For my review of the show, please go to A TRUE FAN’S REVIEW OF OUTLANDER EPISODE #101: SASSENACH.
If you’d like to see my new Episode #101 poster without going to my review, click HERE.
If you’d like to see a video of Bear McCreary’s live performance without going to my review, click HERE.
Now, before anyone takes offense at my calling myself a “true fan” – let me explain. I am one of thousands of “true fans” of the Outlander series all surrounding a little book – comparatively speaking – by Diana Gabaldon. I have loved the enduring story of Jamie and Claire for a long time and the conception of the show since its announcement. My greatest admiration for the entire brouhaha is reserved for the woman Herself who brought this fandom together. It was her evening, and I hope she had a hellva good time.
The Red Carpet World Premiere of Episode #101: SASSENACH was screened at the historic Spreckles Theater in San Diego – it’s first time hosting a red carpet premiere of any kind. Walking into the theater, a row of kilted gentleman lined each side of the lobby entrance. I managed to get these clean shots after the fans had been cleared out for the stars entry – only wish I’d had a better camera.
Following is a picture of the two lovely greeters at the door beside whom I stationed myself. Everyone thought I was a greeter, too, in my MacKenzie tartan dress. As I did greet people as they came in, I guess I was.
Neither woman had heard of Outlander before snagging this gig, but Angela (on the left) has already downloaded the first novel. I’m sure she’ll get hooked. Of course, I did my part in fully informing them about the who, what, and where. And, yes, those are standing stones behind them guarding the theater.
One of the first to enter Spreckles was Ms. Gabaldon – looking beautiful “as herself.” She seemed to be in high spirits beside Ron D. Moore – looking dashing in his two-piece tartan kilt and vest – after finishing their plaid carpet interviews. They stopped to chat with a few Starz executives, accepting their applause and congratulations. Is that a Season 2 gleam I see in their eyes in the second picture? Fingers crossed.
After the show – thanks to my friend, Marisa –I had the opportunity to meet and speak with Karen Bailey, Senior Vice President of Original Programming at Starz Entertainment. A wonderfully friendly woman, I asked her when we would be put out of our misery with a Season 2 confirmation. She told me the soonest we can expect to hear any kind of official news is after the first two episodes have aired. Starz likes to have “a few under their belt,” she said, before making an announcement. So keep your eyes and ears open to the trades right after CASTLE LEOCH premieres on Starz August 16th and keep your fingers crossed! Just to be clear – in no way did she confirm or deny a Season 2.
After Ms. Gabaldon and Mr. Moore continued through to the lobby, Graham McTavish was next to enter the theater in a brisk hurry to get to his seat. However, he did stop long enough to give our birthday girl a kiss on the cheek. Way to go KBuddy!
The lovely and petite Lotte Verbeek entered next followed by the charmingly sexy – or is it, sexily charming? – Tobias Menzies.
And last, but certainly not least, to enter the theater were our talented stars of the series, Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan – never far from each other’s sides. I’m including all my crappy photos simply because they show how happy and excited Ms. Balfe was as she danced through the doorway, smiled and said “Hi” to me and showed her glee at the rows of kilted men greeting her and Mr. Heughan.
While my photos are certainly not the best quality of the evening, I think they succeed in presenting the more candid side of each star, including the author and executive producer. They weren’t posing or thinking about answers to questions. With no bright lights shining in their faces, they were relaxed and each appeared genuinely happy to be present at this momentous event. Why wouldn’t they be?
Once the last of the stars entered the theater, I decided I’d better get inside. Almost everyone was already seated. Ms. Balfe and Mr. Heughan were being mildly mobbed in the lobby outside the theater doors as I passed by – good–humored and good-natured as always.
Besides the entrance decorated with kilted men, the fans were entertained with 1940s music piped throughout the theater. Props and set pieces from the actual Outlander SetDec department were in the lobby outside the main theater.
Needless to say, I could not have been more excited to be a tiny part of the Outlander world. This premiere enabled me to meet several friends in the flesh – quite literally in a few cases. <ahem> One of them still owes me dinner.
I took my seat just before Mr. Heughan and Ms. Balfe entered the theater to a loud round of applause. The lights went down and the sound of bagpipes filled the air. For my review of the show, please go to A TRUE FAN’S REVIEW OF OUTLANDER EPISODE #101: SASSENACH.
Candida's Musings 
What a FANTASTIC experience. Seeing all those actors in the flesh must have been super fun and surreal! I probably would have pinched myself! Very cool!