This article includes spoilers from Outlander Season 7, Episode 16, titled “A Hundred Thousand Angels.”
Insights from Diana Gabaldon on Outlander Season 7 Finale
Renowned author Diana Gabaldon recently shared her thoughts on the groundbreaking conclusion of Outlander Season 7. The finale, “A Hundred Thousand Angels,”reveals a shocking connection: Claire (played by Caitríona Balfe) realizes that her stillborn daughter, Faith, lived on to become the mother of Fanny Pocock (portrayed by Florie Wilkinson) and Jane (played by Silvia Presente). This development is particularly striking as it diverges significantly from the source material of the book series.
Gabaldon Reflects on the Creative Choices
In a recent interview with Parade, Gabaldon noted that this twist was an original element introduced by the Starz adaptation. She highlighted the connection between Fanny and Faith, mentioning that the incorporation of the song “I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside”is also a unique creation of the show:
“No part of the ending is from the books, save that Frances’s mother’s name was Faith.”
“They totally made up the [use of the song] ‘I Do Like to be Beside the Seaside’ in season 2 and re-used it here.”
A Critique of Character Utilization
Gabaldon expressed some reservations regarding the reintroduction of the character Master Raymond (played by Dominique Pinon). She suggested that the character’s return could have been executed with greater nuance, acknowledging the constraints typical in television production:
“I agree that the ending of 716 is flat-out weird, partly owing to their (evidently) having exhausted their budget. They could have made a more convincing visitation by Master Raymond with blurry special effects, rather than having him just walk through the door and stand there. Better to have kept it soft-focus and leave it up to question as to whether he’d actually been there, or perhaps Claire imagined or dreamed the whole thing. But easy for me to talk; I don’t have to figure out the logistics.”
“I’m frequently pleased that I can do things easily in a book, that are incredibly difficult [not to say expensive] to do in a visual medium. A book is a remarkably useful [and economical] way to tell a story.”
The Survival of Faith: An Interesting Interpretation
Gabaldon expanded on a discussion she had with Outlander’s showrunner and executive producer, Matthew B. Roberts, regarding an alternate narrative in which Faith survives. She indicated that while she did not create a second graphic novel, her idea about Faith’s potential survival influenced the show’s twist:
“They actually did get the (general) idea from me, though. When chatting with [showrunner] Matt [Roberts] about All Things plot-wise, I mentioned that if I had written a second graphic novel (I didn’t, for assorted reasons), I would have shown what actually happened after Faith’s presumed death at the Hopital des Anges, and how/why Master Raymond resuscitated and nurtured the baby secretly, but wasn’t able to come back with her before Claire and Jamie left France. So, they liked that idea and ran with it.”
Implications of the Final Scene for Fans
The Significance of Faith’s ‘Survival’
Within the novel series, there are whispers of Faith potentially surviving, although Jamie easily dismisses this notion. In contrast, the Season 7 finale conveys a powerful revelation, as Jamie discovers that his daughter may, in fact, have lived. This twist is gracefully portrayed, as we see Claire providing solace to Fanny, who is grappling with the loss of her sister Jane.
Hints leading up to this revelation subtly intertwine throughout the episode, particularly during Claire’s meaningful interactions with Fanny. The revelation that Fanny is Claire and Jamie’s granddaughter alters the dynamics significantly, leaving audiences eager to learn more about the unfolding narrative in the upcoming season.
Our Perspective on the Story’s Evolution
The Freedom of Adaptation
While staying true to source material can enhance adaptations, it’s equally vital for shows to take creative liberties. This flexibility introduces an element of surprise that makes the eighth season of Outlander even more intriguing and unpredictable.
For further details, you can explore the full interview in Parade.
Additionally, for even more images and updates, visit Screen Rant.
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