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Outlander cast and crew break down that unexpected sex scene

BBG News

As a seasoned cinema devotee who has witnessed my fair share of dramatic twists and turns, I must say that the latest episode of Outlander, “A Hundredweight of Stone,” was nothing short of extraordinary. The scene between Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) and Lord John Grey (David Berry), though unexpected, felt raw, intense, and undeniably gripping.

In a recent installment of “Outlander,” titled “A Hundredweight of Stone,” the episode was filled with intensity as Claire Fraser (played by Caitriona Balfe) grappled with the concept that her husband Jamie (Sam Heughan) had perished at sea. Amidst this turmoil, she sought solace with her friend Lord John Grey (David Berry), who shared a deep affection for Jamie. Both of them were devastated, and in their sorrow, an unexpected event transpired: they engaged in an intimate encounter.

The cast and team discussed with Glamour magazine about the unexpected scene, as executive producer Maril Davis commented, “Many had strong opinions and emotions regarding that scene. For me, it was an obvious choice. It needed to be included. I believe it underscores the intensity of the grief these characters are experiencing, bringing together two individuals who wouldn’t typically interact, in a shared sorrow and desire for connection towards Jamie.

It felt like we had to show some version of them together. But once again, to me, it just illustrates how deep this grief goes and how much you’re willing to do to hold on to some part of Jamie.

In essence, it’s important to clarify that the sexual encounter was centered around Jamie, not a romantic involvement between Claire and Lord John. After all, Lord John identifies as gay, and his affections for Jamie have been longstanding and largely unreturned.

The situation became even more intricate as they learned about Jamie’s death. Lord John and Claire then chose to marry, not out of love, but for practical reasons to shield Claire from potential charges of treason. Matters escalated further when it was disclosed that Jamie hadn’t perished at sea; he missed the sunken ship and instead surfaced alive in Philadelphia. Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts posed an intriguing question: “What will happen when Jamie finds out she is wed to his closest friend?” This sets up the excitement and tension we’ll experience as the story unfolds.

Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan shared their thoughts as well, with Heughan describing the scene as “extraordinary.” Balfe disclosed that there was an alternate version in the initial scripts where Jamie was only imagining it. They discussed this idea with the writers and came up with a way to modify it so it became the most impactful version of what the scene aimed to convey. In this revised version, we both experience their raw emotions as two individuals who desperately need to grieve and express their sorrow. It’s not necessarily a sexual act, but rather a means for them to mourn and release their pain.

Hats off to David [Berry], because I probably struggled with figuring out how we were going to do this a lot more than he did. David was an amazing scene partner. We also worked with [intimacy coordinator] Vanessa Coffey, who has been amazing. Sam and I have obviously been doing these sort of scenes for years, and we have such a shorthand, I feel like we know exactly where Claire and Jamie are coming from most of the time. But this is so out of her character, so it’s such a hard one to sort of grasp. But it’s also amazing, right? That seven seasons in that you’re getting thrown something that’s as risky and challenging as that. It wasn’t an easy week at work, but it’s great you get asked to push yourself and force yourself into these crazy situations.

William goes on “a rampage” after learning the truth

There’s already enough drama in this house to fill out several seasons of a soap opera. And yet it just keeps coming! Also in the picture is William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart), Lord John Grey’s son…but he’s not Lord John’s biological son; William is really Jamie’s son from a prior relationship, but Lord John Grey adopted him as his own. But William doesn’t know that…until he overhears Jamie and Lord John discussing him and learns the truth.

In our viewing, we caught the initial stages of William’s response, but Sam Heughan hinted at even more explosive events to follow: “It seems that William becomes almost uncontrollable,” he commented. “[Due to the chain of events], Jamie acts impulsively rather than thinking things through. This stems from a place of pain, pride, and jealousy within him. And then we witness a significant Outlander moment where Jamie and Claire confront each other passionately. Though they eventually find a resolution, what makes their dynamic so captivating is that they’ve been through similar testing times before. They not only clash, but also heal one another in some ways. This underscores the beauty of their relationship—they manage to overcome difficulties together. This upcoming event appears to be their greatest trial in a long while. Additionally, Jamie’s bond with John Grey is severely tested, and so is William’s position.

Caitriona Balfe hinted at more hardships for William, stating, “Up until now, William has been kept safe and secure. But what happens next is going to take that security away from him completely.” She continued, “This event sets off a chain reaction with profound consequences for the rest of the season, significantly impacting Jamie, Claire, and their understanding of their own past.

As a dedicated movie buff, I’ve always found “Outlander” to be quite the dramatic rollercoaster ride. However, from the sneak peeks I’ve seen, it seems like the upcoming episode, titled “Carnal Knowledge,” is poised to raise the bar even higher. Mark your calendars for next Friday, December 13, as this one will be airing on Starz. I can’t help but feel a buzz of anticipation myself – I have a feeling that many fellow fans will be doing the same!

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2024-12-06 23:41

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