Author: Diana Vaccarelli

Diana Vacc Sees Outlander Episode 8 “The Fox’s Lair”

fox's lair

by Diana Vaccareilli

This episode of Outlander entitled “The Fox’s Lair” finds Claire and Jamie returning to Scotland after the tragedies they went through in France and meeting Jamie’s Grandfather Lord Lovatt. If you haven’t viewed this episode yet be warned: this review may contain spoilers.

THE GOOD:

  • The writing of the episode was good but not “oh boy, gosh wow, fantastic” as previous episodes have been. Anne Kenney writes beautiful scenes between our two leads, showing them healing after losing their child, which was quite moving to watch but lacked the dynamism present in previous episodes. One scene in particular, showing Jamie (Sam Heughan) holding his newborn niece was touching and heartbreaking at the same time.
  • Clive Russell was fantastic as Jamie’s devious Grandfather. I was amazed at how his performance presented the character exactly as I’d pictured him while reading the book.

THE BAD: read article

Diana Vacc Sees OUTLANDER Episode 7 “Faith”

outlanderagain

by Diana Vaccarelli

This episode of Outlander entitled “Faith” finds Claire at the hospital where there are attempts by the Doctors to save her life and the life of her unborn child. So much happens in this episode. If you haven’t viewed this episode yet be warned this review may contain spoilers.

THE GOOD: read article

Diana Vacc Sees “Money Monster”

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The summer movie season is in full swing. In keeping with current trends, it’s all about the blockbuster, so I found it refreshing to see a movie come out that focuses on real people (as opposed to superheroes) and situations that at least somewhat reflect what is truly going on in the world.

Instead of featuring Captain America or Batman, “Money Monster” follows the very human TV host Lee Gates (a businesslike George Clooney) and his Director Patty (the very worried Julie Roberts) as they are put in a very dangerous situation I won’t describe here (just to prove that I can avoid spoilers when I have to, really.) read article

Diana Vacc Sees “Outlander” Episode 6 “Best Laid Schemes”

by Diana Vaccarelli

Outlander Season 2 2016
Outlander Season 2 2016

The “Best Laid Schemes”episode of “Outlander” finds Jamie and Claire trying to stop Bonnie Prince Charlie from getting the funds necessary to start the Jacobite rebellion. If you haven’t viewed this episode yet be warned this review does contain some spoilers.

THE GOOD:

  • The writing of this episode was the most dramatic and emotional to date. Matthew B. Roberts writes an episode that made me both laugh and cry. The drama was so powerful that I don’t think I could have made it through the show without the funny moments Roberts gave the character Murtagh.
  • The hard-hitting dialogue gives the actors so much to play, and they went all the way with it. Caitriona Balfe’s Claire goes through a major betrayal in a performance that made me feel her pain as though it was my own. Sam Heughan’s Jamie is nothing short of fantastic. The scene where he makes Claire promise to go through the stones if anything happens to him would bring tears to, well, a stone.
  • I’m so glad that Black Jack is back! I keep saying there is no one better to play this well written villain then Tobias Menzies, and he proved it again this time out. During the crucial duel scene between Jamie and Black Jack, Menzies taunts Jamie with words far stronger than their swords. To me, that scene was perfect.

THE BAD: read article

Diana Vacc Sees OUTLANDER Episode 5 “Untimely Resurrection”

outlander-season-2by Diana Vaccarelli

This episode of Outlander entitled “Untimely Resurrection” finds Jamie and Claire at odds as the past comes back to haunt them. If you haven’t viewed this episode yet be warned this review may contain spoilers.

THE GOOD:

  • The writing of this episode was the best this show has achieved to date. Richard Kahan writes an episode so full of tension that I didn’t just see and hear it, I felt it in my bones. The dialogue this time around is fantastic and gives the actors so much to play with. The way Kahan wrote the return of the Villain – Black Jack Randall – made it the best scene of the show. Everything about it was perfect.
  • The Acting was topnotch. Caitriona Balfe, who portrays our heroine Claire, demonstrates a true conflict of the heart. She gives everything to her performance in this episode, and I felt her inner turmoil as my own. Sam Heughan, as Jamie, truly owns this episode with his performance. The anger, satisfaction, and, yes, happiness of the character is tangible in every scene. And, as Black Jack, Tobias Menzies is so evil that the hairs on the back of my neck stood on end.

THE BAD: read article