#outlander 04x07

The only way that Frank could process the fact that Claire had chosen Jamie over him, was to make her agree to no longer “live in the past.” He forbids her to do the very thing that he ends up doing - i.e., search for Jamie. 

He condemned himself to live in a loveless marriage, for the sake of the daughter he loved dearly - and, in all fairness, raised very well.

Frank is a complicated man, and 04x07 did a great job of adding nuance to his character. He’s not a moustache-twirling villain, but he’s not blameless either.

Two words that mean so much - and undoubtedly bring Brianna’s world crashing down.

Not because of the fact that Frank had never told her he wasn’t her real father - she had already hashed that out with Claire.

No - it’s the fact that Frank searched for Jamie, without telling Claire. That Frank knew Jamie was alive, letting Claire continue to think he had died at Culloden.

That he had let her continue to live in pain, to live a lie.

Which is why Claire reacts the way that she does. She is stunned - and undoubtedly feels betrayed, yet again. For Frank made her promise to stop living in the past - to no longer look back on the time she had shared with Jamie. Though clearly he didn’t live up to the standard he had set for her.

The last point is the crucial point, anon.

Frank could have shown Claire the obituary - proof that Jamie was alive, and proof that Claire had gone back to him, and proof that Claire had died in an avoidable accident.

But. He. Didn’t.

Why? I can think of several reasons:

Because he still resents Claire for loving Jamie - and the obituary is further proof that Claire hadn’t forgotten (and would never forget) Jamie

Because he doesn’t want Brianna to know who her biological father is

Because he likely had known for years that Jamie had survived - but this was likely the first piece of information proving that Claire eventually would go back to him

Because there is no mention of Bree - leaving open the door that Claire would have taken Bree through the stones with her, and therefore leaving Frank alone

Because he hates Jamie Fraser to the very marrow of his bones

It is profoundly selfish to not only sneak around the past without telling Claire - but also to then withhold such crucial information.

Remember that Brianna had at least a 2-week head start. So while she’s recovering at Balriggan, Roger still isn’t aware that she’s there.

I liked joanie, I liked roger and I liked fronk, although I know he could never have been a husband to claire, even without jamie. he never understood her, did not try to understand her. but the original reason for this message is another. do you think the show will address how brianna got ready to go into the past? not in clothes, money, and food for the trip through the stones, but learning to ride, to shoot, to live in “uncivilized" conditions, so to speak. (2/4)

because the way it was shown in 04x07, frank discovered that claire would go back to the past, cornered brianna to live abroad and suffered the accident that would kill him soon after. so he could not prepare her to live in the past, as many of us thought while reading the books. does it make sense to you what I’m saying? (¾)

I like your posts and fics very much. and I think the knowledge you have of outlander, after all those years reading and cherishing the books, makes a positive difference in your appreciation of the show. you can have insights that I, a fan only two years ago, can not always see. thank you! 😘😘 (4/4)

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Thank you for your thorough ask and very kind words!

I *do* think the series will address how Frank prepared Brianna to be in the past - it’s even implied in the episode, showing how she can easily light a fire, sleep under the stars, read an old map, etc. If Jamie takes Bree on a hunting trip, like he does in Drums, they discuss how Bree grew up very outdoorsy - and it’s something that father and daughter quickly bond over.

Also, the series adds a different spin on the article about the fire, by showing that Frank knew about it - and that Bree likely found it in his papers. So Bree knows that Frank knew about it.