The Making of Outlander: The Series: The Official Guide to Seasons One & Two

by Tara Bennett

Get an exclusive look behind the scenes of the first two seasons of Outlander with this official, fully illustrated companion to the hit Starz television series based on the bestselling novels.

It was only a matter of time before Diana Gabaldon's bestselling Outlander saga made the leap from book to hit TV series, and the millions of readers captivated by the epic romance of Claire Beauchamp Randall and Jamie Fraser have eagerly followed.

Now the must-watch drama has inspired this must-have guide, which reveals that it takes a village (or perhaps a Scottish isle) to bring the breathtaking world of Outlander to life in front of our eyes. Spanning the first two seasons of the Starz network sensation, The Making of Outlander leads readers behind the scenes and straight into the action as cast members, writers, producers, musicians, costume designers, set decorators, technicians, and more share the many adventures and challenges they face to make this sweeping saga come alive on the screen.

In exclusive interviews, the show's stars, including Caitriona Balfe (Claire), Sam Heughan (Jamie), and Tobias Menzies (Frank Randall/Black Jack Randall), discuss the daunting task of embodying some of fiction's most beloved characters--and satisfying the high expectations of devoted Outlander readers. Executive producer and showrunner Ronald D. Moore looks at the inner workings of the writers' room, shares his crew's travels to the authentic overseas locations, and chronicles the brainstorming, building, breakneck pacing, and boundless energy that make everything from the show's architecture to its outfits period-perfect. In addition, the book examines all the Outlander episodes through exclusive interviews with their writers and directors, providing fascinating facts into the making of each hour.

Best of all, The Making of Outlander offers a veritable feast of lavish photographs--including an array of images spotlighting the stars in all their characters' grandeur and up-close personal portraits. Featuring an introduction by Diana Gabaldon herself, this magnificent insider's look at the world of the Outlander TV series is the companion all fans will want by their side.

Genres: Nonfiction, Outlander, Time Travel, Adult, Tv, Pop Culture, Romance

231 pages, Hardcover

Published October 18, 2016

About the author

Tara Bennett (formerly DiLullo) is the author or co-author of 30 official movie and TV companion books including The Story of Marvel Studios:
The Making of the Marvel Cinematic Universe, Sons of Anarchy: The Official Companion, The Official Making of Outlander Companions (Seasons 1 - 4), The Lost Encyclopedia, and September's Notebook: A Fringe Companion which was an Amazon Best Book of the Year.

She has also written nearly a thousand interviews and features for print and online publications such as: Total Film, Paste Magazine, IGN, SYFY WIRE, LOST: The Official Magazine, Alias Magazine, 24 Magazine, SCI FI Magazine, WSJSpeakeasy, Fandango/Movies.com, Fancast, Newsarama and VFXWorld.com. She is also the U.S. Editor for the world’s premiere sci-fi/fantasy publication, SFX Magazine.

Tara is also an adjunct professor at Rowan University in New Jersey, teaching Film and Television studies. As part of her curriculum, Bennett utilizes programs such as LOST and 24 to teach her students how to write for television.

Reviews

[April (Aprilius Maximus) · Rating 4 out of 5]

<3 <3 <3 <3

[Scottsdale Public Library]

Are we all getting ready for the next Outlander season?!
This is a spectacular collection of anecdotes, pictorial views and detail of the creation of the Starz series, Outlander. The stills are beautiful. I would like to have seen more candid shots, however the book overall did not disappoint. Following along with the description of every episode and the physical and mental strains to create such a mesmerizing show is the highlight of this read. Well done. However, I am a huge fan of the show and am totally biased. You may also want to read Clanlands: Whisky, Warfare, and a Scottish Adventure Like No Other if you can't get enough of Scotland! -Sara S.

[Cynthia · Rating 5 out of 5]

I had pre-ordered this book and much to my surprise it appeared at midnight. As I was going through a period of insomnia I did what any true Outlander fan would do - I started reading it.

Sometimes books like this become a little cheesy and if you're a fan of the series (books and TV show) you probably know about 90% of what is in it, but that was not the case for me. Yes, some of the things I read I knew already, but most of it was a very fascinating look at how a very popular book series has been adapted for television - and adapted well. I knew that an adaptation would have differences from the books, but overall the story is there. Besides, if you've read the books as often as I have you'll find it's kind of fun to have a new scene to add spice to the story but not irredeemably change the characters and the main part of the story. For the most part favorite parts left out are easily read again.

At any rate this book gives fascinating background on the writing, costuming, set design and how the various directors and producers have approached each episode in seasons 1 and 2. It also gives short biographies of some of the main actors and information on how they were cast as well as how they are approaching their roles. There are also chapters dealing with each episode with summary information interspersed with how the shooting commenced, what the actors did to enhance the scenes, and more. Honestly, more than just a valentine to the show, it really had interesting information on the making of the series, decisions made, changes made to those decisions, and more.

If you're a fan of Outlander the TV series you'll find this a fun, informative tome. If you are fans of TV in general and like knowing about what it takes to make a successful series this would also be of interest. To those who love the book series and don't like the TV adaptation I would also recommend it - if for no other reason than to see why they made the decisions they made - it might make you appreciate the show more, or not.

[Marita · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book offers fantastic BTS information about the show and great interviews with the cast and crew. (The chapter about the music was particularly interesting.) The producers also explain a few of the more controversial decisions that may or may not cause a stir among the fans.
It is a book for the die-hard fans of the show and the books, however, as I have a feeling most "regular viewers" would be a bit lost.

[Weinlachgummi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Outlander ist nun mit dem Start der dritten Staffel wieder in aller Munde. Da passt dieser Guide zur ersten und zweiten Staffel doch perfekt. Natürlich ist es sinnvoll vorher auch beide Staffeln gesehen zu haben. Ich habe davor auch die beiden Bücher von Diana Gabaldon gelesen, die durch Staffel eins und zwei verfilmt wurden, dies ist aber nicht zwingend notwendig. Da es primär nur um die TV-Adaption geht und nur hin und wieder auf die Unterschiede zu den Büchern eingegangen wird.

Das Buch umfasst 240 Seiten. Am Anfang befindet sich ein Inhaltsverzeichnis. Unterteilt ist das Buch in eine Einführung und dann in die erste und zweite Staffel. In der Einführung wird darüber berichtet, wie schwierig es war eine Verfilmung der Highland-Saga hinzubekommen, und wie man dann auf eine Serie kam. Dies fand ich sehr interessant. Und auch über das Casting wird geschrieben, ich war überrascht, wie schnell die Schauspieler gefunden wurden.

Danach geht es mit der ersten Staffel weiter, jede Episode bekommt ihr eigenes Kapitel. Besonderheiten der Episode werden herausgehoben, die Schauspieler, Autoren etc. kommen zu Wort. Ich fand es sehr interessant zu lesen, wieso zum Beispiel etwas im Vergleich zu den Büchern geändert wurde. Und welche versteckten Hinweise / Anspielungen sich manchmal hinter Szenen verbergen. Auch wie die Schauspieler manche Szenen wahrgenommen haben. Besonders was die Szenen in Fort Williams Ende der ersten Staffel angeht. Als Fernsehschauer ist man von den Ereignissen zunächst so geblättert, dass einem erst später bewusst wird, wie schwer es sein muss, so was so überzeugend zu spielen.

Genauso ist auch Staffel zwei aufgebaut, jede Episode hat ihr eigenes Kapitel. Dazwischen wird bei beiden Staffeln immer mal wieder genauer auf die Charaktere eingegangen, genauso wie auf die Kulisse und die Kostüme, so bekommen diese auch einzelne Kapitel gewidmet. Besonders die Porträts haben mir hier gefallen.

Das Material des Buches ist sehr hochwertig, der Hardcover-Einband ist schön dick und auch die Seiten sind stabil. Ein Highlight sind die vielen schönen Bilder. Diese haben eine tolle Qualität und sind gut gewählt. Mindestens eins findet man auf jeder Seite, oft sind es aber auch sechs bis acht auf einer Doppelseite. Hin und wieder gibt es auch eines, dass die ganze Seite ziert, besonders bei Jamie ein schöner Anblick.


Fazit:
Ich glaube jeder Fan der Serie würde sich über dieses Büchlein freuen. Es macht sich super in der Outlander Sammlung.
Es gibt jede Menge interessante Informationen über die erste und zweite Staffel, sei es über die einzelnen Episoden, oder über die Kulisse und die Schauspieler.
Die Infos werden mit ganz vielen Bildern untermalt, die nicht nur schön gewählt, sondern auch hochwertig sind.
Mit 30 Euros ist es natürlich nicht so günstig, aber wenn man bedenkt, dass mittlerweile auch viele Hardcovers um die 22€ kosten, finde ich den Preis hier schon gerechtfertigt.

[Melissa · Rating 5 out of 5]

Nooooooooo! I don't want it to be over! I loooooooooved that book. I loved how it detailed each episode of the first two seasons, and the interviews with the principal actors... I loved everything. I wish there was another book for seasons 3 & 4!!!

[Meredith · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well done! Lots of fun info and facts, as well as plenty of great on set photographs. I actually read the whole thing!

[Lucy Lillianne · Rating 5 out of 5]

http://lucy-lillianne.blogspot.cz/201...

[Carrie (The Butterfly Reader) · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great for Outlander fans!

[Whitney · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was such an unexpectedly fun book for me. I've read the books and watched the seasons but had no idea how much I could still learn about that time in history and what it takes to bring it to life on the screen. Each episode gets its own chapter, with background details and writer's notes. There are also feature section on casting the main actors and costume design, location scouting and set-up, writing the script - basically all the background details you could ever want on the show. If you're an Outlander fan, you'll enjoy this. I learned so much about the making of TV shows!

[Marie]

Really interesting behind-the-scenes look at how Outlander is made. Loved learning about how the writers adapted the book for screen, how the actors approached their characters, how the costumes and sets were made, etc.

I definitely recommend this to Outlander fans! Be sure to have watched both seasons before reading, though, because I started reading it when I was partway through S2 and during the S1 portion I was spoiled for some pretty big stuff that happens in S2.

[Ettelwen · Rating 3 out of 5]

3,5/5
Pro fanoušky série je tato kniha skvělým doplňkem. I když jsem osobně čekala trošku víc zákulisních špeků a celkově informací, jak od samotných herců, tak od štábu. Bohužel samotný překlad byl místy dost kostrbatý a ano, byly tam chyby.
Ale graficky <3

[Angie · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved listening to this on audio. Can't wait to read this

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful and a must have for outlander fans. Way more in depth than I expected.

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

The book starts with an introduction from Diana Gabaldon, then the journey of adapting a book series to TV. After that, the remainder of the book is split into to sections - season 1 and season 2. Those sections have look into each episode: who wrote and directed it, why certain decisions were made, quotes from actors, writers, directors, or crew, and a few photos. There are also Spotlights on actors scattered throughout.

I think fans of the show, and books, will enjoy reading this book.

[Judi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Read it as a lark tonight because I was bored and wanted something more visual. The Introduction had me laughing. She’s witty. I love her books, and the show is beautiful. Fun read if you are a fan of either.

[Laurie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I love Outlander everything. The books, the show, the making of … it’s all fascinating, in part because the show does such a good job of translating the books onto the screen. (The books are still better, though.) Anyway, I really enjoyed this little read and learning more about the backstories related to the first two seasons of Outlander.

[ck · Rating 3 out of 5]

I came to this book after having watched several seasons of the show and having read all 10 of Gabaldon’s “big books” published thus far.

Unfortunately, although this volume contains interesting peeks into the thought processes and mechanics of taking a sweeping series of stories from print to film, it is disappointing for the following reasons.

1. The overall structure is episode-by-episode, with character and other vignettes interspersed. However, the writer pays little heed to this, and rambles on way beyond each episode. Confusing for those of us who have both read and watched the sections covered. But sadly the spoilers abound for unwary readers who think they will be able to read the “making of” after each episode. At least this was written on the cusp of Season Three so the spoiling doesn’t wreck the surprise of events in the last 5-6 books.

2. Photos are scattered throughout. Without captions, and often without relevance to the copy immediately before or after the image. (But the photos themselves are quality, and there’s a mix of what hits the screen and a pulled-back perspective showing the crew in action.)

3. Verbal tics. The writer has several. I hold back on naming more than one in case they give you earworms. So, as an example, she frequently uses “admits” as the verb in an attribution. Thus, “blah blah blah, blah blah,” Balfe admits. When actually what she is doing is more accurately describing, explaining or (sometimes) acknowledging. The verb “admit” bears a lot of baggage for a word so short. Implication matters. (I will get off my soapbox now.)

4. A little fan-grrl-ey. Once you start noticing the inconsistencies in how people are referred to on second and subsequent reference (surname, first name, character name), you can’t unsee it.

5. There are interesting brief profiles of actors such as Lotte Verbeek, who played Geillis Duncan, as well as several others. I thought the omission of Nell Hudson, who played Laoghaire MacKenzie, was a clear oops. Her character arc in the first two books would have been interesting to plumb with the actor.

If you are a completist, sure, read this book. I enjoyed certain snippets, but am glad I was able to borrow it from the library.

[Fergie · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book is a must for any fan of the Outlander television series. Tara Bennett fills her book with tidbits from behind the making of the first two seasons of the show, and while many of the tidbits have already been discussed on social media, it would be impossible to know everything that's covered in this book. The pictures alone are worth the price of the book.

Any fan of the series based on writer Diana Gabaldon's renowned novels has an idea of the detail that goes into making an episode. I've said from the beginning that one of the many desirable aspects of Outlander is that it's like watching a one hour feature film each week -- from lighting, costumes, sets, or the sheer beauty of the landscape, Outlander is a feast for the eyes. The book also covers what went into the phenomenal writing that makes up each episode. Stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan are present, providing memorable quotes from their own experiences throughout production. Each episode is broken down; individual sections are also devoted to the actors and special departments that make up the show.

I highly recommend 'The Making of Outlander: The Official Guide to Seasons 1 & 2'. It'll make a wonderful gift for yourself or a fellow fan.

[Tanya · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a fabulous guide for any Outlander fan. Loved it. Full review to come for Heroes and Heartbreakers

[Broughps · Rating 4 out of 5]

Could have used some captions with the pictures, but other than that pretty good.

[Barbaras Paradies · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ich habe schon die Bücher von Diana Gabaldon geliebt und bin auch ein Fan der Serie, so musste ich dieses Buch natürlich unbedingt haben.

Nach einem Vorwort von Diana Gabaldon erzählt Tara Bennett, wie aus den Büchern eine Fernsehserie wurde. Dabei gibt sie jede Menge interessanter Hintergrundinformationen preis. Außerdem gibt es Ausschnitte aus Interviews mit den Regisseuren, den Drehbuchautoren und den Produzenten. Der Leser erfährt, wie einfach und manchmal auch schwierig es war, die richtigen Schauspieler und Drehorte zu finden. Durch die vielen Handlungsorte und die vielen Zeitsprünge innerhalb der Handlung war die Drehortsuche aufwändiger als für andere Serien.
Sehr schön war auch das Kapitel über die Musik in der Serie. Hier erzählt der Komponist, wie er auf das Titellied gestoßen ist.

Anschließend gibt es zu jeder Folge der ersten zwei Staffeln ein Kapitel, bei dem die Drehbuchautoren und Regisseure zu Wort kommen und über die Schwierigkeiten beim Schreiben und Drehen berichten. Die Autorin macht auf viele Details aufmerksam, die einem beim Schauen der Serie manchmal gar nicht auffallen. Am liebsten hätte ich mir nach jedem Kapitel die jeweilige Folge noch einmal angeschaut. Zwischendurch gibt es auch Ausschnitte aus Interviews mit den Schauspielern, Regisseuren und Produzenten.

Abwechselnd zu den Kapiteln zu den einzelnen Folgen stellt die Autorin die Schauspieler vor, wodurch man sie ein bisschen besser kennen lernen kann. Sehr gut gefallen haben mir auch die Kapitel über die Kostüme. Es ist wirklich faszinierend, wenn man bedenkt, wie viele Kostüme durch die Zeitsprünge und die wechselnden Handlungsorte für die Serie notwendig waren.

Die Gliederung des Buches hat mir gut gefallen. Tara Bennett muss als Vorbereitung sehr viele ausführliche Interviews mit vielen an der Serie beteiligten Personen geführt haben, die sie dann zitiert hat. Der Leser bekommt einen sehr guten Einblick, wie eine Fernsehserie zustande kommt.

Fans der Bücher und der Serie werden von diesem Buch begeistert sein. Die zahlreichen schönen Bilder und die vielen Hintergrundinfos sind den Preis auf jeden Fall wert.


Fazit:

Ein MUSS für Outlander-Fans!

[Daysleeper236 · Rating 5 out of 5]

A deliciously detailed behind-the-scenes look at the first two seasons of Outlander. Loaded with gorgeous full-colour pictures and interviews with the cast and crew. A must-read for any fan.

Favourite quotes....

"In terms of historical accuracy, Dresbach says, she did a great deal of research and due diligence, but in the end the images on the screen are an amalgamation of history, form, and function. 'There's very little documentation about what was worn in Scotland,' Dresbach explains. 'After Culloden and their cultural genocide, which is what happened with [England's] goal to erase a culture, it's so much more than just making laws. It's doing things like getting rid of kilts. You can't wear the tartan anymore. If you're trying to wipe out a culture, there go the books, there goes the music, there goes the national dress, there go the paintings, there goes the culture, and so there's very little out there.'
- costume designer Terry Dresbach, p. 94-95

"In my original 'look book,' I had sketches of Jamie wearing what is essentially a modern-day kilt; that was how little I knew. The minute you land [in Scotland] and you're sitting in the office, looking out the window, and it's freezing and it's pouring rain, you know if we dress them in the way that we're planning, they're all gonna die."
- p. 95

[Elizabeth · Rating 4 out of 5]

I have such mixed feelings about this series! I very much enjoyed reading this book and learning so much about the characters, actors, and behind-the-scenes work and details. I read every word and will read the sequel if one is written for the next two seasons. It's filled with tons of full-color photos from the movie reel, but there are some unposed ones as well - I'd like more of those.

To be honest I lost interest in the second season while they were in France (same when I had read the book), because Scotland and the Scottish actors/characters are the draw for me. (but also Fergus - he's fabulous!) However, after reading this book I want to go back and re-watch some of the 2nd season episodes. I appreciated the in-depth exploration of the settings and the interactions of the characters.

I find it highly interesting to read the actors' insights into their own characters as well as the others with whom they share scenes, and I love reading about the bits that were spontaneous or written differently, when the actors made a scene or a moment all their own.

I recommend this book to anyone who wants to delve into the inner workings and background of the series. It is not a superficial read, and Bennett impressed me with her throughness.

[Christine Spoors · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was actually a little surprised by how much I ended up enjoying this book! I am a huge Outlander fan and I enjoy writing, so I loved that for each episode we got to hear from the writers and producers. We also hear from the actors throughout and have chapter dedicated to things like costumes, props and casting. The book is filled with quotes and gorgeous images from behind the scenes, and I really think it's worth it (although I know it's a little expensive)!

This book is great not only because it gives us more information about Outlander, but I also feel like I now know a lot more about how TV series are created. I didn't expect to learn so much about how TV programmes are written and produced. I must admit that every time they mentioned Scotland or a place I know like Glasgow a part of me screeched with joy. One of my favourite quotes from the book was when the producer Ron Moore said 'Outlander is a love letter to Scotland' , it really does feel that way.

I was sent this book by Random House to review (Thank you!!) but rest assured that all of my opinions are my own! This review is a little short, but as it's not a novel I can't say much!

[Suzanne · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is beautifully done. It's about the making of Outlander. Outlander is a wonderful book series I have been following and reading for over 25 years ( 8 books so far). These books are written by Diana Gabalden. She is one of my favorite authors. Her books are so well written they transport you. The producers, directors, screen writers, costume designers are all fans of the books, so the TV series Outlander is a labor of love and this book tells you about how they picked the cast, locations, sets, and the rewrites of the script to stay as loyal to the books as possible. The pictures in this book are beautiful of the locations, sets and cast. They also have profiles of the cast and why they were chosen. I highly recommend this book, the Outlander book series, and the TV show Outlander. When I watch the show I feel like I am watching the novel.

[Amy · Rating 5 out of 5]

I just loved the book so much! I loved seeing the pictures and reading quotes from the cast and getting an in-depth review of the making of each episode of Seasons 1 and 2. I loved all of it. Due to personal reasons it has been very difficult for me to read much in the last month or two. This book however I read in a day. I have watched both parts of Season 1 multiple times and just acquired Season 3 last month. Now I can't wait to go back and re-watch the whole series with all of this new information in mind. I am especially intrigued by the passages regarding the music created by Bear McCreary. I cant wait to go back and listen carefully to all of the beautiful he has created specifically for each character.

[WendyTheOwl · Rating 4 out of 5]

FR
J'étais en manque de la série, et j'avais ce livre (et le suivant) dans ma P.à.L.; alors je me suis décidée à le sortir.
J'aime beaucoup les Making Of en général, alors ici j'étais servie. J'ai aimé la présentation du livre, c'était aéré malgré les informations qui étaient notées. J'ai hâte de lire le suivant, et puis d'avoir la suite de la série haha !

ENG
I was missing the show, and I had this book (and the next one) in my T.B.R.; so I decided to take it out.
I really like the Making Of in general, so here I was served. I liked the presentation of the book, it was airy despite the information that was noted. I can't wait to read the next one, and then to have the rest of the series haha !

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was a stunning masterpiece. I am absolutely obsessed with Outlander (both the TV show and the book series) and I'm a complete sucker for these type of 'behind the scenes' books.

I already knew some of the information contained in this book but there was still plenty that was new to me. It was fascinating to me to see the thought processes and decisions that were involved in adapting the book series to a TV show, especially since it is such a wonderful and faithful adaptation.

This book made me want to binge watch the series again and is an absolute must have for any Outlander fan.

[Xanthi · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this on audiobook and found that it took me a while to get use to the narrator who had a very young sounding voice which I'm generally not a fan of unless I'm listening to a story told from a female teenager's first person perspective. Also, she had an odd cadence - sort of silted.
The narrator aside, I enjoyed hearing about the long road these books took from paper to screen - how it happened and who was involved.
There is so much covered in this book - the costuming, casting, actors, locations, directing, screen writing, and how these two series differed from the books.
If you are a fan of the books and the tv series, you need to check this book out.