In Search of Our Clans

The Outlander TV series just came to an end. And we’re not OK.

I was a latecomer to this particular phenomenon–the first time I’d heard about either the book series or newer Starz television series was via the mother one of my then seven-year-old’s school pals. This was back in 2017 or thereabouts, and she was so into it at that point that her husband surprised her with a trip to Scotland for her 40th birthday, to tour some of the series filming sites. Side note: big props to the hubby for that one.

Needless to say, I was hooked on Outlander as soon as Claire walked through those stones, and though I haven’t tackled the full book set just yet, the eight-season Starz TV series has been a delightful immersion over the last decade. Fantastic production, incredible cinematography and filming sites, swoon-worthy casting (yeah, I said it), and excellent source material from absolute badass series author Diana Gabaldon set the stage for greatness. But when you add that bit of magic that every so often catches flame in within a creative process, what emerges is an Experience. The Outlander TV series has been just that for many of us.

As I look at my social feed today, less than a week after the final episode was released, I’m trying to put my finger on just what it is that makes so many feel sentimental about this particular “TV show.” Other historical shows packed a similar emotional wallop as they wrapped–a few that immediately come to mind are Friends, Family Ties, and (from the way-back machine) Happy Days. But why? Perhaps it all boils down to a few qualities that we seek as humans for our wellbeing, qualities that may possibly be in shorter order in today’s world:

Connection. When good writing, good directing, good production, and good acting join forces, a story is created in which the audience can see itself. There is a humanity and recognition within Outlander (and these other television series as well) that enables us to find common ground with the characters, their lives, and their plights. The partnership between Steven and Elyse Keaton, the palpable love among the gang at Central Perk, the humanity of family life, setting out on your own, and simply living–we see ourselves in each of those journeys. It’s all part of the awareness and acknowledgement of our shared experience of being human–that’s the goal of the creative process, after all, just done notably well in each of these cases.

Caring. If there’s a single obvious central theme in the Outlander series, it’s love. The soul-deep love between Claire and Jamie take center stage throughout the books and episodes, showing us in their example the practices of devotion, passion, kindness, sacrifice, and all the other elements of being truly committed to one another. Other relationships within Outlander reinforce that same messaging, whether it’s friendship, parenthood, family bonds, or any other construct. Especially when the world feels like an isolated place, it’s simply jsut lovely to watch people loving each other.

Community. Yes, there is a robust community of characters across the books and series seasons, dotting the map from Scotland to Philadelphia and beyond. And yes, we almost feel like we become members of the Scottish Highlander community or additional residents of Fraser’s Ridge. But beyond the book or the screen, Outlander fans have found ourselves in community with each other. We unite on the enjoyable common ground of fandom, through watch parties or book clubs, or even just the Monday morning office water cooler. And in this common ground, this community of like minds, we feel just as much a part of the clan as if we were making oaths on our own irons.

The moral of the story (pun intended)? If any of the above areas resonates with you, maybe it could be useful to brainstorm a few ways to bring more of that missing ingredient into your life. Perhaps it’s by enriching that element within your existing clan, or maybe it’s branching out just a little to find a new community to engage with. Human beings require connection, care, and community, and if your wiser self is giving you a message that one of these additional ingredients would sweeten your life, follow the call.

Sure, that’s easy for me to say, but maybe it sounds like a tall order to bing to life? Dinna fash (I totally had to get that in there). We feed the elephant by offering it one bite at a time. Do the same for yourself. Consider a tiny addition to your life–maybe just a few minutes a week to start–that speaks to the need you feel. Take it slow, and change course as many times as you need, and you’ll get there. Give it time. Just a single small tweak now, given love and tender care, can create a benefit so great as to even dwarf the stones at Craigh na Dun.