The Sassenach Studies: Where fandom meets footnotes

The Grump checked his shadow, he checked it twice, Determined to help without being "nice." He wore a dark scarf and a camouflaged hat, To hide the bright halo that hummed where he sat. "I’ll drop off this rocking horse," he whispered with glee, "And no one will know it was gifted by me!" He hovered quite low o'er a mushroom-top roof, Trying his best to be silent and aloof. But a wing hit a chimney—a clumsy mistake— And he dropped a whole jar of organic fruitcake. It landed with thuds, like a...

The Grump-Angel’s Flight Manual If you see me doing something nice, no you didn’t. Any "miracles" performed are to be legally classified as "unexplained atmospheric anomalies." The halo must be kept at a minimum of 20% brightness during daytime hours. It’s hard to look intimidating when you’re literally glowing like a neon "Open" sign. Dropping gifts down mushroom chimneys is permitted. Dropping coal is tempting, but apparently, it clogs the wings. Stick to fruitcakes—they are basic...

Green heart finds its light, From a grouch to angel wings, Christmas magic blooms. In the village of Fungi-Falls, hidden and small, The "Gift-Gulp" was starting for elves one and all. They lived in quaint houses of mushroom and spore, Which looked like a pizza from roof to the floor. They scurried with boxes and ribbons of red, While chaos was brewing high over their head. Up by the chimneys, the air was quite thick, For the Grump was enduring a strange holiday trick. He’d stepped in a...

Listen/Watch/Read: Episode audio · Episode video · Transcript Introduction: Beyond the Romance For many, Outlander is a sweeping epic of destiny—a story of fated lovers pulled together across time, their romance the fixed point in a turning world. But to see the story as one of predestination is to miss the intricate, visual argument the show makes in almost every frame. Beneath the romance and time-traveling adventure, the series uses a subtle but persistent visual language to tell a dee...