It’s #ThrowbackThursday and today I’m jumping back to Outlander Season 3. The writers made a decision that would affect the future of the show. Was it right to keep Murtagh alive?
Book fans are torn. Some loved that Murtagh was kept alive in Outlander Season 3, while others wished that the storyline had remained the same as in the books. However, the decision to prevent his death at Culloden has certainly led to some changes moving forward. Was the decision the right one?
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This is something I’m looking at for today’s #ThrowbackThursday post. It’s a chance to delve into the decision made in Outlander Season 3 and look at what it means for the future. I’ll give you both sides and then share my actual opinion based on the view as a show-first fan.
Murtagh should have been killed
Jamie finds out that Murtagh was killed at Culloden in the third book. It’s something that haunts him in the future. This was his godfather, someone who had been with him for the majority of his life and always looked out for him. It was heartbreaking for him to see Murtagh so close to death.
This is something that stays with Jamie. It affects decisions and his personality later on, something that we missed when the show decided to keep Murtagh alive.
With the effect that it had, the show should have stuck to the books more carefully. Now that Murtagh is alive, the storyline has to change slightly. Instead of Duncan Innes marrying Jocasta, it looks like she’s entering a love affair with a man on the run. There is no happy ending for the two of them right now and it could mess a lot of things up.
Book fans tune in to see how their favorite story translates on the screen. Many don’t want elements added in for the surprise factor. They want the story they’ve come to know and love.
Keeping Murtagh alive is the best thing possible for the future
While Murtagh may have been alive, he wasn’t with Jamie. There was still the fear that we’d learn that Murtagh had died while being an indentured servant. There was this fear that we’d never see the character again.
Instead, we learn that he’s the leader of the Regulators. The Regulators are massively important in the early days of the American Revolution and for Claire and Jamie’s story. By having Murtagh there, we get this sense of extra drama, which is important for a TV show compared to a book. This is something that needs to work for both book fans and the show-only fans.
There’re more at stake for Claire and Jamie moving forward. Murtagh being part of the Regulators will give Jamie a bigger reason to switch sides later on in the war – and not just because Claire knows history can’t be changed and the Patriots will win.
The opportunities are endless. By making this change, the show can be a surprise for book and show fans alike. After all, book fans can’t just rely on the novels to know the way the story will go, adding an extra layer of excitement.
I think the decision was right
As a show-first fan, I love that Murtagh was kept alive. This is a character that had been developed fully, with a relationship with both Claire and Jamie. His return in Outlander Season 4 gave us those different bonds he gained with the two characters.
TV shows need an extra layer of drama in every single episode. We just have to look at Game of Thrones Season 8 to see how fans can get bored of just a lot of dialogue and character development. The first two episodes were too slow for many, as really it was three episodes of buildup and drama in one (working well as a binge).
By adding Murtagh into the story in the future, there’s a bigger chance of drama. Plus, there’s excitement for those who have read the books, as there’s an element of the story they just can’t tell the future on. Sometimes, it’s fun not to know.
I can’t wait to see how this storyline will unfold, especially knowing that Diana Gabaldon suggested the way to put Murtagh back into the story.
What did you think of keeping Murtagh alive? Would you have liked the writers to stick to the original story? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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