The creative minds behind the hit drama Outlander have disclosed some on-set improvisations, due to a time-hopping blunder.
The Starz series, interwoven with time travel elements and shrouded in mystery regarding its mechanics, adheres to certain rules set by author Diana Gabaldon.
Within Outlander’s universe, the capacity for chronological voyaging is a familial trait, meaning only select individuals hold this phenomenal power.
Specific times of year, including Samhain and numerous equinoxes, act as pivotal periods enabling these extraordinary journeys across different epochs.
Moreover, gemstones serve as facilitators for temporal movements, complemented by the more chilling method of blood sacrifices — as demonstrated by Gillian Edgars/Geillis Duncan (portrayed by Lotte Verbeek), who murders her spouse for time-spanning efforts in Inverness, reports the Scottish Daily Express.
Additionally, to align their end point in time, travellers are aided by grasping onto strong sentiments tied to their intended destination.
In one particular instance during the show’s second season, producers felt compelled to adjust a scene involving Claire Fraser’s (Caitríona Balfe) rings via post-production refinements.
On the Outlander podcast, executive producer Ronald D. Moore divulged: “At the very beginning – way back at Craigh na Dun, her discovering that she lost the ring and trying to find the ring, and then realising the stone of the ring was gone – that was something we added much later in the process, well after the show was done for various story reasons of time travel that we needed to establish – that you will discover later.”
Moore’s comments hint at the essential role of gemstones for safe portal traversal, a fact Claire only unearthed later after delving into Geillis’ records.
It seems the show creators belatedly realised that Claire had to part with the gemstone from the ring Jamie (Sam Heughan) gifted her, which was once his father’s possession.
The seventh season witnessed ample time travel, with Roger MacKenzie (Richard Rankin) landing in 1739 while searching for his son, whom he suspected Rob Cameron (Chris Fulton) had abducted.
During his time in this period, he encountered his father Jerry MacKenzie (Nicholas Ralph), who’d been transported to the past following an aircraft crash.
Roger endeavoured to assist his father in returning to his own era, hoping that this would mean his parents survived and he wouldn’t have been orphaned.
Regrettably, given Outlander characters’ history of failing to alter historical events, Roger couldn’t change his father’s destiny.
The final season of Outlander is expected to provide more insight into the mechanics of time travel within its universe, especially since Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon) managed to transport Claire Fraser’s stillborn child to another era and save her.
Furthermore, lingering questions about Jamie and the origins of his ghost in 1940s Inverness are set to be finally resolved.
Outlander season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now
