As most Outlander fans know (or should know) the Outlander TV series and its books are not exactly the same. In this brand new section, we will be comparing some elements between the STARZ historical-fantasty drama, Outlander, and Diana Gabaldon’s book series on which it’s based: let’s take a closer look at the case of baby Jemmy ‘s birth and the circumstances of Brianna ‘s childbirth!
Jemmy ‘s birth, first born of Brianna and Roger
As many will know, and as many do not, the moment of Brianna ‘s childbirth and the circumstance in which baby Jemmy is born, is an element of important divergence between the Outlander television series and books. In fact, unlike Diana Gabaldon’s book series, where Jamie and Claire manage to return from their trip to rescue poor Roger, who was a prisoner of the Indians, in time to support (and help) their beloved daughter delivering her first born, precisely in the fourth book of the saga Drums of Autums, the TV series decided to leave Brianna giving birth alone at Aunt Jocasta’s property in River Run, as her parents are still travelling back from the Mohawk village.
Book version
“It’s like baseball,” I assured her. “Long stretches of boredom, punctuated by short periods of intense activity.”
She laughed, then stopped abruptly, grimacing.
“Ugh. Intense, yeah. Whew.” She smiled, a little lopsidedly. “At least at baseball games you get to drink beer and eat hot dogs in the boring parts.”
Jamie, grasping at the only part of this conversation that made sense, leaned forward.
“There’s a crock of small beer, cool in the pantry,” he said, peering anxiously at Brianna. “Will I fetch it in?”
“No,” I said. “Not unless you want some; alcohol wouldn’t be good for the baby.”
“Ah. What about the hot dog?” He stood up and flexed his hands, obviously preparing to dash out and shoot one.
“It’s a sort of sausage in a roll,” I said, rubbing my upper lip in an effort not to laugh. I glanced at Brianna. “I don’t think she wants one.” Small beads of sweat had popped out quite suddenly on her wide brow, and she was looking white around the eye sockets.
“Oh, barf,” she said faintly.
Correctly interpreting this remark from the look on her face, Jamie hastily applied the damp cloth to her face and neck.
“Put your head between your knees, lass.”
She glared at him ferociously.
“I can’t get … my head … near my knees!” she said, teeth clenched. Then the spasm relaxed and she took a deep breath, the color coming back into her face.
Jamie glanced from her to me, frowning worriedly. He took a hesitant step toward the door.
“I expect I’d best go, then, if you—”
“Don’t leave me!”
“But it’s—I mean, you’ve your mother, and—”
“Don’t leave me!” she repeated. Agitated, she leaned over and grabbed his arm, shaking it for emphasis. “You can’t!”
[…]
She struggled to her feet, then, and leaned heavily on Jamie, her face muffled in his shoulder, repeating, “Da, don’t leave me, don’t.”
“I willna leave ye, a leannan. Dinna be afraid, I’ll stay wi’ ye.” He put an arm around her, looking helplessly over her head at me.
“Walk her,” I said to Jamie, seeing her restlessness. “Like a horse with colic,” I added, as he looked blank.
That made her laugh. With the ginger air of a man approaching an armed bomb, he put an arm around her waist and towed her slowly around the room. Given their respective sizes, it sounded a lot like someone leading a horse, too.
[…]
Normally, babies about to be born were fairly quiet, intimidated by the upheaval of their surroundings. This one was stirring; I felt a small, distinct surge against my hand as an elbow poked out.
“Daddy!” Brianna reached out blindly, flailing as a contraction took her unaware. Jamie lunged forward and caught her hand, squeezing tight.
“I’m here, a bheanachd, I’m here.”
She breathed heavily, face bright red, then relaxed, and swallowed.
[…]
“You’re doing fine, lovey,” I murmured to her. “Just fine.” I glanced up at Jamie, and smiled. “So are you.”
He made a game try at returning the smile; he was sweating, too, but his face was white, not red.
“Talk to me, Da,” she said suddenly.
“Och?” He looked at me, frantic. “What shall I say?”
“It doesn’t matter,” I said. “Tell her stories; anything to take her mind off things.”
“Oh. Ah … will ye have heard the one about … Habetrot the spinstress?”
Drums of Autumn, Chapter 64
TV version
As we mentioned earlier, in the TV series Brianna’s childbirth and Jemmy’s birth is accompanied by a veil of sadness.
In the Outlander Season 4 finale, Jamie and Claire’s journey back after rescuing Roger from the Indians is still ongoing, also because the writers, after several researches on Native Americans, decided to move the location of the Mohawk village where the young historian is taken prisoner to upstate New York, compared to the books that locate it in Snaketown, Arizona. This thus lengthens the Frasers’ journey and prevents them from being present at Brianna’s first childbirth and the birth of their first grandchild Jemmy, as is the case in the Outlander books.
This solution has, of course, made the fans very unhappy, who were robbed of one of the most exciting and significant scenes of Gabaldon’s book, in favor of historical accuracy.
What do you think of this small but important difference between the Outlander series and books? Let us know your opinion in the comments!
Keep following us for more news on Outlander Season 6 and its cast!
Chiara
Don’t forget to like us on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter, Survived The Shows / @survivedtheshows / @SurvivedShows to keep updated!
Obviously, the book version is SO much better! It was so sweet and tender how she relied on him and even though he was scared he was totally there for her. Don’t understand the show runners taking up unnecessary time and missing these great moments?
This was one of my biggest disappointments in the series. Given this is fiction and a fantasy at that, I think they could have used whatever location would have worked to allow us to get these rich scenes. Furthermore, there was no scene in which Brianna forgave her father and restored their relationship. It was a very disappointing omission.