Outlander Book Club: The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 25 breakdown

Outlander Book Club: The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 25 breakdown

As a seasoned Outlander fan, I must say that Chapter 25 of The Scottish Prisoner left me on the edge of my seat! The tension was palpable as our beloved characters navigated through a dangerous and intricate web of Jacobite plots.


As we conclude this week, we find ourselves at the end of a nerve-wracking and alarming installment in “The Scottish Prisoner”. In Chapter 25, there’s a daring prison break, yet it results in one of ours getting wounded with a gunshot.

In the circumstances, Jamie seeks assistance from Quinn to save John from Castle Athlone. Caught off guard, Quinn finds himself compelled to lend a hand. This event allows Jamie to gather some insights regarding the ongoing Jacobite scheme.

As the chapter concludes, Lord John Grey is successfully saved, yet this isn’t a joyful conclusion. Tom has been wounded gravely, leaving us uncertain if he will pull through.

Breaking down The Scottish Prisoner Chapter 25

Recognizing that Lord John Grey is being escorted to Castle Athlone, Jamie seeks assistance from Quinn. Initially, Quinn is hesitant to offer help. After all, he sees no personal advantage in aiding Jamie’s English captor. However, Jamie reveals that he knows the location of the Druid’s Cup. In exchange for helping to rescue John, Jamie promises to guide Quinn there.

Instead of “The two and Tom head out to save John,” you could say, “Tom and another person set off with the mission of rescuing John.

At Castle Athlone, we discover that Lord John Grey is held captive in a small cell, patiently waiting for Jamie to rescue him. As he waits, his thoughts wander, considering the possible suspect behind Siverly’s murder. Could it be Twelvetrees, given their family feud? This theory seems plausible since Twelvetrees had expressed threats towards John. Perhaps, he framed John for the crime?

In the heat of the game, Tom and I managed to spring John from his cell swiftly. As we neared the water, Quinn was nowhere to be found, leaving me on a hunt. Meanwhile, during my search, Tom took a bullet.

In a fortunate turn of events, Jamie manages to locate Quinn and compels him to return to John. It leaves us questioning whether Tom will manage to get there.

The problem is that there are other Outlander books set after this. Even if you’d only read Written in My Own Heart’s Blood and Go Tell the Bees That I Am Gone, you know that Tom is alive during them, but no longer John’s valet. So, this means that he has to survive this, and it takes out the tension.

Could this chapter be used in a TV series?

Could it be that we can skip this chapter in the story? If “The Scottish Prisoner” ever gets adapted, it’s crucial to include this part of the plot because it plays a significant role. The only way to avoid portraying this chapter is if John never gets arrested, but that scenario doesn’t fit logically with the narrative.

I’m really looking forward to how this scenario unfolds too. This moment is pivotal for John and Jamie, as John comes to believe in Jamie’s ability to rescue him. Given the circumstances, it was entirely possible for Jamie to flee, but he chose not to.

What needs adjustment here is the part where John contemplates Twelvetrees. To make it more interesting, we could show a scene where John talks about this with either Tom or Jamie instead.

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2024-09-13 18:37