Frank Randall - A Problematic Crossover

[Katie]

If you are anything like me, you are an avid Outlander watcher as well as reader.

Now, I am pretty late to the game — however, better late than never. I started watching the show last year and now have started the book series. While both are incredible, I am really enjoying analyzing the differences between the book and show crossover.

Let’s get onto the point of this discussion. Frank Randall.

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Let’s talk Frank Randall and the botched portrayal of the character in the show.

Frank Randall was portrayed as a doting, worried husband when his wife — Claire Randall/Fraser — disappeared on their second honeymoon in Scotland. While, yes, he was worried in the book series - it seemed as though he might have been worried for his own selfish reasons.

In Voyager we learn Frank’s true character. A cheating, lying, racist, asshole. When Claire relayed the story of what had happened to her, he was furious. Something I can understand to an extent. However, he treated her as though she was raving mad. During the entire time of their reunited marriage, Frank continuously cheated. Then, the night of his accident he drops the bombshell on Claire that he is going to take HER daughter. The daughter that was never his. The daughter of another man. He wanted to whisk her off to England with his new lover, who knows if they would have even lasted.

On page 219, we discover Frank's reasoning for whisking Brianna away to England. Claire is a free-spirited, independent woman with strongly progressive views for the time period. Frank doesn't want 'his' daughter becoming like her mother.

I understand why the character needed to be changed, as he was extremely problematic, however -- I think he was botched. We are MEANT to hate the character. I mean, they're bloody awful together. Neither of them felt any love for the other, they only endured it for the child. The show paints him as a doting husband, rather than highlighting some of the key abusive factors that take place on both sides.