Small Talk: Chewing The Haggis

[AD55]

I liked Sleepy Hollow in the first season, but I left after it started getting away from itself. So I had to check the forum and see what happened it its finale. Yikes. It's like they went out of their way to ruin their own show.

 

Hope you still have some crockery left, AD55. Especially if you have a much better throwing arm than the fair Letitia.

 

I bailed on season 2 after a couple of episodes, but decided to give it a try this year. It was much more like the first season (ie, fun) until it went off the rails in the last few episodes. Oh well.

[WatchrTina]

I know tonight's episode (202) is already available on demand but I can't bring myself to watch it.  I'm saving it for a while.  So instead I let myself be seduced by the STARZ advertising into binge-watching The Girlfriend Experience.  Not gonna lie -- I feel a bit dirty.

[morgan]

Not sure where to ask this, but is there a list of who wrote which episode last season?

[maraleia]

I know tonight's episode (202) is already available on demand but I can't bring myself to watch it.  I'm saving it for a while.  So instead I let myself be seduced by the STARZ advertising into binge-watching The Girlfriend Experience.  Not gonna lie -- I feel a bit dirty.

Might I suggest The Submission of Emma Marx parts 1 and 2 on Showtime On Demand. Now those movies will make you feel dirty in a good way.

[WatchrTina]

 Thanks maraleia but I gave up Showtime in order to get STARZ so that I could see Outlander.  (Otherwise I would totally be watching Penny Dreadful.)

[maraleia]

 Thanks maraleia but I gave up Showtime in order to get STARZ so that I could see Outlander.  (Otherwise I would totally be watching Penny Dreadful.)

OK so since you can't watch the movies here's the deal, they are a better version of 50 Shades of Grey with adult actors playing the roles and they (there is a part three which hasn't been released to Showtime yet) are written and directed by the fantabulous Jacky St. James of New Sensations Films. She is so nice and liked what I had to say on twitter enough to follow me.

[asp]

Not sure where to ask this, but is there a list of who wrote which episode last season?

 

Check here:

 

http://outlander.wikia.com/wiki/Season_One

[morgan]

Thank you!

[WatchrTina]

I toured the Palace of Versailles back in 1989 and I recall the tour guide explaining how the king of that era was never alone.  “Le Etiquette” governed all activities and it required that the king be attended at all times.  So that scene in episode 202 showing a crowd attending the king during his morning bowel-movement was probably realistic.  The tour guide showed us the king’s bed-chamber and described how a servant would remain at the foot of the bed in case the King required anything during the night.  I, being the forthright American that I am, asked how the king could have a mistress if his life was so tightly constrained by etiquette.  He looked bemused by my ignorance and explained that Le Etiquette governed his public life but his mistress was a private matter.  Then an Australian piped up and asked if the King actually had sex with his mistress with a servant standing at the foot of the bed.  Again, the tour guide gave us a dismissive yet knowing look and explained that, bien sûr, the servant would withdraw when the king wished to lie with his mistress.  I went out for drinks with the Australian afterward.  We bonded over our inappropriate curiosity about the king’s sex life.

[Dust Bunny]

Since Terry mentioned Prince at the Emmy panel regarding the men’s costumes… I’m really looking forward to watching episode 203 early tonight on the Starz app. I need a pick-me-up. I live in the Twin Cities metro of Minnesota – home of Prince. The whole state is basically in mourning. Prince loved Minnesota, and we loved him back. He could have lived and worked anywhere in the world, and he chose to build his studio here, where he was born and grew up, to have peace. He supported the community and had local concerts with just hours’ notice. Prince is part of Minnesota’s identity. So when I see tweets from Cait, Terry, Maril, Richard Rankin, and others as part of the worldwide collection of voices, I confess I feel proud to live in Minnesota – where a rainbow can shine at Paisley Park in the midst of Purple Rain.

 

So I’m looking forward to some Outlander escapism tonight.

Edited April 22, 2016 by Dust Bunny

[WatchrTina]

Yeah, men should not wear kits.  Especially the last guy. /s

https://www.buzzfeed.com/hilarywardle/dressed-to-kilt?utm_term=.vqpGdRgmL#.tiM6ZDRLy

ETA: The more I think about it the more convinced I am that the whole reason for this post is the growing buzz around Outlander and Sam's increasing celebrity.  Or it's just a natural reaction to the PR blitz around the show being back and someone loved that last photo of Sam.  Either way, yay Outlander.

Edited May 2, 2016 by WatchrTina

[WatchrTina]

Here's a link to an interview of Diana by the author of "Finding Fraser" which is a novel about an Outlander fan, which I've read and talked about before in this forum. 

http://www.ew.com/article/2016/05/05/outlander-diana-gabaldon-kc-dyer-finding-fraser

[WatchrTina]

Well, I came here to post a link to some tweets that participants of JIBLAND (a fan convention in Italy) had tweeted yesterday.  They included Periscope videos of a one-man Q&A with Sam and I SO enjoyed them.  Alas, they do not seem to be available today.  Are Periscope videos only temporary?  Or did the convention insist that they be taken down?  I don't know and I'm sorry I can't share them because OMG Sam was entertaining.  The absolute best bit was when someone tried (in the politest way possible) to ask him about what it is like to film those sex scenes.  Sam just smiled and said "Okay, let's talk about sex."  And then he went on to give a very funny and very sincere explanation for what it is like to rehearse, block, and ultimately perform an "intimate" scene . . . over and over again . . . surrounded by grips and cameramen . . . from 8:00am in the morning until 8:00pm in the evening.  He used the scene from ep 109 as his example because it (and not the Wedding episode) was the first one that he and Cait ever filmed.  There was much humor to be had in the telling.  Rug burns were mentioned.  I'm sorry I can't share those videos with you because Mon Dieu! he was adorable. I am very ambivalent about fan conventions (I've only been to one) but this one in Italy seemed to have great energy.  Graham McTavish was there too and both seemed to be having a good time.

[AheadofStraight]

Yes, Periscope vids are only available for 24 hours, unfortunately. Maybe something will show up on youtube? (I did see the one you mentioned and it was delightful.)

Edited May 26, 2016 by AheadofStraight

[Nidratime]

I know we're not there yet, but I keep reading the episode title "Prestonpans" as "Press on Pants."

[Nidratime]

Outlander fans might appreciate this:

‘The Time Traveler’s Handbook: 18 Experiences, From the Eruption of Vesuvius to Woodstock’

http://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/05/books/review/the-time-travelers-handbook-18-experiences-from-the-eruption-of-vesuvius-to-woodstock.html?smid=tw-nytbooks&smtyp=cur

[Atlanta]

Am in Inverness and toured Culloden battlefield today. Visited many of the locations mentioned in the books. Awe inspiring.

Apparently the guy playing the Prince is an amazing singer and has a band.

[AheadofStraight]

Here is a video of him singing:

[Pallas]

Are you still in Scotland now, Atlanta? Anything to report on reaction to the Brexit vote?

[GHScorpiosRule]

On 6/22/2016 at 5:07 PM, Atlanta said:

Am in Inverness and toured Culloden battlefield today. Visited many of the locations mentioned in the books. Awe inspiring.

Apparently the guy playing the Prince is an amazing singer and has a band.

I'm sae jealous!!!! It's been 15 years since I've been! I went to Culloden and feeling gyped because the sun was shining and I couldna "feel" the spirrrits like I wanted to. It should have been gloomy and raining, ye ken?

I really need to get back tae visit.

[IntrovertGal]

I'm going to Scotland this summer. :)  I will visit Culloden, Fort William, Edinburgh, Inverness, Doune Castle (which provides the setting for Castle Leoch in the show), etc. I'm looking forward to exploring all those Outlander-related places very much and to hearing the Scottish accent in real life. It will also be interesting to visit Scotland after Brexit.

[Petunia846]

If you're feeling lost without a new episode this weekend, one of my favorite podcasts just did an episode on the history of the '45. Amusingly they mention Outlander several times in the episode.

http://www.missedinhistory.com/podcasts/the-jacobite-rising-of-1745/

[asp]

On 26 de junho de 2016 at 11:26 AM, IntrovertGal said:

I'm going to Scotland this summer. :)  I will visit Culloden, Fort William, Edinburgh, Inverness, Doune Castle (which provides the setting for Castle Leoch in the show), etc. I'm looking forward to exploring all those Outlander-related places very much and to hearing the Scottish accent in real life. It will also be interesting to visit Scotland after Brexit.

Don't miss Culross and Falkland if you can.(Geillis house and Inverness in first season).

Edited July 4, 2016 by asp

[dustoffmom]

Expect to be befuddled a lot of the time.  I spent a month in England a few years back and then traveled north for another 3-4 weeks in Scotland.  One morning I spent a most pleasant 45 minutes sitting on a bench at a train station with a somewhat elderly gentleman.  I swear to this day I could not understand what the hell he was talking to me about!  Up north the brogue is very heavy indeed!  :)  Off the Outlander path but I found Stirling, town and castle and countryside to be well worth the time invested.  Among my favorite stops anywhere.

[Dust Bunny]

On 6/26/2016 at 5:26 AM, IntrovertGal said:

I'm going to Scotland this summer. :)  I will visit Culloden, Fort William, Edinburgh, Inverness, Doune Castle (which provides the setting for Castle Leoch in the show), etc. I'm looking forward to exploring all those Outlander-related places very much and to hearing the Scottish accent in real life. It will also be interesting to visit Scotland after Brexit.

I am too, IntrovertGal. When are you going? I'll be doing a small group tour in August. I was going to go with a gal friend, but she didn't want to spend 2 weeks in one country, and I was determined not to do a coach tour (bleh). So instead I'll be going solo, like the gal in the movie City Slickers. This tour won't be a cattle drive, but I hope to still see some Highland kine. And hey - depending on how America's election is looking after the conventions, Scotland post-Brexit might be favorable to the USA. (I feel bad typing that on the 4th of July. Go America!)

Edited July 5, 2016 by Dust Bunny
Independence Day and such

[Atlanta]

On 6/24/2016 at 3:35 PM, Pallas said:

Are you still in Scotland now, Atlanta? Anything to report on reaction to the Brexit vote?

Oops! Just saw this. Sorry. We got back a little over a week ago. There were tons of news outlets set up in tents near Parliament when we were in London. We were still in Scotland when the vote happened and we really only got a sense of what our Scottish friends thought. Scotland, in general, voted to stay. Our friends are mostly ticked because this will affect ease of travel through Europe. Immigration wasn't an issue since they don't have to deal with much of it up there.

[Rilla-my-Rilla]

20 hours ago, ulkis said:

Just wanted to say, great username @Rilla my Rilla :)

(Woo! Experiment successful! I was trying to see if I could quote from a different thread to another. I knew it was possible but I haven't done it yet. Next stop, spoiler tags, but I never post any)

Thanks! I'm annoyed at myself for forgetting the hyphens. I should probably fix that. I've been a fan of those books since I was a wee lass and I was always jealous of people who had clever usernames from pop culture and I could never think of any. My middle name is Ann, but of course with no E. ;)

[morgan]

I love your name too, Rilla my Rilla!  Makes me smile just to think of those books.  My daughter is 12 now and has zero interest in them and I'm trying very hard not to care.  Lol.

I love all the clever names people have that I've come across here.  Makes me feel very uncreative myself though.  

[Rilla-my-Rilla]

Thanks! :)

Aww, I would probably be sad about that too. I even have to try and not to let it bother me when coworkers won't read books I like and think they would enjoy. Haha, I can't imagine how I would be with my own family. 

I did eventually wear my one coworker down to read Outlander and then she read them all in about 8 weeks once she got started!! And I got her watching the show at the same time. I think she finished season 1 in a few days. She's current with season 2. Our other coworker decided she would get into it once we realized like 4 other work friends in different buildings have read them and watched the show besides us. She's on Voyager now and a few episodes into season 2.

[Dust Bunny]

Kind of wishing the finale was last week. The week's news is horribly sad. I'm not sure I can take my favorite fiction show causing me tears too.

Hope you guys and all your loved ones are well. Our world needs healing.

[WatchrTina]

I dealt with the lack of an episode last weekend by binge-watching season 3 of Orange is the New Black.  I finished on Tuesday -- just before the first of this week's tragedies was reported.  I won't spoil that season for people who are going to watch it but it's a hell of a thing to have watched given the terrible events in real life this week.

Meanwhile, back in my "escapism" TV show, we're approaching the battle of Culloden.  I'm also reading James Michener's "Texas," in which Santa Anna has just arrived at the Alamo and the POV narrator of the current chapter has just decided to go join the march there in answer to a call for reinforcements from the 150 Texans holding the fort.  Damn.

Karen Henry, the lovely woman who runs the "Outlandish Observations" website is in Scotland right now and she just tweeted a photo from Glencoe, saying how beautiful it is.  I almost tweeted back for her to "Watch out for Campbells!" but I decided to do a Google search first and quickly learned that people with the name Campbell would be horribly offended by such a joke.  Emotions still run very high in Scotland over the Glencoe Massacre and even after over 200 years it TOO SOON to treat the matter lightly.

I'm rambling.  I'm sad.  I grew in Baton Rouge and I used to live in Dallas.  I have family in both place.  I'm just sad.

[morgan]

WatchrTina, have you ever watched Madmen?  I binge watched it last year and it was a great show.  But OMG toward the series end there is a Glencoe/Campbell reference I hadn't seen coming and I choked on my drink when it came up.  

[WatchrTina]

Morgan yes!  I saw that scene and cracked up too.  I felt like such an insider because I "got" the joke.  But that being said -- Mad Men is an American TV show, set in America.  I'll bet there were some Scots who felt very differently about that scene when it played on Scottish television.

[WatchrTina]

Okay, I'm all set in front of my iMac, new battery in the Bose headphones (all the better to enjoy Bear McCreary's soundrack), ready to settle into the 90 minute Outlander Finale . . . and STARZPlay won't work.  There is an "Authentication Error".  It probably has to do with the fact that I get STARZ via Time Warner Cable, which used to be on the main sign-in screen for the STARZPlay ap but now is relegated to a lower status.  I smell a dirty corporate trick.  I'm just not sure who to be mad at -- STARZ or Time Warner Cable.  I think I'll pick STARZ since it's their website that is not working.  Where's my fucking pitchfork?

ETA:  Okay the STARZPlay ap on my iPad is working.  I'll just stream it there and show it on my big screen TV.  Yay!  That'll be even better, right?  No -- the STARZPlay ap does not support "Mirroring" (whatever the fuck that is) so I have to watch the episode on my iPad or wait until it is broadcast this evening. I know these are first world problems but wow -- way to screw up the PR on the day of the season finale STARZ.

Edited July 9, 2016 by WatchrTina

[morgan]

Nooooo!!!!!!  Maybe sign out/in again?  Delete app and reinstall?  Hope it's all set soon!

[WatchrTina]

It's not just me.  @OutlanderTVNews reported the same thing last night at midnight but I just assumed the boffins at STARZ would have solved the problem by now seeing as how it's the day of the season finale of their most important, most critically acclaimed show.  Alas, no.

I can watch on my IPad.  I just don't know if I want to.  I have two big, high-resolution screens in my apartment -- my TV and my iMac -- and I can't see the show on either one right now.  Color me disgusted.

[WatchrTina]

Okay, problem solved.  For reasons surpassing all understanding the STARZPlay website is no longer the site that you go to if you want to watch an episode of a STARZ show on-demand.  That functionality has now shifted to the STARZ.com website.  I think they are shifting it cable provider by cable provider, but they aren't bothering to TELL anyone what they are doing, nor are they putting a meaningful error message on the old website to clue subscribers in to what is happening.  I figured this out in the middle of an irate call to Time Warner Cable and once I figured it out I could not get off the line until the customer support rep finished peppering me with "Have I answered all your questions?" and "There may be a follow-up call to determine your level of satisfaction' . . . oh FFS, just let me get on the phone and watch my show already.  I told him they better NOT call me in the middle of my program (sinisterly hinting that my displeasure will be reflected in the scores I give to any telephone survey).  Then he asked me to just let the phone ring and not answer. Yeah, that'll work . . . for YOU.

Mon Dieu!  I know it's just a TV show and in light of all the real life tragedies this week I shouldn't let it all bother me but . . . damn.

And now, on to the season finale.  Is it too early to drink?

[Petunia846]

No, not if you're watching the finale.

[ulkis]

On 7/9/2016 at 11:25 AM, WatchrTina said:

Okay, I'm all set in front of my iMac, new battery in the Bose headphones (all the better to enjoy Bear McCreary's soundrack), ready to settle into the 90 minute Outlander Finale . . . and STARZPlay won't work.  There is an "Authentication Error".  It probably has to do with the fact that I get STARZ via Time Warner Cable, which used to be on the main sign-in screen for the STARZPlay ap but now is relegated to a lower status.  I smell a dirty corporate trick.  I'm just not sure who to be mad at -- STARZ or Time Warner Cable.  I think I'll pick STARZ since it's their website that is not working.  Where's my fucking pitchfork?

This happened to me around episode 8 of Black Sails. I think it took around two weeks, but it did fix itself. 

[IntrovertGal]

On ‎05‎.‎07‎.‎2016 at 6:17 AM, Dust Bunny said:

I am too, IntrovertGal. When are you going? I'll be doing a small group tour in August. I was going to go with a gal friend, but she didn't want to spend 2 weeks in one country, and I was determined not to do a coach tour (bleh). So instead I'll be going solo, like the gal in the movie City Slickers. This tour won't be a cattle drive, but I hope to still see some Highland kine. And hey - depending on how America's election is looking after the conventions, Scotland post-Brexit might be favorable to the USA. (I feel bad typing that on the 4th of July. Go America!)

Sorry, Dust Bunny, I only just saw this, RL has been busy the last few weeks. I'm going in August as well. I'll be based in Edinburgh and will do several group tours from there by coach (since I don't drive). Hopefully, the weather will be nice and it won't rain all the time. ;)

[Bort]

I was supposed to be in Scotland well-- now, but it got pushed back. Now it's in September, for a month. 

[Petunia846]

Guys, so, I started watching Poldark. (I've only seen four of the episodes so far though.) I don't have much to say about it, other than I like it, but just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation. I'm always late to the party.

ETA: And now I'm done...Are the books any good?

Edited July 28, 2016 by Petunia846

[ulkis]

On 7/26/2016 at 8:12 AM, Petunia846 said:

Guys, so, I started watching Poldark. (I've only seen four of the episodes so far though.) I don't have much to say about it, other than I like it, but just wanted to say thanks for the recommendation. I'm always late to the party.

ETA: And now I'm done...Are the books any good?

I read three and a half. I stopped reading four about a quarter of the way in because my kindle copy was so riddled with errors that it was too hard to keep reading, but otherwise I would have kept going probably. They're not amazing but they were engaging. The first two books cover season 1, so reading those won't spoil you for season two.

[Petunia846]

Oh, really? I didn't realize that. I thought it was going to be a book a season thing like Outlander. I'm about 30% into the first. The writing style took a little getting used to, but so did Outlander back in the day.

[ulkis]

13 hours ago, Petunia846 said:

Oh, really? I didn't realize that. I thought it was going to be a book a season thing like Outlander. I'm about 30% into the first. The writing style took a little getting used to, but so did Outlander back in the day.

Yeah, I definitely expected the prose to be a bit more melodramatic.

I watched a little bit of the 1970s mini-series and it was fine but man, some of the wigs were distracting. Demelza's hair was horrible.

[Nidratime]

I loved the 1970's series. It's what made me read the first seven books in the first place. People criticize the 70's version now -- some because they love Aiden Turner so much. I understand that the 70's version took liberties with the details of the story, but -- unlike this current version of the show -- the 70's version really did a great job portraying the whole community and also focusing on the side characters, who are rich in drama and comedy. This new version focuses too much on Ross to the detriment of everyone else. I know the actor is good and very attractive, but they let that rule the show rather than the richness of the story.

Edited August 1, 2016 by Nidratime

[Clawdette]

Yesterday I binged The Crimson Field and enjoyed it and would have been onboard for a second season if one had been filmed. Today, I watched the first two episodes of Wolf Hall but I've dropped out.  It was simply too slow for my tastes.  So, I've watched the first episode of Lark Rise to Candleford and am moving on to the second installment.

I guess I'll try Poldark once I finish LRtC.  I also have several novels in process but can't seem to find anything that really excites me right now - aside from re-reading my favorite parts of the Outlander Eight.

[WatchrTina]

Here's a funny Ikea ad that should resonate particularly with fans of Outlander Season 2.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2BXRGzjo1_Q

[Clawdette]

I'm not much of a t-shirt wearer outside of the house but I ordered this one and it fits perfectly.  Just may have to venture out to advertise.

Spoiler

Edited August 13, 2016 by Athena
Added spoiler tags

[MedievalGirl]

Between Outlander and Hamilton I have fallen for 18th century clothing in a big way. I've done medieval reenactments for a couple decades. The Simplicity Outlander patterns have arrived. I have the fabric I need but stays, OMG stays. Can I really make something that structured? I have not yet convinced my husband to wear a kilt or even find an acceptable plaid that doesn't break the bank. We have a Halloween party to wear this stuff too and there will be cons and 18th century reenactments we can go to. (There is a reconstructed 18th century fort just across the river from here.) Even my 10 year old wants me to make her a dress like the Schuyler sisters in Hamilton. Like I needed a new hobby.