Outlander showrunner and star explain reasons and preparation behind graphic episode 6 scenes

by

heads up: The content of this article reveals all details from the sixth episode of Outlander: Blood of my Blood and touches upon a sensitive subject of sexual assault. Some readers might find it disturbing.

In the recent episode of Outlander titled “Blood of my Blood,” the tension undoubtedly peaked as the focus shifted towards Julia (played by Hermione Corfield) delivering a baby.

The episode titled “Birthright” not only detailed Julia’s challenging childbirth in the 18th century without Henry (Jeremy Irvine) present, but it also offered insights into Davina’s (Sara Vickers) sorrowful history with Lord Lovat (Tony Curran).

During Blood of my Blood, Julia’s challenge of childbirth without contemporary medical care is already significant. However, she encounters another hurdle – questioning from the attending midwives.

We had a fire burning, it was incredibly intense. I made sure I was well-prepared – I had Lucozade Sport at hand, and I had thoroughly planned the birth process. As contractions began, I tried to coordinate this with the escalating tension and mental and physical struggle that Julia was experiencing.

Performing a birth scene can be tough, but adding intense torture and interrogation to it is an entirely new level of difficulty. Furthermore, ensuring that Claire’s birthing experience stands out distinctively against this backdrop presents another interesting challenge in storytelling.

It’s clear that Corfield found herself in a unique situation, as her own 18th-century birth was entangled with the 20th-century home birth of Claire.

Corfield had an interesting experience, as she wasn’t just present for one birth scene but her own birth from the 18th century was connected to a home birth in the 20th century that involved Claire.

When discussing handling two birth scenarios in a single series, Corfield expressed that it was “both intimidating and intriguing.

She shared: “You’re reading the scripts on-the-go since they’re being given to you as we progress. Upon reading this, I thought ‘Wonderful! This is an authentic acting test.’ Every actor seeks such a challenge, something demanding that allows for extensive effort and contemplation. In summary, I was thrilled about the prospect of performing both.

In this particular scene, Davina experiences a range of intense emotions, starting with suspicion towards Julia regarding the birth of her child. However, as events unfold, she decides to halt the investigation and instead takes the lead in ensuring a safe delivery for the newborn.

A significant reason behind Davina’s shift in perspective is her personal encounters with traumatic memories, which are vividly portrayed during the time she served as Lord Lovat’s sole maid. This helps explain why she cautioned Julia at the series’ start to always avoid being alone with him. It becomes clear that Davina was offering advice based on her own ordeal, as we learn that Lovat raped her on two separate occasions.

Speaking from personal experience as a creator, when discussing how we portray certain scenes in our period-set show, I always find it challenging because while we aim to cater to a contemporary audience, it’s crucial to remember that we’re telling a story set in another time.

As a passionate advocate for women’s history, I firmly believe that updating and softening the experiences of women during that era might seem like progress on the surface. However, it could potentially understate the genuine hardships and societal perceptions they faced in that time. By doing so, we may unintentionally diminish their struggles and the profound impact they had during that period.

During that period, many were viewed as mere possessions, including by their own relatives, as he notes. It was a particularly brutal era.

He added: “It seems necessary to portray the struggles of the characters in order to imbue the show with depth and reality. I prefer not to use the phrase ‘strong female characters’; instead, I advocate for ‘strong characters’.

She is indeed a woman, and the same applies to him. We don’t often label weak male characters as such, we just refer to them as male characters. Similarly, we don’t specify ‘strong male characters’, instead, we simply say ‘male characters’.

In my perspective, the stress imposed upon them, whether it’s through violent encounters or societal expectations, seems to forge resilience within our characters. It serves as a testament to their ability to rise above adversity.

Is there discussion about depicting such vivid scenes in the narrative, and deciding which parts to reveal or hide on-screen, as Roberts explains, it’s all about crafting the story?

Our audience is incredibly creative and resourceful, often able to infer or imagine events that aren’t explicitly shown. We merely present key elements, and their imaginations take care of the rest, filling in the blanks most of the time.

Should we not always display it, but rather when it impacts the character, that’s the focus of the discussion. What situations call for the character to experience it and which don’t?

Sometimes, I believe the audience can understand things without being explicitly shown. However, at other times, it might be necessary to provide visual evidence.” This version aims to make the meaning more straightforward and easy to comprehend.

For support and advice on matters raised in this article, please visit www.rapecrisis.org.uk, call the 24/7 Rape and Sexual Abuse Support Line on 0808 500 2222 or chat to Rape Crisis online 247sexualabusesupport.org.uk.

In Britain, the premiere of “Outlander: Blood of My Blood” took place on August 9th, exclusively on MGM+. New episodes will be available each week. For those who haven’t read Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series yet, you can purchase the books on Amazon.

Don’t forget to include ‘Outlander: Blood of My Blood’ in your watchlist using the TopMob: What to Watch app! This helpful tool offers daily TV suggestions, features, and more. Why not give it a try?

Read More

2025-09-06 11:05