OK...I have to ask.  Has anyone watched the 1st episode of Outlander on the Starz network?

I am debating whether on not to get these channels because I REALLY want to watch this series.  Can anyone tell me if it's worth it?

Josie, I was able to add Starz to my cable plan without any additional cost - don't ask me how, these cable companies make no sense.  So I guess I can't tell you whether or not it's worth it from a monetary point of view.  But I watched the first episode and I actually loved it.  Very well done, so atmospheric, and great casting (might be a little TMI in the sex scenes for some).  If the next 7 episodes are as good as the 1st, it will be a great series.

I watched episode 1 while the free screening was going on.  I was very impressed by it, but now I'll have to wait for the rest on Netflix.

Speaking of the series, this review is good fun.

Edit. Forgot the linky. http://www.hitfix.com/monkeys-as-critics/recap-outlander-sassenach/single-page 

Yes

Does Netlfix have Starz shows available? 

I finally broke down and decided to pop the extra $10 for Starz Comcast was offering. I clicked through and nothing. Got a couple of missed calls from some support center (left a voice mail the second time around and a call back #). Called it, reps were all busy and I didn't have time to sit around on terminal hold, so left a message to call me back. That was Monday morning and no return call. Sigh. I will just have to wait for the DVD. Definitely if I have to get an extra cable box outside the small one for the expanded basic cable from Comcast, I don't want to bother with it, let alone trying to manage around the huge TV I got from Vine. I would be happy just being able to watch the episodes via internet on the laptop.

In case no one else has heard, Diana Gabaldon posted on Facebook that Starz has picked up Outlander for a second season.  Season 2 will cover "Dragonfly in Amber", since this season will cover all of book 1.

For those still on the fence, Episode 1 is available free to all on Starz's website: http://www.starzplay.com/FreeEpisodes

Happy viewing!

You can watch episode 1 for free on the Starz Web site. I did and liked it very much. But I'll wait for the Netflix streaming or the DVD for the rest of the season.

I'm always one season behind Game of Thrones for the same reason, and it's fine.

Well, I am watching each episode twice -- once by myself and once with DH. Yes, I subscribed to Starz just to watch this series -- in the same way that I subscribed to HBO just to watch Game of Thrones. Undoubtedly, it would be much more economical to wait for the DVDs or Netflix, but I'm not as patient as Genie!

(Edited to remove pesky misplaced comma.)

I caved and got stars. So glad I did too...Jamie and Claire are exactly the way I picture them. I'm hooked on it now but I wish there was a Gaelic-English dictionary because I feel like I'm missing a lot of the good stuff.

I got Starz just to be able to watch Outlander.  My TV provider (Att Uverse) offered three months free which will work out well.  I read they are splitting the first season, with the first 8 episodes broadcast weekly, then the next 8 episodes will come in 2015.  My free trial for Starz will cover those first 8 episodes  and when they are done I will cancel Starz so I will effectively get to watch Outlander for free.  When a firm date is announced for the second 8 episodes, I will see about signing up for Starz again and hopefully get another free three months.

ugh. I have been saving the episodes on my DVR to binge watch them all in one weekend--I'll have to decide what to do in light of a split season. Hate that--am currently dealing with that with the last season of Mad Men...

Loved the wedding episode!!!

Hi all!!! Everyone in my house is hooked on it.  I also listen to the podcasts when they come out on Mondays.  Love hearing about the process, and adaptation decisions.  Ron Moore is often joined by his wife Terry, who if you didn't know is the costume designer, and super fan of the books.  They are just so fun to listen to.

I've never heard of split seasons before this.  Shows how much I watch TV.  But I think maybe they did that with The Closer, and after the first two seasons I lost interest and stopped watching.  Not like that will happen with this. :)

I am looking forward to the break, I've been so preoccupied with it all summer, my daughter's reading the series and we talk about it all the time.  I've read so little this summer and have a huge stack of really good books to get to.  But between guests, gardening  and putting up what grew in my gardens, and painting our house, and visits from the fledging that has flown the nest, the summer's been really busy.  :)

I just keep saying how well done it is.  I have watched most episodes twice to catch all the dialogue.  I'm getting used to seeing Claire and Jamie as the actors and not as I had pictured them.  Just loving it!

I'm enjoying the series but have a couple quibbles. I understand there's so much in the book that cannot be shown in the TV series. But, I really wish that the wedding episode had included the part where Jamie asks Claire to tell him about her husband when they're alone after the wedding and before consummating the marriage -- thus showing Jamie to be sensitive to what Claire is feeling and thinking. And that conversation also includes Jamie's talk about honesty and secrets. The show skips that entirely. From my perspective, this is a missed opportunity to more accurately portray Jamie as the hunk we love and to better show the dynamics between Jamie and Claire. I'm also missing some of the humorous banter between them, but am hoping we'll see more of that now they're married.

I wish they would have added the honesty thing as well.

My daughter and I were talking about it. We both love the banter and humor too, and like you Deb hope that becomes more prevalent as the series goes on.

You know...it's been a few years since I've read Outlander, but my first impressions of Jamie were always that he was a smart aleck and that he matured really quickly for the story.  I really like the way he is portrayed - different from what I expected.

I am sure they have to leave some stuff out to make the series last as long as they can. They have had such a great response to it, they would be smart to do so. Diana Gabaldon has nothing but praise for the series.  Did you see her in "The Gathering" episode? The comment about wearing the dress was funny and she played it so well.

I really liked the first two books in the series. It was great historical fiction, a tale of romance at the center of the story for sure but plenty of other aspects to the book as well ie politics, history, war, etc. "Voyager" I didn't like. It seemed straight chick-lit romance in a historical setting and it turned me off the series. I quit reading Outlander. But I got Starz because I knew my wife would like the series and naturally she is hooked on Outlander Starz. The series has prompted me to consider picking up with Drums of Autumn. Can any of you tell me if Gabaldon returns to the formula of the first two books or is this a continuation of a romantic, "Lifetime"-style literary drama. Should I start "Drums of Autumn"? Would you recommend it to your husband/boyfriend/male friend?

Bruce, In a word - Yes.  I would recommend the series to anyone who enjoys good books.  

Bruce -- I read the first four books in the series, one right after the other, a few years ago. I really liked the first two and was less enthusiastic about the next two, so decided to take a break. When I heard that the series was coming to TV, I decided to reimmerse myself in Jamie and Claire's world. So in March, I started listening to the series, from the beginning, which is brilliantly narrated by Davina Porter. I have enjoyed the audio versions immensely, though I still didn't like the last part of Voyager and I found A Fiery Cross incredibly annoying at times. I don't really remember my response to Drums of Autumn -- it's certainly slower paced than the preceding books but not as far-fetched as Voyager. From my perspective, none of the succeeding books have been as good as Outlander -- too much meandering. But, in general, I am finding that listening to the books is preferable to reading the books (largely because the former makes both my commutes and workouts much less painful). My husband is watching the series with me, but I can't imagine him reading the books -- I think the romance would irritate him (but I could be wrong -- he sometimes surprises me).

Thanks for the input. I don't mind romance in a novel, that's part of life after all, right? I just don't like a heavy dose of idealistic romance being the central theme of the book. Voyager seemed like a "relationship" book rather an exciting story of two people who just happened to be married. I'll do more research into the remainder of the series. It was you, ladies in the forum, that convinced me to read Outlander and even more importantly introduced me to Sharon Kay Penman so I respect your opinions. Both were excellent choices.

What do you think of the Lord John books? Considering I like Penman, Bernard Cornwell, David Liss, C. J. Sansom, Conn Iggulden, C. S. Harris, etc, and dislike  Phillipa Gregory and Elizabeth Chadwick style novels, would you recommend Lord John?