Why I’m glad Outlander Season 4 adapted saving Roger

Outlander Season 4 saw Roger a prisoner of the Mohawks. Claire and Jamie went to save him and the scenes were certainly adapted from the books. For the show, they worked.

I know a lot of fans of the novels want to see the show adapt the book fully rather than changing around some of the storyline. However, purely from a TV perspective, Outlander Season 4’s adaptation of saving Roger certainly worked. There was a huge change to the book storyline, but one that was necessary for the two episodes in the series.

One thing the show did was make it so that Claire and Jamie didn’t get to Roger at the time of Alexandre’s death. Everything that Roger did in the show was purely the show and it brought some of the most powerful and emotional moments of the whole season. From a TV show standpoint, it offered everything needed.

Trying to fit in the entire book storyline would have been impossible. There are sections in these chapters that slow down the story a little and a TV show can’t have that. Each episode needs to have its own dramatic storyline and part of “Providence’s” drama was Roger making that decision to go back to the camp and make Alexandre’s death more merciful.

More from Opinion

• Droughtlander suggestions: Check out Silo on Apple TV+
• Outlander season 7 episode 8 review: The Frasers are back in Scotland!
• Outlander Season 7 episode 7 review: Does Jamie die in Outlander?
• Outlander Season 7 episode 6 review: Claire meets William (again)!
• Outlander Season 7 episode 5 review: Does Young Ian have a son?

Those who hadn’t read the books would have got a lot from the TV show alone. It delivered some much-needed character development for Roger, giving him time to reflect on the events that had happened and then show that even if he wanted to be someone else, he would fall back to his own nature. This helped to foreshadow that Roger would initially not want to return to Brianna but, in the end, know that he wanted to be with her and the baby.

The books get away with the highs and lows, the intense moments and the slowed down elements. TV shows, especially those with only 13 episodes, don’t get that. If Outlander Season 4 had 22 episodes like a regular primetime drama, telling the full story as the novels tell it wouldn’t be a problem. There’d be time for the filler episodes.

I listen to the books through Audible at the moment and the chapters with Roger, Claire, and Jamie in the Mohawk village easily take up at least two hours from start to finish, possibly a little more. Adapting all that wouldn’t have been an option in two episodes of show (and half of those episodes considering Brianna’s storyline too) so I’m glad the writers chose to adapt it slightly into two parts.

Then there was Young Ian’s storyline. His came as a huge shock in the show, which made his choice more admirable and emotional. We got that impassioned speech to Jamie about being a man of worth, linking back to the premiere episode. While there was a sweet speech, Ian choosing to stay with the Mohawks wasn’t as big of a surprise in “Drums of Autumn.” We also didn’t get Jamie initially offering to be the one to stay and the goodbye between Claire and Jamie.

What did you think of the way Outlander Season 4 adapted the storyline? What did you think of Claire and Jamie’s moments saving Roger? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Like Claire and Jamie on Facebook for more posts to get through Droughtlander.