#TT: Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 transformed Brianna & Roger’s story perfectly

Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 brought Brianna and Roger’s story back into focus. The transformation of two moments into one for the show was perfect and here’s why.

Outlander Season 4 finally brought Brianna and Roger’s storyline back into focus in Episode 3, titled “The False Bride.” Book fans know that the scenes combined two different moments in “Drums of Autumn.” It was the perfect combination for the same of time and story.

Let’s be honest, as much as we’d love to see the full book told, it’s not possible. Between time, cost, and practicality, scenes need to be combined, cut, or completely adapted. The writers chose to combine two of Brianna and Roger’s moments to bring “The False Bride” and it was the best decision.

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It’s easy to fill in the gaps during the show. While the books go into a lot more detail, the show doesn’t need all of it. In fact, I think having a cut down version of the story in the show will entice far more to read the books. It leaves the details for Diana Gabaldon’s beautiful storytelling, giving fans who haven’t read the books something new and meaningful to explore.

Since the show needs to cut down on storylines and scenes for time, combine two important ones is the best way to handle that. We got the sense of Roger’s deep affection for Brianna, while there was the hesitation on Brianna’s part was clear. She’s much younger than Roger and just not ready to settle down yet. She’s a woman of her time and that was extremely clear.

The combination of the festival and then Christmas together in Outlander Season 4, Episode 3 brought us the full story we needed for the time. It put the focus on the couple and showed their allure for each other but their immediate differences. The whole situation was heartbreaking for both, but it was honest and believable at the same time.

While I’ve not read “Drums of Autumn” yet, I do know the basic storylines and I know of the two scenes. I felt the story was complete for the sake of the show in the one episode and I look forward to seeing the two separate scenes play out when I come to read the books.

Plus, with the combination of the two scenes, there was more time to go back to Claire and Jamie. It would be easy to fill up an episode of Brianna and Roger at this point, but there’s no way we’d want to miss an episode of Claire and Jamie. Outlander will always be their story, with Brianna and Roger coming into more focus in this season. That means Brianna and Roger’s storylines need to be cut down a little bit more than others.

What did you think of the way Brianna and Roger’s scenes were combined? Would you like to have seen both scenes kept separate? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander airs Sundays on STARZ.