Lace up those corsets and hike up those kilts: Outlander will arrive on Netflix in the U.S. in May. Outlander, based on the novels by Diana Gabaldon, follows the adventures of Claire (Caitriona Balfe), a former World War II nurse who inadvertently travels back in time to the 18th century. There, she meets and falls in love with a hunky Scottish Highlander, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), whom she marries just before he is tortured by the villainous Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies), who is the ancestor and a lookalike of Claire’s modern-day husband, Frank.
Starz greenlit season one of Outlander, which was adapted and developed by Ronald D. Moore (Battlestar Galactica) in 2013. The first episode premiered a year later, and the series immediately became a hit for the network. Just a week after its premiere, Starz renewed the series for a second season. Although Outlander is often more bodice-ripper than time travel adventure, it found an audience with fans who like both aspects of its story. The reviews in the U.S. for the series were mostly positive, although the Brits found it mostly pretentious with its numerous sex scenes. However, the series did receive acknowledgment for its brutal and honest depiction of male rape with its main character, Jamie, as well as its handling of Claire as a strong and independent female character trying to maintain her dignity in a time that didn’t favor women.
The only problem with Outlander is that U.S. viewers needed a subscription to Starz to view it. However, that’s about to change: Netflix Family tweeted that seasons 1 and 2 will become available on Netflix as of May 27.
Season 4 of Outlander began in November 2018, with the finale airing in January 2019. Before that season aired, though, Starz had already renewed it for seasons 5 and 6. The series shows no signs of stopping, with fans waiting breathlessly to see what happens next on the steamy show. Season 4 saw Claire and Jamie arrive in America, the New World, to settle in the mountains of North Carolina. Although they try to build a life there together, the future will not be stopped, especially with the Revolutionary War just around the corner.
With Outlander coming to Netflix, the series is about to become even more popular, particularly with the women who will need to fan themselves over the sight of Heughan in a kilt. The historical aspects, though, are interesting, too, and the time travel element still comes into play throughout its four seasons.
MORE: Outlander: 5 Things That Changed From the Books (& 5 Things Fan Wished Hadn’t)
Source: Netflix Family
