Outlander isn’t the only fandom to sometimes turn on itself. But as we enter another #Droughtlander, it’s time to ask if the online Outlander fandom can do better.
Recent online Outlander fandom fighting has gotten me thinking – a lot – about being a fan. My Outlander experience is the first time I have ever been a fan and things often happen that I have never experienced before. It’s all part of the adventure for me.
So, I’ve been considering. What does it mean to be part of a fandom? What are the personal costs and stresses of being so involved? And why, oh why do fans — and in particular Outlander fans — turn on each other at times?
So, when you want to know something, go to Wikipedia, right? Here’s how a fandom is described:
A fandom is a subculture composed of fans, characterized by a feeling of empathy and camaraderie with others, who share a common interest. Fans are typically interested in even minor details of the object(s) of their fandom and spend a significant portion of their time and energy involved in their interest, often as part of a social network.
Many Outlander fans join together in other networks, like this gathering of My Peak Challenge participants at the Highlanders 2 Outlander convention in August 2017. (pictures by Anne Lehmann)
The recent online incident, “Tuna Gate,” got me wondering where the empathy and camaraderie of at least some sectors of the Outlander fandom have gone? Why, and at what point does it break down? Why are online fan interactions so much more likely to be negative than face-to-face meetings? How is it that we may insult and demean each other and presumably think it‘s OK to do so?
I think there are many issues at play, primarily:
- the level of emotion and ownership people feel about all things Outlander
- the idolisation of people associated with the Outlander books and the show
- and, the “safety” that the anonymity of the internet provides.
Like you, I get pretty emotional about the Outlander story. The books, and the show, speak to me in a most mysterious way that I have never felt before. I’ve given up wondering why, and I know many fans feel the same. We are Obsessenachs proud and true. And as a recent Outlander immigrant — I started my journey in 2015 — I can’t even imagine the strength of that feeling for people who have loved these stories since the books first arrived in the 1990s.
Fans wait together patiently for long periods in all weathers. Above, a very warm day (most un-Scottish!) at Cumbernauld Glen, and below a very cold and rainy night in Polmont when they were shooting the graveyard scene in Episode 401. People laugh and chat and share their own stories.
Lately, the online Outlander fandom skirmishes seem to have moved up a notch: notably with Terry Dresbach over costume reveals, Matt Roberts who felt the need to close down his Twitter account (we can only presume that negativity was getting him down) and finally the recent “Tuna Gate’. I want to use this example and compare real life fan relationships with online fan relationships.
Intrepid, happy fans in Edinburgh for the filming of Outlander Season 3 scenes had fun together despite the conditions.
For any fans who were temporarily living under a rock and missed it, Sam Heughan was on holidays in Hawaii, where he went on a fishing boat and was spotted in the background when some pretty ugly events took place with a big fish and a baseball bat and some people laughing and cheering during the proceedings. I’m just mentioning it again as an example, not to get into a stoush about the pros and cons of killing fish in that manner, but to examine what happened in the fandom in the ensuing days.
People separated into three camps — those who were aghast at the events and felt that Mr. Heughan was on some level culpable; the fact-checking group who sought to give information on fish-killing methods; and those who felt the need to defend Sam Heughan to the hilt. The first group put up some pretty emotional, inflammatory and derogatory comments mainly directed at Mr. Heughan and his associates, while the latter group became very vocal, defensive and at times abusive to the first group.
I saw comments labeling people who objected to the incident as “crazies.“ “nuts.“ “maniacs,“ “halfwits,“ “shameless“and “over-the-top vegetarians“ seeking world domination! I have to mention here that as a mental health professional, I am very sensitive and cringe when people use terms like “crazies,“ “maniacs“ and “nuts“ as insults. This is so demeaning to people who live with a mental illness and struggle to get past these unfortunate labels.
They were even labelled as trolls in some places. As an FYI, the urban dictionary defines trolls as A person whose sole purpose in life is to seek out people to argue with on the internet over extremely trivial issues.
Of course, we might all have different notions of trivial, but I don’t think that the people who found that video abhorrent could be labeled as trolls. They mostly seemed to be people who had a different perspective on it from the other group. And many expressed that perspective emotionally and forcefully. We all have different tolerances when it comes to the treatment of animals.
There was such a stramash that Sam Heughan made a statement to the effect that he was having a cultural experience with good people. Many were not convinced by this (presumably because of the amount of frivolity going on) and others were appalled that he had felt the need to explain himself. The leave-him-alone group were then labeled sycophants by the first group. So much anger was expressed, and tawdry “discussion” took place in Facebook groups, with people agreeing that these “trolls” were not true fans, I’m guessing because in their eyes Sam Heughan can do no wrong. The ruckus continued.
I have had a lot of personal interaction with Outlander fans, at conventions, film shoots, award night red carpets and during my travels. Every one of these occasions has been filled with the above-mentioned camaraderie and empathy of a shared passion and enjoyment of experiences. Standing for hours in long queues or in cold and rainy Scottish weather, spirits are high and differences (politics, religion, personal values and prejudices — the things that often divide us) are absent, while people share the Outlander experience together.
Fans waited together for hours before the Scottish BAFTA awards in Glasgow (November 2017) and it was REALLY cold! And they were rewarded with meeting Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe as they mixed with fans on the red carpet.
Fans happily hanging out together ahead of their ‘Meet and Greet’ session at the Highlanders 2 convention in Blackpool, England in August 2017.
The queue was REALLY long waiting to get an autograph from Steven Cree at Highlanders 2, but all was calm, and people took pleasure in meeting others from different countries.
In real life, people don’t stand around talking about Caitriona Balfe’s politics or speculating on Sam Heughan’s girlfriend. They rise above the pettiness and just enjoy the fun of it. Why is it not so when it comes to online interactions? Why do we tend to get so hyped up, sometimes saying some pretty horrible things to each other?
It appears that some fans feel such a sense of ownership of our “fandom object” (in this case, Sam Heughan) that our reason may be clouded. Emotion takes over and it’s like squabbling over a prized possession. In real life, and face-to-face, we do not (usually!) behave like this or speak like this to each other. We have filters. We have constraints. We have more consideration and respect for a person who is standing right in front of us. We know that we are all complex beings negotiating the world as best we can through our own experiences, understandings and concerns. We all have a back-story that informs the way we make sense of the world.
After waiting many hours in the cold and rain in Glasgow, fans were rewarded with some interaction with their favourite stars. And even though conditions were grim, there was kind of a party atmosphere with people mixing and getting to know each other.
We can all reflect on and examine our own feelings and actions here. Are we contributing to the online community in a positive way? That doesn’t mean agreeing with anything and everything, but it’s the written equivalent to counting to ten if we are angry and counting to a hundred if we are really angry. Is it better for us to practice tolerance, and understand that although we have a central core focus, we are all probably very different in many ways? A key skill in dealing with personal differences is to discuss the issue, not attack the person.
Who wouldn’t have fun getting their picture taken at Mrs Baird’s on the day Richard Rankin was filming the scenes where he came to Inverness to look for Brianna. Warm gloves and puffy jackets were a must.
We can be tolerant and compassionate. Thoughtful rather than emotional. Understanding rather than abusive. We can be a community that seeks to support each other, and if we want to offer criticism, we can make it constructive and respectful criticism.
The ultimate question we can ask ourselves: Would we say what we want to say if the person was standing right in front of us? Anger breeds anger, compassion breeds compassion. It’s us, not them.
Would you like to make a point about online interactions? Maybe you have suggestions for how the bar could be raised? Let’s share our ideas here.
Andrée has been an Outlander fan since December 2015 when she took a friend’s advice to watch this “great show.” Well that was great advice and since then she has travelled from Australia to Scotland twice and spent lots of time checking out the Outlander action. You can follow Andrée on twitter @andree.poppleton and Instagram @AndreePoppleton for more Outlander action.
Thanks for your thoughtful piece Andree. I’ve been thinking about this topic lately. I try and stay away from reading too much in the Outlander fandom. I come here and one other site and recently to one Instagram site, but don’t go to any others except media reviews. I don’t use Facebook or Twitter.
I was involved in a fandom years ago and felt that essentially I spent too much time with it.
I like to read differing opinions about an episode and what’s coming up in a new season. I like the overall big picture of Outlander (the love between Jamie and Claire) and how that’s portrayed and focused on overall. I don’t want to read speculation about the actors’ personal lives. People really can’t know what’s going on in any actors’ relationships, it’s all gossip and intrusive at any rate. At some point, any rabid discussion of things like the fishing incident–which I didn’t know about until reading your piece–really turns me off. Online arguments like this are essentially meaningless and are soon forgotten. For what it’s worth, my grandfather took me deep sea fishing as a girl and he always killed the fish (some were pretty big) quickly with a blunt instrument after he reeled the fish in. He saw it as humane rather than allowing the fish to die slowly.
So I try not to read too much or involve myself to any great degree (other than binge watching all the episodes!) because it might affect my enjoyment of Outlander. But then again, I’m traveling to Scotland this year, so the show has definitely deeply affected me.
I understand that when a show becomes as popular as Outlander, an online explosion of opinions happens. It’s natural. As a writer friend of mine once said, obsessions can be good things (they tell you where your passions or focus reside). But it’s good to know when to step away from it, I feel.
You take a very balanced view Lauren, hope you really enjoy your trip to Scotland and have some Outlandish adventures. If you look back over my posts there are many which give descriptions and ways to get to various Outlander locations. Have fun!
Thank you Andree. I’ve seen your posts on your visits to the Outlander locations. I looked at the web site you mentioned (Outlanderlocations.com). It seems they haven’t started filming yet. I’ll need to check that site again. I’m planning to go to the major Outlander locations (Lallybroch, etc.) Thanks again.
Thank you for this very well considered post. I absolutely agree – ‘A key skill in dealing with personal differences is to discuss the issue, not attack the person.’ May we all be as nice online as we undoubtedly are in person!
glad you enjoyed it, Lindsay 🙂
This was the first I ever heard about Tuna Gate. I tend to step away from All Things Outlander because there is so much more to life than a Tv show .. but as one of the moderators on the Clan I have to pay attention more to all things people post and believe me it is not an easy job. I have seen some pretty nasty comments by people. Why do they do it online? Because there is no face looking back at you. They write what they just want to say, hit enter and walk away. There is no immediate “in your face reaction” that you get when you are conversing. People don’t bother to read what they wrote and ask themselves .. How would I feel if that comment was directed at me. I know I certainly try to think twice before I hit that enter button. I am not sure how you teach people that. I know as one of the moderators we are always asking our Clan Member to be kind especially to each other. We have became a society that says it is okay to write what we want without caring how it affects someone else … I pray someday we become better than this.
I leave you with this ….
“Be careful with your words. Once they are said, they can be only forgiven, not forgotten.”
Great piece Andree
thanks Donna, yes I like your saying. We need to be careful. During this discussion one woman said that she types out anything she wants to say (as angry as she might feel at the time) and then she just deletes it! Kind of a release of emotion with no harm done – interesting idea 🙂
We are talking about such a large and diverse group of people. Unfortunately, there is no way that we can realistically expect all to be kind. It is just a microcosm of the current world. So much negativity out there.
yes, Teresa true about the microcosm … but I guess every little bit of action towards kindness and tolerance is a help? She said hopefully 🙂
My thoughts..yes,people defiantly say things online that they wouldn’t say in person. But I feel the “production” meaning, actors, writers etc. tend to “use” the fandom to their advantage and build this fandom group who then feels because they are given a positive voice also feel they can have a negative one. I have deleted some accounts if I don’t enjoy their platform. Terry’s issue was that she got political and many don’t like it… Matt deleted his account because he didn’t make the fans happy this season and couldn’t take the criticism where as Sam made a statement and moved on with his life like he always does, you can’t make all happy and they shouldn’t try. You can’t have a million followers and not expect bad with the good. Your own personal Real life is what is important.
Yes Angie I think its important for fans to be able to feel they can have a voice both ways. That doesn’t mean we cant express any dissatisfaction as a constructive critique ….. unfortunately that negative, complaining voice goes nowhere I think? (maybe thats where Matt Roberts reached his limit?)
Thank you for such a thought provoking article. I’m applauding here! One thing that really caught my eye here was the fact that some fans feel an “ownership” for their favorite character. It is as if Sam or Caitriona become our personal property and they should speak and act and engage in activities that only we approve of. I knew of the incident of the fish killing but had not seen any video of the tuna or baseball bat. For online fans to attack Sam for something done in his presence, to me was a bit strange. Hawaii has its own customs and rituals and he was merely entering into the culture – as he later explained. I may have wished that the fish could have met a more humane demise, but it certainly wasn’t Sam’s fault. He was a guest.
I’ve never had the opportunity to be a part of a large fan gathering and I hope some day to do that. My local city has a group and we meet regularly and enjoy our mutual love for Outlander and it is always a fun time. Most of my fan interaction is online. I have left several Face Book groups because of griping and over the top complaining. It is essential to understand that Sam and Caitriona are human beings – they make mistakes perhaps and they may not always do or say what their fans would like. Let them be. Let them enjoy what down time they have without stalking their every move online. Recent photos of Sam at a pool in Las Vegas have surfaced and I think it is so wrong that he can’t have a private moment with friends.
Yes Melanie, I agree that ‘griping and over the top complaining’ is not helpful to anyone …. and leaving groups where that happens is good for our self-care. I’m also with you on the boundary issues around pics of the actors, I was surprised to see so many posting those pictures (obviously taken without his knowledge or consent) of Sam Heughan at a pool with friends. Not an ethical thing to do in my books.
I too have had a negative experience when dealing with Outlander and even being kicked off of Outlander fan pages. While most of the fans are 90+ % female and me being a male, my prospective is different from the other members of the group. The attacks got so bad, I have to delete my Twitter account. Now how much do I love Outlander? The story and Miss Balfe’s acting, for me, was so powerful with “A Malculm” the 20 year reunion, I decided to find out more and produce her biography (Unauthorized) knowing I could never travel to a fan meeting. So for 15 months, I have researched her life and along with the Admin of another fan group, produced a positive fan based biography. OMG…It was like I was the worst person in the world…”I’am not going to watch it…” “How could you!!!!” The whole thing, for me and left a real sour taste for me to the point I am not sure I want to continue the show…THEN where is this…”Wellllllll…We have all read the books!!!!” YOUR just a TV watcher…I never knew a stupid TV show could get people so nuts…How sad…Frankly, because of things like this, I dont see the show continuing much longer as the show is self imploding…
I just got home from a trip that included, and was highlighted by, a weekend at Gallifrey One. That is a Dr. Who fan event which is limited in number of attendees, and is attended by cast members (past and current) and is solely focused on the show. They have very specific rules for attendees about how to interact with the “stars” and each other. They will, and have, stopped some people from coming again and asked some to leave. My point, it was awesome! Cosplayers dressed as characters, some of us just wearing tshirts about the show, and nothing but respect for everyone. Because of this the stars could come down from their rooms and interact with us if they chose. Some did, others not so much. But the rule was always the stars were not to be approached unless they initiated contact. No selfies without permission. We had scheduled photo ops, autograph signings and seminars. Can you imagine how freeing that would be for Sam (and the others) to just be one of the crowd?!
Now, there are some pretty vicous people on the internet that have caused serious issues like we are seeing with Outlander. Showrunners going off all forms of internet and many cast doing the same with some pretty disgusting things being said about them. Outlander fans need to learn from this. Ultimately causing less positive interactions from everyone. Oue event was a success because of mutual love and respect for the show.
The internet has turned into a weapon that at some point will implode on itself. We should try mightily not to be in the crossfire. The old saying from carpentry fits well here. “Measure twice, but cut once.”
Cheryl , I like your saying, measure twice, cut once, I’ve never heard that before … it does apply here. I think that with the ‘freedom’ of online communications comes responsibility. We can all be more thoughtful, and ‘measure twice’ before we hit the send button. Thanks for your comments.
We often say “measure twice, cut once” in the costume shop at the theatre I sew for, haha. I used to say it when I wallpapered as well. Nice article Andree, so true about the lack of filter, esp here in the US during this administration; I bite my tongue a lot.
as a fellow mental health professional, i would just add to your interesting post that for many of us the “ownership” issue looms large. we see sam smiling broadly at a group up fans and imagine ourselves in that group with sam looking directly at us! we need to remind ourselves that sam knows none of us personally, but that he treasures us in a kind of amorphous way as fans – people who recognize and appreciate his art, and on whom he depends in some way for his success. that’s not to say his liking of fans is insincere, but that it’s not particular – not individual. he does like people – that is obvious. and in a way that liking encourages the very thing we have to guard against – considering ourselves individually its focus! i hope i’m making sense [and i hope sam doesn’t mind being analyzed this way.]
of course it makes sense …. I always love your thoughtful comments on various FB pages Ingeborg …. good mantra ….. ‘it’s not particular’ …. as Jamie famously said to Geneva !! 🙂
It’s easy for us to fall into the fantasy of wishing … and a good reminder from you that this is what it is, a fantasy. The actor who embodies our favourite character is not our property.
Thank you for your insights and calming words. I have almost stopped reading Outlander fan sites because I’m afraid of the ‘material’ I might accidentally step into. It’s kind of ruined a fun part of the Outlander experience for many people. I hope we can all take a moment or 5 to think about whether what we post is useful, honest and kind.
Thanks Marty, sorry you’ve had that experience. So many people have said that in response to this discussion. Stepping back from the negativity is good self-care and also maybe with discussions like these people may be encouraged to think twice before posting inflammatory and non-constructive comments. #wecanhope
Thanks so much for your article, it really could apply to bad online behavior in any category. I hadn’t heard of “Tuna Gate,” and good grief (audible eyeroll). I don’t often read social media comments because they tend to be so disheartening, but I did take note of the response to an Instagram photo Caitriona posted recently. She was attending an awards show wearing a designer gown. I was flabbergasted at how cruel, dismissive and cutting the comments were. I mean, it was a beautiful dress that looked fabulous on her, but to each their own as far as sartorial taste goes. But seriously, keep your opinion to yourself, or, better yet, open your mind to the art of fashion. My grandmother used to say that if you can’t say something nice about someone, don’t say it at all. I fear that sentiment, along with good manners and human kindness, is sorely lacking in today’s discourse, even over trivial matters.
Thanks for your comments, Julie. Yes, it is quite amazing how people feel entitled to say horrible things which of course they would not dream of saying if Ms Balfe was standing there in front of them! We’re not all fashionistas, and its all a matter of taste I guess. I haven’t a clue so keep quiet 🙂 Being able to keep quiet is also a skill to learn, eh?
Thanks for the great and insightful post. If everyone would take a moment, reread their post and ask themselves “would I say this if the person were standing in front of me and with a world wide live television audience watching?” I was going to say more but then I took my own advise and deleted the negative comment about those who were disappointed by writing in season 4. Everyone is entitled to their opinion but we all need to take care in how we express it.
I admire your restraint, editing your post, Sandy! In this discussion elsewhere a woman said that what she does is to write a post (with as much emotion as she feels at the time!) and then she deletes it. She feels the release without causing harm to anyone, sounded like an idea we could all think about 🙂
Tuna gate? Good lord! Thanks for this very thoughtful and timely article. The baser instincts of human nature have been creating a more toxic fandom atmosphere. I’m particularly appalled lately by jeering comments fans are leaving in their online interactions with the cast, show writers and producers. Fan’s passion for the books and personal interpretation seems to justify a level of rudeness. Taken to the next level, there’s the doomsday perspective articles, some claiming to represent ‘All Fans’ or ‘True Fans’ concerns. Series enjoyment, polite behavior and lack of hysteria are written off as stupidity or a lack of perception. The internet is a mirror of those people using it and this article is a great reminder that we can all take a moment and check ourselves in that mirror. Sure we are free to share our opinions, but what is the cost of the way we’re saying it? The books are still there, right?
“The” Sam.. ?
Yes, there is no excuse for rudeness and personal abuse, plus I don’t think people writing that way are taken seriously. It becomes too emotionally driven and thought goes out the window. I like your idea of holding a mirror up to ourselves, Sam. Thanks for your comments.
Thanks for a great article. I didn’t see the fish video, but I lived in Wisconsin for over 40 years and my ex and his friends always clubbed the big Muskies. I never thought their actions reflected on me…guilt by association? Really? It’s insane that anyone would blame Sam for what happened to that fish. Lord. The price of fame is high indeed. Actors deserve to have a private life.
Thank you for another well written piece.
It’s a shame it has come to this. The internet is both good and bad. I never heard of Outlander till 3 months ago and have not read the books. I won’t go to conventions or comic cons and have no desire to stand in line to see any of them, that’s not for me.. I quickly became hooked on the show and have also been on SM. For me it has been a nice escape from a depressing reality and I have enjoyed the show. I thought season 4 was missing something but that can also be a hazardous thing to say. Ugh,, It just wasn’t as good as previous seasons. Season 1 being by far the best., having it take place in Scotland was a big draw and so interesting.
I stumbled on the fish gate video situation and that wasn’t pleasant. There maybe a 4th group like me who are just very squeamish.? I didn’t anticipate what I would see and I didn’t like it, it was brutal. I wish I could unsee it and I must admit that I question the judgement of the person who posted it online.? Now I have no idea what the proper method for killing a big tuna is but it seemed to me they were having trouble getting the job done. With a bit of common sense whoever posted it could have guessed a strong reaction? I don’t know if Mr. Sam could see what happened on the side of the boat but he was not responsible for it. He was a guest on a fishing excursion, what could he do? I happened to comment that one of my sons have been on quite a few deep sea fishing trips in Mexico. OMG., the vitriol was unreal.. People jumped on me criticizing both me and my son. I deleted the comment. I don’t think the video should have been put online and Imo it has nothing to do with culture, respect or vegetarianism. It was unpleasant to watch., The poor fish., I don’t want to watch chickens or cows being killed either or any animal. I eat meat and fish but don’t want to see how they died. Of course that’s nature, we are part of the food chain.
People write first and think later. Then it becomes kind of a mob mentality. Any slight critique is met with disdain. Why don’t you stop watching etc etc., go away.. How stupid can you be.. I don’t tell my children that everything they do is absolutely perfect, on the contrary. Sometimes you hear criticism and it’s not bad to critique.. That’s how you improve and how life is. It is not an ‘everyone gets a trophy’ world.
There is no need to be despised for expressing an opinion if someone wants everything rosie. It feels a little like the atmosphere in the country these days. You are either on one side or the other and god forbid you get into an argument. It’s very sad.. People are massively frustrated and maybe this is an easy way of getting rid of that.. Yell at people you don’t know..
I feel sorry for Caitríona and Sam but maybe that’s the price you pay for being famous. They work hard, have long breaks and get compensated nicely., I wouldn’t mind that part but have no desire to be famous.
So how to be more civil online.,.. Keep pointing it out? Some people go nuts if you say even the slightest negative thing about Sam, he can do no wrong., He was lucky to win the genetic lottery (as was Caitriona) and was born with looks that are almost perfect and a body that he works very hard on., I imagine that he is a flawed human being as we all are and simply doing his best. I feel sorry for them to have to put up with this. It’s tough since without the fans the show wouldn’t survive. So let’s hope for more civil times. And I do love the show. Sorry for being long winded.. ?
I didn’t say anything negative about Sam. It was just what I observed from other people..
Thanks for your very thoughtful contribution to the discussion, Lise. You made so many good points. The mob-mentality and the polarisation of people into either ‘for’ or ‘against’ can be strong and destructive. And, yes, we do all grow and improve by constructive criticism/critique and there is room for this without being shut down because you have a different perspective. I loved your comments about the genetic-lottery (yes they were at the front of the queue there!) and to be aware that these people who we may idolise are, like all of us, flawed human beings, not perfect and above scrutiny.
Thank you for your article. I agree wholeheartedly. When I began in these groups a couple of years ago, everything was calmer, very little negativity and a pleasure to share time with fellow obsessenachs. Enjoyed seeing pics, updates on production, words from Diana, tweets from Sam and Cat. However, the tide has turned and I agree with one writer here, and it is my fear as well….if all this continues…..Outlander will implode as a result of the vitriol, negativity and anger of some. Sad.
Thanks for your comments, Joanne, I agree it is sad when people feel unhappy and reluctant to participate in the fandom. Hopefully with discussions like these, things may improve? #hopefully? 🙂
Hmmm.. I left a long comment.. But it’s not here? Maybe deleted?
Sorry.. it’s there.. duh ?
I love this show and watch for the entertainment, wonderful writing and acting. It is an adaptation of the books so it’s not going to be perfect. There are so many people that complain and pick it to death it’s ridiculous. Now that the guy that brought Outlander to Starz is out, I think everyone needs to be more positive online if we want to see additional seasons past 6. There is a way to make your point without being so negative.
Yes, Liann, I agree there is a way to make a point without being so negative. People can offer constructive criticism with respect and humility and appreciation. I hope 🙂
As described in your article, my connection to Outlander from reading the first book, through the last, has been this mysterious connection that I have never had when reading any other book. I had not read the same book twice, previous to Diana’s books, yet I have started on her book series for the third time since I miss them when away to long. Yet I have come to realize that I am at a disadvantage when watching the TV adaptation because I do come to them with preconceptions. The first season was a true and respectful interptation of rhe Diana’s Outlander I knew. I read that Diana turned down several other offers to adapt her books to TV and it was not until Ron agreed to be true to the story that she was trustful of his partnering with her to bring the story to the screen. It seems he kept a tight hold on the creation of the screenplay during that first year. After that, the character development the story lines and the interpatation began to depart to a greater degree with each passing season. From the beginning I knew that there were two very different mediums to be dealt and that was ok…and here is the but……but, the interpatations got farther and farther from who these characters were. We all know Claire is a strong woman but she has become an angry, strident person, uncompromising and unloving. Jamie is not the bumbling, uncertain and unheroric man that he is now painted to be. The events of the day are measured by today’s standards with politically sensitive retoric coming out of the characters mouths. Finally, I couldn’t take it anymore after seeing each episode and being angry when I got to the credits every week. I got out of every Outlander group on FB and decided not to follow anymore. My sister and I said to each other that whoever was responsible for this story line must be frustrated writers who should probably just go write their own book rather than high jack Outlander.
Thanks for your comments Sandra. I’m interested, have you stayed as a member of this group? Outlandercast Clan Gathering? If so, its great that this group might satisfy some of your needs for fan connections? I certainly sympathise with what you are saying. I have felt that way myself but I stick with it because I still love to see the stories come to life, albeit in a frustrating way sometimes. I watched the first series before I read any of the books and I was mesmerised and on the edge of my seat waiting to see what happened next. After that I read all the books so it is now a completely different experience. I have expectations, and often they are not satisfied. I’m OK mostly with plot changes but, like you, I find the changes to the essence of the characters hard to take. I’m hopeful that with Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe taking roles as producers now, the tide might turn? I’m always hopeful and I still love the show.
Dear Andree, Thank you for your thoughtful pieces which I have always found interesting and also for your pictures which you kindly post online. I have loved Outlander since it first started and because of the show read all the books. There is something unique and captivating in the books and the TV show has, for the most part, been very good in my opinion (having said that I am always disappointed if Jamie and Claire are not in EVERY episode!). Nothing can equal series one, it was outstanding and I still can’t understand why Sam Heughan wasn’t nominated for more acting awards. When I recall the last episode, (of season one) wow, those actors were just totally committed to portraying the harrowing events Diana had written in her book. I think Caitriona is such a wonderful actress and admire her for having such belief in herself to get in to acting which was always her first love. Anyway, I appreciate reading Sam and Cait’s tweets but don’t belong to facebook or twitter. Reading what you have written about there being such negativity out there from some fans stuns me. I hadn’t heard about Tuna Gate. To deal with Droughtlander I do like to read a couple of online sites, newspaper interviews etc. I agree with Liann above it’s wonderful entertainment, a show with great writing, superb production both sets and costumes and a really great cast.
Great to hear such positive comments, Mandy, thanks. The fact that you limit your social media exposure is obviously a good thing – you don’t get involved in all the angst. A good way to preserve the enjoyment of it all.
Hi Andree:
Thank you so much for your insightful post.
You’ve really given some food for thought.
First of all, I have to say I also have never heard of “Tuna Gate” and I am so grateful. (I don’t even like to watch the cat go after a stray mouse)
Wow, the internet can be quite a minefield at times: If you are familiar with social psychology and
something called the Millgrim Experiment , I think it could easily apply to the internet, fandoms and
celebrities if we are not careful.
I will always try to use words like “feedback” instead of “criticism or bashing.”
I welcome other viewpoints other than my own, and it adds to the enjoyment of the show for me. For myself, I love to discuss and explore. But I haven’t read the books yet, so anything I know about
Outlander is from the TV Show only.
I can understand the passion from the book readers. To me a favorite book is a pleasure to be
read over and over. To be honest, I don’t know if I’d care to have someone else’s vision of a favorite
book of mine to be on screen–especially if it strayed too far from my own.
In Outlander itself, there is some things I wanted to have explored, that have not been. Or in the show
there was sometimes too much emphasis on little things.
I have noticed a big difference in the writing between Season 1 and Season 4. To me, Season 1 was amazing, and Season 4, less so.
It’s a good show for entertainment value to be sure
Thanks for your comments Dawn. I refreshed my memory on the Milgram experiments – a shocking view of ourselves. And, yes, it does seem that we can blindly follow and idolise celebrities believing that they can do no ‘wrong’ and are beyond any kind of scrutiny. Black and white views of the world are never really helpful, as most of us fall into the grey areas! Your approach of using language like ‘feedback’ sounds like a very good strategy.
Fans have also voiced, not in a very kind, or respectful way, when the Series goes outside the books. It’s sad to see how many fans have dropped Outlander all together. Starz has definitely felt the fan base deplete since Season 4. The original book readers, had a concept in mind, & when it wasn’t met, they dropped their Starz membership. I think it’s sad, but that’s just me.
Thanks for your comments, Sherry. Yes, some are very vocal and vehement about their disappointment and decision to drop the show. There are maybe (?) more, like me, who do feel some disappointment, but remain hopeful. For me, its not so much the plot deviations but the loss of some of the vital essence of the characters we know and love from the books. And now with Heughan and Balfe in the producers role, and with talk of them protecting and guarding their characters, perhaps some of what was lost will be regained?
You need to understand the origin of Tuna Gate. Its started with so-called fans scouring the internet for dirt on the actors. When these very intrusive fans found that video, most of the comments on the now deleted Instagram repost were regarding Sam’s companion. This group of fans are very well known shippers who tear down any woman Sam is with that’s not Cait. They posted their fake disgust of the fish bashing also tagging Barbour, Omaze and Starz in their post in an effort to make Sam look bad. However, most of the replies were pointed at bashing Sam’s female companion. Soon after this was posted, it spread throughout the fandom and the factions you mentioned developed. So while I agree with you, there is long-standing division that may never be resolved and minds that may never change. We need strength in the core of reasonable fans who hold it all together before things fall apart.
Thanks for your input, Mabel Yes, some folk will never be satisfied and are abusive and manipulative online. You are right that this probably can’t be ‘resolved’ but if the rest of us don’t get riled up and defensive about it, there is nowhere to go with it. Maybe some of the ‘strength’ you suggest is knowing when to let things just fizzle out? I presume that Omaze, Barbour etc would take stuff like this with a grain of salt, as we can also?
Re TunaGate, the fisherman who was leading the fishing trip posted the awful video and laid a tagging trail. He may have been hoping for attention, and he got it. In their responses, certainly some who made comments were ‘shippers’ and didn’t like their hero being seen with another female (they just will not accept that the fictional couple are not fact), but quite a few who also made comments didn’t care about his love-life – they were disgusted at the hamfisted way in which the fish was killed (not professional, not humane, not traditional, not cultural), and the inane laughter and cheering from members of the group, particularly the girl. Heughan was not involved, but he did not help with a defence of the fisherman that described the event as ‘spiritual’ and that it ‘respected the fish’. The whole thing descended into venom : some pretty vile attacks by his ‘true’ fans against anyone who criticised the event, and some on the ‘other’ side subjecting the girl to abuse, and going too far in sending criticisms to his business and charities associates – that was entirely unnecessary and vicious. Social media can be a great tool, but it can also be quite dangerous. We all need to take care with what is posted – face to face the effects of words can be seen, but if you are behind a screen you just don’t see what impact they can have, and so it is tempting for some to just not care. The moderates in all groups need to come to the fore and make it work.
Thanks T-A, yes, that ‘TunaGate’ was quite a debacle – handled badly on so many levels. I guess what I take from it is to learn when to stay out of it – when people polarise into ‘good’ and ‘bad’ factions there is no room for compromise, compassion or understanding. There is no reason left, so keeping quiet and letting it fizzle out seems the best option.
I have written blogs about this going back to 2015. It’s not the critiquing or criticizing that is the problem… it is HOW this is done. When the tone, language, and emotion are negative and nasty – it accomplishes nothing except annoying people. I skim SM now….occasionally finding something that peaks my interest, but usually doing a lot of ‘scrolling on by’. I’m so tired of the in-fighting. I’m sick of the people who bash (yes I totally mean to use that word) the show under the guise of ‘trying to save it/make it better’ so it will continue – yet their constant bashing/bitching/whining will only drive people who haven’t seen it yet away. It’s so frustrating. There are many, many fans who are really enjoying the show, but aren’t as vocal as the negative ones. It’s a sad thing.
After an incident last weekend, it really hit home how precious life is and that, no matter how enjoyable, Outlander is just a TV show. I wrote about that too, but almost no one has looked at that post. I enjoy the actors, the story, love the books and view the show for itself – much more content that way.
Andree, again you have have been spot on with this article. I hadn’t heard about “tuna gate” fortunately. So many of the people replying have made so many good points that I don’t feel there is much I can add. I do hope that with Sam and Catriona as producers they can like someone said protect the characters they play. I also worry about the ramifications of the head of Starz leaving..hopefully the next guy will work to keep the show going and ignore the negativity from rabid fan groups. I am new to the show and the books but love them both. I want to see them continue.
I am relatively new to Outlander, only started watching in January when I was looking through Netflix because I had time and was bored. I had heard about Outlander but really only the name, had no idea what it was about. Well like most people I was hooked. And I watched the first 4 seasons a second time through as the 5th season started. I just ordered the first book yesterday. I found this website through Instagram, and the more posts I read on the blog, the more I realize that I got lucky finding this site first, before stumbling on other sites that might have been less positive, less mature, less intelligent. So thank you to all you writers (and you are all great writers!) who help a newbie like me to satisfy my obsession (I can’t believe it, haven’t felt this way since I was teenager obsessing about Duran Duran’s John Taylor)—because frankly I’m a little embarrassed to talk about it with my friends who know nothing about Outlander—without all the negativity. But I also appreciate the posts about the more controversial issues, because it brings me back down from the clouds and fantasies! Ha! And that, yes, everyone involved in the show is a human being, no one is perfect. And that the actor is just that, an actor and NOT the character they are portraying. Sorry this was so long! ?