Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 68 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

The chapter foreshadows trouble later on. You see, Roger recognizes Buck. He knows that it’s Buck who has lied about Roger’s identity.

At this point, Roger isn’t sure he’ll see Buck again, but a lie like that that leads to Roger’s hanging is going to stick with him. When Roger does eventually see Buck again, he’s not the most sympathetic. It’s hard to feel sorrow or want to help someone who has told a lie that almost killed him.

There’s also a hint of trouble to come for Tryon. He and his men are so willing to believe something without even double-checking first, that it’s going to cause problems. Tryon has to pay reparations for the mistake made.

Then there’s the fact that Roger gets his hand through the noose. There’s the fact that Roger’s feet can touch the ground. There’s the fact that the horses walked slowly and Roger’s neck didn’t break. All this foreshadows that Roger may be saved.

Adapting The Fiery Cross chapter

We didn’t get this particular chapter in Outlander Season 5. We did eventually see flashbacks from Roger as he was hanged. He wasn’t on a horse. Instead, he was placed on a barrel and the barrel kicked from underneath him.

Claire notes in a later chapter that the hangings were rushed, which is why horses were used. So, why change it for the series? I do wonder if this was actually linked with trying to get animals on set. While horses are easier to control than some other animals, having too many horses could have been a problem. The show may not have wanted to run the risk of horses being an issue, so opted for barrels instead. Barrels would have been a lot cheaper!

But why skip the whole scene with Buck telling Tryon who Roger “is?” Why not give us this look at how Roger is mistaken and hanged? It wasn’t really necessary. That could have been shown through flashbacks. Keeping this chapter out added more of a shock value when Jamie, Claire, and Brianna do find him.

Those who hadn’t read the books wouldn’t have necessarily been prepared for Roger’s hanging. Coming across him when Jamie, Claire, and Brianna found him would have put them in the characters’ shoes, adding more empathy for Brianna.

I think skipping out this chapter worked well. It’s not like everything was overlooked, and it was hard not to feel empathy for Brianna as she saw what had happened.

What did you spot while reading The Fiery Cross Chapter 68? Let us know in the comments below.

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