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Outlander: Toni Graphia Takes on the Writer Account Q&A

The Outlander Writers Twitter account has promised to answer fan questions every week about the recent episode, and tonight, Toni Graphia stepped up and did the honors.

Q Is it Frank or Claire’s idea for separate beds? Powerful visual statement on their relationship.
A It was Ricky & Lucy’s idea! Just kidding. We think it was Frank’s idea once he realized who Claire was thinking of during sex.

Q How come you guys didn’t include Jamie telling Jenny that Claire was with child when heh lost her?
A It was too devastating for him to even speak about.

Q What was in Jamie’s hand when he was arrested?
A He had his dunbonnet in his hands when he was arrested and he was holding his chains in the carriage.

Q Since Corporal MacGregor (Scottish traitor) was such a d$ck, please tell me that he gets his later. We need revenge.
A Dinna fash. He got justice. Read about how MacGregor met his end in script which is posted on our Outlander Community page.

Q Do you know how emotional a scene will turn out as you’re writing it? I was teary the whole episode!
A We like to pitch things to one another until we make each other cry. That’s how we know it’s relaly good…. or really bad.

Q What did Jamie say to Mary McNab in the cave after he told her she was a bonny lass?
A “It’s just something I always do.” He was thinking of Claire, but trying to spare Mary’s feelings.

Q Is there a specific reason you had Fergus be the one to shoot the raven?
A I like to think that Fergus remembers all too well the pain of Claire losing Faith and didn’t want a bad omen for Jenny’s baby.

Q The bagpiper at the end brought me to tears. How did that come about?
A It was inspired after I saw Clanadonia, a drum and pipe band that plays on Buchanan Street in Glasgow.
(ed note: Clanadonia played the pipe and drum piece in ep 101, right after Claire goes through the stones as she hears the shots and runs from BJR!)

Q Was Jamie not hiding with baby Ian in the closet as in the book a director’s choice?
A Writer’s choice. It’s hard to stuff a six-footed redhead into a wee armoire.

Q Was Claire reading about Irish independence a nod to Caitriona Balfe’s birthplace?
A Good catch! I added the newspaper to the scene, but the article was found by Emily, our awesome researcher.

Q Why the decision to have Fergus’s hand lopped off by a Scottish Redcoat?
A We found it to be an interesting historical detail that there were Scottish Redcoats after Culloden.

Q Was the river at the end supposed to be the Charles?
A Yes. And Boston is lovely but “People Make Glasgow.” We love that city which has been so gracious to us.

Q How does Jamie fill his emptiness?
A He doesn’t fill his emptiness, as nothing can replace Claire.

Q Always wondered if Diana’s books litter the writer’s room like reference guides.
A We all have Diana’s books of course and the Outlandish Companions.

Q Does Jenny’s “I’ll never forgive you” also mean that she can’t forgive Jamie for making her betray him?
A Absolutely. In that moment. But we know she’ll come around. She loves her brother.

Q Should we assume that Frank helped Claire get into Harvard Medical School as her reference, especially during the ’40s?
A We like to think Claire go in on her own merit. She has 200 years of experience!

Q What’s harder, writing the script or producing the episode on set?
A Both are a joy. We have an incredible writers room and an amazing crew.

Q Is Bree’s bunny a connection to the rabbit Jamie sees at Culloden? If so… brb crying.
A We loved Ron’s rabbit in the premiere and chose a bunny here as an Easter egg – pardon the pun.

Q How did the analogy of both Fergus and Ian’s missing limb pain and Jamie’s heart pain from missing Claire come about?
A Inspired by Duncan Innes in the book, but we liked it better with Ian.

Q Did you also write the full text of this proclamation? Can we see it on OutlanderCommunity.com?
A Our assistant/historian Dani wrote it based on a real proclamation found by our fantastic Art Department.

Q Does Claire still wear both wedding rings in the future? I keep meaning to check, but I keep forgetting.
A Yes, she wears both and never takes them off.

Q I miss the story unfolding through Bree and Roger’s research, especially the Dunbonnet legend. Will we see some of this in later episodes?
A Stay tuned! I wrote two of those eps myself!

Q Back to last season – I just stayed in Dalhousie Castle. Why did Jamie want to name his child for it?
A If you’ve seen it, you know how beautiful it is!

Q Is the bunny supposed to be Brianna?
A No. Ron meant it to be a bit of beauty and life amid the horror. But look for a possible reappearance later this season…

Q What delighted you most about having this episode directed by Jennifer Getzinger?
A She’s my favorite director from Mad Men – she directed “The Suitcase.” One of TV’s best episodes ever.


Watch Toni, Matt Roberts, and Ron Moore discuss the episode.

Anne Kenney‘s Live Tweets

Ron Moore‘s Q&A

My review of Surrender, Episode 302

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