When it comes to Outlander, the showrunners are extremely smart. Only a very talented team of writers could create such a compelling story that focuses on an ardent love story between two people, yet doesn't solely revolve around them. The original source material was already brilliant, but the show managed to elevate some of the secondary characters and make them even more interesting and compelling. One of these characters is, of course, Frank Randall.
As Claire's first husband and a potential threat to her love story with Jamie, Frank isn't exactly a favorite among most fans. That said, he adds immense layers and complexity to the story. Outlander did a magnificent job in further developing and improving Frank's character in order to give audiences some serious quality television. Even though he is gone, Frank remains relevant. As such, let's take a look at some details about Frank you might have missed!
He Didn't Hesitate To Serve His Country
Claire was originally born in the 20th century, which was a pretty agitated age, to say the least. She and Frank got married only a year before World War II broke out, one of the most horrific events in human history. Like many were forced to do back then, both Claire and Frank had to serve their country somehow.
Even though he had just married the woman he thought was the love of his life, Frank did not hesitate when it was time to serve his country and countrymen in a time of need. It was not an easy decision to make, but he made it nonetheless. So did Claire, who found her calling to become a war nurse.
Frank Was Separated From His Wife For A Long Time
Times of war often mean years of separation for couples. Thousands of couples have to say their farewells without knowing whether or not they might ever see each other again. Frank and Claire were one of these couples, and while they were lucky enough to reunite after the war, they were still apart for seven years.
It's hard to imagine a relationship lasting for more than half a decade without the two parties seeing each other. Claire and Frank managed to correspond and eventually reunite, but they were among the lucky ones. Sure, times were different, and we can't even begin to imagine what it was like. Nonetheless, it's still commendable that they got back together after being separated for so long.
He Was Older Than Claire
Age guessing is always a tricky game to play, especially when it comes to television characters. The trend of using adult people to play teenagers completely messes up our accuracy! When it comes to Outlander, the show reveals that Claire is five years Jamie's senior.
However, we don't really get a glimpse into Frank's age, and it's hard to tell from the actors whether or not there is a significant age gap. Well, in fact, there is! Fans who've read the books know that Frank is actually ten years older than his wife, Claire. Which is not extremely unusual, particularly during this era.
He Was Likely Sterile
Throughout her marriage to Frank, Claire often worried about the fact that she wasn't able to bear children. After years of being together, the couple had failed to produce a child, which Claire assumed was a fault on her end. However, once she marries Jamie and becomes sexually involved with him, we know this isn't true.
Even before Brianna, Claire was pregnant with another daughter, Faith, who was stillborn. And once Claire returns to her own time, Frank realizes that he is most likely the one who is sterile. This might have had some weight in his decision to help raise Brianna as his own since this was probably his only chance at fatherhood.
Frank Wanted His Wife Back
It's probably not news to anyone that Outlander took some serious liberties when adapting the novels for the screen. Most of these changes can be seen in the character of Frank, who significantly differs from the man we hardly get to know in the books - a man who, by the way, is anything but perfect.
For instance, in the books, once Claire travels through time, we never hear from Frank again. We know that he kept searching for her in the show version, which is one of many indicators that Frank did indeed love his wife deeply. So much so, he didn't give up entirely after she goes missing and puts actual effort into getting her back.
He Trusted His Wife Deeply
Okay, picture this: You are a married woman born during an age when the Internet and virtual reality weren't even a thing. One day, you accidentally travel through time back to the 18th century, before falling in love and marrying another a man, only to then have to return to your original day and age.
Now picture telling all of this to your first husband. What are the odds he would not have you committed straight away? Probably big. Not Frank Randall, though! This man had so much trust in his wife that he almost instantly believed her story. Can you imagine that? Even the most progressive mind of today would think you are a lunatic. That's major trust right there.
An Honorable Man
As we've mentioned before, Frank made the very hard decision to separate from his wife in order to serve his country during World War II. That's already a pretty honorable thing to do, but it's far from the hardest and most commendable decision Frank has done. Because when we put our dislike for him aside, a couple of things become clear.
The wildest of them all is the fact that not only did Frank choose to stay married to Claire even though he knew she would never love him like she loved Jamie, he also chose to raise a child that was not his own. That's a hard decision to have to make, but Frank did it nonetheless. He should be given more credit for it.
Frank & Claire Shared A Love For History
Prior to serving as a soldier and before Claire became a war nurse, Frank's life was occupied by another type of love: A love for history. After all, Frank was originally a historian; in fact, it was while he was researching about his family lineage that he ended up meeting Claire, whom he eventually married.
Claire also took quite a liking to history. She was often interested in hearing about Frank's findings, and she acquired quite a bit of knowledge from her uncle, who was an archaeologist. Undoubtedly, the things she'd learned from both her husband and her uncle helped Claire navigate 18th century Scotland.
He Made A Big Impact In Brianna's Life
Raising a child that's not your own flesh and blood is indeed a very honorable thing. Stepping into the role of a father is a responsibility many people would have no problem walking away from. However, Frank took on the role without giving it much thought, and he raised Brianna like she was his daughter.
Even though there was potential for him to perceive her as nothing but a constant reminder of Claire's love for another man, Frank was a great father through and through. He gave Brianna a happy childhood. Even after Frank's death, Brianna continues to think of him. This relationship should not be overlooked or discarded.
Frank & Claire Loved Each Other
Look, it's obvious that Jamie and Claire's love story is the stuff of dreams. It's a fierce bond that transcends time, distance, and death. There's absolutely no denying that these two were made for each other, and they belong together, and the show has this pretty much set in stone.
While all of this is true, Frank's role in Claire's life should not be completely disregarded. No, he's not the love of her life, nor will he ever be. Nevertheless, Frank was still Claire's first love, husband, and father to her child. The two of them did love each other, so much so that they stayed faithful for seven years during the war. It might not be the ultimate romance, but it's still a beautiful and tragic love story.