To absolutely no one's surprise who witnessed the cliffhanger of last week's "Outlander" — where Jamie, in a grievous error, nearly beat Roger to death and subsequently entrusted Young Ian with the grim task of disposing of him — this miniature Fraser family reunion has undergone a dramatic twist. Claire had solemnly vowed to her daughter not to disclose to Jamie that it was Bonnet who had raped her, and Brianna had a valid concern: Jamie would undoubtedly pursue Bonnet relentlessly if he learned the truth (just witness Roger's battered visage). Understandably, Jamie desired to conceal from his wife the brutal lengths he went to inflict those brutal marks upon his hands. Yet, can Claire and Jamie still be oblivious to the fact that honesty should never be absent from their bond? They thrive as a cohesive unit, and I find myself exasperated with them all. As spectators, all we can manage is to wait with bated breath until this chaotic misunderstanding between Roger and Bonnet (I blame you, Lizzie, for all of this!) finally comes to light.
To exacerbate our anticipation, we are compelled to endure the heartwarming bonding between Jamie and Bree, fully aware that it will swiftly unravel the moment she discovers the truth about Roger. And yet, bond they do! Though I disapprove of Jamie's method of convincing Bree that she had fiercely resisted her assailant, once she grasps his intention to emphasize that she was not to blame, Bree accepts it with ease. Surely, there existed a more considerate approach than Jamie's pretense of doubting her account altogether. Seriously, I decline such tactics. Following this peculiar parenting maneuver, Jamie and Bree, who is well-versed in the evils of Black Jack Randall, engage in an open and heartfelt discussion about the tentative steps towards healing from their respective traumas. A genuine father-daughter bond is forming between them. Just a reminder, however, that this bond will be shattered within mere days. Sorry, not sorry; if I must endure this sorrow, so must you.
While the Jamie-Bree conversation holds immense significance, and their shared observation about Claire's serene demeanor in the wilderness is delightful, it is the mother-daughter moments in this episode that resonate with me the most. Claire compassionately and delicately presenting abortion as an option for Bree serves as a poignant reminder of Claire's timeless essence, both literally and figuratively, and underscores the unbreakable strength of their mother-daughter bond. It's truly remarkable.
But let's put aside the bonding and healing for now! We've got some genuine drama awaiting us! Thanks to a chat with Lizzie (seriously, folks, I can barely type her name without my eyes rolling), Bree untangles the complex web of the Roger saga. She's fuming, storming into the cabin like a whirlwind, demanding answers from Jamie and Ian. Never have I admired Murtagh more than when I saw his immediate instinct was to beat a hasty retreat. Bless you, Murtagh! Unfortunately, everyone else is trapped in that cabin as the entire truth spills out.
Before the fog clears, however, there's more confusion. Jamie, now aware that he attacked Roger but still convinced Roger was at fault for the altercation, suspects that Bree might actually be lying about everything. Thankfully, Claire finally sets the record straight for her husband, revealing that Bonnet is to blame for everything. But the harm has already been done. Slaps ensue! Bree can't erase Jamie's hurtful words, and she labels him a savage. Claire rushes to her daughter's side. The tension is palpable! We should've taken a cue from Murtagh and bolted out of that Rage Cabin when we had the chance!
With the double blow of insulting his daughter and realizing that Bonnet, the man he helped evade execution, is responsible for all this mess, Jamie is consumed by a level of guilt and shame that even he, no stranger to such emotions, has never experienced before. Naturally, our hero vows to track down Roger and bring him back to his daughter, regardless of how long it takes. This is Jamie Fucking Fraser, people! Bree insists that Claire join Jamie and Ian on the mission, knowing that Roger will need to see a familiar face to trust them. This separation of mother and daughter does nothing to alleviate the simmering tension between husband and wife, both furious at each other for keeping secrets. Wonderful, now mom and dad are at odds too! Is there no respite from heartbreak?!
Well, no. Matters are bound to escalate even further on this journey. And how did Ian dispose of Roger, you might ask? He sold him to some passing Mohawk tribespeople. Bad news: the Mohawk reside nearly 700 miles away in upstate New York. It won't be an easy or quick trek to track them down. BRILLIANT, IAN. You deserve to look like an utter fool when you try to rectify the situation by proposing to Brianna. Beat it, you dolt.
Ladies and gentlemen, allow us to interrupt your regularly scheduled programming filled with melancholy to bring you a glimmer of joy: Murtagh and Jocasta, might they finally be on the brink of intertwining their lives? As Claire, Jamie, and Ian embark on their quest to locate Roger, Murtagh gallantly steps forward to escort Bree to River Run, ensuring her well-being should labor commence before Claire's return. Honestly, has Murtagh ever exuded such flirtatiousness and, dare I venture, genuine happiness as when he reconnected with Jocasta, reminiscing about days gone by? Fans have speculated for ages that these two could end up together, given the show's deviation from the books by sparing Murtagh's life and sending him across the pond. Yet, it remained mere conjecture…until today. She recognized his hands, after three decades! Granted, those were the hands that once pampered her sister, but still! Their tender interactions and Murtagh's moonlight gig as a regulator infuse the scenario with an extra layer of drama. In summary, I am wholeheartedly onboard with this romance, and it feels like we're all truly living our best lives now.
Now, back to the macabre saga: Roger struggles to stay alive as he's trudged upstate on foot, still donning those deplorable culottes that do him no favors (though it's his battered visage and frail condition, not the attire, that tell the tale). After more than a week in captivity, he seizes a fleeting opportunity for escape. By which I mean, he tumbles down a hill, breaking his hand in the process to free himself from his ropes. It lacks elegance, to be sure, but then again, what 18th-century escape in the wilderness ever possessed it?
He finally shakes off his captors, only to stumble upon—wait for it—another set of time-traveling stones. This monumental twist is poised to reshape the very fabric of our beloved series! He approaches them, wielding the gemstones he received from Bonnet as payment, faced with a monumental decision. He could traverse through the stones to a presumably safer time and place than his current predicament, but that would mean abandoning Brianna. Nice try, Outlander, but there's no chance he'll take that route.
