Outlander buffs are diving back into the series, scouring for intriguing details as they eagerly await season eight.
What may come as a surprise is that the show’s scribes opted to tweak a significant element of Fergus Fraser’s (portrayed by Romann Berrux) backstory in his debut season, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
In Diana Gabaldon’s literary work Dragonfly In Amber, Fergus—or Claudel, his given name—crosses paths with the gallant Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) amidst an escape from pursuers.
Originally, Jamie dashed into a brothel to evade sailors with a bone to pick, bumping into the young son of one of the establishment’s women.
However, in the show’s adaptation, viewers meet Fergus serving libations within the bawdy house, mingling with patrons including Jamie.
Moreover, Fergus demonstrates his knack for thievery, smoothly snatching treasures from the visitors, which catches Jamie’s eye as he observes the lad’s slick pickpocketing skills.
Executive producers Ronald D. Moore and Anne Kenney shed light on this key narrative shift on Outlander’s official podcast.
Kenney divulged: “We introduced Fergus in a very different way than he is in the book. Because in the book Jamie’s being followed by guys from the dock.
“We just had to simplify things. They go after him and remember there’s the whole big thing where he has the sausage fight? And Fergus helps him get away from those guys.”
She elaborated: “Fergus is still a child of a w****house but he helps him get away from those guys and again, sometimes we just have to simplify things because we just can’t get it all in.
So we went at it this way.”
Moore added: “Just like get to it. He’s a thief. Jamie figures it out, he wants to hire him.”
In Outlander, Fergus emerged as a significant character, becoming Jamie’s adoptive son, though not without his own trials, including a harrowing sexual assault by Captain Jonathan ‘Black Jack’ Randall, portrayed by Tobias Menzies.
Additionally, after returning to Scotland with the Frasers, Fergus suffered the loss of a hand, cruelly maimed by a Redcoat for concealing Jamie in a cave following the Battle of Culloden.
The series later introduced a grown-up Fergus, played by actor César Domboy, who took over the role as the character matured.
Despite Fergus and his wife Marsali Fraser (Lauren Lyle) taking a step back in the narrative lately, fans have been assured that the cherished pair will make a comeback in the eighth season of Outlander.
Celebrating actor Domboy’s 35th birthday, the Outlander Instagram account shared a post in his honor.
Accompanying a picture of Fergus, the caption declared: “Happy César Domboy day! Raise your hand if you’re looking forward to his return in #Outlander Season 8.”
Outlander season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now