Warning: Contains spoilers for Outlander season 6.
Outlander season 6 has been criticized for lacking an obvious focus, but the series is making strides in moving on from the central characters, Claire and Jamie, with new attention being paid to the younger generation of Frasers. Viewers who have fallen in love with the tumultuous and passionate relationship between Outlander's Claire and Jamie may be experiencing a bit of disconnect from them in season 6, with the storyline branching in multiple directions. As the couple is pulled between the impending war, Claire's trauma, and the new arrivals at Fraser's Ridge, there has been less focus on their relationship and sensual connection, which may have changed the way the show feels to audiences.
Based on Diana Gabaldon's novels, Outlander places Scottish highlander, Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan), and his time-traveling wife, Claire (Caitriona Balfe), in the center of a story that combines magic, science, mysticism, and history to fuel its drama. With a large cast of recurring characters, Outlander season 6 has the potential for a wide range of stories to be told, despite the fact that the series has spent most of the last five seasons focused almost solely on its main characters' relationship and lives. But as the seasons add up, many of the younger characters are being fleshed out and developing story arcs of their own, and Jamie and Claire have started to take a backseat.
While the first five seasons slowly introduced characters that include the Frasers' children - Brianna and her husband Roger, Fergus and his wife Marsali, and their nephew, Ian - Outlander season 6 seems devoted to bringing the younger generation into focus. On the eve of the Revolutionary War, Jamie and Claire continue to make large-scale decisions that affect both their family and history, yet Outlander season 6 is proving the show has grown bigger than just the two of them. Many of the most interesting and poignant moments of the current season have focused on characters other than Jamie and Claire. Fergus' growing dependence on alcohol and his fears for his newborn son, Henri-Christian, have been treated with the gentle subtleness awarded main characters in prior seasons. The development of Roger's affinity for teaching and ministering to the Protestant residents of Fraser's Ridge is endearing, as is his pride in Brianna as she reconnects with the things she loves to do. Marsali has become a fierce and formidable woman who rivals Claire herself in her stubborn resolve. In the bottle episode, "Hour of the Wolf," the young Ian Murray's life with the Mohawk and the grief he suffered were brought into the light, allowing viewers to fully understand him and how history weighs on him.
By expanding the focus of the series the show ensures that it continues to expose unexplored terrain. For instance, when Fergus explained the reason for his fear regarding Henri-Christian's dwarfism, he reminded viewers that he had lived a very different life before Jamie had adopted him from the brothel in France. As he and Marsali work to raise their family, his character is poised to grow and develop into an even more interesting and engaging character. As Roger and Brianna thrive in their new environment by bringing some of their 20th-century life with them, the potential for success and tragedy are both amplified. And as Ian addresses his losses, the potential for new joy becomes more enticing for viewers. As the epic saga of the Fraser clan continues to unfold, by expanding Outlander's focus, the show can bring new life to an old love story.
Claire and Jamie Fraser may be iconic in the realm of romance, but even the greatest love stories settle into comfortable happiness. By shifting the focus and widening the lens through which Outlander tells the story of their love and the legacy of that relationship, the series is allowing the real magic of their romance to show. By decentering the elder Frasers and allowing the show to also explore the ups and downs of their children's lives, Outlander's moments of Claire and Jamie's passion, while fewer, will be all the sweeter and more rewarding.
Outlander airs on Starz Sundays at 9:00 p.m. EST.