Outlander Book Club: The Fiery Cross Chapter 110 breakdown

Foreshadowing in the Outlander chapter

There is some foreshadowing in this chapter. It’s mostly in Roger’s words about being needed in the time for now. There is one thing that will take him back through the stones—whatever may need him in that time.

We know that Roger will go back through the stones. In fact, he and Brianna will go through in the future, and Roger is going to travel through a few times. He and Brianna know they need to go through the stones to save Mandy, their daughter who will be born in the next book. She needs medical treatment that only the 20th century can offer, so they head to Joe Abernathy.

Jemmy will also do some time jumping of his own. Roger goes through the stone for Jemmy’s sake. However, Roger, at no point, will leave his family in the past without a good reason. His home is with Jamie and Claire at Fraser’s Ridge.

Adapting The Fiery Cross chapter

Now, I know that a lot of book-first fans hated Outlander Season 5, Episode 11. I actually really enjoyed the show’s decision to have Roger and Brianna decide to go to their own time. The episode wasn’t a waste for me.

There were a few important things that came out of this episode. The first is Ian getting to see time travel for himself. He sees Brianna, Roger, and Jemmy disappear in front of him. He even touches the stones to see if he can go through because he longs to change his own past slightly. There’s a reason for this that I’m sure we’ll learn about in Outlander Season 6.

The goodbyes also mean that Brianna has a chance to learn about William. Up to this point, she has no idea that she has a half-brother. Jamie has the perfect reason to tell her because it means she might be able to find him in the history books and learn about him. Lord John Grey can also stop keeping that secret from Bree, which I’m sure is a relief. Having this reason to tell Bree the truth is just natural and perfect for me.

The biggest reason I don’t find this a waste of time is the messaging behind Bree and Roger finding themselves back in the 18th century. Let’s just remember that Roger isn’t the only one who has faced turmoil from the time period. Brianna was kidnapped by Stephen Bonnet—something that doesn’t happen until A Breath of Snow and Ashes. That is naturally going to make her change her mind about staying in the 18th century. She’ll want the safety of her own time.

That doesn’t mean the 20th century is where Bree and Roger belong. The two were thinking of “home.” In their minds, “home” is the 20th century, but that isn’t where “home” really is for them. They realize in this moment that home is where the heart is. It’s in the 18th century with Jamie and Claire. Neither of them argues with this point. They are ready to face life in the 18th century, and that’s what I deeply love about this storytelling. It’s final. They are in the right time period.

This doesn’t take away from the disappointment that many fans felt with the change. I understand that disappointment, but for me, this change worked so well because there was a much deeper meaning to it than it being a “waste of time.”

What did you spot while reading The Fiery Cross Chapter 110? Let us know in the comments below.

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