This week’s post-episode round-up includes interviews with Sam Heughan, Caitriona Balfe, Sophie Skelton, Diana Gabaldon, and Richard Rankin. Only excerpts are below, so please click on the links for each article to read them in their entirety. As always, be aware of spoilers for “Free Will” and upcoming episodes.
SyFy Wire: INSIDE OUTLANDER 5.3: SAM AND CAITRIONA DISCUSS THOSE CREEPY BEARDSLEYS IN ‘FREE WILL’
Parade: Jamie Killed a Man on Tonight’s Outlander, and Author Diana Gabaldon Says It Will Change Him
“That’s a truly good episode throughout, and I love (in a purely emotional, appreciation of humanity and artistry kind of way, rather than a cheering on the extermination of a sub-par specimen of humanity sort of way) the [euthanasia scene],” Outlander author Diana Gabaldon tellsParade.com exclusively. “Euthanasia is (luckily) a fairly minor part of most people’s daily thoughts, let alone their experience. And yet, life being what it is, we do have to deal with the messiness that attends both ends of life.”
“The end of the episode, where Jamie clearly sees what needs to be done and proceeds to do it, is both chilling and deeply moving,” Gabaldon says. “Claire—being who and what she is—has been fighting as hard as possible to save this evil man’s life, even though seeing clearly (and more and more clearly as she hears his wife’s story) what he is, and knowing that his physical state is hopeless.” She continues, “But it is hopeless, and Jamie quietly takes the responsibility of decision out of her hands. It’s a powerful scene, and Jamie’s quiet, matter-of-fact words, against the wrenching, constrained feeling in his face as he goes through the brief ritual of asking Beardsley’s consent to free him from his temporary hell at the risk of sending him to a permanent one–versus the silent blinks of a wicked man who refuses any thought of forgiveness—is intense.”
Gabaldon points out, “But this is mercy—and justice,” adding, “and whatever it costs Jamie personally, it’s his job.”
Sources linked in the post.
