Critical Condition: Outlander

Outlander | Lightbox, from Monday

➢ “To call the third season a reset wouldn’t be wrong, but not exactly right either. At outset, Frank and Claire are together, while Jamie and Claire are apart, effectively inverting much of the narrative of the first two seasons. But both theme and soul of Outlander remain the same and at least in one obvious sense are reinforced under these new circumstances: The ties that bind Jamie to Claire, and Claire to Jamie, stretch across an ocean and across the centuries. A few episodes keeping them apart isn’t going to change that, and should arguably strengthen it.” — Newsday.

➢ “As Outlander resumes and turns away from the war strategising that characterised much of season two, it feels like a different, but no less compelling show, and one focused, to my delight, more on personal relationships than political conflict … In its third year on TV, it feels primed to break through even wider, not just as a filler of the Game of Thrones void, but as an emotionally rich, powerful piece of storytelling in its own right.” — New York.

➢ “The first six eps work to sweep away the obstacles preventing Claire (Caitriona Balfe) from reconnecting fully — mind, heart, and yes, body — with her Highlander hunk Jamie (Sam Heughan) and to position the series for the future … The story ages Jamie and Claire, so when they reunite after a deliciously agonising buildup (marked by some inspired humor), the rapture is both emotional and spiritual. In season 3, Outlander, TV’s best romance, soars by making you fall in love with it all over again.” — Entertainment Weekly.

➢ “Here’s what keeps Outlander forever gripping: Nothing ever happens easy. And nothing ever happens the way you’d expect, or when you might think. The end result is a rapturous experience — a blend of fairy tale and real life that defines the best, most authentic love stories, the ones that keep us on the edge of our seats.” — IndieWire.

➢ “Like The Walking Dead and Game Of Thrones, Outlander often hits the target because of its brazen approach. Yet, to its credit and craftsmanship, in this latest chapter of Claire and Frank’s tale there is an empathetic and insightful touch the series previously only hinted at in its bodice-bursting passions. It’s a touch that makes Season 3 of Outlander something you’ll want to see.” — Deadline Hollywood.