‘Outlander’ hits pause on Claire and Jamie

‘Lake’ detective returns to action

The following are highlights from the Television Critics Association’s summer preview of upcoming shows.

Time is unkind this season to Outlander lovers.

When the Starz series returns for its third season Sept. 10, lovers Claire and Jamie — played by Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan — are on a time-ordained timeout. Jamie is stuck in the 18th century, dealing with the aftermath of his doomed last stand at Culloden, and Claire is back in 1948, where she’s pregnant with Jamie’s child. Oh, and she’s still married to Frank, which counts as another complication.

Their journey, of course, was plotted in Diana Gabaldon’s eight-and-counting book series before it made its way to TV, which is why Balfe says she reads the books — but she doesn’t read too far ahead. “I’ve read every book that we’ve filmed.” One thing Balfe has learned is that she has no idea where the books are headed. “You’re constantly being kept on your toes. Who would have thought we’d end up on ships and in Jamaica this season? ... The story can go anywhere, and very frequently does.”

“I think we’re very lucky. What makes our show different from all the others is it’s constantly moving, it’s constantly changing,” adds Heughan. “Keep writing, Diana.”