by Cookie N Screen
Another week goes by and yet another filler episode has descended on Outlander. As we move further into red coat territory again, it becomes apparent that either the television show has no idea where it is heading or it is blighted by trying to adapt everything from the book. Stringing the plot and fleshing it out to fit twenty plus episodes means that, rather than focus on the drama, we get a pained and strained second half of a series that should have sprung into some sort of action. It’s disappointing that we’ve galloped back to dullness once more.
Another week goes by and yet another filler episode has descended on Outlander. As we move further into red coat territory again, it becomes apparent that either the television show has no idea where it is heading or it is blighted by trying to adapt everything from the book. Stringing the plot and fleshing it out to fit twenty plus episodes means that, rather than focus on the drama, we get a pained and strained second half of a series that should have sprung into some sort of action. It’s disappointing that we’ve galloped back to dullness once more.
Jamie has been caught by the red coats again. It’s up to his sister and his wife to get him back, owing to men being useless and Iain losing his wooden leg. Determined to seek him out, they find out that he may have escaped so in order to lure him to her, Claire becomes a one-woman show, singing a song from the fifties to local villages so he can hear word of her. Only, the closer she gets to finding Jamie, the further she is pulled apart when a group of local travellers start copying her performing act. However, the arrival of a familiar face could help her. Or can they?
The first infuriating element of this is that the episode started strongly, with Jenny and Claire hunting for Jamie and pushing their morals one side to torture anyone with information. There was an epic flow between the pair that isn’t explored enough. It was squandered when Jenny had to go and was replaced by the mourning dribble of a man, Murtagh, who laments over his lost love in order to connect with Claire. Lo and behold, that woman was Jamie’s mother so he has to care for him and we’re all supposed to weep for his story. Except, even as Claire sobs, we shuffle awkwardly. Excruciatingly, Balfe’s performance here is so subpar that it is painful. She is usually such a competent actress and yet she cannot seem to translate the emotions well enough here.
The first infuriating element of this is that the episode started strongly, with Jenny and Claire hunting for Jamie and pushing their morals one side to torture anyone with information. There was an epic flow between the pair that isn’t explored enough. It was squandered when Jenny had to go and was replaced by the mourning dribble of a man, Murtagh, who laments over his lost love in order to connect with Claire. Lo and behold, that woman was Jamie’s mother so he has to care for him and we’re all supposed to weep for his story. Except, even as Claire sobs, we shuffle awkwardly. Excruciatingly, Balfe’s performance here is so subpar that it is painful. She is usually such a competent actress and yet she cannot seem to translate the emotions well enough here.
What’s frustrating is how Claire has been pulled back into this “desired by all” woman and hasn’t had much of a development apart from looking earnest or pining for her “red haired Fraser”. Claire’s character has changed and I’m not quite sure it’s for the better. Where she was a woman, conflicted with her two lives and strong willed, even through the beginning of her marriage. Now she has almost become defined by her love for Jamie which is frustrating. Here, in The Search, Claire whimpers and has to be helped, is scorned and is insulted. True, love can turn us all but it seems as though Claire’s characterisation has taken a sharp step back as she is foolishly led across Scotland - again to save her idiotic husband who has got into bother - again.
Hopefully, this is a blip in writing. Perhaps they were all sleepy when they wrote this episode. But it wasn’t good - it wasn’t good at all.
Hopefully, this is a blip in writing. Perhaps they were all sleepy when they wrote this episode. But it wasn’t good - it wasn’t good at all.
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