Why I’ve come to adore Outlander’s The Search

Outlander Season 1, Episode 14 isn’t an episode I dislike anymore

There are certain Outlander episodes that fans dislike. They could be due to a huge change to the book storyline or because of a small element that doesn’t completely make sense. “The Search” is one of those episodes from the first season that fans tend to either love or hate.

It’s an episode that I had a love-hate relationship with. When I first watched it, I liked it. There were parts of it that made me laugh and I really enjoyed seeing the development of both Jenny’s and Murtagh’s characters.

Yet, overtime, I started to dislike it. As I read the first book, I started to wonder why the show would change so much of the story. It felt more like a way to drag out the storyline when there was still so much material in the last seven chapters of the book.

Since then, the storylines in the show have developed. Because of this, I came to absolutely adore “The Search.”

Claire and Murtagh’s bond was able to develop

The biggest reason I now adore Outlander Season 1, Episode 14 is to see Claire and Murtagh’s bond develop. Up to this point, they were just acquaintances. Both loved Jamie, and that’s all that really held them together. If it wasn’t for that, there would have been no reason for the two to even speak a few words.

“The Search” changed that. This was the moment the two opened up a little to each other. More importantly, Murtagh opened up to Claire.

When Murtagh saw the bracelets that Claire was carrying, he immediately recognized him. It gave him the opportunity to talk about his love for Ellen. Claire was able to see that there was more than the gruffness to Jamie’s godfather. There was a romantic side to him, a side that actually wanted love.

We also got to see Claire and Murtagh banter between each other. Claire made suggestions to improve Murtagh’s performance, landing herself as the Singing Sassenach. And it was this that would bond them for life.

The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy

It was during Outlander Season 4 that I came to love “The Search” more than ever before. We can thank the episode that saw Murtagh return.

I understand why Diana Gabaldon killed Murtagh off at Culloden, but I’m extremely glad the show kept the character in. And I’m all the more glad that he became the leader of the Regulators, putting a face to this side of the fight.

But it was the reunion episode. We always knew the reunion between Jamie and Murtagh would be emotional. However, we didn’t know how it would be between Murtagh and Claire. They cared for each other deeply. Murtagh was happy to find out that Claire managed to get to her own time safely and then found her way back to Jamie, even if it was 20 years later. Yet, how would the two see each other again?

It was all about the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy.” It harkened back to the point in the story their bond formed deeply. It brought a connection to a dark time as they searched for Jamie, but there was something good to come out of it. That wouldn’t have been possible had “The Search” not been written the way it was.

And so, “The Search” has become an episode of the series I adore.

What did you think of “The Search” the first time you watched it? What do you love about it now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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