The next season from the hit Starz show has arrived, bigger and bolder than ever before!
“The fifth season of Outlander sees a continuation of Claire and Jamie’s fight to protect those they love, as they navigate the trials and tribulations of life in colonial America. The Frasers strive to flourish within a society which is unwittingly marching toward Revolution, and Jamie must now defend the home they have built together at Fraser’s Ridge while Claire seeks to put her own skills and medical expertise to use in keeping her family together and safe from harm. Meanwhile, Brianna and Roger MacKenzie struggle to find their respective places in this world and chase away the shadow cast over their lives by Stephen Bonnet as they raise their son in this brave new world. For the Frasers and their family, “home” is more than simply a site on which they live, it is the place in which they are laying the foundations for the rest of their lives…”
Outlander, based on the book series, now releasing its fifth season, continues the story of Claire Randall who has traveled back in time and become involved with a Highland warrior named Jamie Fraser. This adventure/romance story with elements of science fiction, seems perfectly suited for Ronald D. Moore who developed the show for television. This unique blend of genres has worked very well in providing a thrilling and engaging story over the past five seasons, one that you can’t help but be drawn in by as the story unfolds. With these later seasons focusing on American history as the story relocates to the American colonies, the story continues to grow bigger and bolder.
Here’s an episode breakdown:
Disc One:
- The Fiery Cross: The mood of celebration at Fraser’s Ridge is dampened by a mandate from a powerful political figure in North Carolina and a shocking revelation about a long-standing adversary.
- Between Two Fires: Jamie continues to hunt Murtagh and his band of Regulators, with a dedicated lieutenant and a contingent of redcoat soldiers at his side. When a settler at the Ridge dies of a preventable illness, Claire is inspired to take action.
- Free Will: Jamie and Claire help a bondservant rescue his twin brother from their abusive master, but discover that the situation is much more complicated than they had initially thought.
Disc Two:
- The Company We Keep: Roger leads Jamie’s militia to the rural trading post of Brownsville and finds himself embroiled in a bitter feud.
- Perpetual Adoration: Jamie and his military arrive at Hillsborough to find that Governor Tryon has proposed a rather unorthodox solution to deal with the threat posed by the Regulators. Busy with present-day life at the Ridge, Roger and Brianna must nevertheless come to terms with their past.
- Better to Marry than Burn: At Jocasta’s wedding, Jamie learns that the Regulator threat is far from over, and Claire discovers information about a former enemy from an unexpected source.
Disc Three:
- The Ballad of Roger Mac: The Regulator Rebellion reaches a boiling point, forcing Jamie to face his fear and confront the consequences of his divided loyalties. The ensuing conflict takes a harsh toll on the Frasers.
- Famous Last Words: The Frasers recover from the traumatic events of the Battle of Alamance. An unexpected visitor arrives at the Ridge.
- Monsters and Heroes: The inhabitants of the Ridge rally around Jamie as he fights for his life. Jamie asks Roger to complete an important task in the event of his death.
Disc Four:
- Mercy Shall Follow Me: Jamie’s plan to eliminate the threat looming over his family goes away. Brianna is forced to fight for both her own life as well as Jemmy’s.
- Journeycake: A revelation about Jemmy forces Brianna and Roger to make a difficult choice. Claire finds that her attempts to make the Ridge safer have dire unintended consequences.
- Never My Love: Claire struggles to survive brutal treatment from her captors, as Jamie takes drastic measures in a bid to save his wife.
Video
Outlander: Season 5 is presented in 1080p High Definition Widescreen 1.78:1. This transfer looks very good. Picture is detailed, clear, with a nice color balance that highlights some of the breathtaking costume and set designs/locations.
Audio
The audio is presented in DTS-HD Master Audio 5.1. This track is exceptional, providing a great balance between the surrounds and center channel. Dialogue is clear and concise, with the surrounds really shining in a lot of the battle sequences in which you’ll hear a good range of atmospheric effects, gunfire, etc.
Special Features
There are quite a few extras on this disc, well worth taking a look at if you’re a fan of the show and want to learn more about it.
These include:
- Deleted Scenes
- The Heart of the Frasers
- Expanding the World: Sets & Costumes
- Episode Commentary
- Blooper Reel
- Strength in Action: The Women of Outlander
- Through Fire & Hell: The Finale
- “Flowers of the Forest” Lyric Video
- At Home With Adso
Outlander: Season 5 continues to tell a great and unique story. Lasting five seasons is rare these days for television it seems, and fans of this show will surely want to grab this to be ready for the next!
