I really enjoyed it, although I am on edge hoping it is 'good' and not just "wonderful" because I've been waiting for this show since 1995! I am holding my breath hoping against hope the actors are good enough, and their chemistry works. Sam is a bit of an enigma still - I found it interesting the way the tone of his voice and delivery changed in the scene where he brought Claire back from her attempted escape - the delivery of the 'tough guy' threatening lines was so awkward and forced that in the trailer I thought he was going to be a terrible actor, but in context, Jamie is uncomfortable playing that role with this mysterious, apparently worldly and wanton woman, so it is mostly bluff and bluster. . . that moment after she conceded to coming with him, his whole demeanour shifted as if he could be himself with the cheeky 'I guess you'll be coming with me then', and there was Jamie Fraser. Can't wait to see the chemistry build!!!!
I like Catriona as Claire much more than expected from the trailers - I was so worried she was going to be a damsel in distress, when she unleashed her little blasphemy-strewn tirade on the appalled band of highlanders I knew they cast the right actress. Loved the love scene in the castle - it really foreshadows that 'woman acting like a man' stuff which is so shocking to the 18th C folk.
I suspect the voiceovers are more annoying for book-readers as we know what is happening, and what will happen. I hated them as it really felt like she was stating the obvious, but I'd be interested to hear how non-book readers took them? I also hate her expletive of choice 'Jesus H Roosevelt Christ' - it always took me out of the book as a reader, and it does the same as a viewer, I just don't find it convincing that it would come out of Claire's mouth. All of the hells and bastards and bloodies were much more natural - she is British after all! I get that she would have picked up a lot of her more colourful terms while nursing at the front, but still find the JHRC forced. It has too many syllables to really function well as a four letter word IMHO.
