'Outlander': The first episode airs early online
The TV premiere of the adaptation of Diana Gabaldon鈥檚 鈥淥utlander鈥� series is almost here, with the show set to debut on Starz on Aug. 9.
However, some fans may already have seen that first episode of the story of World War II nurse Claire who travels back in time to 18th-century Scotland 鈥� Starz made it available online for everyone, not only subscribers, on Aug. 2. Judging from some online reaction, this seems to have been a popular decision, with Sam Maggs of writing, 鈥淗ighlanders rejoice!,鈥� while noted that the move could 鈥渄raw in curious new viewers as well.鈥�
On appealing to those new viewers, series creator Ron Moore of 鈥淏attlestar Galactica鈥� told , 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 just a great story. And I think you鈥檙e hooked into Claire and what she鈥檚 going through and fascinating things happen to her. There鈥檚 reversals and twists of fate and fortune and love and sex and death and war and mystery. So I鈥檓 not particularly worried about attracting new viewers. I think if people try it, I think they鈥檒l get hooked and they鈥檒l just keep coming back.鈥�
Meanwhile, Gabaldon chatted with about how she tried to market her books early on, trying to appeal to whoever she was speaking with at the time. 鈥淚f it was a young woman I'd say, 'Oh, historical romance, men in kilts,'" she said. "If it was a slightly older lady, I'd say, 'Oh, it's historical fiction 鈥� if you liked聽Shogun, you'll love this.' Which is totally true! If it was a young man, I'd say, 'It's fantasy, time travel, things like that: swords.' And if it was an older man, I'd say it was military history.鈥�
Eight episodes of "The Outlander" will air this fall, with eight more episodes scheduled for next year. The total number of episodes involved caught the attention of a friend of Gabaldon, another author whose bestselling novels have also been adapted into a TV show.聽
鈥淕eorge [R.R.] Martin [the author of the 鈥楪ame of Thrones鈥� series] asked me, 'How many episodes are you getting?'" Gabaldon remembered. 鈥淎nd I told him 16. And he said 'What? They only gave me 10!'"
