9-1-1 Season 9, Episode 18 'Hearts and Flowers' pulls out all the procedural stops in an hour that gives us a little bit of everything.
Buddie excerpt from article:
"But perhaps the biggest one is that the season ended with the show seemingly deciding they’re not going to address the Buddie elephant in the room, an elephant they invited in. The whole thing could have remained a mere footnote in this story, something a lot of people liked but understood might never happen. Then the show gave it wings. And now, it’s acting like it never happened. Mind you, it’s not walking it back. It’s just ignoring it.
Whether it is because the show doesn’t truly want to go there, or because they consider that kind of storyline to be an endgame play, it’s hard to say. But the end result for viewers when you put all these things together is the same: frustration. Even after an otherwise good finale."
Lizzie is a journalist who writes for TVGuide and Fangirlish btw.
It says a lot when the majority of the journalists who cover 911 can see what’s been going on with Buddie. So don’t pay any attention to that fandom who keeps saying we’re only seeing what we want to see and that it’s never gonna happen.
INTERVIEW: Sam Heughan And Caitriona Balfe On Jamie & Claire’s Growth in Outlander
Outlander Season 7 Part 2 has us in stitches! We sat down with Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe in a roundtable interview to talk about Jamie & Claire’s growth. They also discussed the challenges the two face in Season 7, Part 2 and the legacy they leave behind. Ready?
Here we go!
The return to Lallybroch in Outlander Season 7 Part 2
One of the most special moments in Outlander Season 7 Part 2 is the return to Lallybroch, the ancestral home of the Frasers. For Caitriona Balfe, this location is not only a space full of history in the series but also a fundamental place in the evolution of her character, Claire.
Talking about Lallybroch immediately brings us back to the moment when Claire shares her secret with her family. Balfe reflected on how that revelation shook the relationship between Claire and Jenny: “When there are secrets between people, it prevents them from fully connecting. For Claire and Jenny, this revelation meant being able to close that shift between them regarding their relationship and friendship. It was wonderful to return to that place where so much has happened for the characters.”
For his part, Sam Heughan highlighted the meaning of Lallybroch for Jamie and the emotional impact of returning to a place that defines so much of who he is. “Jamie has always wanted to return. Although his home is now in America, returning to Lallybroch allows him to reconnect with his family and close important chapters. However, things didn’t go as he expected, as there were many relationships he needed to resolve before he could move forward.”
Both actors agree that filming at Lallybroch is a gift for both them and viewers. According to Heughan, the scenes in Scotland capture the essence of Jamie’s character while also allowing fans to reconnect with the roots of the story.
Beyond the Wedding: The Importance of Marriage
At another point in the interview, a more personal topic was raised: the importance of marriage versus the spectacle of a wedding. This led Caitriona Balfe to reflect on the social pressure around modern weddings and how Claire, with her history of weddings and complex relationships, would have advised a young woman about prioritizing marriage over the event.
“Modern weddings have gotten out of hand. “It shouldn’t cost as much as a house to have a wedding,” Balfe said, with a mix of humor and sincerity. The conversation quickly turned playful when Heughan mentioned Roger and Brianna’s wedding on the show, pointing out that even that celebration reflected the emotional focus over the material. Balfe added that, in her experience, someone gave her a valuable piece of advice that resonated both in her life and in her portrayal of Claire: “Don’t make your wedding about your past, make it about your future. I thought that was a beautiful message.”
The dynamic between the actors was evident when Heughan humorously interrupted to point out how “Outlander” that phrase sounded, generating a moment of laughter between the two. However, Balfe returned to seriousness to conclude that, for her, a wedding should be a celebration of the beginning of a new stage: “Marriage is what matters. The party is not everything, but what you build after.”
Outlander‘s Legacy According to Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe
After this relaxed moment, nostalgia took over, and, after more than a decade of playing Jamie and Claire Fraser in Outlander, Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe face the challenge of saying goodbye to two characters who have become an extension of themselves. Playing two such iconic characters for more than a decade not only requires dedication but also a deep emotional connection.
Caitriona Balfe acknowledged that Claire has influenced who she is today: “When I think about who I was at the beginning of this series and who I am now, part of that change has to do with Claire, but also with leading this project alongside Sam and assuming everything that implies. Claire has given me a lot of confidence and has even inspired me to use my voice. Some might say perhaps too much, but who would say that?” she said with a laugh.
Sam Heughan shared similar sentiments, explaining that the line between him and Jamie has blurred over the years: “It’s hard to completely separate ourselves from the characters, and we’re in the process of doing that now, which sounds like a bit of a…”
Balfe chimed in humorously: “existential crisis?”
“Yeah,” Heughan replied with a laugh, “because you realize you’re saying goodbye to someone you’ve lived with for so long. I think it’s going to take me years to really understand everything Jamie has taught me, but I’ve certainly gained confidence, and experience and grown with him. Plus, he’s given me an incredible relationship, one I never thought I’d have.”
The Evolution of Jamie & Claire in Outlander Season 7 Part 2
From their first meeting to the most recent events in Outlander Season 7 Part 2, Jamie and Claire’s relationship has gone through countless trials and transformations. Including brushes with death, as happened in Outlander Season 7 Episode 15.
Balfe explained how this journey has shaped the couple, as “they’ve been through so many trials and tribulations, and they’ve learned a lot about each other. Over time, those harsher personality traits have softened a bit, and their understanding of each other has grown. However, when they’re separated, as happens in season 7B, we see that they’re both more capable of moving on without each other, but we know that nothing good really happens when they’re apart. When they finally meet again, there’s a lot of friction because, sometimes, we act from a place of old wounds.”
Heughan also reflected on how the years have changed the couple’s dynamic: “In the early seasons, Jamie and Claire were very intense, with arguments that felt like ‘will they work it out or not? ’ Now they’ve moved past that. They can still argue, but it doesn’t put their relationship at risk anymore. They’ve reached a point where their bond is deeper and more mature. When they’re finally apart and Jamie comes back, that’s a really dramatic moment for them to work through. Until then, we see how much their relationship has grown and matured.”
With eleven years of history on Outlander, Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe have not only brought Jamie and Claire to life but have evolved alongside them. The series has not only been an epic journey for the characters but also for the actors, who carry with them the lessons and experiences that this adventure has left them with. As Balfe noted, “It’s definitely been the role of a lifetime,” and both she and Heughan acknowledge that it will take years to fully understand the impact of this experience, not only on their careers but also on who they are.
Jamie & Claire’s Most Complicated Moment
When discussing the most shocking recent moments from Outlander Season 7 Part 2, Balfe and Heughan reflected on what they thought of the particularly intense moment between Claire and Jamie in Outlander Season 7 Episode 12. Balfe admitted, “When I read the first version of the script, I was like, ‘We can’t do this..’ I felt very defensive of Claire and we worked closely with the writers to find the best way to tell this beautiful but complicated story based on the books. It’s a difficult moment to digest.”
Heughan, for his part, highlighted how surprising Jamie’s reaction was to him: “I didn’t expect him to be so violent. I thought he would be more understanding, but at the end of the day, he’s a flawed human being. He has pride and darkness within him, and that makes him interesting.”
The Past in Outlander Season 7 Part 2
One of the most distinct moments in Outlander Season 7 Part 2 compared to previous seasons involves Roger MacKenzie, who, instead of arriving at the period he expected, ends up interacting with someone unexpected: Jamie Fraser’s father.
Sam Heughan explained how this unexpected connection adds a new layer to the story, as “it’s a cool moment, the way they’ve done it. Roger knocks on the door at Lallybroch expecting Jamie to open it, but he finds his father instead. It’s a disconcerting situation for him. He has to think fast and adapt. What’s interesting is why he was sent to that period, what the consequences were, and where everyone was at that time. I think Jamie is in France at that point.”
Caitriona Balfe highlighted how this plot twist amplifies the use of time travel in this season because “normally, time travel is a smaller part of the narrative, but this time it has a much more prominent role. This leads to fascinating questions about what changes someone can make by traveling back in time and what the ripple effects of those actions are.”
Exploring Characters Beyond the Books
Throughout seven seasons of Outlander, the writers have taken certain liberties with the source material, something Sam and Caitriona acknowledge as an inevitable challenge when adapting such a rich and sprawling saga. “There have been moments or elements that we’ve left out,” Heughan admitted. “Sometimes I wish we’d done more or gone a little further from the books, but adapting such a dense series of novels into hour-long episodes is almost impossible. We probably could have done 20 seasons.”
Balfe added that despite the limitations, the final seasons have tried to stay true to the spirit of the books: “I think especially in these last few seasons, there’s been an attempt to follow the books closely, but there’s always been a need to tell our own story. And that’s the exciting thing about television, finding the balance between faithfulness to the source material and narrative that works on screen.”
Heughan also reflected on the future of the Outlander universe, referring to the spin-off Outlander: Blood of My Blood, which will explore the Frasers’ story without the direct backing of the books: “It will be interesting to see how they handle that new show, as they don’t have any books to follow. It’s exciting to think about the possibilities.”
Claire’s Double Responsibilities
Likewise, Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe shared their thoughts on the dilemmas their characters face. As a time traveler with advanced medical knowledge, Claire has been a crucial figure in almost every season. But is it fair for others to expect her to be some kind of universal savior?
Caitriona Balfe reflected on this constant pressure: “I think Claire feels like she should be able to do more. It’s frustrating for her not to have the tools, the medications, or even enough knowledge to solve all the problems she faces. Although she comes equipped with impressive skills, even doctors today rely on books and the internet. They don’t have an encyclopedic memory of everything. And Claire is no different.”
Sam Heughan humorously added: “I don’t think she’s done enough. And neither does my daughter! They could have done so much more.”
Claire’s relationship with history is also a constant source of conflict. Balfe commented on the gaps in her historical knowledge: “I think what’s fun about the character is that she has a general idea of historical events, but she doesn’t always know the details. There are moments where you think, ‘Claire if only you’d paid a little more attention in class…’”
Despite these limitations, Heughan highlighted Claire’s impressive handling of her situation: “Her knowledge of history, for a non-historian, is pretty impressive.”
The Inevitable Call of War in Outlander Season 7 Part 2
Throughout Outlander, Jamie and Claire have tried to avoid getting caught up in the historical events that shape the world around them. However, as Heughan noted, it seems that fate always drags them back into the middle of the conflict, as we see in the latest episode. “They’ve tried to change history, to avoid it, but it always finds them. This season is no exception. The War of Independence is about to break out, and though they try to stay out of it, they are inevitably drawn into the heart of events. It’s quite dramatic,” Heughan explains.
The tension between Jamie and Claire’s personal decisions and the weight of historical events is one of the pillars that continues to drive the narrative of Outlander. Balfe added: “It’s fascinating to see how their personal relationships and historical conflicts run in parallel, creating a balance between intimate drama and the magnitude of the events they face.”
And she’s absolutely right because, after all, in addition to their love story, Claire’s constant struggle to help those around her, while carrying the expectations as a time traveler, along with Jamie’s resilience amid historical turbulence, encapsulates the spirit of Outlander. What happened in the last episode is just a taste of it, but the best thing is that there is still more to come because, definitely, that wasn’t the end.
We talk with Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe about Jamie & Claire's growth, the challenges they face in this season, and their legacy.
Thanks for the message, Anon. 😃 I’m not sure I take your point, but here is the review:
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 Advanced Review
Outlander: Blood of My Blood Season 1 is just a few days away from hitting our screens. After watching the first six episodes of the Outlander prequel, we’re ready to unravel—spoiler-free—everything that awaits us in our advanced review.
Brian & Ellen Are the Engine of Everything in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Brian and Ellen make the show work. It’s that simple. Don’t get us wrong, Outlander: Blood of My Blood does a great job of making us know and love—or hate—the other characters. But the truth is, it’s all about Brian and Ellen. Their chemistry is pure magic. They carry the weight, and it makes sense. Ellen is brave, cunning, and intelligent, but she’s also so much more than that. She’s a woman ahead of her time who has everything it takes to be Chief of her Clan. If only she were a man.
Not being a man not only prevents Ellen from being Chief of the Clan, but no one takes her seriously, and her brothers believe they can sell her like some kind of commodity. Ellen rebels against all this, against the role she’s destined to play. And while she tries to fight for the right to decide over her own life, she meets Brian.
Brian is also struggling, but it’s a different struggle. In Outlander: Blood of My Blood, he struggles not to let his father’s obvious contempt affect him. And he struggles not to become someone as despicable as him. When he meets Ellen, the world stops turning for him for a moment. Until it starts again… and he can’t stop thinking about her.
They both know their families would never accept a courtship between them because their Clans are enemies, so they try to resist. But they can’t. And they end up alone in the middle of the Highlands, unable to stop looking at each other, unable to stop taking a step towards each other. So, without either of them planning it, they find themselves at a crossroads: they must choose between their love and their duty to their families and their Clans.
Julia & Henry Work…But We Need Something More
While Brian and Ellen carry most of the weight of Outlander: Blood of My Blood on their back, Julia and Henry carry the rest. And their love stories are as different as oil and water. Each one has something that makes it unique, but in Julia and Henry’s case, we feel like we’re missing something. Like a puzzle piece is missing. Maybe it has to do with expectations.
We expected that Outlander: Blood of My Blood would show us the evolution of Julia and Henry’s relationship from the beginning. And while we see flashbacks about how their relationship began, the series focuses on the development of their relationship at a very specific point in their life together. That was unexpected, although it certainly answers one of the big questions we always had.
However, feeling like we’ve watched most of their relationship in fast-forward doesn’t do Julia and Henry any favors. We feel like we’re missing something to truly connect with them. In that sense, while a relationship that develops through letters like Julia and Henry’s isn’t something common, it’s also a double-edged sword.
The letters are beautiful, but they make us lose the physical connection, so we don’t feel that electricity of those first glances, those first smiles. And we need that connection to fully immerse ourselves in their relationship, to fall down the rabbit hole and never come out.
Although we get to know the characters through Outlander, this is the first time they’re more than just a memory. In Outlander: Blood of My Blood, they’re real. We get to truly see what they’re like for the first time. And we really need to feel that Jamie and Claire’s parents experienced a love as strong and special as theirs. The show makes you feel that with Brian and Ellen, but not so much with Julia and Henry. Although we’re sure they’ll achieve it.
Echoes of the Past in Outlander: Blood of My Blood
Along with the two central couples, in Outlander: Blood of My Blood, we find some characters we met in their older versions, such as Dougal, Colum, Ned, Jocasta, Murtagh, and Lord Lovat. The show had a huge challenge trying to match the image we all have of them with this new, much younger, less wise version, almost like the beginnings of the people we know they will become, but it succeeds with flying colors.
We were quite surprised to be able to look at their younger versions and see how everything fit together in our heads. However, this could have backfired. If they look too similar to their older versions, where does their growth take place? But Outlander: Blood of My Blood solves this problem very well because, while the essence of the characters is there and they are clearly recognizable, you can also see how much they still have to grow and mature to become the people we met in Outlander.
Beyond this, the power struggle between Dougal and Colum is especially interesting. While Dougal is impulsiveness personified, Colum is restraint, cunning. And much more is achieved with cunning than with violence. And don’t forget to keep an eye on Jocasta. She always felt less than Ellen. As if Ellen counted for everyone, but she didn’t count for anyone. And she’s worked hard to be seen by her family, especially her father. And jealousy is never a good advisor.
We’ll finish our advanced review of Outlander: Blood of My Blood here. Stay tuned for a weekly review starting August 8.
Outlander: Blood of My Blood will premiere on August 8 on STARZ.
Fangirlish
Remember… (about Dougal, Colum, Ned, Jocasta, Murtagh, and Lord Lovat) while the essence of the characters is there and they are clearly recognizable, you can also see how much they still have to grow and mature to become the people we met in Outlander. — Fangirlish
We live in an era where, frankly, I don’t envy showrunners and actors. Real, nuanced discussions tend to get lost in the shuffle of slapping clickbait labels on everything and refusing to apply a bit of media literacy. It’s tempting to just make everything and everyone “soft” and “unproblematic” to avoid being the next outrage campaign main character—but that misses the point, both of storytelling and of “soft” characters themselves.
The idea of soft period drama leading men isn’t about reducing conflict or “replacing” other character archetypes. It’s about crafting a different route for conflict, and more characters who break the mold even in small ways.
A sense of same-ness in any genre can exhaust even the most devoted fans. Conversely, more types of characters, relationships, and plots can open doors for more and more people to feel invested in the genre. It’s also nice...to see sensitive, gentle men portrayed as romantic leading men. As far as I’m concerned, there’s room for everyone in the period drama world—so the more, the merrier!
--Are We Entering an Era of Softer Period Drama Leading Men? (fangirlish)
