After Ian’s death in Outlander season 7, episode 10, Jamie asked Jenny to come to America with him. She declined the invitation, making the show deviate from the books in a major way.
In the Outlander books, Jenny is the one to ask Jamie if she can go to America with him. She doesn’t have anything left in Lallybroch for her, and she wants to be around Young Ian and his family. Of course, Jamie is more than happy to have Jenny join him in America and on Fraser’s Ridge.
The TV show opted to change this considerably. It looks like Jenny isn’t coming to America at all. Of course, there is a chance that Jenny changed her mind and that’s why Jamie isn’t on the ship that went down at sea. Based on interviews, though, it sounds like Jenny has decided she needs to stay at Lallybroch for now.
Why would the Outlander TV series change Jenny’s storyline so much?
There area couple of reasons I could see the show opting to change this. The first is due to the cast change. It’s possible that the show was concerned about how fans would take to a new actress playing the role. Rather than have Jenny around for the rest of Outlander season 7 and into season 8, the show may have decided that it was better to cut the scenes.
However, I think it’s more linked to time and cost rather than the risk of a new actress. The majority of the fandom has been welcoming to Kristin Atherton. There are some awful, toxic members of the fandom out there, but the majority of people are great and while understandably disappointed, have kept an open mind to the new actress.
So, it’s likely due to time and cost. Having another main character in the series would lead to condensing more storylines in the series. After all, Jenny has some bigger parts in Written in My Own Heart’s Blood and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone. There is a chance that there will be more in the 10th book that is currently being written. The show is already packed with storylines, and the idea of adding in another that isn’t a main concern for other currently ongoing storylines is overwhelming.
On top of that, there’s the added cost of having another actor around full-time. The show is already expensive enough and is trying to keep the budget to a minimum. There are other storylines that are more important, which means other actors needed. The show has to be picky when it comes to storylines, and Jenny’s just likely didn’t make the cut in importance considering the costs involved.
It is disappointing, but it makes sense in terms of the show. Having Ian’s death included in Outlander season 7 was important for closing the storylines in Lallybroch. After that, Jenny arguably isn’t needed—although I would have loved to see more of Atherton in the role.
Outlander airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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