Warning! Spoilers for Outlander season 7, episode 11 ahead!
Outlander season 7 made a change to compensate for a troublesome difference from book to screen, but I’m just not buying it. Like any adaptation, the Starz series has strayed from the source material over the years, and this means even further adjustments must be made as Outlander approaches its final installment. These things have a way of spiraling—what seems like a minor change at first becomes bigger down the line. While I feel that Outlander has managed its changes rather tastefully, I can’t help but think that the writers took the easy route in season 7.
Outlander season 7, episode 11, sees William Ransom finally learn that James Fraser is his father. I was eager to see this moment play out on screen, especially since the TV show couldn’t possibly go about things the same way as in Diana Gabaldon’s books. On the page, William realized that Jamie was his father when he saw the man as an adult for the first time and noticed how similar they looked. In the Outlander show, however, William had already met Jamie several times, so this wouldn’t quite work for a big reveal. Still, Outlander season 7’s solution wasn’t much better.
William Learning The Truth About Jamie Just Didn’t Feel Natural
Lord John’s Wording During This Scene Was Uncharacteristically Awkard
I was tipped off that William was about to learn the truth about Jamie in Outlander season 7, episode 11, because of a very unnatural line from Lord John Grey.Jamie had just returned from the dead, and he and Claire were sharing a passionate kiss when Lord John interrupted them to tell Jamie, “Your son is due home shortly.” Jamie then responded with, “William? He’s here?“
The only explanation for Lord John saying this is that the writers needed William to overhear the conversation from outside the door.
Lord John’s phrasing here stood out to me like a sore thumb. He never had a problem acknowledging that William was Jamie’s son, but it was an odd time to specify their relationship. There was no reason that he would say “your son” rather than just saying “William.” The only explanation for Lord John saying this is that the writers needed William to overhear the conversation from outside the door. From the moment he said these words, I knew William must already be in the house. It was uncharacteristic behavior, all for the sake of Outlander quickly solving its book-change issue.
A Change Was Necessary, But Outlander Season 7 Could Have Tried Harder
There Were Other Possible Solutions
The frustrating part about Lord John’s weirdly saying “your son” instead of “William” is that there were several ways Outlander could have gone about this reveal in a far more natural way. Jamie could have asked Lord John any sort of question about William, even just asking how he is doing, and it would have tipped the boy off to the fact that there is a connection here he doesn’t know about. William could have demanded an answer, and faced with such direct questions, Jamie would have crumbled and told the truth. Instead, Outlander went with some awkward phrasing.
Related
Lord John Grey & Jamie’s Full History In Outlander Explained
Lord John Grey has remained an important character in Outlander season 7, but his history with Jamie Fraser goes back way further than just this.
The benefit of William having met Jamie several times before their big confrontation in Outlander season 7 is that the boy could have begun slowly figuring things out himself. The fact that he had become so attached to Jamie’s rosary beads (which Ian gave him in the TV show’s version of events) seemed to hint that he suspected a deeper connection. I would have preferred that Outlander take a more nuanced approach to fixing its book change rather than some sloppy dialogue. Hopefully, as the rest of Outlander season 7 explores the fallout of William’s realization, far more care will be taken.
New episodes of
Outlander
season 7 release weekly on Starz at 8:00 PM EST.
7/10
Outlander
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
- Cast
- Caitríona Balfe , Sam Heughan , Sophie Skelton , Richard Rankin , John Bell , Duncan Lacroix , Tobias Menzies , César Domboy , Caitlin O’Ryan , Lauren Lyle , Grant O’Rourke , Graham McTavish , Paul Gorman , Charles Vandervaart , Stephen Walters , David Berry , Sarah Collier
- Character(s)
- Claire Randall Fraser , Jamie Fraser , Brianna Randall , Roger Wakefield , Ian Fraser Murray , Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser , Frank Randall / Jonathan Black Jack Randall , Fergus Claudel Fraser , Lizzie Wemyss , Marsali MacKimmie Fraser , Rupert MacKenzie , Dougal MacKenzie , Josiah / Keziah Beardsley , William Ransom , Angus Mhor , Lord John Grey , Mrs. Bug
- Release Date
- August 9, 2014
- Seasons
- 7
- Writers
- Ronald D. Moore , Matthew B. Roberts
- Directors
- Metin Hüseyin , Jamie Payne
- Showrunner
- Matthew B. Roberts
- Main Genre
- Sci-Fi