Why Roger would want a gem instead of coin in Outlander

Alexandria Ingham

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

When Roger was paid for his time with Bonnet, he asked for a gem or two instead of coin. Why would he do that when he needed to get back to Brianna in Outlander?

Roger was pulled back onto the Gloriana in Outlander Season 4, Episode 9. At the end of the journey, he was paid for his time but asked for gems instead of coin. Why would he consider doing that?

There’s only one reason he’d need a gem: to get through the stones. Yet, he wasn’t planning on sailing directly to Scotland to go through the stones. He made it clear that he wanted to get back to Brianna, the anger from the fight had cooled down and he was thinking with a level head again. So, wouldn’t he need coin?

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Well, Roger was just being prepared. Sure, he’d need to get to Brianna, but he would also need a gem. He’d guess that Brianna would have made it to Fraser’s Ridge by this point, so assumed she’d have told Claire and Jamie about the fire. That’s all Brianna came through the stones for so would want to get back to her own time afterward.

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Roger wouldn’t want her sticking around in the past any longer than she needs to be. And he knows that she was intending to return. The letter he read was intended to be delivered in a year, suggesting she knew it could take a year to get to Claire and Jamie, warn them, and then find her way back through the stones.

The gemstone is a necessary item to travel through the stones. At least, that’s what they believe. Roger just wanted to be prepared, likely because he had coin to use when he needed it anyway.

Did you have to second guess Roger’s decision to ask for a gemstone? What did you think of the episode this Sunday? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 4 continues on Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.

Alexandria Ingham

Alexandria Ingham is the Site Expert at Claire and Jamie, Precinct TV, and Last Night On within the FanSided network. She is also a contributor at many other sites, including Show Snob, GeekSided, and Winter Is Coming, and has been with FanSided since 2016, writing about Game of Thrones, Outlander, Grey's Anatomy, The Boys, Supernatural, and much more. When she's not writing, you can find her curled up with a good book or an intriguing dystopian or fantasy TV series. She is also a freelance writer for hire in niches such as lifestyle, entertainment, parenting, budgeting, and more.