Outlander Book Club: Book 2, Chapter 9 breakdown

Adapting the Dragonfly in Amber chapter for the Outlander TV series

Okay, let’s look at all the changes that happened during Outlander Season 2. This chapter was separated into two episodes, but at the same time, storylines were condensed; characters were introduced early.

At the ball, Claire isn’t propositioned by some random Vicomte. Instead, it’s by Monsieur Duverney himself. This would have certainly been partially due to time, but also due to the way TV works. There’s no point in introducing some random character that is never mentioned again. For a TV series, it’s best to make sure even these smaller moments connect to something else within the show.

In this case, the show decided to introduce Duverney through this moment, adding humor and showing us that he is a man of his time. At the same time, he is also apologetic for his actions. The book hasn’t really introduced him at this point, with Jamie just telling us that he played chess. In the series, we’re introduced and then later watch Jamie and Duverney play chess and talk politics.

Likewise, the Duke of Sandringham is brought back at the ball, giving us a chance to meet Alex Randall. This is a character not introduced until much later in the books, but he’s important. For the sake of time and to make sure we’re ready for the storyline, it does make better sense to introduce Alex at this point.

This also adds some drama for the episode. Alex and the Duke of Sandringham tell Claire that BJR isn’t dead. He was seriously injured, but he’s survived. We’re left with that knowledge at the end of the episode, before the luncheon.

Of course, Black Jack Randall still appears at the luncheon. We’ve not quite got into the conversations in the garden in the book, so I’ll leave that for the next chapter. However, what I will say is that playing everything out like this did allow for more episode-contained drama, which is needed for a TV series.

I know so many people want things to play out like in the books, but a TV show also needs to stand in its own right for those who haven’t read the books. The TV show writers know how to do that. And as a show-first fan, I thoroughly enjoyed the way it all worked out. I loved the drama, the discussions, and then seeing Black Jack Randall.

Now I’ve read the book, I enjoy this chapter for itself. Both are different entities; they’re created for different mediums. Both work.

Of course, that is if Claire and Jamie really saw Black Jack Randall…We’ll have to wait for the next chapter to find out!

What did you notice when reading Outlander Book 2, Chapter 9? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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