Outlander Book Club: Book 1, Chapter 18 breakdown

Connections to the Outlander TV series

Finally, we put the focus on the show. This is a chapter that was developed almost perfectly for the show. The only difference is Dougal being injured, as far as I can remember. Dougal is injured in the fight in the books, but I don’t remember that coming up in the show.

Instead, the tone of the show is just a little different. With the music, we get a sense that it’s all a bit of fun for the men. However, they do take it seriously at first, moving to gather their weapons while Rupert continues to tell the story he is. They don’t know at first that it’s just the Grants, after all.

We also get a chance to see Claire learn how to fight. Like in the books, I got a sense that this is a turning point in the show. It’s the moment Claire becomes one of the group. She’s trusted with the knife and with how to use it. The men even take turns in being a “victim” for her to attack. They wouldn’t do that if they still thought of her as a spy.

However, the show gives Angus the role of teaching Claire how to fight. Of course, Rupert is there, too. The two of them really do make a dynamic duo, but it’s this part in the show that makes me adore Angus even more.

Of course, it doesn’t take long for Claire to have to use the skills she’s learned in the field on the TV show. There’s no way a plot point like this would be added in for the sake of it. It has to come up again later in the story.

What did you notice during Outlander Book 1, Chapter 18? Share in the comments below.

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