Blacklanderz®Convos!
Outlander S7 Epi9 – Unfinished Business
Written by Barbara Stepansky | Directed by Stewart Svaasand
This conversation is between Blacklanderz® Margot, Jess H., and Lorinda. Arranged, edited and interrupted by Vida.
[Jamie VO]
Dear Bree, your mother, Ian and I
have now accomplished what was asked of us
and have brought Simon Fraser
back to his brother, Hugh, and to his
eternal resting place.
M: AAHHH I watched episode 7×08 to remind me of what happened before I watched this episode. I’m so happy Outlander is back. Can’t wait to hear more of these letters.
L: I watched it too. It just felt like a missing piece of my life has found its way back. The scenery is absolutely beautiful. I wonder what storm Jamie has to deal with. The closing of the letter, where Jamie tells Bree she has Roger and the bairns to help her, was ironic, because they are now separated.
JH: I’m so glad this show is back! I understand why Starz might want to break up the season to build anticipation, but this Droughtlander was brutal.
His body came home to Scotland
so that his soul could go home to the Lord,
but I hadna though how my own soul might feel
out on the wild moorland wi’ bagpipes playing.
I stood on my native soil,
felt the wind’s keen embrace and thought
I saw the heavens darken.
Everyone’s worst fears are realized in the back half. The emotion and the drama that comes with that is breathtaking in a way that our characters are pushed to the limits. There’s so much heartbreak. Buckle in, because the back half is just insane.
It seemed to me that a storm was coming…
and not one of this Earth,
but one of my own making,
M: I understand the anticipation of coming back to your home after leaving for a long time. Must feel surreal for the Frasers. It’s like Scotland is their home but not really anymore.
L: Yes, Margo, you’re right. Scotland was home and it’s where their soul and story began, but now they have responsibilities and a story to tell in America also.
JH: This must certainly be a bittersweet homecoming for Jamie. I’m sure he wishes he could have his whole family together in Lallybroch but unfortunately that hasn’t been the case.
and one I knew I must face as we
made onwards to Lallybroch.
I realize now that places hold tight
to the things that happen in them,
M: YAAYY!! Back to Lallybroch, it will be interesting to see what’s going to happen there.
L: You know as they were going to Lallybroch, I picture Roger and Bree there now. The past and the future colliding with one another in three different time frames.
JH: It’s so amazing to finally see Lallybroch again! I can only imagine how Jamie feels.
and to come again to a place you’ve once lived
is to be brought face-to-face with what you’ve
done there and who you’ve been.
We’re back in Scotland, and Scotland has always been a huge part of the show directly or indirectly. Scotland is Jamie’s ancestral home. We’ll see a lot of characters that are very dear to Jamie and to the viewers. Jamie is here to put things to rest and to deal with past relationships and deal with people that mean something to him.
I pray that all is well with you and take solace
in the fact that whatever storms you may face,
you have Roger and the bairns by your side.
M: Little do they know Roger is somewhere in the past right now, looking for Jemmy.
L: That is exactly what I was talking about Margo, all in the same place, but in different time continuum.
JH: I hope Jamie doesn’t have a heart attack when he sees him again!
M: I want so badly for whoever that person is to wipe away the greenery so I can read the headstone.
L: Right and why is it there, what is the importance of that headstone? They’ve already hooked us in!
JH: They’re already building anticipation! We know there will be a death at some point.
M: I genuinely had no idea whose it could have been.
L: I’m like you Margo, I have no idea whose it is. I thought about the time when Claire stumbled across Jamie’s. I don’t think it was at Lallybroch.
JH: I think the first letters were I-S-E? No idea who that could be!
[Roger VO] I’m dead.
Are there beetles in heaven?
Of course there are. God loves all creatures,
even the creepy crawlies.
M: They made it back, right?
L: Roger is funny, I’m dead. Then he realizes he has all of his senses. His pain is indicative that he’s not actually in heaven.
JH: Roger sure knows how to bring some comic relief!
But splitting headaches? I think not.
The second half of season seven is really some of the best stuff I think we’ve shot for Outlander. It’s an incredible adventure for Roger because we don’t often see him without [his wife] Brianna – they’ve always been such a team.
M: Is he having a panic attack?
L: I’ve read the books, so I know exactly what’s happening Margo, so I’m not going to spoil it. Although a panic attack does make you feel this way.
JH: Time travel sure seems brutal!
I think for everybody, it’s such a new style of relationship. Yes, of course, there’s the family bond. But it’s kind of a buddy comedy. You know what I mean? It’s one of the most beloved formulas of film that people attach to, and its kind of in a way can be described as a buddy quest.
I think that’s something very automatic that people latch onto. And we haven’t seen that kind of a shared purpose of two characters, forming a friendship, but working towards one common goal. And I think it’s a refreshing change of pace for the audience.
M: I mean it’s possible it could be a heart attack, but I doubt it. It’s kind funny to me how lay people shout out ‘HEART ATTACK!’ with any type of distress, i mean completely possible but still funny.
L: Did they even know what a heart attack was back then? Maybe so, chest pains are terrifying, but the body can play tricks on you sometimes.
JH: I think they might have known, but they probably had some old timey word for it like apoplexy. And they probably thought bloodletting would help!
M: NO, for real, what would happen if he died? I didn’t read the books, so I don’t know what happened to buck.
L: Margo, if he already had Roger’s three great grandchild then Roger would exist, but if you died before you were born, that just made my head spin and hurt at the same time. I’ve read the books, but I never thought of that.
JH: Buck is really bringing the existential questions here, haha!
M: I do not agree with them separating.
L: Me either, what if something happens to one of them, how is the other one going to know. If we came together, we stay together. That’s the golden rule.
JH: Could Jemmy really find his way all the way to Lallybroch from the stones? I would probably need google maps.
L: It’s amazing to me how they could stay in touch with each other without a mailman, telephone, text message or email.
JH: Separating was definitely a big risk, especially in another time! I don’t know if it was the best decision, but I guess we’ll see.
M: I just don’t agree with them separating, there are no phones, no carrier pigeons. How is this a good idea?
L: Yeah, I have a bad vibe about them separating, but I guess they knew how to contact each other, like I said before, they must have had great Spidey senses back then.
JH: This doesn’t bode well! I hope things work out and they can find each other, but things rarely go as planned for our characters!
I feel bad for Bree because obviously there’s nothing worse than not knowing. She has one of the toughest journeys in terms of reckoning with her imagination and what’s to come. Not only is her son gone, who knows where, but now her husband and Buck are gone.
It’s almost easier to be on that journey, to be doing something, than sitting home and twiddling your thumbs. But she won’t be idle for long. Bree is what we call resourceful.
M: Nah, this is traumatizing; some weirdo kidnapped your kid and took him to another time?
L: Can you imagine the guilt Bree must have been feeling. She trusted Rob and he was a villain. The way she cut those tears off and started heading back to the car, she realizes her tears can’t solve her problems.
JH: She knows there is a chance she’ll never see Roger again! Time-traveling is almost like someone dying – at this moment Roger is technically dead and in the past.
M: What kind of car is that?
L: It looks like a Datsun; they were very popular at one time. I think it was before your time Margo.
JH: That’s definitely a flashy car! I’m sure Jamie would approve.
M: JENNNYYY! Honestly, it’s sad that Laura Donnelly couldn’t come back, but I think Kristin Atherton did a great job!
JH: It was definitely jarring seeing a new actress! She has some huge shoes to fill!
L: I was hoping the original Jenny would show up. She does kind of sound like her.
Young Ian is, well, not young anymore. He’s grown up. He’s become quite the man, quite a warrior. He really has grown up under Jamie’s guidance, and now Jamie must answer to Jenny.
JH: This was definitely a good opening scene to introduce Kristin Atherton, as the new Jenny. It really cemented her as Ian’s mother.
L: Yes, it did, she fits right in. She called Ian her my wee lad, he’s not a wee lad anymore.
JH: Ian must look SO different from the last time she saw him. And I’m glad Jenny isn’t too mad – at least not yet ha-ha.
I mean, this is a full circle moment for Ian. This is where we first met, our Young Ian all those years ago, nine years ago, when he was taken back from Edinburgh to home to be chastised. And I imagine maybe he’s feeling like he’s gonna be chastised a little bit again. He might get a clipper around the head from his ma. Why haven’t you come home? It’s been so long.
But I think when Ian steps through that arch of Lallybroch again, they recognize in him a very different man than the one that left. And for him, it’s a very emotional return because his father’s not well, and there’s a lot to be said and be told in in a little amount of time.
So, there’s a lot of complicated emotions going on for Ian in this return home to Scotland. But ultimately, I think it’s exactly where he needs to be to heal, to move forward, and to get some good advice and probably a really good squeeze because he deserves it. Our boy deserves to be happy.
L: Right. He’s matured and those tattoos on his face. Jamie thinks Jenny is angry with him, but she’s just so happy to see him alive and Claire too. It’s a family reunion.
M: Aww, his siblings are here. I honesty can’t imagine being separated from my sister for so long. It’s weird people lived like this.
JH: So nice to see the brothers together!
L: To see your family again is a beautiful thing.
M: That’s so sad! But yes, you can die from the Flu. Make sure you get your flu shots y’all!
JH: That’s awful! And Claire must feel awful that she just missed her.
L: To hear she died from the flu is sad. And yes, I’m sure Claire knows if she were there earlier, she could have saved her life.
M: What’s wrong with Ian? Lung cancer? COPD?
JH: Oh no, not Ian too! Did he catch influenza?
L: That cough is persistent, poor Ian. He doesn’t look well at all.
M: You can walk into someone’s presence and SENSE how sick they are, must be so heart-wrenching. Especially with the juxtaposition of how healthy the Frasers look.
JH: It’s definitely bittersweet for them to see Ian after so long and for him to be so sick!
L: Yes, he and Jamie were like brothers. To see someone you love that sick must have been gut-wrenching.
JH: The Ians are back together!
L: Did you see the way Old Ian’s face lit up when he saw his son? He forgot he was sick.
JH: These two have been through so much together. It’s great to see them reunited.
L: They are so glad to see each other and Ian called Jamie his brother.
It was like going home in a way. I live in London, so getting to go back to Scotland is also literally like going home. But being with Sam [Heughan] again in particular – because the last time I’ve been on the show, I hadn’t filmed with Sam, I’d filmed with Sophie [Skelton].
So, I hadn’t actually done any scenes with Sam since, I don’t know, for six years or something like that. And actually, I used the analogy before, it was like pulling on an old glove. But actually, it was literally pulling on an old green sock, as is what I do.
JH: I’m sure Claire’s medical mind is moving a million miles a minute right now.
L: You can see her mind working, she wants to see if she can help him or heal him. Her mind is always working and looking for a cure.
M: Consumption? Okay, I looked this up. Correct me if I’m wrong but this is tuberculosis? …IS NOONE ELSE AROUND HIM SICK?!
JH: Yes, I’m pretty sure that’s TB! What a terrible illness, and Claire definitely can’t cure him in this time.
L: Yes, it is TB and it’s most definitely a nasty disease. Margo, that’s a good question. I wish they would have written Claire and told her about the cough earlier, she could have sent her the recipe for his treatment.
JH: I wonder if they have even heard of consumption yet? I’m trying to remember from history class what century the biggest tuberculosis epidemics happened.
L: They knew it as consumption, a wasting disease. It says it’s been around since the 10th century. I wonder what the root cause of this disease is.
JH: That’s so crazy that one missed letter back then could mean years without communication. I’ll never take texting for granted!
L: This is one time their form of communication didn’t work too well. Right Jess, texting and emailing are a great benefit!
JH: I’m glad he’s making light of the situation at least! It must be so awful to have no idea how long you might live.
L: He’s calming the situation. They did leave the Ridge, meaning to go to Scotland, but ended up smack dab in the middle of a battle zone.
M: Yaaayyy! They get back their old room, sad though realizing Ian can’t take the stairs anymore.
JH: Wow, Ian must have seriously declined that he can’t even take the stairs to bed.
L: Yes, he can barely move due to the disease that’s overtaking his lungs. I bet he barely gets any sleep at night with that persistent cough.
JH: It’s so sad to think tuberculosis was still contracted two hundred years later in Claire’s time – and people are still dying of it today.
L: Yes Jess, it is sad on both accounts. Claire knows, in another time he would have had a chance, but there’s nothing that can be done now.
JH: There are definitely similarities – both Claire and Jamie experienced a sort of time jump of a few years when they returned home. It must be very jarring.
L: He’s home but things have changed. Everything must change Jamie, nothing stays the same.
JH: Good to hear that Lallybroch will forever be their home at least!
L: Lallybroch is the first place they actually called home, Castle Leoch was more of a prison for both of them. It was too many people using them as chess pieces, instead of treating them as family.
JH: It must be quite a feeling to have one home for generations of your family. Jamie must feel a strong attachment to Lallybroch, to say the least.
L: He didn’t say good times, the Frasers must have experienced quite a bit of grief in their home.
M: Honestly, that’s all that can be done at this point. There really isn’t any cure. There are four medicines for TB and they’re all taxing on the body to take.
JH: And I doubt Claire could make any of those medicines from herbs she can find!
L: Margo, that’s scary to hear, especially in today’s times. Jess, you’re right. But ya’ll know she can always come up with a relief tincture.
M: Young Ian must seem so otherworldly to them
JH: It’s funny hearing them call Young Ian Uncle!
L: It would have been nice to hear him tell them the truth. They would have been the group who could tell the truth about the natives.
JH: Young Ian definitely has a unique perspective considering he was adopted by the Mohawk and lived in their community. It must have been a bit of a culture shock to come back to Scottish culture.
L: Yes, he does. He has lived among them, been one of them and knows the culture intimately. He has tales but maybe he doesn’t want to tell them.
M: OKAY! I grew up learning Caribbean History having grown up in Jamaica and now I’m googling how long the American Revolution lasted. Got any good documentaries recommendations anyone?
[V: The American Revolution was from April 19, 1775 to September 3, 1783. It ended in 1781 after the British surrender at the Battle of Yorktown. This was a victory that led to the end of the war.
Although the Declaration of Independence was signed in 1776, the war ended with the Treaty of Paris (1783).]
JH: I’m sure the history channel has some good ones – but it looks like we’re going to learn a good amount from watching!
L: I love history. The American revolution ended in 1775, but in 1776, they became independent from Great Britain and the King, whoever it was back then.
[V: It was King George III.]
M: Is this for the wine business?
[V: Yes.]
JH: It’s hilarious that Michael said he couldn’t imagine unrest like that in France. He has zero idea what is coming!
L: Yes, Time changes all things. Business is good now but…we know trouble is coming.
JH: Having a chronic cough like that sounds horrific. His throat/lungs must be raw!
L: Thankfully Claire is there to alleviate his suffering. Jess when it gets to the end is that why they cough up blood? The family knows he’s pretty bad off. Can you imagine having to watch his decline.
JH: I’m sure Ian wants to spend as much time with his son as possible.
L: It’s time for reconnecting and catching up. Having spent so many years away from each other, the Ian’s need this time.
M: This is so sweet, seeing young and old Ian catch up. Knowing this is one of the last conversations they’ll be having.
JH: Back then, having a relative tell you about their life in America must be like if they went to space.
L: Right, the different culture of the natives and the new land is like a fairy tale.
M: Wow. Droughtlander has been LONG. I forgot Ian had a son.
JH: I forgot too! And there’s probably no harm in telling Jenny – she’ll be happy to know she has another grandchild.
L: Ian is holding a secret just like Jamie, but he shares it with his parents. They will know they have other living grandparents.
JH: I hope Young Ian has a family of his own at some point. Hopefully, he doesn’t have the same tragic story as Jamie, having to stay separated from his kids.
L: I think he wanted him to know the Mohawk way. That’s why he wanted him to stay and the fact that it was his son’s normalcy.
I actually couldn’t quite remember how I speak though. And in the show, we do even as a Scottish people, we do a slightly different Scottish accent. And I don’t watch the show, but I did something a while ago with one of the fan sites and I watched some old episodes.
And I thought my Scottish accent sounded horrific. I was like, I don’t even sound Scottish. So, I actually did purposefully this time try and sound a little bit more normal Scottish than as I had previously sounded. So, if anyone notices that, that’s why.
JH: There’s another Ian in the world! I guess he’s Ian Jr. Jr?
[V: Jess, you are hilarious. He’d be Ian III.]
L: Jess, did you notice it’s Ian and James? The two men he respects the most in his life.
JH: Young Ian has been through so much at this point, and he’s still so young!
L: Finally, he has left mourning and entered life again. Also because his heart has found a new love.
M: Oh Laoghaire… We’ll be seeing her shortly.
JH: Oof, I could do without seeing her again.
L: Right, leg hai…, I mean Laoghaire is always full of drama. Whenever she shows up, it’s dun, dun, dunnn.
M: Now I know I was not the only one to be sad they left Rollo in America. Was the dog not allowed on the ship??
JH: I was confused why he was missing too! I wonder if Rachel got the gist of what he was saying, even if it was in another language.
L: Is that why he left Rollo? He made sure she wouldn’t forget him and will have to meet up with him again.
M: YES, Ian please go back to Rachel and Rollo. I feel like Arch Bug has plans for her.
JH: Yes! I just want to see Ian happy!
L: He’s saying if she’s a good woman you better make sure you keep her. A dog isn’t a commitment.
M: Hehe, I feed my dogs apples too. I don’t think Claire is at all insecure to feel threatened by someone like Laoghaire.
JH: I agree. I doubt she feels threatened but I’m sure she’s still not thrilled about it.
L: He knows Claire can’t stand Laoghaire and she makes it known. She’s wearing green as Frank said.
M: I would like to see some resolution of this issue cuz it was kinda dropped lolol. ALSO, YES! Who is she sleeping with? We ‘knos’ she got a man.
JH: It would be nice if Laoghaire found some happiness. I hope the new guy is better than her previous husbands!
L: He didn’t love her and she knew it. She should’ve never told him yes. She has had bad luck with men.
M: Oh, is this him? And like the devil himself she shows herself.
JH: Well, he seems rude. Not the best first impression!
L: Jamie said I might ask the same of you. I wondered why he said that. Laoghaire still looking like she’s got a chip on her shoulder. She has a hard time forgiving.
M: She and Fergus, THRIVING!’ LET. HER. KNOW. Honestly I feel bad for Laoghaire, imaging waking up every day and being her. That must be miserable.
JH: I’m glad he has some good news about Marsali. We’ll see if she accepts his apology – I doubt it!
L: Did Marsali not write Laoghaire?
[V: Yes, she said she did.]
L: I guess he is trying to smooth things over, before he does what he says he needs to do.
M: He came back so much more prepared this time… also the fact that he has to WALK to Lallybroch.
JH: Just realized that he still has a modern haircut! I forgot that men wore their hair longer in this time. And hopefully the first time he sees Jamie again he won’t knock him out this time!
L: There it is the guilt for trusting Rob. That seems like a long walk. He’ll never forgive himself if he doesn’t find Jemmy.
[Roger VO] My son is out here somewhere,
terrified, and it’s my fault.
I should have listened to Buck.
He was right about Rob Cameron.
Why couldn’t I see it?
What good am I if I can’t protect my child
and keep him safe?
I’m so sorry Jemmy.
I’m going to make this right.
I promise.
M: Yea, we all know that was a mistake. AND SHE KNEW IT TOO?????
JH: Yes, they were both given terrible circumstances. It’s not fair for her to put all the blame on him.
L: Jamie, you knew that girl was a shrew. It was one of his worst mistakes.
M: The fact that she’s still hung up on this. I mean, I don’t think she’s 100% in the wrong. But OMG, she’s so mad. She really holds this bitterness in her heart.
JH: This bitterness is going to eat her alive.
L: She was a child; all she ever wanted was Jamie. And when she got him, she didn’t know what to do with him.
M: She’s soooo bitter.
JH: She’s definitely the epitome of scorn. It’s awful that she hasn’t been able to move on after all this time.
L: She should’ve been grateful he took it for her. After Jamie and Claire were married, she must have known he only had eyes for Claire. She was the one playing the whore.
M: Men really do know from the very beginning, huh? Also, it’s the fact that he still messed around with Laoghaire… TREACHEROUS!
JH: Ugh, even Jamie isn’t above that, I guess.
L: Jamie knew she was loose, he was wrong for leading her on. He was treacherous, Margo.
M: I was looking at the pitchfork the whole time and said, ‘She’s about to attack him with that–BET!’ AND SHE DIIIIIID. I’M LAUGHING SO HARD. LIKE WHAT DID HE THINK WAS GOING TO HAPPEN BUT THIS?!
JH: She already shot him before and almost killed him! What more does she want?!
L: A leopard doesn’t change their spots. That pitchfork had me saying, please don’t stab Jamie. Poor Joey didn’t stand a chance.
M: Claire is just like, ‘Yeaaaa you did pity that girl.’ She’s right; it was nice that he tried.
JH: Like Claire said, some things just can’t be mended. Too bad they didn’t have relationship counseling back then, although I doubt that would have helped much!
L: Nah, she’ll be scorned forever. All she wanted was his money.
M: I also disagree with her wanting to tell the truth. This is how you know Outlander is going to end, the rules just go out the window and now everyone knows the secret.
JH: The shock of telling Ian might kill him!
L: I’m glad she wants to tell it. It will bring closure to her reappearance.
M: FOR REAL! What happens if they think she’s a demon or witch?
JH: Hasn’t Claire been accused of being a witch enough times? This seems like too big of a risk.
L: Yeah, I think they will believe her. She’s brave; she wants to save Michael.
M: It’s nice that Claire knows that even Jamie, like all other men, is somewhat helpless without her.
JH: These two are just too romantic. And I agree Margot; they need us more than we need them!
L: I love it and he has needed her from the first night they met. These two are soul mates. I still think they’re on a time loop. The forget-me-nots were put there by Jamie or Claire.
JH: Well, none of their heads exploded, so I guess they believed her.
L: Man, the looks on their faces. If we were in their position, we’d be looking the same way.
M: LET’S ALL GATHER ‘ROUND THE TABLE AND LISTEN TO THE ONE SECRET I DON’T THINK NEEDS TO BE SHARED IN THIS SHOW.
JH: She’s about to blow their 18th century socks off.
L: Well, you know Claire, she loves saving people by any means possible. So, Micheal will be saved.
M: Now I gotta read about the French Revolution. Any documentaries or podcast recommendations?
JH: Well, Le Mis is definitely a good introduction!
L: I remember learning this in the 9th grade in the book, A Tale of Two Cities by Charles Dickens.
Whatever you do, do not stay in France passed 1788.
M: Their reactions aren’t so bad.
JH: Oh, I spoke too soon! Are they gonna start building a stake?
L: Did you see the looks on their faces – eyes big, filled with fear, wonder and awe!
How d’ye know this? How?
I know this because I . . .
am not from this time.I was born in 1918.
M: Welp! The cat is out of the bag now.
JH: But it should make sense if they think about it! How strangely she acts, the other knowledge she has…
L: Yes, she always knows things they don’t know. And, she didn’t know her place as a woman when she arrived at Lallybroch.
[Roger VO] Let Jemmy be here.
M: Something is up… it won’t be this simple.
JH: Roger made it! Another person glad to see Lallybroch. But sadly, he won’t find Jemmy here.
L: No it won’t; I feel bad for him and Bree.
Let him have found his way home to his family.
M: It is… why is she telling all of them this? I mean they do believe in supernatural things so it’s not totally unreasonable.
JH: I mean faeries and witches are the only context they have for things like this, I guess.
L: See, they already thought she was a faerie or a witch. Their misconception about the supernatural things being evil, but it’s actually a blessing.
So the stories about ye are true.
Ye are a faerie woman. A witch.
M: I would listen to her though.
I dinna ken exactly what my Auntie is.
I suppose she’s an old one.
JH: I hope it helps that she’s clearly just trying to help them – not “bewitch” them!
L: I love how Ian has always stood beside his Auntie and would defend her at all costs.
M: Saved by the ..knock?
JH: …And here comes another person from the future!
L: I’m thinking here comes Roger.
M: You see all this build-up just tells me it cannot be this simple.
JH: Something unexpected is definitely about to happen…
L: I was holding my breath.. could it be. The look on Old Ian’s face the entire time is classic.
M: Jamie really just got up from the table and left Claire there, huh?
JH: Haha! I guess he couldn’t take the tension.
L: He hesitated before he left the room. Young Ian’s presence must have reassured him Claire was safe.
M: Whoooo is it? I know it won’t be Roger.
JH: WHO could it be??!!
L: Yes, who could it be?
M: YOU, SEE? WHAT IN THE WORLD?!? HOW??? THIS WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN STRAIGHTFORWARD! DID JEMMY COME BACK HERE?
JH: OH NO!!! How are they possibly going to find Jemmy now?!
L: Well, he’s in the wrong time, but he doesn’t realize it yet. He’s too far back for the gold to be hidden.
Brian Fraser, Laird of Lallybroch,
your servant, sir.
[Roger VO] Christ, that’s Jamie’s father.
You should be dead. Why aren’t you dead.
Oh, God. I’m in the wrong time.
M: For a hot second I thought he said it out loud to Jamie’s dad.
JH: I did too! That would have been awkward haha.
L: First he called Murray. Now, he’s talking in his head and looking discombobulated.
M: People back in that day and age were too friendly cuz I wouldn’t have invited him inside.
JH: Well, I guess having a good strong drink is the best he can do at this point.
L: They were quite friendly and easy going. Maybe it’s because of the scripture of how you treat strangers, because they may be angels.
M: Awww, she’s soo cute! What’s wrong though?
JH: That actress looks way too much like Jamie. I can see why Claire was so freaked out when she first saw her!
L: She does Jess. I would still be asking are you sure she’s not yours.
M: Nah for real, I don’t know how Roger is controlling himself the way he is right now. I’d be on the floor.
JH: He must feel so disoriented! And it’s not like he can just ask what year it is without being extremely suspicious. Do we think Jemmy came to this time too?? It’s crazy that they don’t really know how the stones work at all.
L: He has to figure It out in his head, all alone and while keeping a straight face.
M: Yes Roger, where did you come from?
JH: Roger, you better string together a story, and fast!
L: The last time he was slow to come up with a story, he was at the end of a noose.
M: He’s so nice!
JH: He’s definitely hospitable, but something tells me he has some strategy going on as well. Is Roger going to meet young Jamie too?! Or is he already away in France?
L: Well, I guess he wants to be helpful. Today, no one would let a complete stranger into their homes, let alone, feed and offer them a place to sleep. Strategy or not.
M: A NUN? Okay, I don’t fault her for this. Her dad sounded like an awful person. Also, Jamie really just left Claire in there to handle all the questions?
JH: Honestly, I probably would have made the same decision if I lived back then.
L: Right, women were just property back then. She made her own choice and that was a bold move.
M: I don’t blame Laoghaire; she wants her own property. I don’t see anything wrong with that, good move Laoghaire
JH: Those laws were awful back then.
L: Yes and Jamie owns Balriggan. If they marry, then they would be homeless.
M: Damn, that sucks, TB is a nasty infection. It would be hard to cure in the future too. Not impossible though.
JH: Jenny would definitely think of curing her beloved husband first! She must be low-key terrified of Claire now, but she has to at least ask.
L: What other option does she have? She must feel badly about their last encounter.
M: Why would Claire have a grudge about this?
JH: Does she really think Claire would be that petty? To let an innocent man die for revenge?
L: Jenny’s petty so she’s transferring her feelings onto Claire. If she believes she’s a witch, she may think Claire is evil.
M: That’s some pent-up anger right there, and Jenny just projected it on Claire.
JH: Jenny definitely says things she doesn’t mean when she’s angry, but that went pretty far.
L: You both are right, it seems like Jenny is talking about herself.
There’s a lot of mutual respect and love there, but Jenny is not fluffy in any kind of way. Both her and Claire have a tendency, especially when they’re in pain, to lash out. And this is what we see.
Jenny is in a very painful situation, and she wants Claire to really do something miraculous, and it’s not within Claire’s capability. There’s a lot of anger there that is maybe misplaced.
M: I WOULD NOT KNOW WHAT TO DO! Also, I forgot Jamie went to university, a well-educated man.
JH: He doesn’t even know if Jemmy is in this time, but he still has to look for him!
L: He did. If Jemmy isn’t here, how will he find him? He knew if he thought about Jemmy it would take him where he was.
Without seeing too much, yeah, he was flung in the past. Did he or did he not make it to the time that he was supposed to? Is he or is he not where Jemmy is it? He’s definitely a man on a mission, and he has quite a few, shall we say, unexpected but brilliant encounters. There’s a lot happens through his story in S7, Pt. 2.
M: Is that Old Ian’s dad? Awwww.
JH: Faerie man definitely sounds like a lead!
L: It does sound like a lead. Looks like they are getting closer.
M: Okay so they’re in the same time. It is kind of wild though cuz the gold won’t be where Jemmy knows it is cuz they are in the wrong decade.
HOW DO THESE TIME TRAVEL RULES WORK?
JH: He has a lead at least!
L: Yep there’s a lead, hopefully it will pan out.
M: The man got sick? I KNEW it wasn’t a good idea to split up.
JH: Ugh, what’s he gotten into now?
L: This doesn’t sound good, if he keeps having chest pains. He wouldn’t be having a panic attack just asking question
M: She probably does this a lot, just stands somewhere in the forest and screams. She probably doesn’t want to break down in front of her family.
JH: Kristin Atherton definitely got her screams down! She sounds just like Laura Donnelly did when Jenny was giving birth all those years ago.
L: If you scream in the woods, would anyone hear you? She does sound like Jenny in child birth, Jess.
M: Sounds like she was the one to hold that whole household down when their parents died. She’ll do it again. She’s strong.
JH: Jenny has been through so much pain at this point. This is one pain that Jamie can definitely relate to. And as Jamie says, Jenny has been the matriarch of Lallybroch for most of her life.
L: She is the pillar of the family. Jamie reminds her of that when he mentions what she did for him and the family. That’s why she has to scream in the woods. She can’t appear fragile or broken.
M: She will survive. It really hurts that Old Ian is going to die though.
JH: Yes, and the long, drawn-out death of consumption is going to be agonizing for her to watch.
L: She will survive, but it’s still gonna hurt. He has been her lifelong partner. I feel for her.
It’s such a such a warm group of people. You know, the crew actually as well as the cast. Just everyone right from the get-go. I was really lucky. They made sure that before I was on set, which doesn’t always happen, I met [Caitríona Balfe] and I met Sam, and both of them right off the bat went, here are our numbers.
Any questions you’ve got, middle of the night, if you suddenly go, oh my god, what about my relationship with Sam? They were so generous with their time and making sure that I felt comfortable. John [Bell] felt like my son right away. We kind of have the same kind of naughtiness, we like to have fun the same kind of way.
M: Claire’s just in the background waiting for some more mess to happen. I bet she enjoys seeing Laoghaire be miserable and I don’t disagree with it.
JH: How could Laoghaire possibly have the gall to force a marriage on her daughter that she doesn’t want? After everything she’s been through?
L: Right Jess. After all the unhealthy marriages she endured, you’d think she’d let her go to the convent.
M: Laoghaire and I said, ‘HE’S STILL ALIVE?!’ at the same time. My man Ned gonna outlive us all.
JH: Damn, Ned is immortal.
L: Yes, toothless and bald. But in his right mind. You go Ned!
M: Laoghaire … BYE! Claire is going to be the witness.
JH: …. Because she is his wife??
L: Exactly. Laoghaire you are the false wife; Claire is the authentic one! She has every right to be there.
M: Aww, Laoghaire gets somewhat of a happy ending.
JH: It was good seeing her smile! I don’t think she’s smiled since S1!
L: I guess, I still haven’t forgotten about her trying to get Claire burned at the stake.
M: No more alimony for youuuuuu!
JH: This would wrap everything up nicely! I just hope she signs it!
L: Kiss your money goodbye leg hai..I mean Laoghaire.
M: Jamie is a generous person. Finally, we get the shadow of Laoghaire out of this picture.
JH: Claire did not like watching him give her that gold lol.
L: Well, at least she’s out of their pocketbook and life. There’s more gold, if and when they need it.
M: I also really appreciate how supportive everyone else was about Joanie wanting to be a nun; that was quite heartwarming.
JH: I just hope Joanie ends up happy too!
L: Joanie gets her wish; she has such a sweet soul.
M: When will Claire give in and finally get glasses? Nothing is wrong with glasses Claire!
JH: Haha. Yes, I wear them myself Claire! It’s good that they can joke some. Having the specter of Laoghaire gone must be a great feeling!
L: I understand the spectacles, especially if you didn’t have to wear them when you were young. Claire really needs them now.
M: Lord John contacting them? WHYYY??!
JH: Lord John just can’t stay away from Jamie for too long. LOL.
L: Or Claire either. How did they get that from the states to Lallybroch?
M: But if Claire takes the long journey back home to America, won’t the nephew die before she gets there?
JH: How could they possibly make it all the way to Philadelphia in time?
L: I’m with both of you. That’s not an overnight trip. How long does that voyage and journey to Philly take?
M: Is she, though? HOW LONG IS THIS JOURNEY?
JH: This is crazy! He’ll probably be dead before they get there!
L: Exactly!!
[V: I looked it up. “A voyage from Scotland to Philadelphia by ship in the 18th century typically took between 6 to 10 weeks depending on weather conditions and the route taken; this is because the journey across the Atlantic Ocean was the primary factor, and sailing times could vary greatly based on wind patterns.” And yet, Claire will be there in the next episode.]
M: Why is Lord John summoning her from across the pond? FOR A PERSON SHE DOESN’T KNOW. Also, by the time that letter got to them, won’t that nephew already be dead? Infection? Blood loss? This sounds futile.
JH: This definitely seems like a long shot.
L: You know Claire is torn between staying with Ian and helping a stranger.
M: Looks like she’s cooled down from their earlier exchange.
JH: Jenny is back to her no-nonsense self!
L: Well, Jenny is back and it looks like Claire is leaving. I hate it when she and Jamie are separated.
M: Young Ian must feel so guilty for not being there, but I don’t think anyone resents him for living away. He had to grow up to be his own person and you can see Old Ian supports everything he does.
JH: Well, this decision is for Rachel to make I think, not him.
L: Yes, he should have written to her and told her what was happening. Maybe she would have come to Lallybroch.
M: Yeaaaa! I agree with Jenny, I think he should go back to Rachel.
JH: Jenny is being decisive!
L: Jenny is basically saying you have to live your life and Ian wants him to do it too.
M: Wait! That’s sooooo sweet that they made a headstone for his daughter. OMG, I want to cry for him.
JH: That’s beautiful! Did someone cut an onion?
L: They made sure she would be part of the family. Her memory is saved on their property.
M: Young Ian will always have a place at Lallybroch; everyone understands he needs to live his own life.
JH: This is definitely some good closure for Young Ian. It’s crazy that Jenny is letting him go back only just seeing him. But this is definitely the right decision.
L: This had to be a hard decision, but Auntie Claire needs a man to sail with her and he needs to go get his woman.
M: I’m glad that she apologized. But honestly, I don’t think Claire took Jenny’s comments personally. She understood it was just grief and fear.
JH: Yes, Jenny definitely didn’t mean what she said, and I’m sure Claire understands.
L: It looks like Ian has his Da’s coat and Jamie some vegetables for her trip. She knows her well and she apologizes for her behavior.
M: YES! She is not a witch and does – in fact – have a soul.
JH: Of course! I’m glad that these two are parting on good terms. And with the crazy time they’re living in, this could be the last time they see each other.
L: She’s grieving, and sometimes grief causes us to do strange things. I’m glad their bygones are bygones now.
M: Wow so they’re separated again… What the fresh hell is about to occur now? I don’t know how people survived without telephones back then; they just went months without seeing or talking to each other?
JH: I didn’t realize they wouldn’t go together! Isn’t it too risky a journey for that?
L: As I said before, I can’t stand to see them apart. That’s why I am glad Ian is gong with her.
M: Ian is coming out in his kilt, representing the Murray clan. I love this! UGH, the music in this scene is amazing.
JH: Wow, someone really needs to quit cutting onions.
L: What a laborious walk for him, but he wants to do it on his own. This is his son’s last look of him . . . of a whole man, not an ill one. I love big Ian’s spirit.
M: This scene is so final. I wonder if we’ll see old Ian pass away on screen.
JH: This is just so sad! But a wonderful goodbye from Ian.
L: Their final goodbye, heartfelt, and knowing. Yes it is sad; my eyes are sweating again.
M: This is the last time Young Ian and Old Ian will see each other. It reminds me of that scene where Jocasta went to visit Murtagh’s grave after he died and said something to the effect of, “How would we act, if we knew this was the last time we’d be seeing someone.” I can’t remember the exact quote, but that line really hit me hard.
JH: There’s just so many sad partings, and this is the first episode back! And they’re already leaving Scotland again!
L: Right, they have me crying. Old Ian put on a strong front, and Young Ian is taking a snapshot of his last look upon his father.
M: Why is Buck actually clutching his chest like that? Does he actually have cardiac issues?
JH: Did time traveling really give him some kind of heart issue?
L: I think Claire said it puts a strain on your heart each time you went through. So, maybe Buck’s heart was already weak or damaged.
I think we were at pains, no pun intended, to show that the Stones do have some effects. Claire has been one of the lucky ones that hasn’t really had any side effects from it. But we’ll see as we go forward that traveling [through the Stones] isn’t as easy for everyone. And, you know, we’ll get into a little more things as we get into S8.
I think [Outlander author] Diana [Gabaldon] also said at one point, it’s not like an elevator that you can just keep getting in and out. There’s a limit to what you do, and I think that’s one of the reasons why we put this in there to show that, hey. This might be the last time you’re able to go.
M: GEILLIS?!?!?! SO, THIS IS THE TIME SHE CAME BACK TO AFTER SHE LEFT? HOW LONG WAS SHE IN THE 18TH CENTURY EXACTLY BEFORE SHE DIED?
Roger is just surrounded by his family at this point; it’s like a twisted reunion.
JH: WHAT??? SHE’S BACK?!! This season just got a whole lot more interesting!
L: Lookie there! Three relatives from different time periods! I can’t wait for the next episode!
[Roger VO] Oh, Christ.
Episode Rating (1-5 Shots)
We give this episode 4-shots. Overall, this was a fantastic way to end Droughtlander – most of the faces were familiar, but there were still some huge surprises! The episode brought was close to the book. It had a lot of heart-wrenching moments – the reunions and goodbyes were really well done.
The Unfinished Business was taken care of from Laoghaire to Jenny and Claire. This episode set us up for the rest of the season, which we think is going to rip our hearts out!
Favorite scene(s)
We had two favorite scenes in this episode. The first one was the final goodbyes with Old Ian and Young Ian. It was so real! Seeing your parent for what you believe is the final time is something a lot of people can relate to. The second one was the surprise at the very end – the return of Geillis!! When they knocked on the herbalist’s door and Geillis opened it, we actually gasped aloud.
Directing
We thought this episode was well directed. There was so much to cover in this episode, but it did not feel rushed. There were lots of goodbyes and we think we got the closure we needed. The outdoor scenes were beautiful. It flowed smoothly, and they left no stone unturned.
Standout Acting / Performances
We have three standout performances/scenes for this episode. First, it is the Ians! We loved seeing their father-son bond still remained strong after being apart for years. Second, Kristin’s performance of Jenny was great. She had such a huge range of emotions to portray, and she nailed all of it. Last, it was the looks on Michael, Ian and Jenny’s faces as Claire told them her secret. You could actually read exactly what they were each thinking.
Favorite Costume(s)
By unanimous decision, the favorite costume this episode goes to Old Ian and his kilt. That really made us well up. It was so nice to see him all dressed up in his plaid. It is amazing he was able to hide it through all the raids over the years.
Cinematography
The cinematography is always on point with Outlander. They have been shooting the show as America for so long, we loved seeing Scotland again. It was great using the lighting of the candlelight when they were inside Lallybroch.
And the camera angles were great. We think a lot of shows today can get boring with one close-up on an actor after another. But they used a lot of wide-angle shots and even some aerial shots that helped move the story forward.
LOOKING FORWARD
What are you looking forward to in S7 Epi10 – Brotherly Love
Margot: Looking forward to the insanity that will happen because Jamie and Claire are separated again. What’s going to make Jamie decide he has to go back to the colonies? What’s going to happen when Old Ian dies? How are they even going to know where to meet each other back in America? What is this bad news that Lord John has to tell Claire? It’s just getting started. Follow Margot on Instagram: @Margotmaker.
Jess H: This episode has put so many different plot lines in motion. I can’t wait to see where the showrunners will go with them! And I’m definitely sad that Jamie and Claire are separated again. Hopefully, it won’t be for too long this time. It looks like there’s going to be four different perspectives they’ll be filming from (Jamie, Roger, Brianna, and Claire) so it’s going to be a lot to keep up with! Follow Jess H. on Twitter – @calypsomoon9
Lorinda: I’m looking forward to seeing where Jemmy actually is. How Claire gets back to Philadelphia and if she will be able to save Lord John’s nephew. I can’t wait to see how close to the book Epi10 reflects. Follow Lorinda on Bluesky: @rinrin65.bsky.social or on Twitter: @rindalovesbruce and @cockrellcoach.
Outlander S7 – Epi10 – Brotherly Love ~ Video via STARZ
Synopsis:
Claire and Ian arrive in Philadelphia to help the ailing Henry Grey. Roger and Buck receive an unexpected clue in their search for Jemmy.
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