Outlander: Season Three Blu-ray Movie

Rating summary

Movie		4.0
Video		4.5
Audio		4.0
Extras		4.5
Overall		4.5

Outlander: Season Three Blu-ray Movie Review

Lovers in a Distant Spacetime.

Reviewed by Martin Liebman April 18, 2018

Some light spoilers for this and previous seasons are within the review, and potential viewers should certainly be familiar with seasons one and two before diving into season three.

"All you need is love." John Lennon. Smart man. Shot in the back. Very sad. Love more or less propels everything, arguably as much as the need to breathe or eat, and entertainment has certainly never shied away from making it a dramatic, humorous, or adventurous component throughout each medium's history. Couples falling in love, the love between parent and child, the love amongst friends, the love for a pet...each in some way can generally be found at the heart of any story. Outlander's third season deals with love on multiple levels. The love Claire feels for Brianna and the love she has for Jamie. The love Frank has for Claire despite her love for Jamie. Jamie's love for Claire and his love for his family and his country. And the decisions each character makes revolve around the love they feel for another, and throughout season three they will each go to drastic measures to prove it.

New beginnings.

Official synopsis: The third season of 'Outlander' picks up right after Claire travels through the stones to return to her life in 1948. Now pregnant, she struggles with the fallout of her sudden reappearance and its effect on her marriage to her first husband, Frank. Meanwhile, in the 18th century, Jamie suffers from the aftermath of his doomed last stand at the historic battle of Culloden, as well as the loss of Claire. As the years pass, Jamie and Claire attempt to make lives apart from one another, each haunted by the memory of their lost love. Separated by continents and centuries, Claire and Jamie must find their way back to each other. As always, adversity, mystery and adventure await them, and the question remains: When they find each other, will they be same people who parted at the standing stones all those years ago?

How does life go on when one has lost the person, or people, one loves? Outlander's third season explores this question with dual stories as Jamie and Claire each attempt to continue on with their lives in their own timeline, apart from one another in body, but certainly not in spirit. In a departure and needed change of pace from season two, which spent most of its time in the past, season three sprawls out along both primary timelines, Jaimie's world in the past and Claire's in her present. The seamless transitions between the timelines allow the story to build slowly and help the audience to feel the pain of the separation between Jamie and Claire as each tries to live without the other. The dramatic structure provides ample room for character development as they grow through their separation. Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, as series leads Claire and Jaimie respectively, both do a wonderful job depicting their characters as they age 20 years from when they last saw one another but also grow in mind and spirit, not simply in time and body. They each prove deeply and authentically capable of presenting believable pain at the loss of the other and in their everyday journey through life with that pain so intensely shaping it. Sophie Skelton's portrayal of Brianna is also excellent. She does a remarkable job of building and revealing her character's troubling discovery of a new father figure that she will never be able to meet.

The following episodes comprise season three. Summaries are courtesy of the Blu-ray packaging. Spoilers follow.

Disc One:

• The Battle Joined: As Jamie (Sam Heughan) is captured in 1746 following a devastating defeat at Culloden Moor, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) is in the 20th century struggling with her grief as she prepares to give birth to their child.
• Surrender: After returning to Lallybroch, Jamie is forced into hiding when the British Army arrives. Over the years, Claire and Frank (Tobias Menzies) both put their best foot forward to share a harmonious marriage, but an uninvited guest shatters this illusion, bringing their differences to light.
• All Debts Paid: As Jamie finds a surprising ally at Ardsmuir Prison, Claire's medical school graduation accelerates her crisis with Frank.

Disc Two:

• Of Lost Things: While serving as groomsman at the aristocratic estate of Helwater, Jamie is reluctantly pulled into the intrigue of a noble British family. In 1968 Scotland, Claire, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin) struggle to trace Jamie's whereabouts in history, leaving Claire to wonder if they will ever find him again.
• Freedom & Whisky: As Brianna grapples with the life-changing revelations of the past summer, Claire must help her come to terms with the fact that she is truly her father's daughter -- her 18th century Highlander father. To complicate matters further, Roger brings news that forces Claire and Brianna to face an impossible choice.

Disc Three:

• A. Malcolm: After decades apart, Jamie and Claire finally reunite and rekindle their emotional and physical bonds. But Jamie's new business dealings jeopardize the couple's hopes for a simple life.
• Crème De Menthe: In the aftermath of a violent confrontation, Claire follows her conscience as a surgeon, even though it could put her and Jamie's lives at risk. At the same time, Jamie attempts to evade the reach of the Crown as its representative closes in on his illegal dealings.

Disc Four:

• First Wife: Claire returns to Lallybroch with Jamie where she does not receive quite the reception she was expecting. Unbeknownst to her, Jamie's made some choices in their time apart which come back to haunt them with a vengeance.
• The Doldrums: Claire and Jamie leave Scotland, sailing to the West Indies on an urgent quest. But when the superstitious crew looks for someone to blame after a string of bad luck, rescue comes from an unlikely source.
• Heaven and Earth: Claire races to discover the source of an epidemic aboard a disease-stricken ship before hundreds of sailors die. And as Jamie locks horns with Captain Raines (Richard Dillane), Fergus (Cesar Domboy) finds himself torn between loyalty and love.

Disc Five:

• Uncharted: After making a leap of faith, Claire washes up on a seemingly deserted island where survival is her only option. Navigating treacherous waters has crippled the Artemis, so Jamie devises a joyful moment for his crew in the midst of devastating setbacks.
• The Bakra: The Artemis finally reaches Jamaica, bringing Jamie and Claire that much closer to their goal. During a lavish ball on the island, the Frasers encounter old allies, as well as former adversaries who threaten to derail their mission.
• Eye of the Storm: Claire is forced to play a game of cat and mouse with an old adversary as she searches for Young Ian (John Bell). The Frasers race through the jungles of Jamaica to prevent the unthinkable.

Outlander: Season Three Blu-ray Movie, Video Quality 

Outlander: Season Three follows the series norm with another gorgeous 1080p transfer. The show was digitally photographed, and the resultant 1080p image is generally striking. It's clean with only mild-to-moderate noise interfering, usually in lower light, and with spikes in only the most challenging of environmental conditions. Otherwise, the image yields splendid textural delights. Facial clarity is wonderful. Skin textures -- all of the usual suspects like pores and hairs -- are revealed with impressive pronouncement and visible intricacies. This includes, of course, characters in both timeframes, gruff mugs in the past or more silky smooth, well cared-for skin in the present. Environmental clarity is superb, whether rolling green grasses, rough dirt and terrain, ship's hulls, wooden floors, or complex attire from either century where fine fabric definition is intimate, tangible, and tactile. Even on background characters and supports appear precisely defined. Black levels are excellent and skin tones are strong, a hint pale at times, though seemingly by visual design.

Outlander: Season Three Blu-ray Movie, Audio Quality 

Outlander: Season Three's DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1 lossless soundtrack handles its duties very well. The opening title theme yields excellent sonic results. It's spacious, airy, with fine musical clarity and wonderfully accurate and well defined lyrics. Such holds true for all music through the show. The track takes full advantage of all its allotted channels. The opening battle -- largely flashbacks thereof -- is invigorating, the sound of explosions and screaming men a startling counter to the quiet silence of near-death and destruction that emotionally defines the scene. Background din, such as clanking swords as soldiers march, distant explosions, and other necessary supports enjoy tremendous precision of placement and fidelity. Less chaotic or dense atmospherics fill in gaps and recreate place as well. Dialogue, of course propels much of the show's drama, and it presents with excellent placement, prioritization, and clarity.

Outlander: Season Three Blu-ray Movie, Special Features and Extras 

Outlander's third season Blu-ray release contains supplements across all five discs. Some supplements can be found under each disc's "Special Features" tab while others are located under a specific episode listing. The set again contains Sony's frustrating, burdensome, and cumbersome TV show menu system that lists all episodes and all extras on every disc, which for a show with this many discs, episodes, and extras is not a good fit (and, really, never is for any show). A digital copy code is included with purchase.

Disc One:

• Saying Goodbye to Frank & Jonathan Randall (1080p, 10:23): Cast and crew discuss Tobias Menzies' dual role and how the actor deals so well with each character despite their very different personalities.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Introductions by Ronald D. Moore (1080p): From "The Battle Joined:" A Real Home (1:43). From "Surrender:" Dead Nor Alive (7:21). From "All Debts Paid:" Tell Me Why You Escaped (7:31) and I Lost a Particular Friend (3:12).
• Outlander Podcasts: These podcasts are essentially episode commentaries. Each features different guests and concentrates on different elements of the episode. For "The Battle Joined" Podcast with Ronald D. Moore (54:20). For "Surrender" Podcast with Ronald D. Moore, Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (55:20). For "All Debts Paid" Podcast with Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (58:20).

Disc Two:

• Jamie's Revolution (1080p, 7:48): A look at Jamie's character as he struggles to live without Claire and the battles, mental and physical, that he faces.
• Claire: Through Time (1080p, 6:37): A closer look at Claire's character as she reacclimates to life in the present and how her character grows through the post-war era.
• Gag Reel (1080p, 9:17).
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Introductions by Ronald D. Moore (1080p): From "Of Lost Things:" Keep Claire Safe (1:59), Let's Get Started (2:10) and What Are You Doing Lady Jane? (1:50).
• "Of Lost Things" -- Additional Scene with Lord John Grey & Lady Isobel Dunsany (1080p, 6:28).
• Outlander Podcasts: For "Of Lost Things" Podcast with Ronald D. Moore, Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (55:20). For "Freedom & Whisky" Podcast with Maril Davis & Toni Graphia (54:51).

Disc Three:

• Claire and Jamie: Together Again (1080p, 9:45): A look at the characters of Claire and Jamie and how their journeys differed this season as they spend more time apart than in previous seasons.
• Original Chemistry Test With Caitriona & Sam With Introduction by Ronald D.Moore (1080p, 7:03): Exactly as the title describes.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Introductions by Ronald D. Moore (1080p): From "A. Malcolm:" Walk to the Print Shop (1:36), I Did Not Love Her (3:08), Remember the Last Time (2:03), Question For Mr. Malcolm (1:23), and Heating by Means of a Knife (3:38). From "Crème De Menthe:" Is That Brandy?" (2:44) and Different Shades of Lies (5:06).
• Outlander Podcasts: For "A. Malcolm" Podcast with Maril Davis, Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (1:14:25). For "Crème De Menthe" Podcast with Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts.

Disc Four:

• A Traveling Show Takes Sail (1080p, 8:49): A look at filming the scenes on board ships in Capetown.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Introductions by Ronald D. Moore (1080p): From "First Wife:" A Taste of Adventure (3:10) and I Was Trying to Help (3:10). From "The Doldrums:" Keep Your Hands Off Me Knives(2:37), The Days Started Blending (1:33), Think We'll Get Wind Today (1:42), Do You Miss Her? (6:45), and I Will Stay (2:18).
• Outlander Podcasts: For "First Wife:" Podcast with Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (59:42). For "The Doldrums:" Podcast with Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (56:51). For "Heaven and Earth:" Podcast with Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (57:06).

Disc Five:

• The Transformation of Geillis Duncan (1080p, 5:30): A look at how the character grows in this season from a quieter character in Season one to a more vibrant character in Season three.
• Deleted and Extended Scenes with Introductions by Ronald D. Moore (1080p): From "Uncharted:" Welcome to Jamaica (1:55). From "The Bakra:" Bring Me That Boy (2:58). From "Eye of the Storm:" We're Friends (4:41), Our Paths Keep Crossing (6:17), and The Prophecy - Director's Cut (9:30).
• Outlander Podcasts: For "Uncharted:" Podcast with Maril Davis & Toni Graphia (57:14). For "The Bakra:" Podcast with Maril Davis & Toni Graphia (53:16). For "Eye of the Storm:" Podcast with Toni Graphia & Matthew B. Roberts (54:27).

Outlander: Season Three Blu-ray Movie, Overall Score and Recommendation 

Outlander is a fine show. It's gorgeously furnished, nicely acted, smartly written, and engagingly dramatic and romantic. Season three only builds on the show's best qualities and offers an absorbing continuation and promises more excellence for future seasons. Sony's Blu-ray, cumbersomely familiar TV show menu system notwithstanding, is excellent as always. Picture and sound are top-notch and the supplements are numerous. Highly recommended.