Perfectly Frank – A Countdown to OUTLANDER A STARZ ORIGINAL

SPOILER ALERT – this article is for people who have already read Outlander or who don’t care that I’m totally giving spoilers. And if you are the latter, Frank Randall is Claire’s husband in the 20th century, the one she’s on holiday with when she is sucked back in time to the 18th century.

I know Outlander isn’t strictly “romance” but come on, everyone loves Jamie-and-Claire, am I right? Which is why I’ve been thinking about Frank Randall.

I watched the San Diego 2014 Comic Con Outlander panel this morning, with author Diana Gabaldon, producer Ron Moore and five cast members, including Tobias Menzies who plays both Frank Randall and the uber-evil Black Jack Randall, Frank’s many-times-great grandfather in the 18th century. Tobias comes across as a very mild, self-deprecating fellow, with a fetching, shy grin. And it raised my long-buried feelings of empathy for poor Frank, left behind to mourn his young wife.

When I read discussions online about Outlander, there are always those who don’t like Frank, who think the first few dozen pages about post-war Britain with Claire and Frank on their second honeymoon are boring, who think Frank is a tool. I was always fascinated by this section, wondering about Frank, who is portrayed as a loving husband and passionate historian. I read Outlander after being drawn to the time travel theme by Audrey Niffenegger’s The Time Traveler’s Wife, not knowing jack about the whole Jamie-and-Claire thing. Claire spends so much time in the first book wanting to return to Frank, getting into trouble because she is trying over and over to get back to the time travel portal to return to the 20th century. I was totally gobsmacked when she was forced to marry! Gabaldon had me so convinced that Claire would find a way back to her true love, Frank – look, I did not know about the Jamie-and-Claire thing at first, OK??

I’m doing a relisten in prep for the upcoming premiere of OUTLANDER A STARZ ORIGINAL, which those of us in the US will see in countless venues August 2. Once again, I’m struck with the fear Claire felt, being totally in the wrong time, not knowing from minute to minute what would happen to her. Claire is an incredibly strong and resourceful woman, always thinking one step ahead to how she can use her considerable skills and talents to stay alive. But what about Frank? Because the story is told in first person, we don’t have the benefit of his POV. We have to imagine him, finding their car near the standing stones, perhaps an artifact left behind, searching for days, for months, for years for the woman he loved so dearly. (I think the TV series is going to explore this more than the book – yay!)

Sometimes Claire infuriates me (it’s the mark of excellent writing when you feel emotions toward a character, positive or negative!), and the scene near the beginning where Frank sees Jamie’s ghost is one such time. Claire has been sitting at the dresser, brushing her hair, when Frank comes upon a man in full Highlander regalia, watching her from the street below. Frank speaks to the man, but the man doesn’t react. In fact, Frank observes that the man’s clothing and hair are not blowing in the wind and when he walks away, he seems to actually disappear like a ghost. But Frank starts the convo by asking Claire if she might have treated a Highlander during the war, someone who might live nearby who wants to see Claire again, no doubt because this ghost was looking at Claire with such longing. He even hints that he would understand if there had been some sort of intimacy, a relationship. Claire ponders this and wonders if Frank means that HE had affairs during the war – and every single time I read this section I want to shake Claire! Where does that huge leap come from? Frank sees a man who is obviously watching his wife, and that means Frank had affairs during the war? Seriously?

In Dragonfly in Amber, when we learn much, much more of Frank, the subject arises again. Picture, if you will, a man who has lost his wife to a total disappearance. She is gone for two years, during which time he has exhausted his resources looking for her and finally comes to accept her loss. He does not remarry. Then poof! She reappears and she’s two months pregnant, and babbling about being stuck in 18th century Scotland. Right. Does Frank turn her away? Send her to a psychiatric facility? No he does not! He takes her back and raises her child as his own – loving Brianna as much as if he had sired her himself. Is this a man who deserves the scorn of Outlander fandom? shirt

So I’m coming out as #TeamFrank – not that I think Jamie isn’t the hottest Highlander ever, nor do I want Claire to give up Jamie and stay with Frank (although – *ahem* – she does). I just want to declare my confidence in Frank – he was a good man facing terrible grief and confusion. Their marriage after Claire returned was the result of choices both of them made, and Claire bears fully half of the responsibility. Of course, I also think Gabaldon shows Claire as owning her choices, as doing her very best in both worlds.

I’m just sayin’, ok? I’m Team Frank and I’m proud of it!

(PS: I’m also totally Team Jamie-and-Claire – we don’t really need to take sides!)

Melinda


 

 

8 thoughts on “Perfectly Frank – A Countdown to OUTLANDER A STARZ ORIGINAL

  1. Melinda – what a thought-provoking post! I will confess to knowing nothing of the series, having not decided how best to experience it (although audio has GOT to be the way to go)…but your post has pushed me completely into the “have to read/listen to this!” place. So thank you :)

  2. I totally made that leap the first time I read the section and then again when I listened. Frank absolutely got his rocks off during the war. I don’t think he loved Claire any less but they’d spent 3 days together in 6 years. Frankly, I always thought this hint that Frank had been less than faithful and his explicit statement that he would understand if she became intimate with someone else was there to make readers feel it was okay for Claire to bonk Jamie.

    Oh Melinda – I am so deep in Outlander-land at present. I’m re-listening too. I spent an hour and half watching the ComicCon panel on Sunday and today I spent an hour watching the New York premiere panel. And I’m looking at every single photo and trailer – it’s a sickness I tell you!

  3. Well thank you! As a confirmed #outlandernerd and #TeamFrank, I think the whole world should read it! And I also think the TV series is going to be gangbusters – stay tuned for my riff on ARE SAM AND CAIT ACTUALLY JAMIE AND CLAIRE? Coming soon to a blog near you. (edited to say, this comment was meant in direct reply to Xe’s post, but I was posting from my iPad and the “reply” thing didn’t work)

  4. Yes! So well said! I mean, yeah I love Jamie – who doesn’t? But I definitely don’t understand how you could not feel for Frank and see him as being a really great guy. Adding to your points – they’re living in a time where a woman working outside the home is not the norm and he supports Claire having QUITE the career. I think he deserves serious kuddos for clearly being a great guy all around.

  5. This is great insight into a character who sometimes gets the short end of the stick. I think there wouldn’t have been a Claire and Jamie if there hadn’t first been a Claire and Frank. Part of my love for the series is the delving into the complex relationship of Claire and Frank.

    1. Exactly! In fact, all the relationships are complex and that is truly what makes it so compelling. No character is 1- or even 2- dimensional, they are all fully realized and deep. Even Black Jack Randall has one teeny soft spot, for his brother (spoilerish).

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