I couldn't find the exact Scottish Gaelic translation for what I wanted to say about the continuation of the first season of Outlander, so the vernacular will have to suffice: You huvnae seen anythin' yet.
The hit Starz series returns Saturday for the second half of its debut season, ending a months-long hiatus that fans have called the "Droughtlander." For those just getting into it - and where have you been? - the series is based on Diana Gabaldon's series of historical novels.
After previewing the first five of the remaining eight episodes, here's my advice: Brace yourselves for darkness and turmoil on a grand scale.
The story so far: A World War II combat nurse, Claire Randall (portrayed by Caitriona Balfe) touches a standing stone while honeymooning in Scotland and gets tossed back in time to 1743, just in time for the rising Jacobite rebellion to try to restore the Stuart heir, Bonnie Prince Charlie, to the British throne.
Back in the 20th century, Claire's married to Frank (Tobias Menzies), a genealogy-obsessed scholar and former soldier. In 1743, she meets Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), a Highland warrior who turns out to be her true soul mate and eventually her husband in that time. The first episodes focused on Claire's adjustment to 18th-century life and her budding friendship and romance with Jamie, with a few brief encounters with the villainous Black Jack Randall (also played by the brilliant Menzies), a redcoat commander who's an ancestor of Claire's Frank.
Complicated, yes. Thrilling, entirely. The first half of the season will air as a marathon starting at noon Saturday. It's also out on Blu-ray and DVD, with fun behind-the-scenes mini-documentaries, most of which are also on YouTube.
The new episodes rip into family strife among Jamie's relatives the MacKenzies and, when he returns to his home estate of Lallybroch as rightful laird, into the tension between Claire and Jamie's sister, Jenny.
The feisty Jenny (Laura Donnelly) - who passionately despises Sassenachs, i.e., outlanders or the English - fires things up considerably, and it's great to see her get more airtime. Ditto the characters of Dougal MacKenzie (Graham McTavish), the mysterious Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) and the increasingly nasty Laoghaire (pronounced leery), played by Nell Hudson.
In the next eight episodes, you'll see unconscionable treachery, suspected witchcraft, pagan moon rituals, 18th-century childbirth and stop-your-heart bloodthirsty battles. As in earlier episodes, naked bodies and bedroom encounters abound; new this time are some shots that push the envelope for male nudity on mainstream TV.
The second-to-last episode of the season (not screened for critics), "Wentworth Prison," is likely to contain scenes so horrific that some fans have already dubbed it the Outlander version of Game of Thrones' infamous "Red Wedding."
Get some good Scotch whisky ready. You're going to need it. I leave you with slàinte mhath (pronounced "SLANTchih va") or "good health." The season ends May 23, and Starz has already ordered a second season of at least 13 episodes based on Gabaldon's second book, Dragonfly in Amber.
Outlander
8 p.m. Saturday, April 4
