Ladies and gentlemen, we're facing a Murtagh dilemma here—I repeat, a MURTAGH DILEMMA of monumental proportions. Someone, please, hold me steady. The writing was already on the wall when season four of Outlander culminated with Jamie receiving orders from Governor Tryon to hunt down his godfather. But now, there's no escaping it, not after witnessing the season five premiere kick off with a youthful Murtagh pledging his unwavering loyalty to little Jamie, come hell or high water. Outlander is orchestrating a heart-wrenching journey for this cherished bond this season.
Murtagh's destiny has long been a ticking clock that Outlander has toyed with mercilessly, especially since TV Murtagh has transcended Book Murtagh's fate. Ever since Culloden, our beloved Silver Fox has been walking a tightrope without a net. And with Governor Tryon talking about hanging Murtagh's body as a grim deterrent to Crown traitors, my darkest fears are beginning to materialize. Don't even think about calming me down with those endless scenes of Jamie donning and doffing his tiny specs, show! I am beyond soothing.
However, I will momentarily be diverted by the amusing amount of shade Jamie Fraser is throwing Roger's way on his wedding day. Indeed, Roger and Bree are tying the knot at Fraser's Ridge, now adorned with a stunning manor house! Claire, the proud mother of the bride, is tearfully preparing her daughter for her grand entrance down the aisle. Jamie, however, has some reservations. Firstly, I adore how everyone concurs that giving Brianna, Roger, and baby Jeremiah the old cabin was the prudent decision, considering Roger's lack of shelter-building prowess would take years to rectify. Roger sits there, allowing his father-in-law to shave his beard, clueless about how to wield a razor, essentially acknowledging, "Yeah, I'm useless at this." Jamie can sort of overlook Roger's uselessness knowing he's a time-traveler. What Jamie cannot stomach is Roger being Presbyterian, forcing him to witness his daughter's wedding in a ceremony neither in Latin nor officiated by a Catholic priest. Jamie is so incensed that he's roaming around the Ridge, informing little ones that Roger is a heretic. Jamie is embodying the pettiest bitch alive, and it's an honor and a privilege to behold.
Granted, Roger's Presbyterianism and lack of survival skills are problematic, but they're mere superficial issues. What truly rankles our big guy about his son-in-law stems from season four: After learning that Bree was raped by Bonnet and might be carrying his child instead of Roger's, Roger needed time to ascertain if he could still love Bree. I'm firmly on Team Jamie regarding this whole saga—especially since Young Ian sacrificed himself to free Roger from captivity. So, when Roger brings it up to Bree as if he can't fathom why Jamie is still furious with him, and Bree's all, "But you did come back!" I blurted out, "Oh, Bree has Stockholm Syndrome." So, folks, much has shifted at Fraser's Ridge, yet much remains the same.
Although Jamie's heart aches at the thought of "giving away" his daughter, whom he had met just a few months prior, he sets aside his emotions and, with tears in his eyes, escorts her down the aisle. It's a heartwarming sight indeed! Moreover, Bree and Roger's wedding is marked by several pivotal moments. For starters, witnessing Bree and Roger recite their vows—in English, no less, a surprise that sends shivers down one's spine!—transports Claire and Jamie back to their own wedding, allowing us to revisit one of the series' finest episodes, if only for a fleeting moment. Cherish this heartfelt scene, because the arrival of Governor Tryon, critique in hand, is anything but joyful. He's come to lambast Jamie's letter-writing skills, finding them wanting in their focus on sustaining the land granted by him and the King, and overly deficient in updates on the pursuit of Murtagh. This is almost as awkward as when a wedding guest arrives bearing only a colossal spoon as a gift. Thank you, Deborah, but we'll pass.
Tryon is pressuring Jamie to fulfill his oath to the governor, leaving him little time to grapple with Lord John Grey's bombshell: Stephen Bonnet is still alive, having survived the prison explosion. Jamie is disturbed by the news, but Brianna, who overhears it while en route to ask her father to dance, is even more shaken. She struggles to maintain composure in front of her mother and husband, but it's only a matter of time before the truth surfaces.
Fear not, however, for not all is lost, and this wedding is far from a bust. Let us conclude our tale of the festivities on a joyous note, indeed the best of all. And no, I do not refer to Marsali's (pregnant once more, by the way) dominance of a bizarre tongue-twister drinking game. Clearly, I speak of the sex montage!
As history books attest, weddings ignite desires fierce as ever, particularly (or perhaps exclusively?) in Colonial times. While this sex montage is set to Roger's acoustic rendition of "L-O-V-E," which could scarcely be less of an aphrodisiac if he tried, Bree's subsequent desire for intimacy with him defies logic almost as much as the rules of time travel. Yet, here we find ourselves. And the newlyweds aren't the only ones indulging. Naturally, Claire and Jamie are included, for if a sex montage exists in Outlander without its original couple, does it truly exist at all? Elsewhere, Aunt Jocasta and, yes, Murtagh Fitzgibbons find solace in Murtagh's secret tree fort in the woods. Jocasta arrives post-wedding, inquiring if Murtagh is the "fairy king," and the two embark on an intimate escapade. Everyone has their unique desires, don't they?
Amidst the fleeting moments of levity, the relentless daylight breaks through, casting a harsh glow that uncovers additional complications. Poor Murtagh is dealt a cruel blow when he learns that Duncan Innes, another Scotsman from Ardsmuir Prison, has propositioned Jocasta for marriage, leaving him powerless to intervene. Neither Murtagh nor Jocasta desires this union, yet they cannot fathom a life in perpetual hiding. With a heavy heart, Murtagh assures Jocasta he won't stand as a barrier to her happiness, acknowledging his fugitive status and his noble nature. Perhaps fueled by the adrenaline of their encounter, Jocasta devises a scheme, arranging a meeting with Roger to employ a bit of reverse psychology. She subtly hints at her intentions, "I bestow River Run upon Jeremiah, for I harbor doubts about your love for him, given his potential illegitimacy and your probable divorce from Bree. And had I left it to her as intended, you might have absconded with it, exploiting the absurd 18th-century laws that hinder women's property ownership." Roger, incensed, retorts with a scathing remark before bolting away to make a solemn blood oath to Jemmy, claiming him as his flesh and blood. Jocasta smiles triumphantly, thinking, "Haha, you fell right into my trap, dear fool."
However, the most formidable challenge awaits post-nuptials. Jamie might have envisioned a tranquil day at the Ridge, proposing tenancy to a young hunter named Josiah and assisting Claire amidst her porch filled with patients. But fate had other plans. Claire's minimal mention in this recap stems from her reduced role as a "proud mother" and a "concerned wife"; one can only hope for her heroic resurgence soon. For now, Jamie will desperately need her unwavering support. Tryon's return is unequivocal this time; he insists Jamie locate and terminate Murtagh immediately, leaving a platoon to assist in the task. Retreat is no longer an option.
Jamie finds himself in a precarious position, burdened not only by Murtagh's predicament but also by the looming Revolutionary War. His continued allegiance to the British could spell disaster. Reneging on his oath to Tryon would jeopardize Fraser's Ridge, harming not only his family but also his tenants. To safeguard his authority, Jamie decides to affirm the loyalty of the Ridge's men, regardless of whom he battles for. Donning his kilt once more, he revives an ancient Scottish tradition—the burning of the fiery cross—urging men to pledge their unwavering allegiance. Jamie publicly addresses Roger, who recites the vows by heart. The scene is deeply moving, yet the impending war and the forthcoming trials of loyalty cast a dark shadow over the ceremony.
Ultimately, Jamie is left with one final duty: he must urge Murtagh to flee. The episode begins with Murtagh vowing to protect Jamie and concludes with Jamie releasing his godfather from that solemn pledge. Tears streaming down his face, Jamie repeatedly urges Murtagh to depart, pleading, "Be inconspicuous, be hard to find." The poignant moment is further amplified by their parting without a single hug. Once Murtagh vanishes, Jamie collapses in sorrow, a reaction entirely justified.
