Starz series Outlander has made some changes from the source material over the years with season six seeing an intriguing diversion from Diana Gabaldon’s novels.
In the sixth outing of the hit historical series, Claire Fraser (played by Caitríona Balfe) inhaled ether to deal with her PTSD after she was abducted from Fraser’s Ridge and gang-raped, before Jamie (Sam Heughan) rescued her.
The start of the season saw Claire using an oxygen mask she’d fashioned and breathing in the addictive substance to help her sleep.
Although Claire tried to assure her family that she was fine, she was clearly struggling.
Addressing the departure from the novels, author and show consultant Gabaldon previously said: “Book Claire probably wouldn’t have done that.”
The American author went on to tell The Dipp how this was for “multiple reasons”, including the “not-inconsiderable physical risks” and “addiction”.
Nonetheless, it looks like Gabaldon gave the show’s producers her blessing to run with this alternative storyline for Claire onscreen.
The best-selling writer said: “It’s not at all unknown for physicians to abuse it”, and referenced John Irving’s classic novel The Cider House Rules.
Gabaldon added how the storyline was handled “pretty well within the framework they’ve developed”. Adding: “It works out slowly over the course of the whole season.”
Outlander’s producer Maril Davis explained the decision behind Claire’s ether addiction, saying the timeline between the end of season five and the start of season six meant the brutal sexual assault was still “fresh and raw” for her.
Adding: “It felt like … we’d be doing Claire a great disservice if we did not address it in some fashion.”
Davis came up with the idea of Claire self-medicating on ether and told Entertainment Weekly at the time how there was an “addictive quality to numbing the pain” for the 20th doctor.
As the season went on, Claire’s ether addiction escalated and it was only when Jamie intervened and spoke to her that she was able to break away from her reliance on the substance.
In the books, Claire healed from the trauma of her ordeal with Jamie’s help and understanding.
Outlander season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now