Outlander Season 4, Episode 7 gave us some flashbacks of Frank. They were the perfect addition to the series, slotting in beautifully for Brianna’s journey.
I admit that Tobias Menzies was the reason I initially watched Outlander. I’d heard all about it before the book was turned into a series and friends told me I’d love the series, but it wasn’t until I realized Tobias Menzies was part of the series that I gave it a good chance.
Now I stay for far much more. As much as I adore Tobias, I’ve loved seeing Claire and Jamie’s relationship develop. I enjoyed the Scottish history and I’m looking forward to the American history play out. But I’ll admit that I’ve missed Tobias on the screen so it shouldn’t surprising that I enjoyed the flashbacks.
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I don’t just love the flashbacks because of the actor, though. The flashbacks were timed perfectly in the episode. Some showrunners and writers get into the habit of putting in flashbacks because they’re sweet or because they want a past character to return, but that’s not what happened here. Every single flashback was a part of Brianna’s development.
Throughout the episode, she thought about Frank. It was because of his research that she found the obituary. We got to see that, at first, it meant nothing to her and then all the pieces of the puzzle fit together. There are regrets that she carries with her and we have the chance to see why she’s closed off her heart.
All of this could have been told to us through conversation, but it worked better by showing through the flashbacks. We got to see Brianna learn some of the truths without realizing what she was learning, which would likely have affected her guilt afterward.
More importantly, it was how the flashbacks fit into Brianna’s current situation. We got that sense that despite the final words not being “I love you, too,” Frank is always with her. He’s proud of his daughter and happy that she’s off to try to change the past, something he knew he couldn’t do.
This may be the last time we ever see Frank. There’s a chance of no more flashbacks and it’s perfect to see him as the father Brianna remembers and not the husband Claire remembers. As much as the marriage between Frank and Claire didn’t work, he was always the best father to Brianna she wished for and that’s what counts for her.
What did you think about the flashbacks with Frank? Did they work for you? What did you take away from them? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Outlander Season 4 continues on Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.