Understanding the ‘spoiled graduation’ on Outlander Season 3, Episode 3
Frank didn’t intentionally spoil Claire’s graduation on Outlander Season 3
Frank gets a lot of hate from the Outlander fandom. Because of that, I do feel like he’s not allowed to make simple, human mistakes.
It’s why I defend him so much during each season of the series. I don’t view him as the “bad guy,” but as a human. And he is a character I’ve felt sorry for from the beginning.
Claire claimed Frank intentionally spoiled her graduation by having Sandy show up. Well, that wasn’t really the case. It was clear from Frank’s words before Sandy showed up that he made a very simple and easy mistake.
He got the time wrong
Frank’s only error in judgment was getting the time wrong. He asked Claire if she and her friends should leave for the restaurant, certain the reservation had been for 6 p.m.
Well, it turned out the reservation was for an hour later. However, Frank had planned things for when Claire would be leaving the house. He knew that Sandy was about to pick him up, and he did want to make sure Claire and her friends were out of the house at the time.
I’m not even entirely convinced that he and Sandy were having an affair. He mentions that he and Sandy will get married later in the episode, but I do wonder if it’s more about making Claire think he’s having an affair. At this point, we now know that Frank knows Claire will go back to the past. He’s trying to protect Brianna and give Claire her freedom, and making her believe in an affair is something he probably thinks is better for everyone.
Claire made a bigger deal about it
Claire’s actions actually made things worse. Except for Joe, nobody had realized there was anyone of importance at the door. Frank could have likely slipped out and left without anyone questioning where he was. Or he could have made an excuse for work since he’d already mentioned it to Brianna.
Okay, so some people would have talked if they saw Sandy. Claire and Frank could have kept Sandy completely out of the house and allowed Frank to leave quickly. Many people wouldn’t have been any the wiser.
Claire’s reaction suggesting that everyone head to the restaurant earlier actually made the entire situation worse. And then she didn’t even consider that he did genuinely make a mistake with the time.
Next. 25 most romantic moments on Outlander so far. dark