Outlander (2014)

Season eight succeeds (so far) by not cowering from the loftier questions about Claire and Jamie’s knotted place in the family tree of their past, present, and future.

In these first three episodes, our fears that this story has been spiraling aimlessly are quieted entirely. Outlander has dropped its characters and viewers right at the end of that road, and we now have every reason to believe it leads somewhere wonderful.

It appears “Outlander” is sticking to its usual formula and giving viewers exactly what they came here for: New villains that get under your skin, inevitable battles where our heroes come just close enough to death, a couple of tragic moments, some time jumps, and best of all, a still-passionate love story for the ages. .... This late in the game, Balfe and Heughan have perfected this on-screen relationship.

With only three episodes to refer to, it's tough to say whether Starz's epic fantasy romance series will stick the landing, but this final beginning is a strong example of what the show has always been good at — balancing sweeping romance and heartwarming family moments with shocking twists and emotional heartbreak.

Outlander Season 8 opens with three episodes that balance the show’s ongoing supernatural mythology with plenty of historical storytelling and character-driven intrigue. There’s strong momentum towards solving ongoing arcs while also honoring the legacy of characters who make the show what it is.