‘Outlander’ Season 2 Finale Preview: Will War Break Claire and Jamie Apart?
Before dawn on a freezing morning last winter, Outlander stars Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, who play soulmates Claire and Jamie Frasier, arrived on set in the rugged Scottish countryside to shoot a heartbreaking scene for the Season 2 finale. The pair soon got chills—and not from the cold.
“When the sun came up, there was this magical layer of snow,” recalls Heughan, who makes fans swoon as the heroic 18th-century Highlander in love with feisty time-traveling former WWII battlefield nurse Claire. “The whole place looked like a Disney set. It was perfect for such a powerful scene,” Balfe adds.
RELATED: How Outlander Is Taking the Art of Love (and War) to Paris in Season 2
But the action on Outlander, as fans well know, is far from Disney fare. This season has seen the couple challenged by a move to France, the fallout from Jamie’s rape in prison, the devastating loss of their child and now the impending Battle of Culloden, a clash between Scotland and England that will kill thousands and wipe out Highland clan culture, which the duo failed to stop. “Jamie thinks he’s going off to die [in battle],” Heughan teases. “His hand is forced and some of his actions have dire consequences. Ultimately, he and Claire get trapped.”
The action in the supersized 90-minute finale cuts between Claire and Jamie dealing with a disastrous chain of events leading up to the war in Scotland and incidents that happen more than two centuries later, in 1968, when a middle-aged Claire visits Scotland with her 20-year-old daughter, Brianna, or “Bree” (Sophie Skelton), whom she has raised with husband Frank (Tobias Menzies) despite her undying love for Jamie.
To prepare to play an older Claire, Balfe watched films starring some of her favorite actresses—Charlotte Rampling, Helen Mirren, Meryl Streep—and compared performances they gave in their twenties to those later in life. Balfe changed the register of her voice, deepening it to give her character more authority, and she even tweaked her posture. “I was interested in how she carries herself, how the weight of experience rests on her,” Balfe says. “In 1968, Claire’s got all of these memories flooding her mind. Everything is unnerving her.”
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Claire’s distracted mood doesn’t sit well with Bree, who is suspicious. “She thinks her mom’s lying to her,” Skelton says. “Bree’s a very logical person. She majored in history! And she’s strong-willed.”
The mother-daughter tension builds to a powerful argument. The scene, created by writer-producers Toni Graphia and Matthew B. Roberts, was penned before the rest of the script so it could be used to audition actresses for the part of Bree. The moment will be familiar to readers of the bestselling Outlander novels—but not an exact copy. “We’re very mindful of the mass of loyal book fans,” Roberts says. “We try to give them what they want, just not how they expect it.”
Sam Heugan and Caitriona Balfea
The quarreling mother and daughter get a mediator in the form of another new face in the series, a grown-up Roger Wakefield (Richard Rankin), whom viewers met in previous episodes as a boy in 1940s Scotland. “Roger’s intelligent both academically and emotionally, and he’s quite charming,” says Rankin, a Scottish actor who grounded himself in the role by spending two weeks in the Highlands before shooting began and found a visit to the Culloden battlefield “deeply haunting.”
Roger is instantly smitten with Bree, and the two soon join forces to unlock some secrets from the past. “For her, it’s more about the excitement of solving this puzzle,” Skelton says. “Bree isn’t very easily swept off her feet.”
A good portion of the finale, however, deals with Claire’s inner emotional life in 1968 as she revisits some of the places she knew with Jamie in the 1700s, including their onetime home, a now dilapidated Lallybroch. “It was really sad because it looked so abandoned and discarded,” Balfe says. “It’s the tragedy of time and what it does to places.”
No matter how time and fate conspire to drag Claire and Jamie apart, “This is a love story. They’re lovers who are meant to be together,” Graphia says. “It’s safe to say they’ll always find each other. We just don’t know when, where and how.”
Outlander, Season Finale, Saturday, July 9, 9/8c, Starz.
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Although I agree with the posts that the storyline strayed from the Jamie and Claire relationship in S2, I also tend to think that the writers don\'t have a lot of room on that. The story is coming from the books and they generally need to follow it. But again, I want the more intimate moments too, the attention on J&C (not JUST sex scenes, either). I miss that and am VERY hopeful it returns soon. I want to see what made me love the show, to begin with.
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Maybe we can all look at Season 2 as the proverbial \"sophomore slump\" and hope that Saeaon 3 brings us back to the love story we love! DIA was probably my least favorite book of the series, but Voyager was fabulous. Fingers crossed!
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\"This is a love story.\" I wish the writers had kept that in mind when they wrote season 2. Personally, I wouldn\'t call it a love story this season, they shelved it to focus on a more plot driven storyline. It\'s unfortunate, because now as the story moves forward, it will be less believable that they have such a deep connection that will transcend time. I think Frank looks like the better husband for Claire based on what the show has given us this season. Sad.
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but its NOT just a love story
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I agree but this season was tool might fighting. The Paris and the scheming stuff was great, I got bored this past 3 or 4 episodes...hoping the finale will pick back up...
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But when you try to put such a huge book and longer storyline into 13 episode season for tv, there has to be some give and take. Diana has said that she is ok with the changes that were made and trusts Ron with her books.
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Well I\'ve never read the books so I am only going on what they put out, given last season was so good and this one started off so good I was so hopeful...
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I hadn\'t either until just after S2 started airing. Once I did I couldn\'t put them down. I read all 8 books within 6 weeks. I would suggest giving them a try. They are REALLY GOOD and the tv show is like the cliff notes version of the books. Plus we get to \'see\' Jamie and Claire in our heads as we read.
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When I get more time I definitely plan to :)
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Wow. I couldn\'t have put every single word better myself, JLH. Every word. Outlander is far from just a love story. But unless they make it an ensemble show with stand alone episodes, it needs a central storyline to anchor the plots and characters. Last season that was Jamie and Claire\'s story. According to Claire, in the second season\'s episode 1, it seemed that - once returned to the 18th C - it would continue the anchor, but that was proved wrong (to me) within minutes.
I don\'t see the show returning its focus to Claire and Jamie\'s deep connection in the coming seasons. First of all, they seem to have decided against it and have already redefined the relationship. As you point out, one thing the season was successful in doing was to cause many of us to lose our investment in the couple. Second, they\'ll be adding new characters that are even more central to the story (no spoiler there), and they\'ll be adding them in the finale which means we\'re meant to be leaving the season with new serious attachments. Not sure I\'ll weather the switch in focus, it wasn\'t handled well enough up to now to re-grab my interest.
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This is very unfortunate but sadly true. I started reading the books somewhere in the middle of season 1, some of the books I like better than others, I dislike some plotlines while enjoy the others. But I fell in love with Claire&Jamie, their utter devotion to each other, deep love, often hilarious banter and the way they face never ending challenges with humor and grace. The way C&J marriage has been portrayed in season 2 leaves me cold. The writers build up EVERYTHING around them, but seem to forget about the central couple, which has been the soul of 8 books so far.
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We have such similar timing! I start reading around 3/4 of the way through season 1 when I thought the show oddly missed the lead couple (based only on what had come before on TV) so you can imagine Season 2 leaves me cold as well. Also, very good point about the build up, both the marketing and the dialogue between Claire and Frank in S2 EP1 build up the C&J relationship as central and put it on the back burner.
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I saw someone referring to season 2 as a \"study of minor characters\" and I think it\'s spot on. That was certainly my impression upon watching episode 12. And don\'t get me wrong, I really appreciate performances of actors playing brothers McKenzie, Murtagh or Black Jack, the same way I enjoy other supporting characters in the books: Young Ian, the Murrays, Lord John or Denny and Rachel. But the key word is: supporting. In season 2 I sometimes get an impression that Claire has a more meaningful relationship with Murtagh, than with her husband. LOL. I mean, what the hell?
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\"Claire has a more meaningful relationship with Murtagh, than with her husband\". Exactly what I felt. Now I LOVE Duncan LaCroix as Murtagh and would have no problem with that change in story into future episodes but what they have done to diminish Jamie this season is ruining a beautiful story.
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Yula and Cajsa, I agree with both of you how fantastic the supporting actors are. Casting is amazing across the board. I also love many of the characters coming up - Ian is one of my favorites in the series.
And, Murtagh/Duncan LaCroix, of course! In that case I\'ve also thought, sometimes, that he has a more meaningful relationship with Claire than Jamie. It seems that they have apportioned some aspects of Jamie to other characters between season 1&2 of the show. If you bring books into the comparison, other characters get some of Jamie\'s actions and dialogue. I have no problem with switching that kind of thing from books to TV, but not instead of Jamie\'s identity and relevance.
SOMETHING POSITIVE!: I do look forward to seeing more of Sam Heughan\'s work, as well as Jamie\'s character development, if they choose to include some of his post-Culloden experiences. Most of them introduce story lines that last through the books, but who knows if those will be followed - or if they will still be introduced through Jamie.
I guess nothing is certain, but I am going to try to get into next season!
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I don\'t begrudge Claire and Fergus\' relationship either, I like that change from the book (even if it is one more thing given from Jamie\'s character) but at one point I was reminded of how affectionate Claire once was with Jamie - I said AFFECTIONATE, before anyone gets upset! - and thought of how little time it took, in terms of fitting season into 13 episodes.
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Couldn\'t agree more. The main reason I stuck with Outlander was the wonderful love and chemistry between Jamie and Claire. Surely Producer Ron Moore knows that??
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I\'m a fan of the books and the show. I understand the change in medium requires some adaptation. What I do worry about, is the change in tone and intent. As \"JLH\'s\" above comment said, by reducing the relationship of J & C, you\'ll never understand how their relationship transcends time and C\'s decision to leave Bree and return to the 1760\'s. 13 episodes just wasn\'t enough time for such a complex story and the producers had to make tough choices. Unfortunately, I think the choices they made centered more on plot rather than core of the story which is J & C\'s extraordinary relationship.
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\"Dragonfly in Amber\" was my least favorite of all of the Outlander series, so Season 2 came as no surprise to me. Having said that, book 3, \"Voyager\" which presumably will form the basis of Series 3, is my favorite. To those who feel some loss of focus on the love and passion between the two characters, I would say you will be richly rewarded with \"Voyager\"assuming it follows the book\'s story line, more or less. This is a spoiler so do not read any further unless you want to, but ...... \"Voyager\" is where Claire goes back in time to Jaime and it\'s everything you would expect in, ahem, the passion department. The rest of the book contains mostly ship travel to foreign locales and more of Jamie\'s seasickness as the title \"Voyager\" connotes. There are new characters along the way, too. Overall, it is a wonderful book and I hope the writers and director do not stray too far from it.
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People\'sRepublic and others: I looking through my recent posts and realize how negative they are. I don\'t change my opinions on this season, but maybe I should not give up before giving the next one a chance. I do love the characters and the actors that play them - add in the music, production quality, etc....
The question I have is whether the show would, or can, change gears like that. They seem to have made a pretty radical decision about changing (even between seasons, without comparing show and books) how they depict Claire and Jamie together and, particularly, Jamie himself.
I don\'t see how they would do it - or why from the point of view of how the show approached this season. They must have one or various reasons for the change in focus.
While DIA was many readers least favorite book, it was the one in which the depth and endurance of their love and essential need for each other was established - along with their mutual respect and sheer enjoyment of each other\'s company. That was a long list of attachments, but I made it because it is the basis for the heartbreak of their parting and, more importantly (a TV show can break viewers hearts with very little background - music can be enough for me), how every aspect of that attachment remains undiminned for 20 years. In other words, what makes the rest of the series possible.
Am I totally off base? Should I just start afresh next season and see where the show takes the story, whether they strengthen J&C again or not?
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Agree
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Season two is called\"Dragonfly in Amber\" because it tells the story as DG WROTE it..It was no my favorite book,but part of Jamie and Claire life..They are human and both are going thru a lot.Pregnancy, rape,Paris backstabing,loss of a chil? If you have lied very long no matter who you are in love with these things slow your desire and closeness. .Oh and BTW,the older they get the less they have sex,so if you don\'t want to watch two real people go thru their life together maybe \"Outlander\"isn\'t for you..
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She didn\'t say anything about lack of sex, why do you assume it\'s what she wants to see? BTW C&J still have a a lot of sex, even in the last two books.
And non-existent relationship between the two main characters is definitly not something DG wrote.
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I really wasn\'t talking about lack of sex, although I think the show did those scenes beautifully and in the book the couple do have sex frequently in Paris - and through the period before Culloden. It is a significant way the author has them connect up through the last pages of the most recent book.
However, if the show doesn\'t use that there are other ways of showing intimacy, some of which they have used this season to great effect, if more sparingly than I thought (and felt) the story needed and characters deserved.
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Of course they lose each other. They are just leaving out most of that intense stuff between Jamie.ie and Claire because it might actually make these two characters compelling and less boring.
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I haveread some parts of the books. I bought Outlander translate to my language, portuguese and i want to buy in english, because we are bilingue.
I\'m certainly that Ron and Diana Gabaldon try to be genuine with the novel romance.
On season 1 episode 3 or 4, when we saw the folk song who tells that woman travells from the stones returns. She understand that is possible to be back to her own time. That´s a sign. 20 years is along time. Besides, Claire have a relationship with Frank based on respect and friendship. Her really love is Jamie against time and circumstances. Let´s wait for season 3 and 4.
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Ron and all. Listen to these fans. Get a clue before the presentation of season 3 and 4. The relationship between Jamie and Claire is the CORE of the story. The rest of the plots are amazing, but NOT THE CORE of the story. Please! Thank you.
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I couldn\'t agree more with all your comments. Jamie is like secondary character. Very sad for Sam. I can only hope Season 3 is better. I hope the writers and Ron see our comments and realize what they are doing.
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The Core of the books is the love that Jamie has for Claire & vice versa... that IS the CORE of all the books and it should be what the running theme of the TV series is. The TV series should not focus completely on the secondary characters as Seasons 2 seems 2 have done.
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Completely agree with your comment. Ron Moore has said he is taking the story in different directions than the book so I\'m not sure I\'m going to continue paying a subscription fee to watch my favorite story changed and diminished. I pay to watch Diana Gabaldon\'s story not Ron Moore\'s.
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Amen
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Droughtlander is coming. Sniff.
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somehow changing the future was always going to be bordering on impossible but has resulted in a more believable storyline.... the endless separations for Claire and Jaime are just beginning and we will have to stick to the end to see how it all pans out and if they really get a happily ever after but lots of pain on their journey.
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I have read some parts of the books. Claire really love is Jamie against time and all circunstancies. on episode 3, season 1 she understands by the folk song that she can bak to her own time. That\'s a sign. Jamie on season 2, episode 11 he is talking loud and ask to God to protect Claire and the child that she\'ll be carrying. Jamie wants Claire´s bcak to Frank because he knows he take cares of her and their child.Diana cfreat a very altruistic character..
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