Who Needs Books Anyway? 5 Creative Liberties Outlander TV Took
In fact, the Outlander books and TV series complement each other.
It's no secret that Starz's flagship show Outlander is based on the historical romance novel series by Diana Gabaldon. So naturally, discussions about who told the story of Claire and Jamie Fraser better pop up regularly on social media.
While you may have a strong opinion about that, we would venture to say that some of the creative liberties the show took with Gabaldon's story actually made it better. But there are also others that make it feel much weaker than the novels. Here are examples of both.
Protagonists
No doubt Gabaldon's fans were confused when they first saw Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan cast in the lead roles of Claire and Jamie. Both actors have nothing in common with the descriptions of their characters in the books.
Gabaldon's Claire is younger, with brown eyes and unruly hair. She is witty and has a great sense of humor. Jamie, in the books, is a huge, heavyset Highlander with thick red hair and blue eyes. Doesn't sound like Caitríona and Sam, does it?
Over time and six seasons, however, the TV Claire and Jamie grew on viewers and became one of the main reasons why so many people remain loyal fans.
Bree
Another character that has been greatly altered in the Starz adaptation is Brianna. Book Bree is a unique character. She is taller than most men, strong, and striking in appearance. This gives her a special presence in every scene and drastically changes the way people perceive her.
In addition, Bree acts and reacts very differently in the novels. She loves her mother deeply and doesn't have the anger towards her that TV Bree has.
Murtagh
While some major book characters are missing from the Starz show, one arc has been expanded. Gabaldon's Murtagh dies at Culloden in the first novel and is never mentioned again. In the show, he lasted five seasons and became a beloved character.
Not killing Murtagh off early on gave viewers some nice scenes like his reunion with Jamie or a trap conversation with Fergus. So no complaints there.
Humor
It may be hard to believe, but Gabaldon's series is actually filled with humor that makes the whole tone lighter. Little jokes help both Claire and Jamie take everything that happens to them with grace — and that is beautiful.
The show, on the other hand, takes itself much more seriously and delves deeper into the dramatic side of the story.
Perspective
One of the biggest advantages of Starz's Outlander is the shift from one perspective to another. Claire is not the only narrator in the show, and events are not just shown from her point of view as in the books. This allows the series to give a bigger and more vivid picture of what happens to other characters, including Jamie.