Here is a new interview with Caitriona Balfe with Variety
From Variety:
“Outlander” never shies away from challenging material, and there are few issues more challenging than miscarriage and sexual assault — both of which were present in the harrowing latest installment of the Starz drama, which saw Claire lose her baby after witnessing Jamie’s duel with Black Jack Randall — a fight that was precipitated by Jamie discovering Jack raping Fergus, a boy who works for the couple
More after the jump!
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The episode, sensitively written by Toni Graphia and directed by Metin Hüseyin, exemplifies why “Outlander” stands head and shoulders above the majority of other primetime dramas, especially when it comes to portrayals of rape and loss. While it’s often hard to stomach the violence that human beings inflict on each other, “Outlander” takes pains to explore the emotional aftermath of its physical cruelties, not glossing over them for narrative expedience or using them simply to shock the audience (or as a shorthand to prove how “evil” a character is). It’s supposed to be painful, but what makes “Outlander” so groundbreaking, even in the era of Peak TV, is that it gives time and weight to those heinous acts and their repercussions without objectifying the victims, sitting with characters in their grief and giving space to their trauma instead of barreling on to the next plot twist.
The moment when Claire holds her baby in her arms, knowing that she’ll never see her daughter’s eyes open or hear her laugh, is one of the most devastating scenes ever committed to screen, and beyond being a performance for which, if there’s any justice, Caitriona Balfe should win every acting award ever devised, it also gives a face to a woman’s grief in ways that many shows still fear to explore — especially on broadcast networks. Oftentimes, female characters still have to fit into rigid boxes to be acceptable on TV, but Claire has never been a stock Strong Female Character, and you can’t put her into a box any more than you can label any real woman; we contain multitudes.
In Graphia’s script (adapted from Diana Gabaldon’s “Dragonfly in Amber”), Claire runs the emotional gamut, from denial and righteous fury to dissociation and deceit. We’re with her in private moments of desolation and public moments where she’s fighting to maintain her composure, following the emotional rollercoaster of her losing her child; discovering Fergus’ own trauma; deciding to free Jamie from the Bastille by petitioning the king; performing as La Dame Blanche to try and save Master Raymond and the Comte St. Germain from death (and failing, in the latter case); revealing the truth to Jamie, and finally grieving with him, two devastated parents united again as they decide to leave Paris. It’s an emotional tour de force from Balfe, complemented by powerful turns from Sam Heughan (Jamie), Romann Berrux (Fergus), Stanley Weber (St. Germain), Dominique Pinon (Raymond), Frances de la Tour (Mother Hildegarde) and Claire Sermonne (Louise).
Variety spoke to Balfe and Graphia about the events of Episode 207, and portions of those separate conversations are combined below.
Catriona, what was your first impression of Toni’s script when you got it? You knew that the miscarriage was coming before you read it, right?Balfe: Yeah, I knew where the story was headed, and I knew that Toni was writing it, and Toni has such a beautiful, poetic way with her writing. I knew that it was going to be in very safe hands. So when I first got the script, I mean, I cried. I emailed Toni straight away, and I was just like, “This is so beautiful. You’ve made me cry like a baby.” I loved how Toni handled it. It was in such a respectful way, and such a beautiful way, and I think it’s such a defining moment in Claire’s life and for her character, that in a way, you just relish these moments as an actor to be able to go through this journey with the character.
Read the rest of the article here
Great interview! Thank you for this opportunity to gain insight into how Toni and Caitriona worked to make this outstanding episode. Anytime I see Toni’s name as writer, I know to expect excellence. Once again, she delivered. Caitriona has grown as an actress as the series progressed, but this performance left me in awe of her talent. Emmy worthy for sure.
Bravo bravo she’s great her performance was fantastic I even cried Her performance was great it was like a reality
Bravo bravo she’s great her performance was fantastic I even cried Her performance was great it was like a reality
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Outlander – saison 2
Interview
Thank you, Laura Prudom @Variety, for a thoughtful and honest review. This series just gets better & better. The mix of story line, sets, costumes, and top tier acting is mesmerizing. I also am touched by several comments here from women who have had miscarriages. If Claire’s experiences help them process their own real-life grief, then that’s another valid reason for powerful and true story-telling. Ron Moore, his team, writer Toni Graphia, Caitrona Balfe, and Sam Heughan deserve recognition for bringing flesh-and-blood life to author Diana Gabaldon’s story.
Reblogged this on Ana Fraser Lallybroch Blog.
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