*Warning – this article contains major spoilers for Outlander seasons 1-7.*
Outlander’s Jamie Fraser, played by Sam Heughan, is beloved by fans of the Starz show – but some book fans remain unconvinced.
The historical fantasy series, which has just finished filming its eighth and final season, is based on Diana Gabaldon’s popular books of the same name.
The story follows WWII nurse Claire (Caitriona Balfe) as she travels back in time to the era of the Jacobite rising, where she falls in love with handsome Scotsman Jamie.
While many adore Jamie in both versions of the story, some fans have been left underwhelmed by the character on the small screen.
An online discussion was sparked ahead of the second part of season 7, which is now almost upon us, as one fan branded Jamie “dull”.
Taking to Reddit, a viewer with the username @Melodic-Eggplant-916 posted: “Why show Jamie is dull?!
“I know it’s probably been mentioned hundreds of times, but I need to say it!! I am rewatching the show after finishing DiA book, and I just can’t stop being annoyed how in show all great ideas coming from Claire, and Jamie is just like a tool to execute them. Book Jamie is so much more clever!!
“For instance, that scene where young William Grey gave information in order to protect English woman’s honour. In the show it was all Claire’s idea to act like those ‘filthy highlanders’ kidnapped her, while in the book that was Jamie’s idea!!
“Another one is that idea stopping Jacobite rebellion was Jamie’s idea, not Claire’s. I felt it brought so much more gravitas that Jamie himself overseen how valuable Claire’s information is.
“These are just two things that I came across YET, but it really makes me upset why they didn’t choose to keep Jamie closer to original source,” the user added with an anguished emoji. “Do you agree with me?”
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AmazonFans subsequently took to the comments section to share their thoughts, with one writing: “I completely agree and I’ve heard it mentioned in other places as well, that the show runners are so focused on a Claire centric show that they make Jamie look like a tag along hot puppy.
“Even DG has said it’s the story of JAMMF through Claire’s POV. It’s annoying. And I’m not mad about a strong female lead. It’s not that at all. It’s that there is this idea that it can’t be a strong COUPLE. Obviously it can because in the books it can. So figure it out, RON.” (sic)
Another concurred: “Book Jamie is amazing!! I just finished the ‘Kill them all’ part in ABOSAA and the part where he picks the guy up off Claire and snaps his neck. Wow. I wonder if the show would have been closer to material on a network like HBO…
“Plus the fact he makes me laugh nearly every time I read. Don’t get me wrong the show is my first love but Book Jamie is a whole other level.” (sic)
While others argued Jamie’s character appeared weaker in the show due to how Claire has been depicted, with one cheekily penning: “Because Saint Claire is the bestest, brightest, and most beautifulest woman who every lived. Nobody is her equal, not even the king of men. (Gotta go pry my tongue out of my cheek now.)” (sic)
Another agreed: 2I love the books (the first three anyway) but I have been struggling to watch the show because Claire just seems so obnoxious. In the books she is clever and opinionated but somehow it just doesn’t translate to the show.” (sic)
But other fans defended the show’s depiction of Jamie, with one commenting: “I don’t see what you see, lol. I think he’s amazing.”
Another penned: “I always loved Jamie, book and show. It’s very hard to put 1,000 to 1,200 pages of plot into 1 season of a show. And after all, Claire is The Outlander.”
One more hit out: “Tf, dull? Sheesh. Some people are hard to please.” (sic)
Following the closure of Lionsgate+ in the UK, new episodes of Outlander will be available on Starz and to stream on Prime Video channel MGM+ from Sunday, November 22. You must be an Amazon Prime member before you can sign up for MGM+.