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[gotham-ruaidh]

happiness

The incredible “three-beat” device was used with great aplomb by the masterful Anne Kenney in 02x03 “Useful Occupations and Deceptions.” We see Jamie and Claire in three different emotional places at three different parts of the episode - at the beginning, middle, and end.

And one concept - that of happiness, and the cause of happiness - is the consistent thread throughout. At the beginning, Claire and Jamie think they’re on the same page. In the middle, they’re clearly not. And at the end, they’re still not, but they’ve learned, and grown a bit, and are fighting their way back to each other.

———-

Murtagh: Jamie will not like this

Claire: He’ll be happy if I’m happy

—–

Claire: What’s the matter? I thought you’d be happy for me.

Jamie: Did ye now?

—–

Jamie: What is it, Sassenach?

Claire: I just love seeing you so happy

[gotham-ruaidh]

Given the choice, Which do you prefer longer Seasons (more episodes), or longer episodes (shorter Season) ? 🙂

Great question, anon!

I really had to think about this one.

I'll say - longer seasons. Because it means more weeks that Outlander is on the air.

Readers - what do you think?

[gotham-ruaidh]

We've heard DG make many references to the significance of the forget-me-nots that were in the first episode when Claire goes through the stones for the first time. I was wondering what you think that significance is and how you think it will play out. (not really a question, more a line of thought hahahaha)

Let me share what Diana Gabaldon has said:

The choice of flower was deliberate

She won’t share yet what the significance is

Claire did not plant them

I also found this on the forum for the Scot and the Sassenach podcast:

During some of the pre-show publicity, I remember Diana saying that Ron asked her if it was important that the flower at the base of “the” stone was a particular type.  She told him, “Only if you plan to do the entire series.“

Also found this:

Victorian Interpretation:  Based mostly on its name, the forget-me-not signifies true love in the Victorian age.  It also relates to good memories, memories that you wouldn’t want to forget.Superstitions:  The flowers of forget-me-nots almost always have a story that relates to love.  Mainly, if couples wore the forget-me-not as a garland, they would never be forgotten by their lovers. What the Forget-Me-Not Means:  Just as the name implies, forget-me-nots mean remembrance.  It can mean the remembrance of good memories like when two people are together as a couple.  It also signifies true love.

Forget-me-nots are also poisonous, though they do have medicinal properties.

Given that Diana is a trained scientist, with a particular interest in botany, I can’t think that the placement of this plant is flippant or accidental. She doesn’t put in *any* kind of plant or animal in her stories without some underlying intent.

To me, there’s a deliberate meaning behind this plant. Whether or not it was deliberately placed there, the choice of the forget-me-not reflects (in part) the journey that Claire is about to go on. And like with so many other things in the Outlander universe, we’ll just have to wait and see…

(I also found this lovely Outlander Plants blog which shares more information about the forget-me-not plant, as well as many other plants featured in The Books)

[gotham-ruaidh]

[gotham-ruaidh]

Gothie:

While Jamie and Claire are separated, it is clear that Jamie ( strongly) experiences Claire visually (" you would come to me"), in his dreams vividly in which he could feel, taste and smell her. I know Claire experiences Jamie through hearing his voice, in her imagination, and perhaps through Perpetual Adoration ( spiritually) but are there other ways they connect?

Thank you.

This is a really good question - and what astute observations, anon!

Other than the examples you've laid out, I honestly can't think of anything else.

Except, of course, the love and longing and sorrow that I'm sure never went away - and that they endured separately, yet at the same time.

Nothing "psychic", for sure - certainly nothing like what Jamie later has with Mandy and Jem, where he can "see" them in the future.

[gotham-ruaidh]

The calmer you are, the clearer you think.

[gotham-ruaidh]

“It will be all right, Sassenach,” he said. “With the two of us, it will be all right.” – Drums of Autumn

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[gotham-ruaidh]

If you could be book Claire for one and only one book which book Claire would you be and why?

I’ve given this a very long and hard think, @abbydebeaupreposts - and my final answer is The Fiery Cross.

Why? Because finally in this book, Claire lives a life where she can have as many metaphorical vases as she wants. Consider that in this book, she and Jamie have built their home and truly settled into life on the Ridge; Brianna and Roger and Jem are with them, so she is surrounded by the child of her and Jamie’s blood, and they all live in harmony; she is well-established in her life as a healer; Jamie’s love for her grows even deeper, as does hers for him.

Things are still a bit too raw between her and Jamie during Drums of Autumn - and in A Breath of Snow and Ashes, things fall apart.

But in The Fiery Cross, we have a full, solid book of Jamie and Claire living a (mostly) quiet rural life, on a farm they have built together, surrounded by their family. Finally, after more than 25 years of marriage, they achieve the life goals they have always had.

[gotham-ruaidh]

i’m trying to be less ashamed of my failures and more grateful to where they have brought me. without them, i would have so much less growth in my life.

[gotham-ruaidh]

I’ve often though the relationship between Claire and Roger was one of the more interesting connections. From the first, he’s willing to believe her, and at times, almost seems to have a slight crush on her. What are your thoughts?

Roger and Claire have a LOT in common:

Raised by eccentric, batchelor uncles after their parents die - under mysterious circumstances

As such, they are always searching for a home - searching for a family; they are completely overwhelmed by the family that they do find

Have a successful, independent career (historian/professor, surgeon)

Descended from time travelers (Geillis Duncan/Master Raymond)

Fall head-over-heels with a fiery, passionate, stubborn redhead

Yearning to know the unknown - to make sense of the world around them - to have a positive influence on others

I completely agree that they have a connection from the very beginning - Roger, like Jamie, simply believes Claire when she shares her story. He doesn’t understand it, but he trusts that what she says is true. And by doing that, they are immediately bonded.

I think Roger is in awe of Claire - not just what she’s accomplished, and what she’s experienced, but who she is as a person. As a woman.

Roger is the son that Claire never had; Claire is the mother that Roger never had.

Does he have a crush on her? of course. He’s male.

[gotham-ruaidh]

gentle reminder: you’re beautiful and lovely and deserving of good things

[gotham-ruaidh]

I have a question and I’m not sure perhaps you might know the answer! The scene in 103 where Claire is checking on Jamie’s wound down in her medical dungeon lol, and there’s a part of the scene that I’ve seen giffed and screenshot, but it isn’t in the actual scene if I go rewatch it on Starz or on YouTube. But it’s where she’s untying the top of his shirt and he’s looking at her straight on and his chin is downward. I hope this is coherent! haha I was wondering if it’s on the DVD or something?

I know exactly what you’re referring to, anon. It didn’t make the final cut - was likely just a portion of the scene, filmed from a different angle. Even though it was used in the initial trailer for Outlander (in January 2014!)

That Look just drew me in. As I’m sure it did many others.

For science:

ahem.

[gotham-ruaidh]

Can you clarify on them be too raw in DOA?

After everything that happens in Voyager, Jamie and Claire don’t exactly have a lot of time to truly settle in to their new life together. They reunited, it was messy, they were thrown into shipnanigans, they almost died (again), they were separated (again), they were literally blown ashore in the New World.

Then in Drums of Autumn - a lot of the book is them settling into a domestic routine that they had never had together before. They build their foothold on Fraser’s Ridge, while at the same time truly getting used to each other. And just when things settle down, Brianna shows up. Pregnant. Bonnet drama. Then the whole Roger-getting-sold-to-the-Indians affair. Etc.

So, to put it mildly, shit goes down in DoA. Jamie and Claire are still figuring out what it means to live as a truly domestic, married couple - and then their household expands.

This is why things are still raw between them. They’re trying to figure out a LOT of stuff.

Which is why, by the time The Fiery Cross rolls around, it’s such a joy to see them secure and content in the life they have built together - the life they have worked and fought so hard to have together. Of course it’s not easy - but it’s hard-won, and they cherish it, and they’re finally able to relax a bit.

[gotham-ruaidh]

Do you have a set belief regarding time travel and does it line up with the time travel displayed/described in Outlander?

Logically, it goes against science.

But I know that there are many things in this world that can’t be explained by science. And, I am a very religious person. Which compels me to believe in things that can’t be explained: angels, heaven, a virgin conceiving, a man rising from the dead and then ascending into Heaven. Apparitions of the Virgin Mary to three shepherd children in Fatima, Portugal in 1917. Etc.

To quote Brother Anselm, in Outlander:

“Ma chère, I serve a man who multiplied the loaves and fishes…who healed the sick and raised the dead. Shall I be astonished that the master of eternity has brought a young woman through the stones of the earth to do His will?”

As such - why wouldn’t the Outlander method of time travel be possible - or at least plausible? It’s logical in its own way.

Now to just find a stone circle nearby…

[gotham-ruaidh]

[gotham-ruaidh]

Hi gotham just wanna say I love all your great takes on outlander type things... I had a theory I'd love to hear your thoughts on... we've seen Jamie's various reactions to Lord John's feelings since Voyager but I was thinking that maybe part of the reason he has temper about what happened when John and Claire thought he was dead could be similar to his response to when he couldn't separate Claire from the PTSD of what BJR did he could be afraid their love bond wouldn't be theirs anymore

Hi @nwcountrygirl17!

With respect, I don't think so.

Jamie reacts so vigorously to the news about John and Claire for several reasons.

(none of which relates to his gratitude for John protecting Claire - because after all, he married Claire to keep her safe, too)

Jamie is incredibly possessive when it comes to Claire. He lost her to another husband once - he once told her he has a very hard time knowing that she has slept with other men - so at a very base level, he really can't cope with the fact that she had been with another man, no matter the circumstances

He can't believe that it happened, given how he know Claire loves him and how he knows John prefers men

Let's face it, it's shocking

He's terrified that it will never be the same between himself and Claire - and that it would prevent them from (at long last) returning home to the Ridge together

I think Jamie's reaction to the situation has everything to do with Claire and little or nothing to do with John.