The third season of “Outlander” has started and the sighs of the fans for poor Claire, the strong willed, former World War Ii era combat nurse, and Jamie, the wild, red haired Highland Laddie, separated by the centuries, can be heard across the land. However, someone at least had to spare a little sympathy and shed a tear or two for Frank Randall, Claire’s 20th Century husband, who is caught in an impossible situation.
The love triangle that stretches across centuries
For those who have not been following “Outlander,” it started with Claire and Frank taking a belated honeymoon after the end of World War II in Scotland.
Claire falls through a portal in time the leads to 18Th Century Scotland and goes missing in the 20th Century for three years. Claire spends that time having adventures in Scotland and France in the run up to the Battle of Culloden in the company of Jamie, a Highland lad whom she marries and has lots of passionate sex with.
Eventually, Claire is obliged to go back through the portal and be reunited with her other husband. Frank is happy to see her, no matter where she has been all of those years. He is less than pleased that she is pregnant with Jamie’s child and seems to be pining for the lad, presumed to be 200 years dead.
Frank is the very soul of decency
Frank is, in his own way, as heroic as the claymore wielding Jamie.
He was, after all, a spy during World War II. However, Frank is less flamboyant about it, having that traditional British stiff upper lip. He is the very soul of decency, wanting to do right by his wayward wife, even as she is cold to him, at least at first.
Frank Randall is everything that a mid-20th Century husband is supposed to be, loving, supportive, respectful of her point of view.
To be sure, he did not put that fellow at the faculty party on the deck after he sneered about Claire having political opinions. Jamie would have done it and would have followed up with a dagger.
Frank doesn’t even have the option of calling out Jamie. In 1948, he was already dead. Divorce is out of the question. He still loves Claire and, besides, “she betrayed me with a 18th Century Scotsman” is hardly a reason that would get much sympathy in any court of law.
Frank is the real tragic figure of “Outlander,” a man who lost his wife to a ghost, dwelling centuries ago. He deserves much better than that fate. One can hope that he finds some modicum of happiness in the life he has left to him.
