Episode 7 of Season 2 of the British romantic time-travel drama TV series “Outlander” that aired on Starz on May 21 gave viewers a rather traumatic watching experience worst than the rape of Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan, in the hands of Black Jack Randall, played by Tobias Menzies, during the Season 1 penultimate episode.
The episode featured the rape of the young boy Fergus Fraser, played by French kid Romann Berrux, by Jack Randall once again, highlighting yet again the despicable cruelty of the Englishman, notes Refinery 29.
As if Claire Fraser, played by Caitriona Balfe, losing her daughter to miscarriage, was not bad enough, she heard Fergus whimpering in his sleep one night. So when she asks him what was wrong, Fergus hesitated at first. But after much convincing, she found out that Jack Randall molested the boy.
Fergus narrated that while he was running an errand with Jamie in a whorehouse, he wandered off to find some pockets to pick. After being attracted by a bottle of lavender scent that he wanted to bring home and be his present to Claire, he found himself cornered in a bedroom by Jack Randall who said that he was not that one he ordered but he will do.
The showrunners actually had a choice not to feature the scene and simply go back to Fergus telling Claire about it but they did both. They featured the child rape scene and the narration altogether making up for a double emotional whammy for the viewers, who most likely were livid with angst and anger.
A hard-to-watch scene
The rape scene of Fergus was almost taboo to watch but the narrative is owned by the victim. The viewers were able to see the live action through the child’s eyes and hear about it through his own words, making viewers commiserate with him.
Episode writer Toni Graphia also said that she knows that the rape scene is hard to watch but she admitted that they have always planned to show it.
While they were sensitive about it, they do not want it to be gratuitous because it was not filmed in any kind of titillating way but merely to show the horror and terror of the despicable act.
Graphia said that they wanted to convey to the viewers of “Outlander” the emotion and the fear of it. She added that they wanted to highlight Randall as a really despicable man who knows no boundaries regardless of whether they are men, women, or kids because he is a sadist and he likes to take his pleasure where he wants.
Sparing Jack Randall’s life
Back in episode 5, Claire requested Jamie not to kill Jack Randall for one year in order to save Frank, her erstwhile husband in 1944. Jamie agreed on it not because he is concerned with Frank but at least he knows that someone would take care of Claire in the future in the event that things would not work out with them eventually.
In addition, they are both working to stop the Jacobite rebellion which is a promise that means the world to Claire. It also means that despite her decision to remain in the 18th century Scotland, Frank would just continue to wonder what happened to his wife while still being alive and well.
But Jamie broke his promise to Claire because he tried to avenge the rape of Fergus and dueled with Jack Randall again.
Graphia explained that Jamie broke his vow to Claire because he was enraged with the sight of Randall assaulting another male victim, and a young boy at that, that triggered something in him, making his motives seem pure. Eventually, Claire also realized that. Jamie was not doing it for himself but for the victim.