Outlander(2014)

**TL;DR: If you're interested in watching this show because you heard there was time travel, don't.** That is about 1% about what this show is about, at least in the first season (that's as far as I've gotten). And even the time travel aspect is mystical, there is _no_ sci-fi element here. _LOST_ it ain't. If that changes past season one, well, I guess I might enjoy it more, but that's was my primary reason for giving the show a go, and my wife is enjoying this a lot more than I am. Can't get enough of it. For me, it's pretty meh, and this is more of a warning for the guys than a proper review.

The show is 99% fish-out-of-water story of a feisty modern (well, from 1945 anyway) Englishwoman nurse , Claire Randall (played by Caitriona Balfe), who is sent back to 18th century Scotland by some mumbo-jumbo druidic magic after touching a runestone. The theme is _heavy_ on a Harlequin-esque romance between the two leads, Claire and Jamie Fraser (played by Sam Heughan). There's some fighting, almost as much boobies as Game of Thrones, and gore that may keep the guys interested, but this show is mostly going to appeal to women I think.

(This may be a spoiler, but there is also a FAR too long drawn-out guy-on-guy homoerotic torture arc that I really hated. And, aside from the lead, a lot of the men depicted are pretty horrible.)

I think the historical costume-drama aspect of it is pretty interesting, I know a fair amount more about 18th century Scotland than I used to (which was pretty much nothing). So, if you like that kind of stuff, you might like this. Honestly though, I think having a POV of a modern woman kind of muddles the historical aspect a bit. I liked Downton Abbey better if that helps (yes I know, different time period, but I think handled the period piece costume drama aspect better, even with all the soap opera tropes), so that may say something.