When you suddenly realise that you don’t care about the interactions between the protagonist of a series you’re following since seven seasons.
I was eagerly waiting for the 15th episode of Outlander season 7, because I was curious about how they will depict the Battle of Monmouth Court House .
I know only one ficitional representation of this event from TURN: Washington’s spies, and I think it was very well made how real historical elements served the purpose of a fictional storytelling. For example, the famous tense scene between George Washington and Charles Lee, when the always demure, always mindful leader of the continental army “adressed Genersl Lee in language which implied censure” was slowly built up from the beginning.
But in TURN there are characters never appeared in the story of Outlander, like John André or John Grave Simcoe, also the story of Culper-ring is completelly left out from the epic time-travel tale (although in the book version William is present, when Robert Rogers captures Nathan Hale), so naturally the battle in this particular fictional world inevitablely should go differently than in the other series. We follow different type of fictionalized, or copletelly fictional characters, therefore we learn the way how they went into the battle.
Except, when there isn’t a battle at all. Or, only in the background, because the storytelling is focusing on the relationship of its protagonist, and the episode is almost entirely build up from their monologues and dialogues.
Which is, in theory, perfecly fine. I myself like to play with
the way of storytelling avoiding the direct presentation of an important historical event.
For example, I have an idea about a story dealing with the political-diplomatic situation before and after the Battle of Leipzig (1813) without doing anything with the battle of itself.
Tue question is, always, what other stuff the story can offer.
Recently I watched the brand new episodes of two great historical series, Wolf Hall and SAS Rogue Heroes. Superb written scenes and amazing acting in both cases (although, of course, none of them are perfect). There are moments I want to watch it again, again and again. I just want to observe and absorb every little gestures, every little mimics of the actors, because they do something I really enjoy watching.
As a member of the audience, just arriving from the very intense world of the heavily fictionalized Paddy Mayneand his mad men, eagerly waiting for some kind of action (I expected a battle), I find myself in a strange spot watching the 15th epidose of Outlander season 7.
Because I had to realise, I never actually cared about the interactions between Claire and Jamie Fraser.
I’m that rare person, apparently, who is watching Outlander for the history, how this drama embraces real historical elements in its fictional world.
I tried to rember f there was any scene ever between Claire and Jamie I fekt exeptional ecxited about. But no, unfortunatelly I could not find anything. I wasn’t just invested their realationship. Never. Ever.
I just simple accepted that without them it would’t be Outlander.
So ,unfortunatell, for me this episode was one of the most boring ones ever. (Except the scenes between Roger and Buck. They are still enjoyable as always.)
