Happy New Year’s Eve! Feel like a walk down memory lane before we hit the champagne? The internet is awash with decade countdown lists, so why not Outlander? Without further ado, a look back at the top Outlander moments of the 2010s.
In chronological order:
September 22, 2009: (Okay, I’m cheating a bit here since this was technically just before the decade started, but it’s worthy of inclusion!) An Echo in the Bone is published, debuting at #2 on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
July 2012: Sony Pictures Television secures the rights to Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander books with Ronald D. Moore attached as developer and showrunner of the series. Four months later Sony would close the deal with Starz. The rest, as they say, is history. (Or, you know, a moment in time we can revisit in two hundred years via standing stones).
July 9, 2013: Sam Heughan is cast as Jamie Fraser. A million other men throw up their hands in defeat.
August 8, 2013: Tobias Menzies is the next major character casting announcement, playing the roles of Frank Randall and Jonathan “Blackjack” Randall.
September 11, 2013: Caitriona Balfe is named to play our perfect Claire. The meek and obedient type? Think again.
June 10, 2014: Written in My Own Heart’s Blood is published and debuts at #1 on the New York Times Best Sellers list.
August 9, 2014: Season 1 premieres and everyone immediately knows we have something truly special on our hands.
August 15, 2014: Outlander is renewed for a second season after airing just one episode.
December 14, 2015: Richard Rankin is cast as Roger Wakefield MacKenzie. Biscuits for everybody!
January 28, 2016: Sophie Skelton is cast as Brianna Randall Fraser MacKenzie, bringing thoughtfulness and introspection to the character.
April 9, 2016: Season 2 premieres. Wait, what? She goes back?!?!?
July 4, 2016: Diana Gabaldon reveals that Go Tell The Bees That I Am Gone will be the title of the ninth book in the Outlander series. A fandom collectively panics over the meaning.
September 10, 2017: Season 3 premieres. Will Jamie and Claire ever see each other again (hint: yes).
October 22, 2017: A. Malcolm airs, the most-watched episode to date. Jamie faints, I faint, we all faint.
May 9, 2018: Outlander is renewed for Seasons 5 and 6 at 12 episodes per season. Cue happy dance.
October 23, 2018: The Outlander series is voted #2 in PBS’s Great American Read. If you didn’t know then, you know now: these are amazing books.
November 4, 2018: Season 4 premieres. I don’t remember my U.S. History books featuring anyone looking like Jamie Fraser…I likely would have paid better attention.
August 29, 2019: Starz announces Season 5 will premiere February 16, 2020. A fandom rushes through the holidays…the real present comes in another seven weeks.
So what will the next decade bring? My guess is smart leading ladies, magnificent men, suspense, intrigue, history, and lots of romance. Jesus H. Roosevelt Christ…let’s get this decade started.
Slàinte
photos: STARZ
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