It is also the season of the heartbreak of the Battle of Culloden. The color grading shifts from the warm golds of France to the stark, cold grays of the impending doom back in Scotland. Every frame tells a story.

So, if you are about to sit through "Faith" (Episode 7—get the tissues ready) or the devastating "Dragonfly in Amber" (Episode 13), do yourself a favor. Find the x264 encode. Pour a dram of scotch. And watch history turn on a sixpence.

(Good health)

Season 2 is arguably the most visually sumptuous season of the series. We trade the muddy heather of the Scottish Highlands for the gilded, dangerous halls of Versailles. From the intricate embroidery on Claire’s French gowns to the dark, smoky ambiance of Jamie’s whiskey dealings in Paris, this season is a cinematographic feast .