Outlander Book Club: Voyager Chapter 28 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

There isn’t technically any foreshadowing in this chapter. Instead, the chapter sets up the dominos that are set to fall later. It’s all about the plot building, as Jamie explains who the seaman could have been.

We’re getting ready for something big to happen. All of Jamie’s aliases could be combined into one, and that is dangerous for him. After all, some of his actions could lead to execution!

The only element of traditional foreshadowing I see is that Percival is going to be a bigger part in this. However, it’s not clear how at this point in the story.

Adapting the Voyager chapter

So much happened in this chapter, but not everything made it to the TV show. There wasn’t such a concern about the man in the print shop and the cause of the fire. However, it would come up later in the story as the Frasers heading to Jamaica.

Everything to do with the body was a bigger thing, too. Outlander Season 3, Episode 7 is one of those that is hated by many fans—especially book-first fans. However, I’ll admit that I didn’t mind the episode when it aired as a show-first fan. Even now that I’ve read the books and rewatched all seasons, there are elements of this episode that I like. But it is completely different to the chapter.

I do think from a TV point of view, the change was needed. Each episode needs drama. We don’t get away with these slower moments. They break up the story, and not necessarily in a good way. There just isn’t the time for slower moments and they don’t tend to work well in terms of TV.

Hiding the body in the Creme de Menthe was such a small thing in the books, but it was used to create the drama in the show. It felt like the smuggling element was a bigger deal in the series; that there was more at stake.

Fergus and Young Ian’s part at the end of the chapter was also changed heavily. For one, it was moved to before the print shop fire. Young Ian also didn’t lose his virginity to a prostitute but to a barmaid that he liked.

I don’t mind either storyline. The moment in the book was funny, but I did love seeing this lovesick young boy with the barmaid. The series was cute and funny at the same time, and it helped to build up to the fire in the print shop since so much had changed in that part of the story. In the end, both storylines led to the same thing: Young Ian lost his virginity and Fergus played a part in making it happen.

What did you spot when reading Voyager Chapter 28? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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