After the heart-wrenching emotional rollercoaster of "Do No Harm," it was only just that Outlander rewarded us with an episode brimming with Jamie and Claire's tender romance. "The False Bride" largely fulfills this promise! Granted, there's no steamy encounter amidst the forest foliage, despite ample opportunities presenting themselves, but Jamie utters words so swoon-worthy to Claire that they induce butterflies in countless hearts. The plot may not have propelled forward. significantly, and we might have had to endure scenes featuring Brianna and Roger, but hey, at least we've got that forehead-touching moment to savor. For the time being, that's more than sufficient.
It's a foregone conclusion that, following all the tumultuous events, Jamie and Claire are bidding farewell to River Run. Aunt Jocasta can pull every guilt-trip maneuver in the book – she pines for Jamie's affection towards River Run and candidly tells Claire she's holding her husband back from becoming the man he truly desires to be – but Jamie and Claire are still hell-bent on making their exit. Thankfully, Jamie and Jocasta part ways amicably: she bestows upon him candlestick holders once belonging to Jamie's mother, and they share tears of sorrow together. Will I ever be able to glance at candlestick holders without my eyes welling up with tears now? HAS THIS SHOW FOREVER ALTERED MY PERCEPTION OF CANDLESTICK HOLDERS?
Despite Claire's resilience, Jocasta's words about "doing Jamie a disservice" sting deeply. After allowing Young Ian, a man of his own making who refuses to return to Scotland, to embark on a trading expedition with the ruggedly handsome backcountry heartthrob John Quincy Myers, Jamie ponders whether they should consider settling in Boston, a place familiar to Claire. She, however, craves something new and vibrant alongside her husband – and do they really want to live with Frank's specter lurking in the shadows? Though we bask in the forehead-touching warmth inspired by this conversation, Claire finds herself contemplating if there's a grain of truth in Jocasta's rebuke about her causing Jamie to sacrifice everything for her.
Thus, the next day, as Mr. and Mrs. Fraser traverse the forest, worried sick about whether Brianna will get her life together (for parents are parents, no matter the centuries separating them from their children), Claire confides in Jamie about her feelings. He shouldn't base his decisions solely on what he believes Claire wants. Could he truly find happiness as a printer for the rest of his life? He concedes that being a printer isn't exactly his #CareerGoals, but it kept both his mind and body agile. Claire doesn't retort with a playful "Uh, yeah, it did," which feels like a missed golden opportunity. Nevertheless, Jamie assures his wife that while he did engage in more exhilarating pursuits before, now he thinks of her… and Ian, Fergus, and Marsali. He has people to care for, and he cherishes that. It's not a sacrifice for him. "I would lay the world at your feet, Claire, but I have nothing left to give," he tells her, as I ponder why I don't possess a fainting couch for such heart-stopping moments.
Jamie and Claire, more enamored than ever, stood in close proximity, their bodies almost electric with the unspoken promise of forest intimacy—until Mother Nature, in the guise of a ferocious thunderstorm, had other designs. Why, oh why, must love's tender moments be thwarted by such tempestuous interference? Perhaps the storm needs a session with a shrink to sort out its anti-romance agenda.
The storm's fury scared Jamie and Claire's mule, which bore the brunt of their provisions, sending Claire into pursuit. She was no damsel in distress, loath to rely on a man's strength when her own spirit burned bright. Alas, her steed, seemingly indifferent to feminist resolve, shared the mule's fright, bucking her off and leaving her prone on the drenched forest floor just as the storm unleashed its full fury.
Jamie, vocal chords raw from calling Claire's name through the storm-laden darkness, was powerless against the elements that kept them apart. They would be forced to endure a night of separation, the heavens mocking their longing.
Claire, groggily regaining consciousness, stumbled upon makeshift shelter beneath an imposing tree branch. She removed her boots, perhaps to dry them—or merely as a narrative device to propel the plot. Amidst her discomfort, she stumbled upon a skull beneath the branch, its head wound a grim testament to a violent end. Instead of recoiling in horror, Claire, ever the intrepid soul, examined it, discovering a gemstone nearby, and embarked on a conversation with the deceased, her quirky indomitability unwavering.
Then, the surreal took hold. Claire hallucinated a Native American, bearing the same ghastly wound and adorned with the gemstone, emerging from the inky blackness. Upon awakening post-storm, her boots were missing, yet tracks in the mud beckoned her to a nearby stream where, serendipitously, Jamie awaited, having followed an identical trail, believing it led Claire back for her footwear. Yet, Claire had never tread those paths! What arcane forest sorcery was this, weaving a tapestry of mystery and wonder?
Adding to the enigma, Claire presented Jamie with her grim find, only to reveal silver fillings in the teeth—a technological marvel centuries ahead of its time! This skull belonged to a time-traveling companion, a twist too fantastical for mere mortals to fathom.
Putting aside the surreal for a heartbeat, the storm having subsided, Jamie and Claire embarked on a journey through a landscape as breathtaking as their love. They stumbled upon breathtaking vistas and wild strawberries, the latter symbolizing the Fraser clan, prompting Jamie to declare their stake in this land, sealed by a pact with Governor Tryon. Welcome, all, to Fraser's Ridge—a paradise forged by love, bravery, and a dash of otherworldly magic.
Oh, how delightful it is to witness Jamie and Claire's tender embrace amidst the breathtaking beauty of nature, but let's not overlook the return of Brianna and Roger, stirring up some 1970s long-distance drama. Caught between the only person who shares their time-travel secrets, breaking up isn't really an option. So, they're heading off on a road trip to a Scottish festival in, shall we say, the unlikely locale of North Carolina.
Roger, a secret highlander with a John Mayer vibe, is set to serenade the crowd with his tunes. Traditional dancing, a solemn "burning of the stag" ceremony, and even old-fashioned caricature drawings promise a taste of Scotland far from its misty shores. As the highlanders would undoubtedly approve.
But what starts as a whimsical escape into Scottish festivities in a secluded North Carolina haven quickly turns sour. Roger reveals himself as the pinnacle of douchebaggery. Brianna, fired up by Roger's kilt-clad performance of a melancholic Scottish rendition of "Your Body Is a Wonderland," makes bold, shirtless advances. Yet, instead of reciprocating her heat, Roger wants to pop the question. Talk about a mood killer!
When Brianna, quite rightly, declares that she's nowhere near ready for marriage or kids, Roger flips out. He's repulsed that a "nice, Catholic girl" like Brianna would sleep with him but balks at the idea of marriage. Brianna calls him out for his hypocrisy – willing to bed women but only seeking virgin brides. Girl, Roger is the epitome of terrible, and you need to beat a hasty retreat from North Carolina!
Of course, this is Brianna we're dealing with, so she seeks him out the next day, hoping to mend fences. But it's a lost cause. If she won't budge on marriage, Roger's not interested. Are you shouting at your screen? I sure am! Surely, this isn't the end for them, but for now, it's heart-wrenching to see Brianna potentially leaving Roger high and dry in his kilt.
