The Outlander books and show have some major differences between them. While I understand the reasons fans don’t like the way the show has adapted the story, the changes are something I enjoy.
When books are adapted into movies or TV shows, changes happen. Authors frequently sell their rights, so they have no control over the changes. The Outlander books are no different. The show has adapted various scenes and moments for various reasons. Sometimes they’re due to time constraints, sometimes due to personal choices, and other times because they want to showcase Caitriona Balfe’s singing (*cough* the singing to the ends of Scotland *cough*).
While I’m not a fan of every decision made, I enjoy the fact the show has made some adaptations in telling the story. Honestly, I’m not a book purist for any book adaptation.
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Making changes is fun for me as a reader
Outlander is one of the only shows where I watch the series before reading the book material. Most others, I’ll read the books first. However, whichever way I’ve done it, seeing changes happen with the adaptation makes the book more fun to read.
The differences tend to show a different side to a personality. They allow for side characters to shine through or develop an extra layer of detail. When reading Outlander, I found myself glancing over elements of the book that I’d already seen in the series. Yet in the elements that the show had adapted and grown upon, I was intrigued. The book had my undivided attention. Claire’s fight with the wolf in the first novel drew me in and had me fully engrossed because it wasn’t in the series. I did wonder why that part was left out, but I’m glad it was since I had something to excite me in the books.
This would happen the other way around, too. If I’d read the books first, I’d get bored in elements of the show, knowing how the story was going to go. By changing things up and adding new elements in, I’m left guessing as a fan. I don’t think “oh, well, I can guess this part of the storyline” or “I know what’s going to happen in the next episode, so I’ll give it a miss.”
I will finish this point saying that I’m not one for re-reading books a lot. A book really has to capture my attention for me to re-read it. Most of the time once is enough, especially a tome the size of Diana Gabaldon’s novels.
Seeing other characters develop
I mentioned in the first of my Outlander books review that I don’t enjoy first-person storytelling that much. While I get to know all about the lead character, it’s much harder to learn about the side characters. I only learn from the main character’s point of view.
The TV show gave me the chance to learn more about the side characters–plus there was a character that I loved that wasn’t even in the books. There’s a chance to see personalities shine through and spot different character traits.
Even the main characters’ personality traits can be different on the show. We get this view of a character in our heads but then realize that other people got a different view of their personality. Seeing the changes in the show meant I saw a different viewpoint.
Two different series to follow
With the Outlander books and show having so many differences, they can become two separate entities. As Gabaldon has said in the past, “the books are the books and the show is the show.” I get two bits of Claire and Jamie for the price of one, so to speak.
If I want to re-enter the world Gabaldon purely created, I can read the books and not think about the show. When I want to see more of the side characters, I can put on an episode of the show and see them come to life without thinking about the books.
Two book-and-show series I do enjoy are The Vampire Diaries and Pretty Little Liars. Both books and shows are completely different to each other, creating a new world and new story in the same universe. Outlander is close to doing that.
Next: What makes someone a true Outlander fan
Do you enjoy the changes between Outlander books and show? What would you like to see the showrunners do moving forward? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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