#Mandy MacKenzie

[thewanderingace]

Outlander 7x16

[flyinghome-againstthewind]

Wednesday 100: Homecoming

The sight is so jarring at first, Claire thinks she must be hallucinating. She’d fastened that little brown coat’s buttons more times than she could count. She would know that wide-brimmed hat pulled down over blonde locks anywhere. Jemmy!

Her heart is in her throat when the hat tilts up, and it isn’t blond locks or the dear face she knows underneath, but one that still tugs on memories of Brianna at that age. Impossible. But she knows, even before Jamie’s eyes lighten with recognition, before Brianna, Roger, and impossibly-tall Jem come into view.

Mandy is whole; they’ve come home.

[thefrsers]

For your sake, I will continue. Though for mine alone, I would not.

[winnie-the-monster]

[gotham-ruaidh]

Do you think that we will see Mandy in s7 because there was no casting news regarding Mandy character

Well to be fair she's a newborn and the proximate reason why the MacKenzies return to the future, which we know happens...so yes we will see her!

[outlanderfandomfollies]

Happy Fourth of July Outlander fans!

I've tweaked parts of this old post and added a gif from episode 702 that shows Mandy's first encounter with a gemstone.

As the show progresses, it becomes easier to illustrate parts of old posts that overlap with the books.

Anyway, for those who celebrate July 4th, I wish you a happy and safe holiday!

WILMINGTON, NC,🎇 🎆 JULY 4, 1776: Jamie, Claire, Ian, & Mandy🎇

On July 4, 1776, Jamie and Ian “liberated” a gemstone from Neil Forbes, after they had “a wee difference of opinion wi’ the Wilmington Chowder and Marching Society.”

Unfortunately, Young Ian had stashed the gemstone up his nose for safe keeping–but was unable to get it out.

Claire offered to use her forceps to aid in the… uh …”delivery” of the gemstone for the family’s use.

But Jamie had a “better idea” for extracting the gemstone–involving snuff and a massive sneeze.

After the stone was retrieved (and cleaned) Jamie leaned over his granddaughter and said, 

“Look what Grandda and Uncle Ian have brought ye, a muirninn.”

And then little Mandy responded…

Very slowly, a tiny fist rose through the netting, fingers flexing as they grasped at the stone.

–A scene from Diana Gabaldon’s A  Breath of Snow and Ashes (2005, pp. 927-930)

The TV show did not have a scene where Jamie and Ion “liberating” a gemstone in Wilmington. 

However, in episode 702, the show did offer a similar scene (shown above) as the one in the book, regarding wee Mandy’s first encounter with a gemstone. 

Although Mandy did not reach out to grasp the stone in the show, Mandy made soft “cooing” sounds in appreciation of the stone.

I also loved how Mandy’s right eyebrow rose as she looks at the stone. (Grandda Jamie often raises an eyebrow when appraising something–it must be a “fictionally” inherited trait. 😉)

 Below is a map of the Carolinas in colonial times. The Carolina province divided into North and South Carolina in 1729.

______________________________

Originally posted July 4, 2015; last updated July 4, 2023)

image sources (before edits):  01 (aa + bb), 02 (cc + dd + ee), 03 (ff + gg) , 04 (hh + ii),  05 (jj + kk), 

[samsheughan]

elizabeth rewatches outlander backwards because they can | day 2 ↳ 7x07 "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers"

[themusicsweetly]

Outlander 7x02 | Granny!Claire + Grandda!Jamie

[dannymillerfansite]

Emmerdale 15.08.24 Part 2

Aaron and Mackenzie run into John who keeps on about his van, Mackenzie states he'll be back at it first thing tomorrow. Aaron hasn't got much to say but doesn't seem particularly comfortable around John.

John has moved back into his van, despite it being damp & stinking, finding Victoria's house too noisy. He seems to soften to Victoria and says he is happy to kick a ball with Harry and offers to by her a drink. She says she won't force family time on him as she had. She offers her house if he needs to freshen up, which he accepts.

As John speaks to Sarah he apologises for taking things a bit far, in the way he has spoken to her. She want's him to buy her a drink too (despite the fact she's not supposed to drink being on medication) It seems John is beginning to mellow a bit as Victoria goes to speak with Aaron and Mackenzie.

Victoria hints to Mackenzie perhaps might take several weeks to fix John's van, the longer the better. To keep him around for longer but for Mackenzie it's the sooner the better, although it would be done faster if he wasn't living in it. Mackezie says he can't wait to get shot of him as Aaron grumbles a muted response when asked for his view.

Aaron is again seen in the background sat with Sarah as Paddy and Mandy have their first dance at the wedding reception and Chas and Eve have a little dance too.

[a-crack-in-the-universe]

I don’t know if anyone else has had the same thought, but:

Brianna, Roger and their family are Brian and Ellen family 2.0.

Roger has been compared to Black Brian often over the past few books, they are both kind, tall and dark-haired.

People always comment on how much Brianna looks like Ellen. Hell, Brian mistakes her for Ellen when he accidentally sees her at 1739 Lallybroch. Plus she is a gifted artist like Ellen as well.

Jem has inherited the MacKenzie red hair and features. Jamie’s brother Willie was also a redhead.

Mandy, much like Jenny, is small and dark-haired, having taken after her father in looks.

It’s unclear what Davy will look like, but it stands to reason that he will be a redhead and inherit the MacKenzie features. Also, Davy was compared to Jamie, as Mandy said that they both look like ‘water’ in her mind. Perhaps Davy will not be a time traveller but will be able to travel through dreams like Jamie?

[thewanderingace]

Outlander 7x04

[flyinghome-againstthewind]

Wednesday 100: A Braw Equestrian

When he sees her again, Mandy is the same as in Jamie’s dreams, tall and fiery and brash — it’s the MacKenzie in her, certainly. When they bring the horse before her, wee Mandy is also afraid, but she juts her chin out, and he knows she’s too stubborn to admit her fear.

Jamie can tell that she’s never even been near a horse in her time away. It soothes some jagged piece of his heart that despite all he and Claire have missed with the bairns, they will still have this.

“Dinna fash, m'annsachd. Ye’ll make a braw equestrian yet.”

[thefrsers]

Jamie + holding baby Mandy in the stables

requested by @ashmarie1687

[queerstuffonscreen]

Bad Girls (1999-2006) [I]

Episode length: 60-90 min.

Country: UK

Genre: Drama

Language: English

Bad Girls was a British television drama series, set in the fictional women’s prison of Larkhall, and featured a mixture of serious and light storylines focusing on the prisoners and staff of G Wing.

Season 1

Episode 1: Them and Us

Episode 2: Drug Wars

Episode 3: Love Rival

Episode 4: The Victim

Episode 5: Tangled Web

Episode 6: A Big Mistake

Episode 7: Playing with Fire

Episode 8: Falling Apart

Episode 9: Pay Back Time

Episode 10: Love Hurts

Season 2

Episode 1: Tug of Love

Episode 2: Shit Happens

Episode 3: Visiting Time

Episode 4: Looking for Love

Episode 5: Mistaken Identity

Episode 6: Losing It

Episode 7: The Set-Up

Episode 8: Babes Behind Bars

Episode 9: The Leaving

Episode 10: Family Plan

Episode 11: Rough Justice

Episode 12: Facing Up

Episode 13: Oh What a Night!

Season 3

Episode 1: Back From the Brink

Episode 2: The Turn of the Screw

Episode 3: The Chains of Freedom

Episode 4: False Identity

Episode 5: Blood Ties

Episode 6: Do or Die

Episode 7: The Great Escape

Episode 8: Uninvited Guests

Episode 9: Common Criminal

Episode 10: Chapel of Love

Episode 11: Battle Lines

Episode 12: Tough Love

Episode 13: Revolving Doors

Episode 14: Fronting Up

Episode 15: Cat & Mouse

Episode 16: Coming Out

Season 4

Episode 1: Fight or Flight

Episode 2: Unholy Alliances

Episode 3: Behind Closed Doors

Episode 4: Fait Accompli

Episode 5: Only the Lonely

Episode 6: Sweet Sixteen

Episode 7: Pillow Talk

Episode 8: Prison Issue

Episode 9: Baby on Board

Episode 10: Family Matters

Episode 11: Battle Lines

Episode 12: Appearances Sake

Episode 13: True Colours

Episode 14: Hard Knock Life

Episode 15: Marriage of Invonvenience

Episode 16: Curtain Call

Season 5

Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

Episode Four

Episode Five

Episode Six

Episode Seven

Episode Eight

Episode Nine

Episode Ten

Episode Eleven

Episode Twelve

Episode Thirteen

Episode Fourteen

Episode Fifteen

Episode Sixteen

Season 6

Episode One

Episode Two

Episode Three

Episode Four

Episode Five

Episode Six

Episode Seven

Episode Eight

Episode Nine

Episode Ten

Episode Eleven

Episode Twelve

Watch on Freevee

See Bad Girls post II season 7-8

[bcacstuff]

It’s the end of an era: Sophie Skelton has starred as Brianna in Starz’s Scottish historical fantasy drama, Outlander, for 10 years. How does she feel about it all coming to an end? Mixed emotions, from the five stages of grief to feeling positive about ending on a high. For us viewers at home, however, there’s still plenty of time to say goodbye: the season 7B finale will air on 17 January 2025, while season 8 is slated to air in the second half of 2025. We sat down with Sophie to hear all about it – plus what the actress will star in next.

Interview: Sophie Skelton

Hi Sophie, how’s life going at the moment?

Good, thank you. I’m still processing 10 years of the end of an era! Caitríona [Balfe] and I have been talking about it for a while, because you go through the five stages of grief a little bit when you finish something like this. It’s such a rare occurrence for TV to go that long, and there’s no manual of how to deal with the end, so I think it was quite a roller coaster of, well, the grief process. But we’re both feeling quite at peace now. I for one feel like I’m in a good place – just winding down for Christmas so I can hit the ground running in 2025!

It’s the end of an era! How did it feel when you kind of got the news that Outlander season eight would be the end?

I think originally season 7 was going to be the end, and I’m just speculating here, but maybe part of the reason they split it into two is because they knew that season 8 was going to come. Maybe they were trying to bridge a gap with the strikes… I don’t know! But I feel like Brianna is in a really good place. I feel like I’ve done everything I can do with that character. She has been through more than most people would go through in multiple lifetimes. 

I think it’s always good to tap out while you’re ahead and not to milk something, so hopefully we’re ending on a high. Season 7B is great, but season 8 is honestly the best season – so I think it’s good to leave it there.

Are you all wrapped on season 8, too, then?

Officially, yeah. We were holding on by an emotional thread for a while, because we were sort of finishing, and then there was a second unit going, and then we had press, and then we had reshoots. But we are officially done. I think we’ve all had three wrap days, but the last one was really sweet. Caitríona wrapped and then she came in for my final scene, and then she hugged me, and that made me break down crying. Then she and I went to the next stage over for Sam [Heughan]’s final scene, which was the last one. Then we had a little hug, the three of us, so it was a really nice way to close it off. It felt very peaceful in the end. 

How would you describe Outlander season 7b?

For Brianna, honestly, quite lonely. It was an interesting season for me. We shot it about two years ago, so thinking back, I spent a large amount of the time with the kids. As they say, acting with animals and children are the two most challenging bits, and on Outlander we have a plethora of that going on! In terms of storyline, it’s one of the sides of Brianna that I really admire. She’s really come into herself as a mother, and seeing her click into action mode and the lengths she’ll go to to save her children is really admirable. Sometimes when she has to defend herself, she’s not as brazen, but as soon as it’s for someone else, especially her children, we see a side of Brianna that we haven’t seen before.

Rosa Morris (“Mandy”) and Sophie Skelton (“Brianna Fraser MacKenzie”) in Outlander season 7. (Starz)

You’ve played Brianna for a decade now. Is there anything special you do to get into character?

One thing we’re lucky with on Outlander is that the sets are so magnificent and vast. Whether we’re on location or they’ve built a fake village, as soon as you’re on set, you feel halfway into it. It’s the same with me having an American accent and the wig and the clothing – you’re halfway in already, so that does a bit of your prep for you. I know Brianna inside out now, so honestly, it’s quite easy to just stream into set. But to stop myself from coasting, I do research. And there were a lot of things I felt I could channel from my own life into Bri this season, so that helped.

Is there anything in season 7B you’re really excited for people to see?

I really enjoyed the scenes with Chris [Fulton], who plays Rob Cameron. That was a really fun dynamic. And as I say, because I spent a large amount of the second part with the kids, it was nice to have some adult energy. I really like his way of working. He’s quite similar to me in that you just don’t know what you’re going to get, and every take could be completely different. We really bounced off each other, and it kind of felt like being in a play, especially because some of our scenes were quite physical. There are a few more modern day action sequences from Brianna, too, which was a different form of stunts than we’ve done before. So I’m sure people will enjoy a little injection of 80s fight scenes.

Is there anything you can tease about Outlander season 8?

As ever with Outlander, there will be some reunions. There are probably going to be some deaths. The heartstrings are going to be a little bit torn… One of the most exciting things about it is that you’ve got so many old and new faces back. It just feels like a really big ensemble, and I think that that’s such a magnificent way to go out. It’s like a big bang.

Any standout moments from rehearsals or filming?

It’s quite rare that a lot of us get to do scenes together, so the dinner scenes where we have a large amount of the principal cast together are really fun. It always feels quite sentimental because they’re rare, and we never know if that’s going to be the last one. That wasn’t necessarily different, but season 8 had the extra layer of upcoming loss. But they’re always just lovely because Outlander is heavy, you know! We work in really tough weather conditions. We do long hours, we do long weeks, and we’re pretty much just in the dark, wind and rain of Scotland all the time. So when we get these indoor scenes where it’s really intimate, there’s candles, it’s all of us together, they’re really fond moments. It feels like you can really just relax and enjoy the day a little bit more, as opposed to battling all the elements constantly.

Are there any locations from filming that have stood out as a favorite, or anything that you would go back to in your own time?

The Clava Cairns are so beautiful. When you go there, honestly, it sounds quite corny, but you can feel the weight of the land. The air is dense. Not in a heavy way, but you can almost feel the energy of the history there. And the land is just so quiet. There’s always a beautiful moon or a beautiful sunrise. We actually had one scene there where the moon looked too fake. The real moon looked too fake! They had to blot it out and put a fake moon in, because they were like, ‘no one will believe this is real’. It’s always windy and icy cold and it’s brutal, but it’s absolutely stunning. Especially when we do night shoots there, the calm and the quiet and the stars… It’s just surreal.

Outlander is coming to an end, but the universe is going to continue in a different series. Are you excited to watch it? How did you feel about that when you heard the news?

It’s a funny thing with the prequel coming out, because we were on our final season when they filmed, so it was very different energies, having the two side by side. They’re all coming in fresh, whereas we’ve done 10 years of this. We want to make sure that we see it through and do it justice. We really wanted to make sure that our attention wasn’t split, so I don’t know too much about the prequel. 

I know that there are rumors of some other spin off series, too, and I know Diana might have written some other spin off books. It’s one of the biggest shows in the world, so I’m sure that those series will do super well. It’ll be exciting to see if there are any mini Briannas that spin off. It would be very interesting to see who takes her over at some point. 

Sophie Skelton (“Brianna Fraser MacKenzie”) in Outlander season 7. (Starz)

Looking at future projects, are there any genres you’re craving?

It’s not necessarily about genre for me; I think it’s more that I’m looking for completely different characters. A different accent, a completely different time period for a while, let’s get rid of the corset for a bit! But honestly, loads of different things. I started in musical theater on stage, so to do something in that realm would be amazing. I also love really gritty dramas – psychological stuff. Something like Black Swan would be the perfect merge of everything.

Have any of your other projects stood out to you as a career highlight?

I just finished quite a tricky shoot during the strike, a small independent movie called Row. It’s about the first team crossing the Atlantic Ocean, and semi based on a true story before it goes a lot more thriller-y. I’m playing this blonde hippie-ish girl from Surrey and filming was going to be in Malta, so I was like, ‘Yeah, cool, this is different to Outlander. Different accent, I’m on a boat in the middle of nowhere, but it’s Malta, great!’ There’s one scene where she’s in a bikini on the boat. Sounds fantastic! Then a couple of weeks before shooting, they said, ‘because of the strikes and everything else, we’re actually going to film it in John o’ Groats’ – which is pretty much the most northerly part of the UK. We had super bad weather – 100 mile per hour winds – so we had to stop shooting a lot and we got behind. We were just on a rowing boat in the middle of a water tank right next to the ocean on a cliff. It was intense. But honestly, I think the film is going to be beautiful. It looks really gritty. It’s so fun to play something different. I’m excited to see it.

Who has been your favourite actor to work with in the past?

I worked with Nick Cage ages ago, which was great. He was so lovely to me; that was a good shoot. On Outlander, working with Tobias Menzies was amazing. It was great to work with quite a lot of seasoned actors like Maria Doyle Kennedy, too.

Which co-star did you learn the most from?

Caitríona is amazing. She knows how to fight for her cast and crew, she will make sure that everyone’s looked after. There’s often a lot of hierarchy in TV and film. She’s number one, and she could easily stomp that around, but she doesn’t. She puts everybody on a level playing field and treats everyone the same. I really respect that.

Do you have a dream role?

I love biopics. I love going down a rabbit hole of research and having to perfect little tics that the real person has. I was thinking about La Vie en Rose the other day, the Edith Black one with Marion Cotillard. Something along that route would be really cool. And hey, if there’s ever an Audrey Hepburn biopic, I would love to do that.

Who is a writer or director you’d love to work with?

Jesse Armstong and the Duffer Brothers. I think their writing is just so smart. It flows beautifully, and it’s just so gritty.

How do you find balance in your personal and work lives?

Not sure if I’ve mastered that yet! I’ve always been a very hard worker. Even as a kid, I’d be in ballet every day, and 1000 hobbies. I’ve always managed to fit more in a day than most people. I’m not very good if I’m not busy, so I am trying to manage the shut off between the two now by writing music, doing art and playing piano.

How can we all live a little bit better?

Do small acts of self care for yourself all the time. Someone said it to me recently, and I hadn’t really realised it was a thing. They were like, ‘you’re very good at doing little things that set you up for success for your future self’. It sounds so silly, but it’s the smallest things, like putting stuff away the night before so you don’t wake up to a dirty kitchen in the morning, or just biting the bullet sometimes because you know that it’s going to matter more to your future self than it might do now. Small acts of kindness to yourself. Career wise, it’s so easy now to look on Instagram, for example, compare yourself and just feel shit, frankly. I just have this daily reminder: put on your blinkers and win your own race.

Sophie Skelton Recommends…

I’m currently watching… Shrinking

What I’m reading… The Best Minds by Jonathan Rosen

The last thing I watched (and loved) was… Poor Things

What I’m most looking forward to seeing… Gladiator II and Conclave

Favourite film of all time… Good Will Hunting and Uptown Girls

Band/singer I always have on repeat… Taylor Swift

My ultimate cultural recommendation… Talking to different cultures about how they celebrate the festive season.

Cultural guilty pleasure… Going to the pub for a roast every Sunday – the bottle of red with it is the guilty part!