Isabeau1791

Okay, but during those 20 years that will apparently be featured in season 3, we're going to see Jamie married to someone else, someone else having his baby, Claire doing her thing in the 20th century, and the 2 main characters with little to no screen time together? I think that's where most viewers will stop watching. Doesn't matter that they've been prepared for it. I can't think of any TV show featuring a romance that has ever tried anything like that and survived.

I get the comparison to Game of Thrones, but I think the comparison breaks down for this reason, like @doesntworkonwood explains: ----Honestly, if people give up around S3, I really wouldn't blame them. At the moment, what is being sold, is a love story between Jamie and Claire. --- ^THIS. The producers have really set the tone for the show to be an epic romance, not a fantasy with hoards of characters and storylines changing course (Like GOT does.) It's a different animal. I don't see the two stars taking a back seat to other characters, either. They have chemistry like I have never seen on another show in my life!

My friend Neva summed it up pretty well. (She tried to read the books after watching the show, like I did.): "I don't want to hear about any new main characters. I fell in love with J & C. That's who I want to read about and watch. That's why I put the 2nd book down, I tried skimming over the future Claire and her daughter parts but it was useless." She got farther than I did. I put the first book down after the beating scene. And I LOVE romance novels, but that was enough to have me ditch it.

Haha, it's interesting how adamant the book fans are about keeping the main characters apart for so long. LOL. I can understand 5 or 10 years, but 20 years is a lifetime. I don't see non-book people sticking around for the introduction of and focus on other characters, but we'll see. No one is going to be able to sizzle like Sam and Caitriona, though!

Question: Do you think there is enough Jamie-Claire material in the books (BEFORE she returns to the 20th century) to last 2 or 3 seasons? The reason I ask is because I don't see them aging the characters 20 years for the majority of the series. Also, I don't think most viewers are going to give a rip about other characters. For example, as a non-fan of the book, I have zero interest in Brianna or Roger or any other relationships. If they take the focus off Jamie and Claire for more than a couple episodes, I won't stick around. I think they've got to keep the story arch belonging to Jamie and Claire exclusively for the show, because they've already established that as the focus. I'm just really curious as to how they could possibly cut 20 years out of the love story and have enough content to last multiple seasons. That's why I'm thinking they've got to significantly reduce the time our lovers spend apart on the show. Boy, I REALLY hate that 20-year gap! LOL

= I actually REALLY like that idea, too, peacefrog. I would LOVE to see them reduce or eliminate the 20-year separation. I don't see how they can prolong the show for long if they don't. The main focus has GOT to stay on J and C. I don't see the introduction of new characters or their romances being remotely as appealing or interesting to me.

Like I said, I was a total Outlander newbie when I watched the show...Then when I tried to read the first book, I stopped reading after the beating scene. Simply put, heroes don't beat their wives, no matter what era or setting. That's what villains do. So that totally killed my Lady boner for the books. The comparison to a man hitting his wife and spanking a child is baffling to me. I know most readers could get past it, and I might have been able to had I not already fallen in love with the TV show. The producers have done such a phenomenal job so far (IMO) that I am trying to trust that they will somehow alter the whole tone of the strapping scene. Like you guys have said here, not enough of a relationship has been established to remotely pull off such a scenerio and not totally turn viewers off. It just ain't gonna fly with modern female viewers. The first half of the season has been damn near the most romantic thing I have ever seen put to screen, largely due to the INCREDIBLE acting of the two leads. They absolutely blow me away!! Despite my concerns, I am so excited to continue watching on April 4. It is KILLING me to wait. I haven't been this obsessed with a fandom in a LONG time. It's ridiculous! Great discussion, folks - I'm enjoying the various perspectives! :)

Thanks, Glaze Crazy...That's an interesting perspective. OhHells, are you dreading the strapping scene? I sure am...Can't see how they're going to go from that sweet, tender wedding scene to Jamie hitting his wife 2 episodes later. Makes zero sense. Thanks again for the input on this, folks!

Thanks, everyone, for your input! I guess I am not bothered as much about the ages of the characters being in love as I am the fact that they have to live so for so long apart and be with other people. It's just not what I call a happy ending or an epic romance. There's just enough heartache in real life to deal with. I am still hoping the show decides to do something different! haha. Thanks a lot for the discussion.

Thank you, dejana! That makes me feel a little better. :)

Okay, can some of you veteran Outlander fans talk me down off the ledge here? haha. I recently finished watching the show and am IN LOVE with it. However, I tried to read the first book and was completely turned off by the beating scene. (I know this is a controversial subject in the fandom, so I'm not trying to settle that issue here.) But the main thing that has me VERY concerned about the show is the 20 year separation of our beloved main characters. I am baffled that this seems to be no problem at all for romance fans! It seems absolutely HEARTBREAKING that Jamie and Claire will be torn apart for that long in the TV series. I don't get it?? Claire leaves when she is 30 and returns to her soulmate just in time for menopause? WTF? That's not a romance - that's a tragedy! Please tell me how to deal with my Outlander crisis! LOL (I am just not a fan of the way the first book is written, so I doubt I will continue to read the series. Spoilers welcome.)