Like putting on your favourite kilt for your first wedding since lockdown, seeing Outlander on our screens once again has been just the tonic fans have needed after what felt like the longest Droughtlander yet.
The extended 90 minute first episode, 'Echoes', which aired on Sunday night on the new StarzPlay app, not only took us back to Fraser's Ridge and introduced some new faces – the ominous Christie family – but also gave fans a much-needed return to Scotland.
With the aftermath of that season five finale still hanging over our heads, we all had questions on not only how Claire would cope with her ordeal at the hands of Lionel Brown (Ned Dennehy) but also how Jamie would deal with the fact he almost lost her once again.
Bree and Roger too, how would they settle into life in the past? And what about Marsali and Fergus, had the aftermath of the battle with the kidnappers affected them too?
And all with the threat of the coming Revolutionary War looming large the season opener was sure to be filled with drama and it definitely didn't disappoint.
Echoes of Ardsmuir
From the start, it's clear the echoes the title refers to are those that resonate from the past as we are given a trip back to Ardsmuir and another hard-hitting look at Jamie's time there twenty years ago in 1753.
This pivotal flashback introduces newcomer Tom Christie and fully fleshes out their past relationship as Jamie watches on as his catholic men clash with Tom's protestants in the prison yard.
It's fascinating to see Jamie or Mac Dubh (son of the black) as he is known to his fellow Jacobites, use his smarts to come up with the solution that will satisfy both factions after Governor Harry Quarry (Jay Villiers) asks him to heal the divide.
Though he resolves the problem temporarily, the foreshadowing of how that religious rift will play out now that Tom has arrived on the Ridge will play out is clear.
We also loved the reference to the banned use of tartan following Culloden – a very powerful and historically accurate glimpse at the British Government's attempt to stamp down on the Highland way of life.
New arrivals and discoveries
Back in 1773, life on the Ridge is slowly getting back to normality with Claire continuing to dumbfound (and mildly terrify) her husband with her inventions from the future – this time ether, an early form of anaesthetic, Roger and Bree discussing the coming war and Marsali fretting about her husband Fergus's latest coping mechanism, spirit from the newly rebuilt whisky still.
Though things seem mild and peaceful on the surface, that depth and drama this show has made its name with continues to bubble away under the surface as the enigmatic Christies begin to make their mark.
Malva (Jessica Reynolds) seems to be fascinated by Claire and her healing abilities, while Tom continues to cause friction with his references to not only Jamie's past but also his desire to preach the word of God, and Allan (Alexander Vlahos) gets caught up in yet more conflict with the Browns - this time Lionel's brother Richard Brown (Chris Larkin) and his Committee of Safety, which forces Jamie to once again lay down the law on his land.
With old enemies rearing their heads once again, the powder keg of Tom and his brood and the growing pressure on Jamie to once again help the Crown in their efforts to tighten the British grip on the colonies, it's clear it isn't the coming war that's the only storm that is brewing.
As if that wasn't enough for poor sweet Jamie, who once again spends almost the entirety of the episode wishing only for a quiet life with his wife, it seems Claire is also hiding a dark secret from him.
Our thoughts
Our fears that this shortened season might not be as hard-hitting or action-filled as previous ones already feel very wide of the mark.
The introduction of the Christies is a brilliant plot device that not only dredges up the trauma of the past for Jamie and Claire but also introduces new conflicts and worries that are sure to see the Fraser Ridge clan (and poor Jamie) enjoy anything but the peaceful life they seek.
It was promised that season six might be one of the darkest yet and on current showing it's clear that could well be the case, we just hope our favourites can survive the storm when it comes.
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