It's funny you should say that James, as the missus is already turning against Claire in this current series, due to her cold/dispassionate treatment towards poor old hubby Frank. I have to agree with her at times, the way that she's come across is a bit of a cold-hearted b!tch towards Frank.
Been trying to see this for ages, and only recently found out it's been on More 4. DAMN. So far only seen the very first episode put out on YT, and the first three episodes of the third series via catch-up on M4.
I'm quite tickled that the whole thing was inspired by the author seeing Patrick Troughton era Doctor Who and liking the companion (Jamie McCrimmon) so much. Jamie Fraser eh? Would love to see the episode/s that Fraser Hines was given as a homage to that inspiration. Nice touch.
And yeah I find the lead character to be a bitch too!
I didn't hate season 4, though I agree characters did things that could make them unlikable. But it's still a well acted and interesting story, gorgeous production, and incredible scoring (best on TV today, IMO). The new Fraser's Ridge theme is excellent as already stated, but I also want to give a shout out to the new Roger/Brianna love theme which is just gorgeous!
I really do miss Tobias Menzies though, who was so compelling and human as both Frank Randall and his villainous ancestor Black Jack Randall. Incredible actor.
Trundling towards the end of series 3 now and I'm aghast (yes, aghast) at how much great music has been left off the 2nd half of the series 3 disc, in favour of drony/tribal percussion music. I can only assume the quite brilliant cues that never found their way to disc were not written by McCreary himself, but perhaps one of his associate composers on the series? The cue (on the ship bound for Jamaica) where Claire says a sad farewell to a young officer she had befriended was so lovely and tender and heartfelt, it's almost a crime that I cannot go and listen to it on the CD. There have been other instances where some quite stunning music has been omitted, in favour of the aforementioned drony drumming. What! The! Fuc&!
There is tons of great music left off of every season's album release.
I remember feeling similarly about season 2 and all of the French baroque styled scoring which wasn't my thing, so much. I wanted more representation of the latter half of the season when the return to Scotland (and the romantic bagpipes/orchestra combination) happened. I think that with both season 2 and season 3, McCreary felt a desire to show his versatility and include more music that was unique or different as compared with the two volumes of music for season 1 (which was pretty much all set in Scotland). I think he wanted to make each season's score release more distinctive and varied, rather than trying to concentrate on trying to represent the narrative arc as fully as possible in orchestral form. That's my guess, anyway.
For me it's just as frustrated as it was with most of the LOST season score releases -- I wanted MUCH more of the thematic stuff represented, to see the journey of each theme over the course of the season, and Giacchino felt the need to include more variety and put a bunch of horror/suspense/action stuff in, which interested me far less on album (although it was all brilliant/effective in the show context).
Just started watching series 4 in the UK (and series 5 just ended everywhere else apparently). So I can get to know the CD better as I watch the series. I noticed series 5 announced its score release this week, but no mention of a CD edition. It would be a shame if they stop that too, after the wonderful first 4 series' discs. Hopefully Bears own label could release a limited run through LaLaLand, if the main label (Sony?) don't bother.
Loved the music when the two wrecking balls, aka Jamie and Clare, arrived at the aunties home, River Run. Thankfully it's on the CD. It seems wherever these two go, all they ever do is leave a trail of death and destruction in their wake. For a woman who has got 300 years worth of historical knowledge and wisdom in her favour, Clare doesn't often do the brightest thing, in their past life. Trying to fast forward the abolition of slavery in the USA, knowing what she already knows, was eye rollingly banal. They seem to arrive somewhere, use up all the favours and luck bestowed upon them, ruin the way of life for everyone who was previously happy, and move on to their next disaster. But, as long as they get two good shags in per episode, all's good in their self serving world.
Just started watching series 4 in the UK (and series 5 just ended everywhere else apparently). So I can get to know the CD better as I watch the series. I noticed series 5 announced its score release this week, but no mention of a CD edition. It would be a shame if they stop that too, after the wonderful first 4 series' discs. Hopefully Bears own label could release a limited run through LaLaLand, if the main label (Sony?) don't bother.
From Bear's blog on his website: "I encourage soundtrack collectors to follow me on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram for updates on forthcoming physical editions!" So hopefully we'll get the season 5 CD before too long.
As Yavar and Bond65 point out above, the amount of truly great music that doesn't make the cut on his series CD compilations is heartbreaking. If you like a theme (like that Fraser's Ridge* one linked above, or Willie's Theme from series 3, which got gorgeously reused in the last episode I watched, when older Willie returned) you have to make do with the one cue on the CD. Oh for this series to get a LOST-like CD treatment release, with double volumes made available to catch some extra cues. It's really crying out for more theme/development of the magical tunes that he's conjured for it.
*edit..oops, you do hear that one again, in the track Life In America, cos I'm playing it now!
Loved the music when the two wrecking balls, aka Jamie and Clare, arrived at the aunties home, River Run. Thankfully it's on the CD. It seems wherever these two go, all they ever do is leave a trail of death and destruction in their wake. For a woman who has got 300 years worth of historical knowledge and wisdom in her favour, Clare doesn't often do the brightest thing, in their past life. Trying to fast forward the abolition of slavery in the USA, knowing what she already knows, was eye rollingly banal. They seem to arrive somewhere, use up all the favours and luck bestowed upon them, ruin the way of life for everyone who was previously happy, and move on to their next disaster. But, as long as they get two good shags in per episode, all's good in their self serving world.
That last sentence is well said! Gosh it's dull when they start their fun. Takes up WAY too much time. Mind, I wasn't as prepared as I should have been for Jamie's torture in the last two episodes of Series 1 either...
But I have to agree about the quality of production. I also have to admit I started watching to see how they fit in the 'original' Jamie in, being a Classic era Doctor Who fan. Frazer Hines doesn't get much of a part, but at least it's a nice homage to the author's inspiration for the whole saga.
Just started Series 2 having picked up the two first series for little more than a fiver. COMPLETELY missed seeing it on E4. So we'll see how far I get after my dvds run out.
You could take out one months subscription of Amazon Prime, Paul, for about 5 quid, and watch the subsequent series after 1 & 2, if you're still into it.
Series 5 has yet to be shown in the UK as yet (it may be available on Amazon, but I wait for either More4 or Netflix to show them), but that hasn't stopped me enjoying the Series 5 score on CD. As Bear Mc says in the notes, this series is the first that doesn't do any century hopping, so he could keep the music and mood in the same world space. It's like a tortured Americana in style. If you liked the theme for Fraser's Ridge from previous series, that gets some nice new airings. There are also some rustic, fiddley-dee tunes and vocal pieces (some great, like The Fiery Cross...some not, like L-O-V-E and Clementine). This is up there with LOST and THE ORVILLE as some of my favourite TV scoring of this century.
