Outlander Season Premiere Review: America the Beautiful (Season 4 Episode 1)

Outlander is at a pivotal point with Season 4 as the show continues to pull from the source material while attempting to stay relevant now as a maturing television show.

And for the most part, it would seem the show is aging quite nicely as Outlander Season 4 Episode 1, “America the Beautiful,” looks to the future and to reinvent itself without the need to clutch onto the past with such ferocity anymore.

“America the Beautiful,” is hopeful, romantic, and ruggedly different from what came before — all things one comes to expect from Outlander after three seasons of uprooting these characters time and time again.

While this new age of America is no Scotland highlands it certainly is something.

At first glance “America the Beautiful,” is much more mellow than a premiere usually intends to be and while the stakes are raised by the end of the episode, one can’t help but feel like a bit more action here and there would have put this episode over the top.

That being said, those that have watched the entire series know quieter episodes of Outlander come few and far. And when they do come it is usually not a good sign of what’s next for Claire and Jamie.

This is, unfortunately, one of those times where the quiet moments can only foreshadow the worst that is yet to come.

So I say a calm and relaxing premiere should not be taken for granted.

Not when this episode spends most of its time developing Claire and Jamie’s new relationship together after so many years spent apart and lays down a clear reason for abandoning the Scotland dream for the American dream.

Each discussion has an important place in setting the scene for the rest of Season 4 and never once feels like too much of an information overload — certainly not when it’s our favorite couple whose lives are being rebuilt.

Regardless of how quietly this episode treads, “America the Beautiful,” is kind of a big deal.

Within this newest installment, we are introduced to two pivotal characters from the books that will come to make their own separate but important marks on this season.

There’s the disgustingly deceitful Stephen Bonnet, a man we can all get on board with hating after that stunt he pulled on the boat. Although one has to admire his quiet but bloody entrance into the Outlander universe.

Bringing to life characters that are so foul and villainous your hatred for them is enough to continuing watching on in horror is something this show has always excelled at and it looks like it will continue to succeed with Stephen’s introduction.

The trickster-like character shows no mercy as he chokes Claire’s ring from her very throat and in carrying out such a hateful act turns this peaceful episode on its head in a matter of moments — which is rather impressive.

That final scene between him and the Frasers is gutwrenching and a powerful reminder that Jamie and Claire are not home, not yet and possibly not ever.

As happy as we are to see Captain Jack Randall good and dead, there is quite a large role that needs to be filled in his absence if Outlander is to keep that same level of intensity and surprise going. It looks like Ed Speleers’ portrayal of Stephen Bonnet might just be what fills that role.

Thankfully we are also introduced to Ian’s adorable new dog Rollo, who embodies all that is pure and good in a man’s best friend.

The dog is a nice contrasting character to the introduction of Stephen Bonnet and adds an interesting new dynamic to the cast that readers of the source material will certainly appreciate. Rollo hasn’t even had five minutes on screen yet and I can already tell he is going to steal our hearts.

There are so many cute and adorable moments in this episode that Rollo’s introduction is just skimming the surface.

We also hear the news that Fergus and Marsali are expecting their first child together. The two have such a interesting chemistry together I find them just as captivating as Claire and Jamie at times.

It’s lovely to see these two take the next step in life together, but it is even more lovely to see Marsali share the news with Claire. There is a feeling of genuineness and understanding between the two girls that certainly isn’t there when they first meet.

Everything is new and promising as Claire and Jamie put the ghosts of Scotland behind them to face new ones in America.

Although not as ambitious as the start of Season 1 or as action packed as the start to Season 3, “America the Beautiful,” tries and for the most part, succeeds to reinvent the show’s premise of what it means to be an outlander.

More importantly, Droughtlander has come to an end once again and our favorite Scots have returned to television, seemingly more eager, fashionable, and loveable than ever.

What did you think of this episode of Outlander? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Outlander airs Sundays at 8E/P on Starz.

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