Matt Roberts, Outlander’s head writer and executive producer, did back to back early morning Q&As today – the first one for the UK fans (Matt’s in Scotland), and the second for the rest of the world still waking up. Here’s ALL of that Q&A, plus a few random questions from recent days that begged to be included.
Q Any new teaser any time soon? Rock scene? Can’t wait for S4! Best book ever. Congrats!!
A I don’t handle PR or Marketing, sorry
Q What is your favorite episode of season 4 that you directed? Don’t say what’s happening there – only the number of the Ep. 
A I don’t have favorites — but I will say that Caitriona and Sam are their usual brilliant selves throughout — Richard & Sophie will blow folks away. And I’m verra excited for you to meet the new cast members – they are all amazing.
Q How hard was it to match Scotland for North Carolina & did you scout NC first for comparison?
A Yes, I went to North Carolina and drove across the state and all through the Blue Ridge Mountains. Scotland can play NC quite well (except for the weather) although this year we had a wee heatwave here in Glasgow
Q How many episodes did you and TG write together this season?
A Two
Q do you get any time off between 4 and 5 ?
A There’s still much to do before we are finished … filming aka production is only 1/4 of the making of a show: writing/prep/production/post
Q When do you start to plan for season 5 in terms of storylines, scripts, and production? #NoRestForTheWeary
A We are well on our way …
Last night of filming… that’s why the jackets https://t.co/uRkO4xQKLV
— Matthew B Roberts (@TheMattBRoberts) July 5, 2018
Q What are the easter eggs in Season 4?
A We hide the eggs for a reason — I’m not going to tell you where they are. What fun would that be?
Q I’ve been curious as to what Easter eggs he means? A nod to the books? Or going into season 5?
A Easter eggs are nods to the book readers …
Q Oh see?! Now you got me all excited ( More so!) #HurryUpNovember
A I have that effect on people.
Q What is the main difference between this season and the 3 before? Thanks!!
A Well, if you remember at the end of S3 Claire and Jamie are in the American Colonies — so it’s a whole new world.
Q Will you be at any of the comic cons or Outlander conventions this summer
A No…
Q You say everything and you don’t say anything!! That’s the question!! Smart boy
A I wanted to be a politician once… 
Q Do you already know when the shooting for #OutlanderSeason5 starts?
A Yes
Q When I travel, I like to see amazing new landscapes. I know you don’t get much, if any, vacation time, but what are your favorite places to visit,
A My bed… after a long day
Q Are you a history buff or has being involved in @Outlander been a real initiation into it?
A I love reading history in the buff 
… Oh wait… yes, I’ve always been a history buff, so #Outlander was/is a dream job
Q Using 3 words, how would you describe Season 4?
A Drums of Autumn
Q Do you enjoy a holiday now?
A Not the Producers… we have to post the shows.
Q ’m finally having my dream vacation in UK in August what’s the one thing I must see or do while I n Scotland 
while Im there – #smalltowngirlfromnewzealand
A Enjoy the culture — the People make #Scotland — The landscape speaks for itself.
Cheers to all the #Outlander Fans… #OutlanderSeason4 . Photo courtesy of #MichaelCarstensen pic.twitter.com/romb9bTUKK
— Matthew B Roberts (@TheMattBRoberts) July 6, 2018
Q Cheers to us??? What ever for? You guys do all the hard work, the writes and rewrites, the sets, the shoots, the scenes over and over again – We LOVE YOU for everything you do! xx
A Well, without fans these are just really well-made home movies.
Q Without great acting, scripts, costumes, actors, and all the many talents that go into making the show the high quality that it is , there would be no fans.
A sounds like we need each other
Many ask what locations are the most challenging to film. Answer: anywhere with #midges @SamHeughan @caitrionambalfe @JohnBell #imstillitching
— Matthew B Roberts (@TheMattBRoberts) June 12, 2018
Q Is your wittiness skill learned or inherited? (I love it!)
A I spent a lot of time in detention
Q In your opinion, who has the best character development in season four?
A Rollo has quite an arc
Q If you were an actor, which character on Outlander would you want to be and why?
A That’s easy — Clarence. No one plays an ass like me
Q You just made me snort. In public.
A was milk involved?
Q Do you take down all the sets after you’re done filming a season?
A No …
Q What was your favorite part of filming season 4 that you can’t wait for the fans to see?
A “The Meeting”
Young Ian + Rollo = ❤️ https://t.co/b2g4Soi5rk
— Maril Davis (@TallShipProds) July 6, 2018
Q This video made my day! But some are very nervous seeing Young Ian in regular garb on last day of shooting if you get my meaning. Worried an essential element of his story and arc is being changed #sayitisntso #please
A We film out of order
Q Matt, I wanted to thank you for your photography as it is amazing! My question is how is it decided who writes which episode and is this decided in advance or as each episode is being filmed.? Thank You.
A Thank you very much. Scripts are assigned and written well in advance of filming. Scripts are assigned by the show runner. However a writer can and will ask for a particular script because the story speaks to them.
Q Today is the #NationalKissingDay. Would you share which Jamie/ Claire kissing scene you’ve written you were most anxious see on screen?
A That’d have to be when Jamie asks if he can kiss Claire after 20 years apart… and then, of course, they share a kiss.
Q You’re the best Matt, we trust you ‘ll do what’s possible!! Thank you so much in advance!
A Well, not the best but certainly a rung up from the worst.
Ever notice @RikRankin and @SkeltonSophie have cool comic book superhero names — for good reason #Outlander pic.twitter.com/tJdurglg0p
— Matthew B Roberts (@TheMattBRoberts) June 30, 2018
Q Have you slept at all in past 48 hrs?
A Not much… ha
Q favorite book from your childhood?
A Where the Sidewalk Ends
Q Was there a scene or line from the first 3 books that you really wanted to include but just couldn’t find a way to do it?
A A ton.
Q I’m about to go to 
in Australia Matt…but before I nod off I’d love to know what has been a personal highlight for you from the last 5 years since the adaptation began?
A Living in Scotland
Q Apart from the midges, what’s been the most challenging part of filming?
A Creating the American Colonies but @jongarysteele and team was up to the task
Q how long does a typical episode spend in post? Do you work on all of them or just the ones you directed?
A There is no typical episode. They are absolutely individuals (mini movies)
Q So what now? Vacation? Writing room? Sleep?
A We only wrapped the filming portion. Much still to do.
Q Are there ever days you wake up and say “ugh, I have to go to work”?
A Of course. There’s very little glamour in the glamorous film/tv biz
Q What’s one thing that you think fans miss when it comes to #Outlander?
A More.
Q Does the addition of new characters and storylines make writing, filming, producing, etc. easier or more difficult?
A We have a finite amount of time so…
Q Have you ever revealed a big spoiler to someone you shouldn’t?
A I think some of my followers should answer this question
Q Motivational saying that keeps you going?
A I remind myself to be sarcastic at least once a day #Outlander by reading Oscar Wilde quotes
Q What are the major narrative arcs for season 4?
A What is Home? What is family?
Q I seem to recall reading that you introduced Maril to Outlander, how were you introduced to the book?
A I was a reader for a production company and I was assigned Outlander.
Q silly question but what would your super hero name be and what powers would u have??
A Matt Roberts and I’d have the power to fall asleep in two seconds #cantturnthebrainoff
Q Favorite thing about being a part of #Outlander?
A Being a small part of #Outlander
Q what new character are you most excited for fans to see
A I’m excited for everyone to see all the couples
Q Any plans to film in the US?
A No
Q Will we have more of your beautiful photos on season 4 set to help us with the droughtlander ?
A Maybe
Q What was the most challenging scene to shoot in S4?
A There were a lot. This was our most challenging season
Q I feel like you’ve said that for every season 
A Because they aren’t getting any easier
Q I hate to ask.. but when will you begin writing Season 5 scripts ?
A Soon
Q Have you ever been surprised by the result of post production versus what you saw happening in front of the camera?
A Well Versailles was pretty amazing and the Hurricane sequence
Q Did you learn anything new about early American history while researching for Season 4
A Well at the moment the story is in British history
Q I have a script question about A. Malcolm. Mind if i ask?
A You can ask…
Q When Jamie goes to change his pants he says to Claire come wit me unless you think it’s ‘immoral.’ later Claire says to Jamie i’m not leaving unless you do something ‘immoral.’ that’s a red flag word. Stands out. Why use it first with Jamie?
A I believe they were both saying it with a bit of jest
Q What will you miss most when you’ve finished filming in Scotland?
A Scotland
Q Who’s the funniest in the writer’s room?
A C’mon? Really?
Q When u were a kid, what did u wanna be when u grew up?
A Taller
Q How would you describe the father/daughter reunion scene in 3 words?
A They’ve never met
Q What!???! That scene is not in Season 4??? Maybe I didn´t understand your answer…
A You wrote reunion
Q Yup they never met before. So it is an introduction not a REunion!
A Boom!
Q Oh, sorry. Wrong word. Can I try again? How would you describe in 3 words the scene when J meets B for the first time?
A Good things come…
Q What is your favorite thing about Richard Rankin?
A Sophie Skelton.
Wait… What?!
— Richard Rankin (@RikRankin) July 6, 2018
A Just wanted to see if you were paying attention. You know I love you, man.
Q are you watching the World Cup? 
A Yes
#OutlanderSeason4 be prepared to fall for this guy @JohnBell pic.twitter.com/g4MBfV4RNu
— Matthew B Roberts (@TheMattBRoberts) July 6, 2018
Thanks everyone. Hope those horribly vague and cheeky responses will carry you through a bit of #Droughtlander #OutlanderSeason4
— Matthew B Roberts (@TheMattBRoberts) July 6, 2018
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