Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 70 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

The chapter certainly foreshadows some things to come. It’s all about how Roger is going to deal with the trauma. The memories will start to come back.

The book doesn’t handle the trauma in the same way the show did. Roger does have trouble getting his voice back, but he doesn’t consider suicide at any point. At least, not that I can remember! That was a show option, but I think it helped to offer us insight into Roger that we could only get through being shown something. The book was able to work through Roger’s trauma internally.

I think this chapter also foreshadows the way Roger and Jamie’s bond will change from this point. We know Jamie will feel guilty, but we know Roger feels safe. It’s a terrible thing that happened, but it brings something positive for Jamie and Roger’s relationship.

Adapting The Fiery Cross chapter

The chapter wasn’t used in the show in the same way that it was in the book. A lot of that would have likely been because you simply can’t show the internalized thoughts that well on the screen. To manage it, the show opted for the silent film flashbacks, which were a powerful way to show PTSD and trauma.

I know a lot of people didn’t like that Jamie’s statement to Roger was done through the silent film. Almost like it cheapened the moment a little. It did lose some of the power behind it, but it worked for the way the flashbacks would be incorporated into the episode. We got a chance to see how Roger’s mind was trying to piece everything together.

The stylized approach was always going to be a risk. It’s not going to work for everyone. The show’s writers and showrunners know that. However, it’s how they’ve chosen to tell the story, and it did work for some of us.

What did you spot while reading The Fiery Cross Chapter 70? Let us know in the comments below.

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