Netflix is Ruining all the Fun for Outlander Fans
Would you watch the show if you knew its biggest plot twists in advance?
Outlander is preparing to air its mid-season seven finale on its original network, Starz, on Friday, 11 August. However, Starz is not the only platform where you can watch the show. In certain regions, new episodes of the period romantic drama are available through a Netflix subscription. Furthermore, Netflix users can watch Outlander's first five seasons regardless of where they are.
While many viewers find this more convenient as it means they don't need to buy an extra subscription, there is one major drawback: Netflix's promotional materials for the show feature spoilers for some of the major storylines for those who have never watched the show beyond the first season and never read the books.
Beware of Outlander Season 2 and 4 spoilers ahead!
While browsing the Outlander page on Netflix, fans have noticed that the streaming platform's promotional video for the series shows Claire immediately after she travelled back to her original timeline in the Season 2 finale. It's an incredibly poignant scene that takes place before the Battle of Culloden after Clair bids farewell to the love of her life and goes back to 1948 Scotland to ensure the safety of her unborn child.
It's one of the most dramatic twists in the series, and Netflix just went ahead and included it in the promotional video it plays for every new visitor to the show's page, thus spoiling for them a major pivotal moment.
And to add insult to injury, the thumbnail used on Netflix's Outlander page depicts Brianna in 18th-century attire, thus serving as a major Season 4 spoiler. Bree was born and raised in the 20th century, and the show never suggests she would ever travel back in time until Season 4 when she is introduced to the Fraser family in episode 7.
And yet, any casual Netflix user who knows their period clothes will instantly know that Brianna will eventually travel through time to 18th-century Scotland the moment they see that thumbnail.
‘I think it’s a bit odd that the platform you‘re watching the show on is the one to spoil big plot points for you,’ a fan complained on Reddit. ‘There are plenty of other covers they could use without spoiling anything.’
That's not the only show Netflix has spoiled with poorly-conceived promotional materials. The streaming giant probably should pay more attention if they really seek to offer a first-class viewing experience.
Source: Reddit.