Realizing that the Outlander fan base is getting a little nutty as Droughtlander Take Two continues — and continues, with no end in sight — the folks at Outlander Starz started releasing deleted scenes last week. And, true to the no-good-deed-goes-unpunished theory, some fans are actually complaining, while some Outlanders seem to be a glass-half-full group no matter what’s going on. Just scroll through the Twittersphere and Tumblr to get an inkling. Either way – we’ve been blessed with some extra Outlander, and I for one, am happy.
Are some of the fans right when they ask, “Why did they leave out this scene?” Or, “how could Ron Moore omit this one? What’s wrong with the producers that they left this one on the cutting room floor?”
Perhaps.
Well, some of the time.
Perhaps.
Well, some of the time.
Sure, some of the scenes would have been lovely to see in the actual episode. But just as the TV series is not the same as the books, so, too, is each episode different than all the footage that was actually shot. Sometimes something has to be left out.
I say the deleted scenes are that rare proverbial win-win. Not only do we get to see the terrific one-hour episode, but we also, thanks to the wonders of the Web and social media, get to see a lot of what didn’t make it in. It’s like (insert your favorite holiday) every time one of those is released.
I say the deleted scenes are that rare proverbial win-win. Not only do we get to see the terrific one-hour episode, but we also, thanks to the wonders of the Web and social media, get to see a lot of what didn’t make it in. It’s like (insert your favorite holiday) every time one of those is released.
All of us who’ve read the books have scenes we wish could have been included in the TV show or done differently in the TV show. The hot springs comes to mind for me — until I realize just how hard (read expensive) it would be to recreate that cave for TV. Then I let it go and just reread that scene in the book. I also personally would have liked less sensational sodomy and torture in “To Ransom a Man’s Soul” and a little bit more about the wonderfully insightful conversations and epiphanies between Claire and Father Anselm. That was so critical to saving Jamie and Claire’s understanding of what her role was.
But it was not to be.
I get it – TV is a different medium and has different requirements. So while I was a little disappointed when I watched, I didn’t feel the need to berate. I just went back to get my book fix on that section. Even Herself has recommended taking that approach.
I get it – TV is a different medium and has different requirements. So while I was a little disappointed when I watched, I didn’t feel the need to berate. I just went back to get my book fix on that section. Even Herself has recommended taking that approach.
So it is with the deletions. I welcome them and thank Al Gore for inventing the Internet so we can all enjoy these additional moments with our favorite stars. (And yes, that was tongue in cheek about Gore.)
Here are my two favorite deleted scenes so far. In the first Ned and Colum meet up again after Ned’s aborted attempt to save Claire and, sure, Geillis, in “The Devil’s Mark.” I have loved Ned’s relationship with Claire from the first moment they met and think he’s been a wonderful addition to the show. In this episode, we learn more about how he turned up at the trial and even learn that Colum is perhaps relieved that Claire did not die.
My other favorite is this one in which Murtaugh speaks to Jamie about his mother and gives advice on what Jamie should do next to mend fences with Claire who is still fuming after the spanking. Murtaugh is a character who has benefitted from the creation of a TV show. He is much more evolved here than in the books and this addition adds depth to Jamie. Theirs is a wonderful relationship.
What’s your favorite deleted scene?
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