America the Beautiful

I love this series I've read all the books and own the first three season on DVD. It was with great excitement I watched the first episode. Sadly it was a great disappointment. The character of Stephan Bonnet was nothing like what I'd envisaged when reading the books. As for the contemporary music at the end what was that about. You could not hear anything being said clearly and it just did not fit in with the prior episodes. I'm hoping this was not a preview of what's to come I'll reserve judgement till the next episode.

WHY THAT SONG?? WHY??? THAT CGI??? WHY??? THOSE CUTS??? WHY?? SOOO BORING...

THIS EPISODE MADE ME MAD

This episode did not live up to any previous episodes. 1. Something is different. How it was filmed? The director? I'm not sure but it just wasn't right. 2. Tedious. I thought the song in the pub would never end. It just seemed too many scenes were drawn out - digging the grave, ie. 3. Ok. Yes. Jamie and Claire like sex but it's really getting to be too gratuitous- sex in the woods scene. 4. For the first time, it felt like the actors (Jamie and Claire) might be getting a little tired of their roles.

Throughout the first 3 seasons, there were some episodes that I loved more than others, but even the less-loved were consistently good. After 11 months of waiting for Season 4, I was quite disappointed with this episode. The directing was clunky, CGI was terrible, and the attempt at Theatre of Alienation at the end fell flat for me, snapping me out of the scene. I was no longer excited about Season 4, even though Drums of Autumn is my favorite book in the series, and I did not stay up last night to watch episode 2, afraid to be disappointed again. I needn't have worried. Episode 2 was great, and we seem to be back on track.

I still have no idea why I am watching this show after holding out for 10 years, but I guess I know the answer - some favourite supporting actors and costumes/set will always draw me in, and i am bored. Discovering how good Sam Heughan's ability is to act with his eyes alone has been a bonus. Despite Claire and Jamie doing the least understandable things and making absolute baffling choices on occasion, I have to like them for the most part.

The best thing I can say about the first episodes of S4 is that at least Brianna isn't in them, as she has to be the most annoying and selfish redhead since Sansa Stark. But dang, America the Beautiful over that ending scene made me want to laugh - yes, yes, the irony, we get it.

Really loving Young Ian (well done John Bell, what a find for the part!), Fergus, and Marsali.