After the battle of Culloden in 1746, the wearing of a kilt or Highland clothes (plaid) was banned. Failure to comply came with a steep penalty – a first-offender caught wearing a kilt could be imprisoned for six months without bail. A second offense would result in transportation to any one of His Majesty’s plantations…
Tag: Outlander
Shirt Politics
When Jamie and the others set off in Season One to collect the rents, he has no idea that he is about to become a political pawn and unwillingly support Dougal’s Jacobite agenda. Even though Dougal’s speeches are in Gaelic, we (like Claire) catch on to what he’s up to. And to bolster support for…
The Surgery Window
There are times when part of a set becomes a fascinating, compelling part of a story. I noticed the window in the first few episodes of Season One of Outlander and followed it along as it played a captivating role in the dramatic impact of the scene where it appeared. I was struck by how…
Deciphering Dougal
It’s hard to figure out what’s simmering beneath the surface of Dougal’s masked countenance. I thought it would be fun to explore the possibilities in “The Gathering.” At the oath taking, Dougal is the first in line to swear his allegiance to Colum, but it looks more obligatory than anything else. He looks irritated and…
The Best Welcome
The somber, weary Highlanders returning to Castle Leoch are a welcome sight for Glenna Fitzgibbons (Mrs. Fitz). Her greeting seemed boisterous, almost startling to me until I hit the pause button and thought about it. When the Highlanders set out on their journey, she had no way of knowing if she’d see any of them…
Outlander: Back to the Beginning
I thought it would be fun to go back to Season One, Episode One (“Sassenach”) of Outlander and look at the foreshadowing/interesting bits that would show up in later episodes/seasons. The first time I watched it, I had no way of knowing what details would be a clue or a strategically placed bit with a…
Love, Time, and Loss
When someone you love and treasure becomes absent from your life, it leaves a void that can never be filled. It’s a heartbreaking loss, whether it’s brought about by death or the ending of a relationship. You never “get over” losing someone; you have to find a way to move forward with your life without…
Of Things Lost, or Left Behind
Time marches on, leaving things behind – some within our control, others not. Loved ones pass from this life, relationships end (by our choice or not), and some things are literally lost. They’ve fallen from our grasp and we can’t locate them. At what point does one stop looking, or hoping for things that can…
Outlander and Truth’s Fragile Veneer
The thin veneer that hides the truth from the rest of the world is applied for reasons known only to the individual that wears it. It’s worn so that we can continue to function in the world as best we can, knowing that, for now, the truth of what’s beneath must remain hidden. How many…
Symbolism and that Pearl Necklace
If you had to choose an object that’s symbolic of your life, what would it be? Perhaps a 15th century castle to house your romantic thoughts and dreams. Something as fine and fragile as the papery petals of a poppy might represent your current state of mind. Or, maybe a three-masted ship carries your desire…
Outlander and the Value of Patience
How does one survive the desert wasteland of Droughtlander? Each day brings September a bit closer, but it can’t come soon enough, if you ask me. Can patience be good or bad? Or is patience simply that, and manipulated by those who use it for their own purposes? I decided to look back and do…
Blogs – This Writer’s Balm
I’m a writer. I need to write. So when I’m at a crossroads on my current project or lamenting the long response time of a query, blogs are my go-to salve.
Outlander’s Servants and Blurred Boundaries
Season Two of Outlander brought us to Paris and the opulent apartment of Jamie’s cousin Jared. He’s hand-picked his servants for their loyalty, trustworthiness, and discretion. I wonder how a position description would have been worded. When Suzette and Magnus were selected, what were they told? How were their duties explained to them? I witnessed…
Outlander’s Claire and the Gesture of Reaching Out
What do you do when someone reaches out their hand to you? What emotions/gut feelings surround your decision to take (or not) their hand in return? It’s a simple gesture, but there’s a lot that happens in the moments/seconds leading to whatever it is that you do next. Outlander has some interesting examples to explore…
Surviving Droughtlander-This Outlander Fan’s Survival Guide
When I heard that Season Three of Outlander would not be aired until September, my brain jumped immediately to that song recorded by Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons, “See You in September.” It begs the question, “Will I see you in September…?”
Outlander’s Claire and Jamie – Forgive and Forgiven
When I was young, I was taught to say, “I’m sorry.” Reluctantly, perhaps, I was brought face-to-face and forced to say the words. I learned to acknowledge that what I’d done was wrong and ask forgiveness. Most times it was granted, but as I grew older, I learned that asking for forgiveness does not ensure…
An Outlander Look at Love and Loss
Ah, February! The month of love, romance, chocolates, and roses. Sentimental ballads fill the air, engagement rings are presented on bended knee, and promises of love are whispered by blushing lips, freshly kissed. But the fairy tale doesn’t happen for everyone. Outlander celebrates the love of its two main characters, but there is another who was not as lucky in…
Finding, and Losing the Love of Your Life – A Look at Outlander Romance
How does it work out for some and not for others? Finding the love of your life, I mean. Some get lucky, like Claire and Jamie. They lose and find each other over and over again! But what happens when it doesn’t work out? Can you bury the love you feel for someone you’ve loved…
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