Is it possible to feel sorry for Frank?
By Amy Kaplan
Is it possible to feel sorry for Frank Randall, Claire’s first husband, despite the infidelity?
Outlander fans have mixed emotions when it comes to Frank Randall, the first husband of Claire and it’s not hard to see why.
On one hand, he is innocent in all of this, left behind for years without any clue of where his beloved wife had gone — only to have her return pregnant and mourning another man. But as time goes on Frank becomes distant, unfaithful and even threatens to take Brianna (the child he raised as his own) away from Claire.
So I have to ask… is it possible to feel sorry for Frank?
Yes, I think is.
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Like I stated above, he was the innocent party. He didn’t turn his back on Claire. He literally fought to find her and even rallied in her absence to keep her reputation clean when the police accused her of leaving him for another
man. He proved time and time again that he was a stand-up man after raising Brianna as his own for her entire life. He provided a happy (for the most part) home for Bree and even tried to rekindle his romance with Claire. He could have easily walked away leaving Claire to raise a child alone in a time when that just wasn’t done. Had he left, Claire might never have been able to attend medical school and become a doctor.
I can’t even blame Frank for the infidelity. Claire was clearly not connected to Frank, and though cheating is never okay, it is understandable in this case. A man has needs, and if Claire is unable to fulfill them, he should be able to seek comfort elsewhere (though he should have cleared this with her first).
The only flaw I really see in Frank is his desire to take Bree from Claire. At that point, I believe he was doing what he felt best, and clinging to the part of Claire that still loved him (even if she wasn’t his biological daughter). We all know this plan never came to fruition because Frank was killed in a car accident shortly after, and I truly believe he wouldn’t have gone through with it anyway.
Next: Could Frank's return work for Outlander Season 4?
I think Outlander fans might be carrying over their hatred of “Black” Jack Randall and projecting it onto Frank because of their familial connection, but I think that’s not giving Frank his dues.
Bottom line, it’s absolutely possible to feel sorry for Frank.
What do you think? Can anyone feel sorry for him? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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