By this juncture, all avid fans of "Outlander" should be acutely aware that when an episode kicks off with gratuitous glimpses of a shirtless Jamie, it heralds the impending arrival of some dire calamity. Those steely Colonial Abs™, seemingly chiseled from marble, serve as a buffer, attempting to cushion the blow of the looming tragedy. Alas, even the most sculpted Colonial Abs™ in existence could not detract from the poignant heartbreak that unfolds in "The Ballad of Roger Mac."
In most episodes, witnessing Jamie's struggle to don a genuine red coat as he wages war against his own Scottish brethren would suffice as a harrowing spectacle (it is, after all, a stark contravention of nature). However, in this instalment, such a scene merely serves as a prelude to the impending devastation. Friends, let it be known: Murtagh has breathed his last. Roger has met his untimely end at the gallows. None are unscathed. It has been quite some time since "Outlander" has delivered such a poignant chapter. This one will leave an indelible mark.
For some time now, we have harbored the foreboding suspicion that Murtagh's chances of surviving the Regulator Rebellion were slim to none. And following last week's gut-wrenching rejection from Jocasta (my wounds remain raw and unhealed), his demise seemed more inevitable than ever. He had bid his farewells, all intentions conveyed. Yet, the manner in which our beloved Silver Fox exits the stage is a jolting blow to our very souls. Like Jamie, it is tempting to cling to denial.
Jamie does not spare any effort in his quest for a different outcome. When Governor Tryon and the King's Army arrive with a legitimate cannon and a plethora of artillery, Jamie endeavors to elucidate that the Regulators are mostly farmers armed with nothing more than knives and pitchforks. Tryon, however, remains indifferent. When the Regulators forward a petition of demands that could pave the way for a truce, Jamie implores Tryon to consider it. But Tryon merely chuckles, dismissing it outright. One would think that, on his goddamned 50th birthday, people might at least humor Jamie. Alas, such is not the case. He transitions from satisfying birthday intimacy to being incessantly reminded that he may bear the responsibility for his godfather's demise. There is not even a slice of cake to soothe his sorrow, folks. This, indeed, is a harrowing birthday!
Not only does Jamie have to contend with Tryon's troops itching to slaughter Scots — I apologize, to "quell the rebellion" — but he also grapples with discord within his own militia. As if Jamie's plate isn't already overflowing, he must also navigate this internal strife. While distributing fabric pins for the men to wear to distinguish themselves from the Regulators on the battlefield, and attempting to instruct the young Findlay boys that wavering is unacceptable in war, who should appear but Isiah Morton. Wanting to stand and fight alongside one's comrades is commendable, but Jamie and Claire risked their lives to enable him to escape with the love of his life, Alicia Brown, during their time in Brown Town. Now, he has returned. The Browns who enlisted in the militia are less than pleased. As if Jamie didn't have enough weight on his shoulders!
Amidst the mounting pressures, Jamie finds solace in an unconventional ritual: plunging into a river for a swift bath, followed by a ritualistic slice across his palm, using his own blood to invoke the guidance of his uncle, Dougal MacKenzie—both his war chief and the man whose life he tragically took. He terms it self-care, a practice worthy of further exploration, if one dares. As Jamie's agony over the impending confrontation with the Regulators intensifies, a ray of hope gallops into the military encampment on Bree's steed.
Bree arrives with intriguing intelligence, her heart racing as she remembers the location of the impending clash—Alamance Creek. A sense of déjà vu gnaws at her until she realizes: she had meticulously studied this very battle in a history class. The militia's victory here is not merely noted but revered as the spark that ignited the American Revolution. The potential ramifications of altering this pivotal moment in history be damned; they must alert Murtagh that the Regulators' persistence in this engagement spells certain, catastrophic defeat.
Roger steps forward, volunteering for the perilous task. The message must emanate from someone Murtagh knows intimately and recognizes as a time-traveler. Even with Jamie's pristine white handkerchief of truce tucked away as a contingency plan, the odds seem stacked against a favorable outcome. Such is the fate woven for Roger MacKenzie.
Roger catches Murtagh in the throes of an inspiring, fiery speech, the warrior's words igniting the air with determination. Convincing a man whose battle cry echoes, "His blood will soak this ground," mere hours before combat seems a Herculean feat. Yet, Roger strives valiantly, and it appears Murtagh considers retreat among his trusted lieutenants. But momentum has already gathered force; retreat is a distant dream. Murtagh refuses to desert his comrades, leaving Roger to trudge back to the King's Army camp, fingers crossed for timely arrival.
On his return journey, fate throws Roger into the path of Morag MacKenzie, his ancestral predecessor and the woman he once saved from Bonnet's harrowing voyage. Unable to resist, Roger approaches her with the familiarity of old friends, concerned for her well-being and intent on cautioning her against her husband's involvement with the Regulators. Their heartfelt embrace, meant as a poignant farewell, takes a harrowing turn when her husband appears, misunderstanding the scene and realizing Roger's alliance with the King's Army. In an instant, Roger finds himself staring down the barrel of a rifle, left wondering if being captured by adversarial factions has become an unintended hobby of his.
Meanwhile, Jamie finds himself back at camp, struggling to suppress his nausea as Tryon forces upon him the indignity of donning a red coat. For a man who has committed murder, this is undoubtedly the most degrading task Jamie has ever undertaken. His face betrays an inner turmoil, a fragment of his soul visibly withering away. Even Claire, upon glimpsing him in that crimson garment, instantly comprehends the cruelty inflicted upon him. And then, with a poignant declaration about their inevitable parting yet deferred to another day, Jamie disappears into the fray. The battle commences, and there's no turning back.
Frankly, I wish the Brown Town Clowns were aware of the more pressing matters demanding our attention in this episode, rather than indulging in their petty misogynistic family saga. Nevertheless, amidst the battle, Isiah Morton is felled by a shot to the back, clearly fired by a fellow Brown Towner, not an enemy Regulator. When Claire confronts Mr. Brown about this injustice while tending to both Morton and Brown in the medic tent, he takes offense at her audacity, crushing her lone vial of penicillin in a fit of pique. That vial, meant to aid countless lives, is now lost. He is, indeed, the epitome of churlishness.
The battle of Alamance unfolds precisely as history has dictated. The King's Army overwhelms the Regulators, bringing the conflict to an abrupt conclusion. As the dust settles, Jamie remains immersed in the woods, battle-hardened. He encounters a familiar Regulator, but peace talks fall on deaf ears. The man aims to shoot Jamie, only to be interrupted and knocked unconscious by Murtagh! Murtagh saves Jamie, yet before Jamie can express his gratitude, one of the Findlay boys, steadfastly obeying Jamie's orders, shoots Murtagh in the chest without hesitation. It happens so swiftly, it seems almost surreal.
A devastated Jamie props Murtagh against a tree, but it's evident that the damage is beyond repair. Murtagh reveals that he saved Jamie out of loyalty to the oath he swore to Jamie's mother, a promise he would never betray, even when pressed by Jamie himself. He assures Jamie that death brings no pain, touching his godson's face before expiring. Jamie refuses to accept his fate, dragging Murtagh to Claire's tent and imploring her to save him. Claire, with a heart-wrenching expression, must inform her husband of her helplessness. Oh, friends, gather close for a virtual embrace, for this scene—portrayed masterfully by Sam Heughan—is heart-shattering. "You cannae leave me," Jamie wails over Murtagh's lifeless body. Yet, he is gone, and despite my emotional vulnerability, I find myself shedding tears as I recount this moment. TV Murtagh may have lingered longer than his literary counterpart, but his departure is still all too soon—emotionally, if not narratively.
Outlander will never be the same without him, nor without Duncan Lacroix's portrayal. Even though I was mentally preparing for this, the loss stings deeply.
Jamie storms out of the tent, confronting Tryon with fierce accusations over the massacre of those innocent men. He declares that his debt to the King has been paid in full, absolving him of any further obligation. With a gesture of finality, he casts aside his crimson coat, leaving it to lie discarded on the ground. Tryon seethes with fury, yet he is powerless to retaliate at that instant.
Jamie is overwhelmed with grief, having lost the most esteemed individual he has ever known. He barely has time to drown in his sorrow before his eyes catch sight of Bree, sobbing inconsolably beside a cluster of trees. Her tears flow freely as Roger remains missing, with no sign of his return. Determined to find him, Jamie, accompanied by Claire, Bree, and a contingent of men from Fraser's Ridge, embark on a search among the Regulator prisoners. However, their efforts prove futile.
As they continue their desperate quest, they stumble upon a chilling scene: Redcoats, following Tryon's cruel orders, are executing the prisoners that the Regulators had once held captive. Their bodies hang lifelessly from trees, shrouded in hoods. And then, Jamie's heart drops as he spots the white handkerchief of truce—the very one he had given to Roger—peeping out of one prisoner's pocket. Roger has been hanged, a brutal end to his life.
With heavy hearts, they rush to retrieve his body, while Bree watches in utter horror. The screen fades to black, leaving the tragic moment etched in their minds. A tragedy for another day, perhaps, but one that lingers heavily in the present.
