Outlander had its panel at the Television Critics Association’s winter gathering today. A new video was released, and their season 2 return was confirmed.
Goodbye to Droughtlander! Outlander is confirmed to be back in April. At the conclusion of a new Starz video, the April 2016 date appears.
Highlights of the video include several gems that are sure to please both book and non-book readers. In particular are two quotes: one from Jamie, and one from Claire.
Jamie states, “I spend my days and nights flattering a man so I can undermine his cause.” It’s obvious that he is very conflicted about undermining the person whom almost every other Scot would pledge assistance and fealty. It also seems that he believes Claire isn’t as understanding as she could be.
Claire echoes a similar notion later on in the video when she says, “We have to remember what’s at stake, the future of Scotland itself.”
Caitriona Balfe, who plays Claire, speaks in the video about how both she and Jamie, played by Sam Heughan, are very much out of their comfort zones in this high stakes game of trying to change history.
The teaser shows that Jamie and Claire are doing exactly what they set out to do at the end of season 1 — to find the Bonnie Prince and dissuade him from returning to Scotland to prevent the slaughter of the Scottish Clans at Culloden.
It’s not all a history lesson. There are obviously issues that go beyond the political intrigue with lines in the teaser directly from the novel Dragonfly in Amber that will satisfy book readers, and pique the curiosity of TV-only viewers. An Angry Jamie points a dagger at Claire and states, “Now you have your choice: him or me.” Seconds later a tearful Claire states, “You owe me that much Jamie, you owe me a life.”
The video also shows off Prague which doubles for 18th century Paris this season. The interiors, that were largely done on soundstages, are so positively rich in detail that you just don’t know where to look first. You want to freeze frame the entire video and take it all in.
There are also multiple looks at the new characters such as Bonnie Prince Charlie, the Comte San Germain, as well as old rivals like the Duke of Sandringham. If you need a quick who’s who, check out our non-spoilery casting guide.
Additionally, the costumes by Terry Dresbach are utterly sumptuous and breathtaking. If Dresbach does not score an Emmy nomination this year, a serious injustice will have been done.
Speaking of nominations, the show just received a People’s Choice Award for Favorite Sci-fi/Fantasy TV show, and Balfe won favorite Sci-fi/Fantasy actress. The show is also up for several Golden Globes. Balfe is again nominated for her role of Claire. Tobias Menzies is nominated for his dual role as Black Jack Randall/Frank Randall, a role that we thought was Emmy worthy. The show as a whole is also nominated.
Stand by, Sassenachs. Outlander will be back in April.