Outlander is a series that’s been near and dear to my heart since I first started watching it. There are so many things to love about this time-traveling romance starring Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, from the historical flare to the intricate storylines to the appealing cast.
Or maybe the appeal is more elemental? Speaking on the Television Critics Association summer press tour, Starz COO Jeffrey Hirsch had some interesting things to say about what drew people to Outlander, and specifically what was pulling in female viewers:
"You can say that it’s great because women like it because she’s a surgeon who goes back in time, but there’s also another side of that, which is there’s some eye candy for that audience and people like when he [Sam Heughan] has his shirt off."
I mean, yeah, a shirtless Sam Heughan doesn’t hurt matters, but there is so much more to this show — way more — that make it appealing.
Diana Gabaldon, the author of the Outlander novels, said as much in a post on TwitLonger. “Well, I dunno, Jeffrey,” she wrote. “I get a lot of mail. I can’t say I see a lot of people talking about Jamie with his shirt off, unless it’s mentioning the shock and poignancy of his scars.”
"What they mostly say they like is the intelligence of the story and the complexity and strength of the relationship between Jamie and Claire. They also love the visual beauty of the show and the emotional depth of the acting.If you’re looking for a place to lean in, though, I think maybe “intelligence” might be a good place to start."
100% accurate! Outlander as a series has so many layers to it — pain, redemption, struggle, love — and offers much more than Heughan’s looks. It is precisely the complexity of the show that makes it so intriguing to watch, so I’m not sure I understand what Hirsch is referring to.
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Shout out to Gabaldon for laying down the law a little. #NotJustAboutEyeCandy
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