Both the Outlander TV show and book series revolve around the central relationship between Jamie and Claire, but each iteration of their love story is different. Though the Outlander series is faithful to the novels by Diana Gabaldon in many ways, some of the trends of how the narrative creates drama and intrigue for Jamie and Claire are handled better on the page. However, it's almost universally agreed upon that Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe were cast perfectly as Jamie and Claire and have made the series relentlessly compelling thanks to their chemistry and longing for each other.
Though the Outlander season 8 release date is drawing closer, audiences will first witness the conclusion of season 7, with part 2 likely putting Jamie and Claire in another impossible situation. The season 7, part 1, finale saw Jamie and Claire heading back to Scotland, but it likely won't be long before they're separated by oceans, time, or circumstance once again. While there are plenty of other storylines and character dramas outside of Claire and Jamie's relationship arc, they have been apart too many times, and the show doesn't handle this as well as the books.
Outlander season 7, part 2, will premiere on Starz on Friday, November 22nd, 2024.
Outlander Has A Frustrating Jamie & Claire Problem That's Less Obvious In The Books
Jamie & Claire's constant issue works better in the novels
When it comes to Jamie and Claire's relationship in Outlander, many different plotlines have arisen to drive the tension and drama. However, the series returns to the trope of them being physically apart and trying to return to each other too many times. It could be argued that these separations follow the books' stories, but the series has strayed from the exact beats of Gabaldon's work before. It's been confirmed that season 8 will differ from the final Outlander book, so this opens the door for the writers and creators to explore new obstacles for Jamie and Claire to overcome.
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The way the Outlander book series lines up with the TV show shows how differently the screen adaptation is laid out compared to the novels. This is the case with most screen adaptations of fantasy novels since the world-building and intersecting plotlines must be shortened to fit into a streamlined season. However, one of the biggest pitfalls of this storytelling style is that Claire and Jamie's relationship lost some of its explosive tension as the seasons progressed because their separation isn't heartbreaking anymore; it's frustrating.
Why The Outlander Books Handle This Recurring Theme Better Than The Show
The books have the time and space to make the separations feel natural
The first time that Outlander separated Jamie and Claire was heartbreaking, and the show successfully raised the stakes several times throughout their separations, but it soon grew repetitive. At this point in the series, the audience knows that no matter what happens, Jamie and Claire will find their way back to each other, which makes it easy to disregard the events that drive them apart. It seems as though every season, something pushes the pair apart, making it less climactic every time this happens. However, Gabaldon has found a way to make this recurring storyline less obvious in her writing.
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The Outlander TV series faces a similar pitfall to most screen iterations of books; it must condense the plot and keep the story moving at all costs. This means that some ancillary side stories and downtime between the larger plot thrusts are dropped, adapting only the pivotal narrative moments. While this initially created strong stakes and a high-drama series, it's lost its spark. Jamie and Claire's Outlander relationship timeline has only grown more tired and predictable, instead of more. The Outlander novels have more plots for Jamie and Claire, but the show doesn't have the same luxury of time.
Based on the novel series, Outlander follows combat nurse Claire Randall from the year 1945, who is mysteriously transported back to 1743, where she is immediately thrown into an unknown world and sees her life threatened. However, when Claire is forced to marry Jamie Fraser, a genuine and passionate relationship is ignited that tears Claire's heart between two different men from two clashing lives.
Release Date August 9, 2014
Seasons 7
Writers Ronald D. Moore , Matthew B. Roberts
Directors Metin Hüseyin , Jamie Payne
Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts
English (US) ·