Outlander season 4 has more of an ensemble; why it works so well
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At this point, one thing is also clear: Outlander is perhaps more of an ensemble show than ever before, and that is in some ways a reflection of the source material. While we are not a book reader, even we know that Roger and Brianna have a good chunk of Drums of Autumn devoted to them. Yet, one of the criticisms that we’ve heard for season 4 is that it doesn’t have enough Jamie and Claire at times. The load this year (at least from episode 3 onward) has been spread more across a number of characters, with Brianna and Roger getting largely a spotlight episode of their own plus other storylines along the way.
We’re not going to be one to tell anyone what they should or should not enjoy about a show; if some connect more towards Jamie and Claire than anyone else, it’s understandable given we’ve spent so much time with them. Yet, we do appreciate Outlander moving more in this direction because it, at least to us, further demonstrates the impact of Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan’s characters upon the world around them. Through seeing the actions of Fergus, Brianna’s determination, or Murtagh’s devotion to those he cares about, you see an extension of the sort of people Jamie and Claire are. You better understand their world, and you get to also see their larger influence. Their loyalty, their care, and their devotion helps to shape who some of these people are.
It also helps that many of these other characters are enormously compelling in their own right. These people allow Outlander to tackle a number of other issues and also give us a wide array of different storytelling. You still have some wonderful love stories, but also more action, dark drama, and a greater understanding of culture. The goal with this show is to make you feel something deep within your heart, and adding more people to the world (provided they are fascinating to watch) adds to that wonderfully.
Luckily, every character we’re seeing works from top to bottom, and with more people, we’re simply getting more stories to be engrossed in as we reach the end of the season. Jamie and Claire will always remain at the forefront of the show, but now we’ve got a tapestry that is richer, bolder, and also capable of so much more in the years to come.
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Do you think that Outlander season 4 is working fine by spotlighting more of the ensemble? Be sure to share right now in the attached comments! (Photo: Starz.)