Outlander Season 2

If you want science fiction that respects its own premise, Outlander Season 2 is available on and right now. The 1-season run is exactly the right length for what it is doing. 2,925 people have weighed in on TMDB, and the verdict leans heavily positive. Caitríona Balfe anchors it with a performance that grounds the bigger ideas in something human. There is no real reason to keep putting it off.

Whatever else is competing for your attention this week, Outlander Season 2 is worth clearing space for. Outlander Season 2 uses its genre premise as cover for asking bigger questions. Season Two begins as Claire and Jamie arrive in France, hell-bent on infiltrating the Jacobite rebellion led by Prince Charles Stuart, and stopping the battle of Culloden. With the help of his cousin Jared, a local wine merchant, Jamie and Claire are thrown into the lavish world of French society, where intrigue and parties are abundant, but political gain proves far less fruitful. Altering the course of history presents challenges that begin to weigh on the very fabric of their relationship. Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan lead a cast that brings real weight to the material. It was aired in 2016. What separates Outlander Season 2 from lesser genre entertainment is a willingness to let the concept cost the characters something. The consistency throughout is what elevates it — not every moment is the best, but none of them are a reason to stop watching.

For late-night viewing or a proper weekend binge, Outlander Season 2 fits the bill. It has built its own audience without needing a direct comparison. The complete run is available and best experienced without too much prior knowledge of where it goes. Caitríona Balfe grounds the bigger ideas in something human. Once you are in, you will want to talk about it.