Outlander: Why the focus on the slaves in Do No Harm was so important

Our political landscape now is different to the 90s

So why didn’t Diana Gabaldon include this storyline if it was so important? Surely, that suggests that the Outlander writers are saying that the novel isn’t good enough. But that’s certainly not the case.

The writers are using a political landscape that has changed over the last 20+ years. “Drums of Autumn” was written in 1996. Okay, I admit that I was in school at the time and wasn’t keeping track of the news (I was 10!), I know from speaking to others who are older that the political landscape was nothing like it is today.

There’s a huge new push for diversity, equality, and civil rights. That’s not to say there wasn’t before, but there’s a new push and one that is reaching farther thanks to technology. Unfortunately, a novel like “Drums of Autumn” doesn’t reflect that but the show can. While many want the show to stick with the book, there are elements of the books that just don’t work well for the current time period.

I’ll connect this back to the change to Yi Tien Cho (Mr. Willoughby). I applauded the writers for adapting Yi Tien Cho’s storyline because it was necessary. A dated caricature in the books because of the time period it was written, the show was able to take the one-dimensional character and give him a facelift and an honorable ending.

I continue to stand by my opinions on that character, as I will stand by my opinions on Outlander Season 4, Episode 2 and handling Rufus’ storyline.

What did you think of the change to the book’s storyline in Outlander Season 4, Episode 2? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander airs Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.