heading to home entertainment on September 23, STACK takes a look at the story so far… Words Bec Summer

B ased on the series of novels by million copies worldwide – and adapted for television by Ronald D. Moore ( Battlestar Galactica , Star Trek: The Next Generation ), Outlander follows the time-crossed romance between a combat nurse from 1945, Claire Randall (Caitriona Balfe), and a dashing Highlander, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), after the former is transported back to the 18th century. Time travel and romance might sound like strange bedfellows but the genres have also been successfully cross-pollinated in novels like Richard Matheson’s Bid Time Return and Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveller’s Wife . A research professor, Gabaldon decided to try her hand at writing a historical novel in 1988, but was uncertain of the period she wanted to explore. Inspiration came from an unexpected source – a 1969 episode of Doctor Who featuring kilted companion Jamie McCrimmon, played by Frazer Hines. American author Diana Gabaldon – which have collectively sold over 25

Outlander series has also been adapted as a graphic novel, and a spin-off book series by Gabaldon focuses on secondary character Lord John Grey. Outlander premiered in August 2014, with a full season given the green light before a pilot episode had been shot, and was renewed for a second following transmission of the first episode. Eschewing the science fiction/special effects elements for a more grounded and linear approach, showrunner Moore told EW , “It was always kind of clear what the basic structure was: Claire’s trying to get home, then she meets this guy, now she’s falling in love, now she has a conflict, and will she go home?” This critically acclaimed series has since received Emmy nominations for its period production design and costumes, as well as several Golden Globe nods for Caitriona Balfe. With its out-of-time romance and frequently shirtless hero, it’s a show that mums love – for the history and storytelling, of course – and the series has now become a thriving part of the pop culture zeitgeist.

“Diana Gabaldon saw an episode of The War Games and loved Jamie’s kilt and his bravery,” Hines confirmed in a recent interview with STACK . “I met her a few years ago and she said how she had gone to church the next day and kept thinking of my character, my legs and the kilt. So she had to write this story with a

Inspiration [for Outlander ] came from an unexpected source...

character called Jamie Fraser and with a bit of time travel involved. I begat this TV series, which is wonderful!” The author conceived the story as a ten- book saga, eight of which have now been published, and is currently at work on the ninth book, Go Tell the Bees That I Have Gone . The

14 SEPTEMBER 2020

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