Here is a NEW Interview with Maril Davis from The Hollywood Reporter
From THR:
Executive producer Maril Davis explains why the show had to streamline some elements from Diana Gabaldon’s book to fit Sunday’s episode.
A new relationship has blossomed on Outlander, but it’s not one that any of the characters could have seen coming.
In Sunday’s episode, “If Not For Hope,” Brianna (Sophie Skelton) began to feel the pressure from Aunt Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy) to find a suitable husband, and fast, before the baby came. Bree couldn’t have a child out of wedlock as it would doom the baby to forever live without a proper title and honor, despite her having been handfast with Roger (Richard Rankin).
More after the jump!
Fearing she wouldn’t have a choice in the matter (and knowing one of Aunt Jocasta’s visitors was ready to make a proposal), Bree became desperate. Lord John Grey (David Berry) surprisingly showed up to River Run to check in on her at Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) request, and so when she witnessed him in a late-night tryst with another man, she decided to blackmail him into becoming engaged to her to fend off any other suitors.
Their friendly relationship briefly turned hostile as Lord Grey went toe-to-toe with Bree, but he saw through her bravado and they ended up confiding in each other about their “shameful” secrets. He agreed to an engagement until they found out for sure what happened to Roger. While their engagement may be for show for now, the ruse only succeeds in bringing these two unlikely friends closer together. It’s a relationship completely born out of Diana Gabaldon’s Drums of Autumn, upon which this season of Outlander is based, and it’s one the producers couldn’t wait to bring to life.
“We all love, in the books, the Brianna-Lord John relationship. It’s so unusual,” executive producer Maril Davis tells The Hollywood Reporter. “This episode is just the beginning of that, and it’s so special because Lord John has this close relationship with Jamie, but not as close with Claire [Caitriona Balfe]. There are so many mixed feelings there. With Brianna, Lord John sees a combination of Jamie and Claire and someone he can be close with and has a kinship with, but without the baggage.”
I think the episode was done extremely well, mainly because I’d like to see more of John Grey in the Outlander saga. That he and Bree have become friends assures me of this, because I know she will need him to carry off a scheme of hers and eventually she will learn that she has a brother and that they favor, though learning that, however, will be an “accident.” John Grey will also have a quasi-relationship with her mother, who doesn’t dis-like him. but knows that he does love Jamie as more than “just a friend.” I want the series to bring more of John Grey into the Fraser Family’s life and in one way, bringing William into it as well. You all are doing a great job with the series and I know what you’ve had to do to get it televised, as I have read and re-read all of the books. I’ve finished re-reading “The Fiery Cross” and now re-reading “A Breath Of Snow and Ashes,” which I think take up the substance of Seasons 5 and 6. Please do “Echo…” and “Written In My….” and even, “Go Tell The Bees That I Have Gone,” if that marvelous writer Diana Gabaldon ever gets it out in 2019 for me to read that one, too.
So many personal stories and secrets happening. Poor Roger – just how much bad treatment can he take. Brianna is certainly in a troubling situation and Murtagh – well, what is going to happen to our beloved Murtagh – and with only 2 more episodes to go!