Outlander season 4: What Jamie, Claire ‘settling down’ really means

Even though Outlander season 4 is full of non-spoilers (largely because of it being based on the Diana Gabaldon book Drums of Autumn) there is still an air of relative secrecy all about it. The writers and producers are being hush-hush in most circles on the subject, and that includes this current press tour promoting the launch of the season 3 DVD on Tuesday. A part of the reason for that may just be trying to keep the surprises contained, whereas another may just be keeping the focus solely on promoting the season at hand.

Yet, there are still a few interesting thematic season 4 tidbits coming in, and that includes learning more about the notion of Jamie and Claire “settling down” in some capacity upon their arrival in America. This is something that was stated as a big focal point for the upcoming season in some recent interviews with Ronald D. Moore, and it makes sense for the series to touch on that given that for much of the first three seasons, Jamie and Claire have been relative vagabonds going from one place to the next — including in time. This is a chance to have them both in the same place, trying to establish something resembling a permanent home.

Yet, the words “settling down” are clearly not meant to imply some sort of permanence. For a little bit more information on that, just see what series author Diana Gabaldon had to say on the subject recently in an interview with Parade:

“I don’t know as I would put that as settling down exactly. I think Ron’s being metaphorical about that as in, they are settlers. As in, they are establishing a homestead in the wilderness, not so much as in, now we’re nice little married folks and we can sit on the cabin porch in our rocking chairs sort of thing. It’s not that kind of thing.”

Basically, there is still going to be plenty of action for them and there will also be a sense of epic scope with other characters moving through history and various parts of the world. If you’ve read Drums of Autumn, there is a good chance that you know a little bit about that already.

Related – Why not get into a bit of early season 5 discussion?

In this same interview executive producer Toni Graphia noted that she and fellow EP Matthew B. Roberts wrote the episode featuring the big Jamie – Brianna scene in which the two meet for the first time. That should give you plenty of confidence that the story will be nothing short of fantastic when it happens. It will most likely be far later in the season than the Print Shop scene was in season 3. Consider that something to anticipate throughout the first batch of season 4 episodes later this year. (There is, alas, no firm season 4 premiere date at present.)

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