‘Outlander’ Season 3 Features Claire’s Life in Span of 20 Years; Jamie’s Rape Scene Imminent?

‘Outlander’ season 3 is set to feature Claire’s life in a span of 20 years. Meanwhile, it was speculated that Jamie’s controversial rape scene from the original novels will finally be adapted on the television series.

During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Cairtiona Balfe revealed that season 3 is set to feature Claire’s life in a span of 20 years. She said, “I think this season is different. Especially in the first part of the season, we’re going through 20 years of Claire’s life and seeing little vignettes of who she’s become as a woman, and that was a very different type of challenge.”

She continued, “How do you tell the story of a relationship and of a life and of a woman over her 20 years in the space of a few scenes? So that had its own unique challenges. It’s definitely different to last season.”

When asked about Claire’s look in the incoming season, Balfe replied, “Well, it’s different. Obviously, we go through 20 years, so you’ll see some ’40s, some ’50s, some ’60s. The ’60s sort of look we’ve seen already from last season. And then, when Claire goes back [through the stones] — I suppose it’s something like the things that she’s worn in France, I guess, but it’s quite subdued. It’s not nearly as flamboyant, I guess, as some of the Parisian faire that I wore last season.”

The 37-year old actress plays the main protagonist Claire Beauchamp Randall/Fraser, a married World War II nurse living in the year 1945 who finds herself transported back in time to 1743 Scotland. She meets Highland warrior Jamie Fraser, portrayed by Sam Heughan, and the two fall in love.

Claire and Jamie are eventually forced to separate by the end of season 2. Jamie then attempts to live out his years in the past following the Battle of Culloden while Claire moves on in the future with her first husband Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies).

According to Inverse, Hannah James’ casting as Geneva Dunsany hints that a controversial rape scene from the original novels by Diana Gabaldon may finally be adapted on the small screen. During Jamie and Claire’s separation, Geneva blackmails Jamie into having a one-night stand with her.

During the bedding, Geneva urges Jamie to stop because of some pain but he doesn't and proceeds with the act. It is unclear whether season 3 will feature this scene as it is written, revise it to avoid being offensive to viewers, or cut it out altogether.

‘Outlander’ season 3 is currently in production and is expected to return to Starz on April 2017.