james alexander malcolm mackenzie fraser

Outlander Season One Volume One DVD Release Deleted Scenes

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After viewing the deleted scenes on the Outlander Season One Volume One Blu-Ray DVD Release, I believe in the editing process as a win for viewers.

The walking through Castle Leoch of Murtagh taking Claire to meet Himself, the Laird, Colum MacKenzie for the first time went on too long. The Claire voice overs were distracting and I am grateful they were limited in the final versions. The alternate sequence of the wedding vows played odd as Claire was looking as if she would fall right to sleep standing at the altar.

Though all the deleted scenes had some insights and additional information for the viewer, they were not necessary for understanding the characters, themes, or falling more in love with the series.

Now to the Achilles’s heel of being a reader fan and a viewer fan.

The one very large exception, a VERY LARGE EXCEPTION to the editing is a glaring deleted scene. The. Honesty. Speech. That was sorely missed during the bridal chamber discourse between Jamie and Claire. Lo and behold it was shot and then cut. The sequence took all of a few seconds of screen time. I was crushed at first to see it, to hear it, knowing viewer fans know not of it’s existence. I said something out loud (likely of the cussy type. I honestly cannot recall what as I was so stunned at the moment) to the dear friend I was viewing with.  After a few deep breaths, I found hope. Perhaps it will be shown in a flashback when Claire is pondering to be truthful or lie to Jamie where keeping a secret is not an option.

Only time will tell as the second half of Season One is nearly upon us.

If you have the opportunity, I do recommend watching the numerous deleted scenes. Outlander edited to the proverbial cutting room floor is still Outlander and well worth the watch.

My Friends In Two Outlander Universes

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I am absolutely ecstatic there are TWO Outlander universes where the characters of Outlander now reside. My longtime since 1991 much beloved book friends and my since 2014 Starz TV series friends.

I find it a seamless transition between each whether I am reading the books or viewing the show.

It is an utterly fascinating process writing and podcasting about both ‘verses. I am remarkably still discovering more within the book series. The TV series has only deepened my love and quest to understand it more fully.

My thoughts below about both ‘verses of friends.

My Books Friends

  1. You are all firmly planted in my heart and mind . Who you are to me remains intact.
  2. We’ve lived, loved, laughed, grown, cried, grieved, and fought together.
  3. I cheer your fortitude, strength, loyalty, integrity, and resiliency.
  4. Oh the things we’ve been through together. I love you so.
  5. We started out near the same age, over time all older, adding children, moving homes, adventuring, literally having sharing decades together.
  6. I know what has happened. We’ve history.
  7. You’ve seen me through many serious life changes. A source of comfort and warmth like family.
  8. Your final chapters will be written as you speak your endings to Diana. I grieve the thought.

My TV Series Friends

  1. I embrace all you are, the familiar and the different.
  2. I’ve your backs as far into the future we go together, bring it on.
  3. I cannot wait to see your full character tried, tested, unfolding in front of my eyes.
  4. We are beginning a beautiful, hopefully very long lasting relationship.
  5. Still in your youth with paths wide open.
  6. Spoilers dahlings.
  7. You’ve connected me with many new and very real friends.
  8. You are just beginning your long wild adventure.

So much to go around for years and years and years more. Forever friends are Outlander friends.

Reckonings: Was Justice Served? Podcast Episode 9

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The Outlander series definitely does not shy away from controversy or difficult concepts. The topic of this podcast is no different. This is one of the most talked about scenes in all of the books combined. Claire receives a strapping by Jamie for unintentionally putting herself, him, and all the men in very serious harms way.

A recent article called the punishment a spanking. I disagree with that sentiment on many levels. In truth, my 21st century sensibilities have raised hackles and protest. Though to be fair when I really look at the scene, the time, the place, the reason,………

 

Was justice served? Was Jamie a brute? Was Claire careless? You be the judge.

You’ll have to listen to the podcast below to find out all my thoughts.
Listen to this podcast!

After Culloden Podcast #7

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Have you ever wondered about Claire, Frank and Jamie after Claire went back through the stones? I have.

 

Jamie Is…

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I am going to start by saying James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser is not perfect. You read that correctly. He is not perfect.

He is a good man. An honest man. A practical man. A passionate man. An educated man. A fiery tempered man. A protective man. He is a does the right thing even at cost to himself man. He is a vibrantly sexual man. He is a proud man. He is a family man. He is a serious man. He is a funny man. He is a religious man. He is a handsome man. He is a loyal man. He is a gallant man. He is a man who loves deeply and well.

Women fall in love with him for many reasons, not because he is perfect. He is a whole, many layers, a man of depth. He is not the every man this is truth. He is not average.

If a real life man feels threatened by Jamie or his girlfriend’s or wife’s longing for him, perhaps he needs to buck up in some areas. I venture seek to be this type of man.

Women crave the attainable. He is not simply fiction.

To have your man see you, know you, love you, desire you, partner with you, need you and allow himself to be needed by you, stick with you through thick and thin, times of want and plenty, to fight for you in the relationship and in the world, that my friends is a powerful, meaningful love.

Those men do exist. Jamie simply models it extremely well in my opinion.

Thank you Diana Gabaldon for not being afraid to write this man into existence, greatness and flaws all.

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