From romance to time travel to war story, Outlander is the most ambitious genre mashup on television.
This isnt a new development for the TV series based on Diana Gabaldons series of novels.
Which genres does this time-traveling adventure do best?
The musical
Hey, remember that timeOutlanderbriefly and randomly changed into a musical comedy?
In season 1s The Search, Claire and Murtagh join forces to find Jamie.
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First, we get Murtaghs delightfully atrocious Highland sword dance.
Its a weird, borderline silly detour forOutlanderto take, but I cant say I hated it.
But it probably shouldnt.
It does other genres better.
Historical fiction
Odds are, your knowledge of Scottish history has increased tenfold since addingOutlanderto your TV-watching schedule.
Clan culture in 18th century Scotland.
The Battle of Culloden.
We even got some pre-revolutionary French history thrown in there for good measure.
(Seriously, its right there in the credits.)
Claires role as a nurse (and, come 1968, as a surgeon!)
Basically,Outlanderis like no other medical drama on TV.
Feminist melodrama
In some ways, the category of feminist melodrama is redundant.
But its more than that.
Feminist storytelling isnt just about giving us Strong Female Characters.
It also indulges in the emotional repercussions of such an event in the way that melodrama so refreshingly prioritizes.
If you were forced to throwOutlanderinto one genre, you might choose this one.
Outlander,however, has had no such problem.
Its the best part of the show and, usually, the best part of the time travel genre.
Twist ending: the ranking doesnt really matter.
This egalitarian judgment is perhaps the most feminist aspect of the show.
And this is where the magic comes in.
