Outlander’s most recent episode delivered one of the series’ most emotional moments.
In Outlander season 8, episode 8, Brianna Fraser (Sophie Skelton) realizes how much Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) may have sacrificed her so she could reunite with her father, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan). The new episode reframed Frank in the eyes of both the series’ viewers and characters. Many of his actions throughout the show and Brianna’s life were part of a bigger plan to prepare her for her future.
During the episode, Jamie realizes that a book left behind by Frank was dedicated to Brianna, suggesting he may have known or at least the very least suspected that she would one day travel through time. It also implied that Frank intentionally provided Brianna with the tools and skills she would need to handle the 18th century and help save Jamie.
In an interview with ScreenRant’s Tatiana Hullender, Skelton breaks down the entire situation. The actor said that Brianna is smart enough to realize that Frank teaching her to ride horses, shoot, and other forms of self-defense was not random. She now believes that those lessons were meant to help her survive. And, the skills that he gave her could potentially be the greatest thing he has ever done for her.
Skelton explained that Brianna likely began connecting the dots the moment she traveled back in time and found evidence of his research. The information reveals his investigation into the historical fire involving Jamie and Claire (Caitríona Balfe), as well as the years he spent teaching her character.
I mean, I think that as soon as Brianna came back in time to find Jamie and realized that Frank had been doing the research, and the article that she found about the fire and all of that kind of stuff, I feel like Brianna then, she’s smart enough to put two and two together, that Frank teaching her how to ride and shoot and all of that stuff was preparing her. And I think that was his biggest gift to her, really, kind of his massive sacrifice of love, saying, “You know what? I’m going to put my stuff aside and know that you are going to want to find your real dad one day, and I’m going to prepare you for that life and make sure you’re safe.” So I think for Bri, I think the fact that she doesn’t know that the book is dedicated to her, I guess, makes sense.
Skelton also stated that she thinks Briana didn’t want to read and finish the book too soon because it was her only remaining link to Frank, the man who raised her. She further elaborated that her character may be hesitant to fully read it because doing so could make her feel like letting go of one of the last remaining pieces of him, comparing it to Claire and Jamie’s letters.
According to the actor, the book also acted as an olive branch between Frank and her biological dad. The gesture likely meant a lot to Briana because she spent so much of her life trying to balance having two fathers. Skelton added that the entire situation gave her character a lot of relief and provided her with peace.
I think maybe, like with Claire and Jamie’s letters, she doesn’t want to finish the book too soon or read it too soon because that’s maybe the last piece of Frank that’s left. And so I think that’s why she’s not even gotten to the first page where it says, “Dead eye,” otherwise, I think she’d have obviously known it was for her, and read the whole thing. But yeah, I think just quite how far his sacrifice went, I think maybe she didn’t know. And I think the fact that Frank is almost, through death and through the book, giving a handshake to Jamie, I think, would mean the world to Bri. I think she’s had to tiptoe around those two relationships and dynamics, and either one feeling insecure about it. And I think it’s lovely that, actually, it just feels like a big forgiveness hug through that book, I think.
And for Bri, I think that’s a big weight off. And we see that even before the book in the scene with Jamie, where we’re taking the guns out of the wagon and Brianna calls Frank, “Father,” and then they have this look that’s kind of like, “It’s okay, you can call him that,” because I feel in previous years that’s always been a bit of a trigger for him. And it just shows how far they’ve all grown up, Jamie included.
In the scene, Brianna refers to Frank as “father,” and Jamie’s reaction is more reassuring and calm instead of hurt or defensive. The way they looked at each other could be read as a silent message saying that it is okay for Brianna to continue honoring Frank as her dad.
Outlander season 8 releases new episodes every Friday on the STARZ app and streaming service.