Rushing Towards The End
I’ve just finished watching season one of Outlander. I was surprised just how quickly I became emotionally invested in the series. The spectacular Scottish Northlands brought back memories of my time living there but it was the compelling storyline that sucked me in. Initially I thought the whole premise was a bit too, “Dr. Who meets Harlequin Romance” for me. I had no idea I’d become a swooning romantic, falling head over heels for Jamie, a formidable Scotsman all the while cheering on the strength and intelligence of the female lead, Claire.
The unique storyline is well developed with plenty of twists and turns, the characters are detailed, nuanced and believable.
Tobias Menzies plays, without a doubt, the coldest, most vile villain I’ve ever seen.
As with any really great story it is the background, the history, the daily moments and missteps that create the character’s lives and shape the people they become. These cunningly gauged discoveries enticingly advance the story forward one detail at a time.
Understanding and getting to know these characters and their lives is what gives the story authenticity and meaning.
The moments and details which make up our days are important in shaping our lives, not just the life altering highlights or extreme lows.
Every moment that passes serves its purpose as we march towards our final destination. Learning to appreciate the moments without constantly peering into the future is a skill that develops happiness and gratitude.
Sometimes in life we want to rush towards the finish line while ignoring the road we took to get there.
I was reminded of this when I told my husband (who is currently in Hong Kong) that I was enjoying the series and he should watch it too. Often times my husband doesn’t really appreciate my recommendations. Is your spouse like that? For some reason he is dedicated to only watching gory horror movies, violent, fighting war movies and fake super hero films, anything that falls outside that realm is subject to severe critique. While we both loved Mad Men, Better Call Saul, The Sopranos, Dowton Abbey, The Alienist, Taboo, Mindhunter and Breaking Bad he wasn’t keen on giving Outlander a chance, that is, until I told him I’d just witnessed the most violent, disturbing episode I’d ever seen on film. Somehow I knew that would pique his interest. I’m not a fan of extreme violence but I still find the series compelling.
The next day (my morning, his evening) I was surprised to read a text from him that said what a sick so-and-so Captain Jack Randall was. I wrote back that he hadn’t seen the worst of it because his unfathomable evil isn’t thoroughly revealed until the last episode of season one. He didn’t respond. It wasn’t till the next evening while chatting on FaceTime that my husband revealed he’d only watched the last three episodes of season one. WHAT???
He’d skipped over the whole story rushing towards the end!
ARGHHH!!!
I can’t even begin to tell you how disappointed I was. How on earth can you expect to understand anything or commiserate with the characters when you jump in at the end? It’s like buying a book and only reading the last page! I mean why even bother???
Can you imagine jumping in on your life now without any background knowledge?
How can we enjoy where we are when we don’t know where we came from?
Needless to say after my extreme disappointment and horrified reaction he told me he started watching the series from the beginning now, although if you ask me, that is a m00t point. He will never be able to enjoy it as it was meant to be. Moments are meant to be discovered and savoured, revealed to us one step at a time, no rushing towards the end.
Have you ever skipped ahead to the end?
Linking up with Patti for Visible Monday, Turning Heads Tuesday and Fancy Friday
Don’t hate me….I’m totally guilty of this especially in a book. But I love how you got your husband to watch this. Isn’t it fabulous??
I was seriously hooked with all of the books, and then when the series came on….Ahhhhhh. And they did such a fabulous job recreating the story!!!
XOOX
Jodie
http://www.jtouchofstyle.com
I cannot imagine that you are able to enjoy the books when you read the end first. There is no anticipation, just a foregone conclusion. For me it would make the entire book a bore.
I didn’t think I’d like season 2 as much but I am. The locations in France, especially at Versailles are spectacular.
I’d never heard of these books but I’m loving the series.
Loving that swirly maxi. how fab is that?
I read one of the books and must admit it did nothing for me, I abandoned it halfway through, I disliked it so much!
Jon and I like the same stuff – espionage, art house, Scandi noir and crime. Neither of us care for period drama but absolutely adore Peaky Blinders. The only thing he likes that I don’t is sci fi- I don’t get it and I’m probably the only person in the world not to have watched Star Wars! xxx
It’s quite sweet that your husband made an attempt to watch Outlander even if he did cheat. I couldn’t do that
I really liked Peaky Blinders the first two seasons and then quickly became bored of the repetitive storyline and extreme violence. Shame since I did love the costumes.
I bet you are the only person that hasn’t watched Star Wars! Ha!
Wonderful post, Suzanne. Moments are meant to be savored, I couldn’t agree more as I nibble on a fresh roll with smoky cheddar cheese, and look at your fabulous dress. Robert was indeed missing out on lots of good stuff in Outlander, although I applaud his willingness to step outside his usual fare.
And you will have to fight me for Jamie, heh. xox
Ha! I’ll take you down woman! Although, with your arms you might take me down ; P . This is the one time when being heavier might help me ; P
Yes, I can’t imagine quickly crunching down some chocolate. It is meant to be slowly dissolved on the tongue.
You’re right, he’s… wrong doesn’t even cover it. Skipping to the end of a drama like this misses the whole point. As you note. I love savoring a good drama as bits get revealed. An ending has to come after those revelations. Oh well… he dresses handsomely so he gets a pass from me. 🙂
P.S., https://www.dictionary.com/e/pique-peak-peek/
I knew something was wrong when I wrote that and thought I must come back to it and then forgot. Sad since pique is a French word, I should have known better.
I notice you didn’t call out mute for moot. That one I didn’t know. Robert says it’s more of a legal term.
Ha ha! Yep, he is looking forward to having his full wardrobe back again and not his truncated Hong Kong version.
I am an avid tv series fan and I would never skip not even a single bit of each one of them! I watch many of them and I prefer the drama ones. You look wonderful in that dress, btw! Kisses
Fashion and Cookies – fashion and beauty blog
I agree! I think I want to watch the wedding episode again…just to make sure I caught it all ; P
No, I would never skip to the end; that ruins it!
Right??? I’m glad I’m not the only one that believes that to be true.
Fantastic dress!! I’m not big into movies and TV series , but I do like a good book. And, sometimes like Jodie I have to scan it before I read it.
I agree about the scanning…not the reading of the last page though. For me, that would ruin the book.
OMG, this happened when my in-laws finally got around to watching Doctor Who. Apparently they watched season 5 first, because it was available to them readily through whichever subscription service they have, then they watched season 4, then finished up with 1, 2 and 3.
My husband and I were mortified. “You did it ALL WRONG!!!” we complained. They said it didn’t matter because they enjoyed it. I suppooooose.
So you guys are like me then.
I couldn’t imagine doing that with a series like, Breaking Bad for example. One would be lost the whole time.
Ha ha, I never do that! We both loved to watch Outlander, but later we didn’t anymore. To much of the same sex scenes. Please, enough is enough. 😂😂😂😂
Ummm…no…I cannot say I agree with you on that one Nancy! Haha! I can never have enough of a good thing.
I always look forward to your posts. Thank you for sharing your style, your values, and pics of your pug! I have been an Outlander fan since reading the first book over twenty years ago… and I think the tv series is doing it justice!
Thank you for the kind words Susi.
It is incredible the books have been around that long.
Actually, no I have not! I am one to savor every page on the journey!
Gorgeous vintage dress Suzanne, perfect with the leopard heels!
xoxo , Elle
https://theellediaries.com
Savouring is the best bit!
Never!!! would I skip to the end of anything! Good grief!
Outlander is absolutely breathtaking in all ways good and evil. My husband read all of the books a few years ago and when Stars released the first season of series he immediately bought it on Amazon. It is compelling, provocative and engrossing.
This dress is very unique and you look beautiful in it Suzanne. I’m sure it’ll be snapped up in a heartbeat!
I think it is wonderful that your husband read the books and then purchased the series to watch together. He’s a keeper ; P
jep – some chick-lit novel i was gifted once – it was written in a very bad language and the female main character acted like the stupid person ever despite having a grade and high paid job…..could´n stand it but needed to know the end before i gave it to the book change.
you look like an expressionist goddess in that dress!!
xxxx
Was that book Shades of Grey? That book, well the whole series of them is so poorly written and repetitive. I’m amazed it was so successful.
Can’t imagine skipping ahead, whether it’s a book, series, movie, whatever. It would be like having your dessert before the first course! Will have to check out Outlander. Am looking for a something new to watch. Sounds intriguing. Love the colorblock maxi and the shoes and bag are perfect with it.
Theresa
If you like period dramas this is very well written and the costuming, especially in the second season are breathtaking. It is filmed in France in the second season.
I couldn’t agree more that every moment needs to be savoured and I absolutely hate it when someone or something is trying to make me rush towards the end. I know there are quite a few people who read the end first in a book. Why, I wonder? I always dread arriving at the end of the book, as I’m so engrossed with the story line. I must say that I haven’t watched Outlander, or any other recent series. I simply don’t have the time. Generally, my husband and I like watching the same things, and we both abhor anything containing extreme violence. Quite a clever trick to get your husband to watch, though. Love that maxi dress by the way, such a shame it’s too tight. xxx
Hahaha… that husband of yours is a character. I can understand you were appalled. And no I have never done that. Unless it was boring, I still wanted to know how it ended and had no intention of reading the book completely (because it was boring).
As for the dress… pity it isn’t too big for you. I love the drama of this dress.
Greetje
Haven’t read the books or watched the series (Outlander) but another friend of mine swears that it is great so I may give it a try. I tend to like darker series like the Alienist or Peaky Blinders. I would never skip ahead to the end of a book or a movie!! I watch a lot of older films (from the 40’s to the 70’s) more than once and even though I know what happens in end, I still love watching the journey of the characters to get there.
I’m the kind of person who, if I’m watching a bad movie in a theatre, will get up and leave. It’s shocking. It used to be that I’d FORCE myself to stay, just in case, and because I’d already invested myself in the stupid story. For books, I never skip to the end. NEVER! Same with film/videos, unless only a later season is available first. You know Robert well! Hahaha!
mwahaha, I’m guilty!, I’m that awful person who starts to read a book in a random page, skips over some chapters, does some cherry picking, goes to the beginning or the end and then decides to read it in a proper way (or not). My hubby call me an anarchical reader!
On the other hand, if I get hooked on a book or series, I’ll read/watch the whole thing from the beginning scrupulously!.
And I love your dress, such a cool geometrical design! and you rock in it, (lovely first pictures, lots of attitude!)
besos
I loved many of the series that you mention.
I’m now watching the first season of Outlander. Towards about episode 5 I was swooning away with all the castle-novel-romance-sex scenes. Now I’m in the middle of the dramatic climax, I guess, with the complicated and evil Black Jack Randall. It’s heartbreaking.
No, I did not skip to the end, but I committed another ‘sin’: I googled the synopsis of the series and it’s episodes and went through them roughly. The reason for it was that I was so stressed out by the suspense and the emotions (my empathy often is too much to handle for me) that I had to ‘know’ in order to be able to continue with the series.
My husband is watching it with me, which I had not expected.