#WCW: Why Claire needs a female friend in Outlander Season 4

As much as we love seeing Claire and Jamie’s love story unravel, Outlander Season 4 will benefit from a female friend from our heroine in the story.

One thing Outlander Season 3 lacked was a female friend for Claire. The first two seasons had someone at strategic points, but the third season led to her being surrounded by men. When there were females, they were enemies or “frenemies” in a sense. The only friendly female character was her daughter, Brianna, and that isn’t quite the relationship she needs right now–although that doesn’t mean I don’t look forward to more Claire/Brianna moments in Outlander Season 4.

A female friend allows Claire to explore who she is more. When surrounded by men, especially in the 18th century, she has to forcibly assert who she is. Just look at the way she became a mother, teacher, doctor, or wife throughout her time in the third season. When she’s had a female friend, she’s learned new things about herself, become a little more adventurous, and just found someone she could comfortably confide in.

There have been a few female friends along the way, all of whom have shaped Claire into the woman she is now. Geillis helped her learn more about the ways of healers and the life of the 18th century when otherwise she was pretty much learning from the men. While Geillis turned out to be an enemy, she was a friend at first.

Photo credit: Outlander/Starz Image acquired via Starz Media Room

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Jenny helped Claire find Jamie and helped teach Claire something about pregnancy and motherhood. She became a confidant when it came to some of the worries. The third season, unfortunately, lost that, as Jenny was understandably hurt by Claire’s disappearance.

In the second season, Louise was there for Claire. Sure, Louise was an aristocrat of the time but she offered her help and was there when Claire needed her the most. Plus, Claire became more adventurous with Louise, becoming more of a modern woman and helping to create new views and opinions suitable for the time period. Then there was the relationship with Mother Hildegarde, which helped Claire become a better nurse and someone who supported Claire in her darkest time.

Claire tends to find herself in the company of men. She grew up traveling the world with her uncle, found herself in a profession that wasn’t considered one for women, and trailed 1740s Scotland with men and helped to fight a lost cause. However, these men tend to stop her going after her dreams or view her as something less than what she really is just because of her gender. Jamie is good and some others have realized she is capable of far more than they initially think, but she’s still a woman stuck in a man’s world. It’s the women that can help her.

Outlander Season 4 has the chance to see a bond between Marsali and Claire grow. We know in the novels there are other women who become part of her life. It’s going to be fun to see how they help her develop more as a character and learn more about the ways of the 18th century. Plus, it would just be nice to have more positive women on the show!

Next: 10 best moments from Outlander Season 2

Would you like to see Claire have a female friend in the series? Is it time she got a positive woman in her life in Outlander Season 4? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 4 premieres in November 2018. Like us on Facebook for more news.