Blacklanderz®Convos!
Outlander S8 Epi2 – Prophecies
Written by Barbara Stepansky | Directed by Caitríona Balfe
This conversation is between Blacklanderz® Amanda, Olivia and Lorinda. Arranged, edited, and interrupted by Vida.
A: I screamed when I saw “Directed by Caitríona Balfe”! I’ve been waiting for years now for this to happen.
L: I’m also happy for her. What stood out about the title cards was how they combined the old with the new, and the song went back to the one the series began with. Also, with my rewatch, I noticed the black bear, ugh. I forgot to mention the beehive; it brings book nine, Go Tell the Bees That I’m Gone. They did a great job!
O: I wasn’t surprised by Caitríona being director of the episode since Outlander Starz had posted behind the scenes photos of her directing the episode on Instagram. Caitríona has really used her time on Outlander to learn the ins and outs of the craft of acting/directing. I’m with you, Lorinda, about the bear. On my rewatch, the title card including it took on significance. It looked so docile there, though.
It’s such a buzz. Honestly, when I was directing that episode, it kind of felt like season one again. My brain was just firing on all cylinders.
A: I love it when Claire can explain tough medical concepts in terms that someone from the 18th century can understand. Fanny would only know what others told her. BTW for the record: I have not read Go Tell The Bees so, at this point, I have no context for these plots other than what’s in the episodes.
L: Fanny caught on to what Claire was telling her very quickly. Her ability to connect to the functions of the body is quite like her grandmother’s. When she said your stomach is filled with snot, I burst out laughing. I’d never thought of it that way, but that’s the way children think.
O: That snot line was good, Lorinda. I never thought of it that way.
A: I suspect Fanny saw or overheard other women discussing birth control and abortions, but Mrs. Abbott didn’t want her to know too much about what went on.
L: Fanny knows a lot about a woman’s body. And yes, Amanda, living in the brothel, she has picked up on a lot of things that most young girls wouldn’t know about. Can you imagine your entire family being gone? She had Jane, and now she has no one, poor Fanny. Luckily, she has a family who loves her.
O: When Frances brings up the slipperiness between women’s legs, that’s let you know she’s seen some stuff in the brothel, of course. I thought her knowledge of that was kind of sad.
L: Mrs. Abbot called it “dark Arts.” It’s amazing what people don’t understand. They call it evil. She called Jane strange because she wasn’t an airhead and wanted to learn new things. I’m so sorry Fanny had to experience this. The soldiers were perverts and weirdos.
A: I also feel sorry for Fanny. In this era, women, regardless of class, couldn’t access higher levels of formal schooling so they were especially susceptible to misinformation or superstition disguised as knowledge.
O: It’s not only people in the olden days who declared anything they didn’t understand as evil. I was reading in the NYT today how people still won’t get their babies/children vaccinated and won’t trust pediatricians, but will trust some yahoos on social media who can take people down some pretty dark paths.
A: The viewers didn’t see all that Fanny went through, but we can imagine based on prior seasons and the books. Keeping all that inside may be detrimental in the long term. I’m glad Fanny can trust Claire.
O: Claire needed to warn Fanny about being careful not to let the wrong people know she grew up in a brothel. You know most of those Ridge folk would ostracize her, and some boys/menfolk would try to take advantage.
L: Claire doesn’t want her to be ostracized. Her firsthand experience knows the danger it brings about, and she wants to protect her, just as Jane did.
L: Can you imagine how hard it must be not to tell Fanny that she’s their granddaughter? All the while she’s talking to her, Claire knows this is her granddaughter.
O: I gotta tell y’all, that Faith storyline is causing me to give an eyeroll, since I’ve read all the books. I know we’re in fantasy land, so I’m trying to go with the flow. But…
A: Olivia, I’m glad I’m not the only one confused by the Faith storyline. At first I thought I missed or forgot book details but now I’m not so sure.
[V: Amanda, that’s because this storyline (Faith) isn’t in the book. That’s why Olivia is rolling her eyes at it.]
L: First of all, when I saw them sawing that thick trunk, I started sweating and breathing heavy. That’s some hard work! Jamie didn’t care that Buck was his cousin. Roger and Jamie come from different times.
A: I’m thinking about how Jamie would have reacted to the hanging incident.
O: Roger is really leaning into his faith and having compassion for the man whose actions caused him to be hanged! But as we saw in previous season, Buck was really a good man.
L: Jamie has his own demons to carry, and I can understand his reluctance to forgive. But in his time, once a foe always a foe, no matter if they are kin or not. It was good of Roger to forgive him. Buck did help him look for Jem.
O: Yes he did, Lorinda.
A: Buck definitely could have abandoned Jem or worse. But he knew that the world wasn’t safe for a kid.
A: Jamie doesn’t know if these men (Benjamin Cleveland and Issac Shelby) end up with a similar reputation to George Washington.
L: Let me tell you something. I love history, and when Jamie mentioned these names, I wanted to go look them up, and I will right after I finish this section. I need to know more about this battle. I understand him wanting to know who he would go into battle with. I did the research, and I’ve got some easter eggs, but mum’s the word for now.
O: Ooh, I want to know more, Lorinda. It must be a hard thing for Jamie to deal with Frank’s book saying Jamie will die in that battle. But I don’t trust Frank. Jamie is his rival, who impregnated Claire, for heaven’s sake! You know that’s got to sting.
A: Trust, and building it, is a really big thing for Jamie. Can he trust these new men? Can he trust that the soldiers in his command are experienced and won’t make mistakes? Who could be a spy for the British? These are big questions that are worrying.
L: Amanda, it’s very important to know who you will be fighting with. During war, there are spies everywhere, and those who are evil at heart, too.
O: Good points, Amanda.
A: The viewers knows Frank would not lie about historical records and that the book went through editing or academic peer review. However, Jamie knows Frank could still be jealous of Claire’s feelings and her relationship with him. There’s always going to be a bit of doubt there.
L: Frank is factual, but why would he lie in a historical book that Jamie would never read? Then again, he had to know that Claire would go back and that Bree would too. Yeah, Frank will always be a bit suspect to me.
O:I agree ladies. And considering Frank undoubtedly harbored a grudge against Jamie, I’m not so sure he wouldn’t lie about Jamie’s fate. Who could contradict him, even in a peer review?
A: Being forewarned is forearmed, as the saying goes.
L: Yes, but Jamie must read the entire book first, since it’s based on his life.
O: Maybe he doesn’t want Roger to know what it says about Jamie’s fate. I know Jamie has told Claire, but I’m not sure he’s told Roger. And I’m certain he hasn’t told Bree. Remember when she said she couldn’t read it because it was like losing her father (Frank) all over again?
L: Level and square, that’s mason talk. Jamie is researching Cunningham; he needs to know who he really is.
A: I’m sure he’s going to ask other people if they’ve ever met Cunningham.
O: So, they’re all Freemasons. But Jamie is still skeptical, which I think is a good thing.
A: Jamie feels a little more at ease with a fellow Freemason.
L: Yes, he does. I think he feels a kinship with Cunningham. They both left the war because of their loved ones who were harmed or killed in battle.
O: I don’t think they have a kinship yet. Yes, Jamie seems pleased Cunningham’s a Freemason, but is Cunningham really “on the level.” I don’t think we can say that yet.
A: I wanted Mercy to come back, and I’m glad we’re following her story.
L: I am too, and to show that the people who are a part of the festivities are actually happy for them. John didn’t show up? Um-huh, he just lost a brownie part with me. William and Denny know the importance of family and acceptance, even if society wouldn’t accept them.
O: I’m glad to see Mercy as well. Can you imagine back then bucking the conventions against interracial marriage, at time when many Blacks were enslaved? I’m disappointed that Lord John didn’t show up as well, Lorinda.
A: Are the absent Greys opposed to interracial marriage or opposed to Henry marrying outside his class?
L: Amanda, I’m sure it’s both! As I said, Lord John Gray just lost a brownie point with me. The laws they came up with were, in fact, barbaric and idiotic. Lord John should understand the acceptance of differences in people.
O: I agree, Lorinda. In a prior season, LJG talked to Henry about how this will not be accepted by their social circle. But since LJG is gay, and how that was unacceptable in that time, you’d think he’d have shown up for the couple’s wedding. Mercy’s speech about hope was beautiful, hoping people would “open their hearts to us,” was moving.
A: This was a good way to remind the viewers that this isn’t Bridgerton. However, the Quakers believed all were equal before God. I didn’t do any research to see if the law was indeed overturned or remained on the books until Loving vs. Virginia overturned interracial marriage bans nationwide.
L: When I heard it, I was unaware that the bill was introduced during that time. I was going to look it up. If it were illegal, how would they survive in Philadelphia?
O: I don’t know about the history of it. But in Philadelphia, with the Quaker influence, it might be tolerated–maybe. But I don’t know.
[V: I think the writers needed an obstacle to heighten the stakes for Mercy and Henry’s storyline. Pennsylvania never had an anti‑miscegenation law to repeal, though it was discouraged. So there could not have been a bill to “lift” one. Note: In 1779, the Assembly’s work was dominated by wartime finance and the lead‑up to the 1780 Gradual Abolition Act, which dealt with slavery, not marriage. It was the first extensive abolition legislation in the United States.]
A: William has been a mess lately but I’m glad he’s doing the right thing and showing up for Henry.
L: I am too. I believe he now thinks of who he really is. And maybe, just maybe, he has become a little kinder at heart.
O: William earns his goodwill stripes here.
L: His toast was great and well received. He almost pulled it off, but his look after the toast tells a different story, and Henry knows something is off about William.
A: William is still hiding his grief and his issues from last season.
O: It was very gracious of him, as was his toast.
A: William couldn’t hide his grief completely.
L: He almost pulled it off. Instead of cousins, they are more like brothers. When you grow up with someone, you know their looks. On his wedding day, Henry is concerned about the well-being of his cousin. He has a kind heart.
O: It was perceptive of Henry to note something was amiss with William.
L: Henry should have let it be. William was right, this isn’t the news you want to hear on your wedding day!
Now it’s going to mess up their first time knocking the boots. Henry, you just should have let it go!
O: Ha, mess up their boot-knocking! Good one, Lorinda. But it was a heavy emotional scene.
A: I suspect Henry wouldn’t have been able to let go of asking William about how he was feeling.
L: It’s something about women getting together and talking. They are getting the opportunity to build relationships, and blueberries are delicious, too.
A: These women are not only friends, but they also rely on each other to survive.
O: The women confabs are great. Nothing like talking with the girls to learn about life stuff!
L: As they talk about being a Quaker, it’s amazing how we think people who look alike or are in the same community are exactly alike.
A: Definitely, and it’s too common to develop stereotypes only from interacting with one person or a small group of people.
O: There’s nothing like talking with people to learn about a culture/religion different from your own.
A: Ian and Rachel are a great example of opposites attracting.
L: It just goes to show you that we really don’t choose who we fall in love with. It just happens.
O: Life can certainly surprise.
L: Yes, he does. I’m glad Amy was able to find a good man who loved her.
A: Agreed, it’s hard to move on and start again.
O: Me too, Lorinda.
A: Isn’t there a reality show about women suddenly giving birth?
O: I believe so, Amanda. Can’t say I watched it, though. Lizzie is hilarious! With her two husbands.
L: It must have been nice having a baby that easy. Lizzie is funny; she living her best life!
[V: I thought it was hialrious how she says her son just popped out.]
A: I’m glad Bree delivered the reality check.
L: Me too, because Lizzy had about four or five, by this time. I’m keeping my eye on Amy, my Spidey senses tell me something’s up. Are there fire ants in the North Carolina Mountains?
O: Yes, kudos on the reality check.
I had all the women foraging and talking. It was a beautiful moment of great female energy and sisterhood.
Then something very bad happens. There’s always loss and grief. One is like nothing Claire’s ever experienced.
A: OMG where did the bear come from???!?!
L: Awe shoot! I forgot about this part! He’s mad they’re in his blueberry patch. Shoot, shoot, shoot, did Bree shoot the bear?
O: I was surprised Amy was in the bear’s sights.
A: Hurry up!!!
L: Right! But they have to find them first!
O: Apparently, the women weren’t far from the Frasers’ settlement.
A: I’m so scared for her!
L: I am too! She was just saying how happy she was. Please let her be ok.
O: This is ominous.
A: Doctor Claire to the rescue!
L: Thank God that Ian and the other men built the surgery! I really hope Claire can help Amy.
O: This is bad.
A: Fanny won’t forget this for a long time.
L: Yes, this has got to be horrible for her. I turned my face away from the screen I didn’t want to see it at all I can’t stand blood and gore.
O: You know it’s bad when Claire tells Fanny to step outside. That facial wound was devastating.
A: That poor baby.
O: Man. To see your mother injured like that and having to be carried in – you know the boy is terrified.
L: This was a bad situation, in those times there wasn’t much they could do
A: Amy is definitely worse off than we thought.
O: That bear really did a number on her.
L: Yes, it did, poor Amy, poor Adian, and Evan. She didn’t have time to turn away.
A: Plastic surgery was definitely not invented yet.
O: Nope. And even in this day, I don’t think a plastic surgeon could make Amy look normal again.
L: I’m really at a loss for words. There’s no hope for Amy.
A: Amy must be in so much pain!
O: Oh goodness!
L: Claire is comforting her just as she did the man who died from the boar wound in S1. All she can do is comfort her. I’m crying…
A: I’m so nervous for Amy!
O: This is looking grimmer by the minute.
L: No, it’s not good at all. This is so sad. Life in the woods is so dangerous.
A: Oh no, the bites were really deep.
O: Oh boy. It’s looking like she isn’t going to make it.
A: These kids are going to be traumatized.
O: Yes they are.
L: They will be traumatized, but they get the opportunity to tell her goodbye.
O: But I think Evan was right to let the boys see their mom. Kids in those days knew death could be close at hand, and they weren’t shielded from it.
L: Bree knows the trauma they’re going to experience and the nightmares too. Olivia you’re right, it brings closure.
A: Bree is frozen she can’t help but think of how sudden the attack was.
O: When I saw Bree bring up her rifle and heard the shot, I thought she had hit it. But I guess she missed it.
L: She’s in shock. Can you imagine seeing that take place directly in front of you?
A: Amy’s in so much pain, but her family is there.
O: What can one say at a moment like this, watching a family grieve.
L: Also knowing that there is nothing you can do to ease her pain or theirs.
A: I’m so sad for him!
O: This scene reminds me of one on The Pitt. Where a mother is dying of cancer, and she’s only got minutes left to live, and her husband and kids come in, and her youngest son hugs her, saying I don’t want you to go.
L: Did they tell Evan it was bad? To walk into that room and woman you love in distress and ravaged so badly. Amy is holding on for dear life.
A: Claire doesn’t have the equipment or the medicine to help her.
O: The Ridge folk expect Claire to do miracles. But she can’t this time.
L: They do, Olivia, and when she can’t help them, some believe she’s lying to them. She’s a healer, but she’s not a miracle worker. I know Claire feels bad about it.
A: Claire knows her limits.
O: Claire is powerless.
L: She’s holding back her own tears, oh what a sorrowful moment.
A: We’re all crying.
O: What a heart-wrenching goodbye.
L: My eyes are sweating. They all got to tell them they love her. My heart aches for them.
Pray for her.
A: Preacher Roger is back!
O: Yes, that’s a good touch. You need the Balm of Gilead after such a loss, for sure.
L: Yes, he is. Her husband is sending her to God with the comfort of prayer.
Pray-pray now.
Pray now before she goes.
God, be merciful unto us.
Hold her in the palm of Thy hand.
A: Roger knew exactly what to say to bring comfort.
Keep her always in the hearts
of her children,
O: Roger’s prayer brought tears to my eyes. Yes, he is needed on the Ridge.
L: As I listened to his prayer, Olivia, he said what the scripture says, and it was beautiful.
For the Lord says, come to me,
all who labor and are heavy laden,
and I will give you rest.
A: This is too much stress for Rachel.
O: It’s a wonder she didn’t give birth right then.
L: She says Oggie is well, but she is not. That stress could have sent her into labor.
A: The definition of a freak accident.
O: That bear come out of the blue.
L: It was so fast and devastating. The scene was so realistic that you felt every emotion within the scenes.
O: There’s nothing more to be done.
L: All they can do is mourn.
A: Jail fever, aka he crammed too many people in, and didn’t bother cleaning and removing vermin from the cells. Pure neglect and dereliction of duty of care.
O: That British captain seems like he can’t be bothered over one of his dead soldiers.
L: They don’t care about the dead.
A: I’m glad William isn’t giving up. The family should have closure.
O: But William is persistent. Atta-boy!
L: Yes, he is. They’re not going to give him the brush off.
A: William wants to get closure no matter what these men say.
O: Yep.
L: You’re not going to get rid of him that easily. Lord Ellesmere isn’t having any of that.
A: Did the bear dodge the bullet??
O: With the way they cut away from the scene when Bree picked up her rifle, we are left to wonder what happened.
L: I thought I heard a gunshot.
A: Bree wants to find the bear and shoot it again.
O: Yes she does. They all want revenge.
L: Hunting is a comfort to her, and revenge will be just fine for her also. Just like her mama, she doesn’t do what is expected of women at that time.
A: This is definitely unexpected.
O: Mrs. Cunningham’s entry is a surprise. And comes in with Amy’s shroud, no less. Wow!
L: She’s a no-nonsense woman and says what she’s thinking. I think I like her.
Mr. Lindsay told me where
to find his wife’s shroud.
A: I was not expecting that bit of black humor.
O: That’s a good line from Mrs. C.
L: That was a good line from Mrs. C. I’m surprised Claire doesn’t have a shroud made yet; she’s been around those women for a while now, but I guess she doesn’t think as they do.
Well, that’s very thoughtful of you.
She already had one made?
Do you not, Mrs. Fraser?
No. Perhaps, I should.
Do you?
Well, of course.
At my age, I often think
I should sleep in it.
A: Jamie may not trust her son, but Mrs. Cunningham is making strides to bridge that gap.
O: Mrs. C goes from the Wicked Witch of the West, to someone with a compassionate soul lurking underneath all that vinegar.
L: Girl, she doesn’t waste any time at all. I told you I think I like her. Last week not so much but this week I do. Claire is in complete and utter shock. Did you see the look on her face?
A: Count your days, Mr. Bear.
O: Understood.
L: That bear should have run the other way, his time is up now.
A: Jamie knows that Evan and Aidan don’t want to feel helpless.
O: He’s preparing that boy not only for the kill, but I think helping the boy process his grief.
L: I think if he helps to kill the bear, it will give him a space of reprieve and justification.
A: Jamie wants to stop this bear for good.
O: Well, Jamie is giving Aiden precise instructions.
L: Isn’t that just like Jamie? He always knows just what to do. That’s why we all love him so much.
A: The Ridge will have bear meat for days.
O: That’s how you get your vengeance. Use every bit of that bear.
L: That bears A-Sugar-Sugar is grass!
A: Aidan wants that bear gone.
O: Yes, Aiden’s ready.
L: He sure is after Jamie gave him the plan to execute.
A: Teaching Aidan to hunt and defend himself is a good idea. Revenge is a bonus.
O: I’m not going to quarrel with Jamie’s reasoning.
L: They didn’t coddle children back then; reality was reality.
A: Giddy up!
O: Let’s go!
L: Let’s go indeed, these people don’t play around. They have nothing but time.
A: Claire understands the salt to clean, but she’s struggling with why.
O: I think Mrs. Cunningham is showing Claire the old ways, which Claire obviously doesn’t know.
Salt to wash away sin and
to stop her ghost from walking.
L: Well, now, I’ve come to respect some of the old ways. The longer I live, the more I understand.
A: Keeping the head covered is a good idea. Those scars are very deep.
O: I think the old woman has a valid point.
L: I do too, Olivia. We have come to be people who are squeamish about things, but back then it was just the way of life. It is what it is, and that’s that.
A: Her eye can’t be stitched up.
O: Point taken. Do the best you can, Claire.
L: As we said earlier, there was no plastic surgery in those days, just do the best you can.
A: She has a point about memory and closure.
O: That’s some wise talk. That woman has lived through a lot, grieved much.
A: Could this be the beginning of another friendship?
O: Mrs. C is sounding reasonable here. Go figure.
L: She’s lived a very hard life, but she’s preserved. She’s buried three husbands and four children, wow! She’s just brutally honest, and sometimes people take that as being mean when they’re just very truthful.
A: Elspeth. That’s a pretty name.
O: Interesting. So, does this mean they’ll end up being chums?
L: I think they may become best friends, do you think Claire sees herself in her?
A: Who’s there?
O: What’s going on?
L: The shooting started before they could get there. What in tarnation is going on? Jamie is ready for whatever it is.
A: Oh no, that was Aidan’s job!
O: Now who is this messing up the bear hunt?
L: I don’t know, but somebody beat them to the punch.
A: There’s no texting on the Ridge. How did he find out??
O: How did Cunningham hear about it so soon? He wasn’t around the Fraser home when they brought Amy in, I don’t think.
L: That’s what I’d like to know. I guess word travels fast around those parts.
[V: Remeber, he was with Jamie and Roger chopping wood. He must have run over with them.]
A: He stole the glory from the Lindsays.
O: Yeah, Cunningham took away the opportunity for the Lindsays to get their revenge, from Jamie’s viewpoint.
L: Maybe he was trying to be helpful; he’s not Scottish, so he thought he was helping them out, or did he just want the bear parts for the outpost?
A: Bree wanted to get another shot in, it’s understandable.
O: I wonder if Cunningham is setting the stage for being a counterpoint to Jamie, another Alpha male in the pack to rival the Big Man, aka Jamie.
L: I can understand his rush, but yeah, he and Jamie are a lot alike. They are both Alpha males, and usually there’s only one in the pack. Let’s see how this relationship goes.
A: How convenient that he can one up Jamie.
O: Seems like Cunningham is puffing out his chest a lot,
L: Olivia, did you see the look he gave him? He smiled at him, but there was something else behind it. Why did he say it wasn’t his time to die yet?
A: Definitely the bare minimum.
O: Man, just a wooden stick with Grey written or etched in it. Not much.
L: They could have at least put his full name and some rocks. War is a rotten thing; people die because men can’t get along with one another. William is really grieving and I understand why. Countries are fighting over something that belongs to neither of them.
A: William wants to step up.
O: Yes, talking to a loved one at graveside. William is showing up big time!
L: He really has. I like the arc of his character. He’s giving Ben an update, of his wife and son, and he calls him brother.
A: Book title drop!
O: Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone. That’s the Easter egg about the book this season is taking pieces from.
L: She’s giving a eulogy to the Bees to remember Amy and to keep her flowers growing.
A: The Ridge will have plenty of honey!
O: When is Jamie going to make a proper hive for these bees? They’re still in the basket.
L: The view is beautiful, and I like the straw hive. But they do need a proper home. Lol.
The bees are going to always be working.
A: Ian looks so nosy.
O: Why is he watching the womenfolk cook? Shouldn’t he be out hunting something?
L: Olivia, he’s not going far from home. He’s waiting on Oggie to arrive.
O: Ah yes, Lorinda. That’s it.
A: I don’t think this smell is helping Rachel.
O: I cook cabbage a lot. It smells some, but not like Ian is making it out to be, though I don’t make sauerkraut.
L: Cabbage is stinky. Thank you for the cabbage nutritional update, Claire.
A: Pickles are a common pregnancy craving, good to know there’s some science behind it.
O: Indeed.
L: I was going to say she could have had some jarred and put away. But they just recently returned to the Ridge.
A: Rachel’s water broke before she was ready.
O: So, I guess this baby won’t pop out like one of Lizzie’s.
L: Ian is afraid of childbirth; his others have ended badly. But Aunty Claire is there.
A: I appreciate Claire’s positive attitude towards the birth.
O: Aww, Wolf’s Brother has a wolf pelt for his baby.
L: The look on Ian’s face. He has fear because of the past and what could happen now. He’s going to be a great dad.
O: Where could the bloody surgeon be?
L: That’s a great question, where could he be?
A: Hopefully, he’s tending to a patient.
A: If Ben seemed healthy, then why did he die?
O: This is getting curiouser and curiouser.
L: William’s eyes took on a look of really, he was doing better but he died overnight? What is really going on?
A: This is a red flag. Did they suspect illness would spread?
O: All right. Something’s strange here.
L: Olivia, something smells rotten in Denmark…..well, this military camp.
A: Who took the toy soldier, General Rolan?
O: Yep. It’s missing, another odd detail.
L: Dun-dun-duhn! Hmmm I wonder?
A: He’s so cute!
O: Of course, he is.
L: I’m so happy for Ian. He finally has his own family. What a joyous occasion, and they needed it right about now.
A: The baby knows his Da.
O: Fanny has an odd look on her face, as she takes in this scene.
L: Well, a baby born in the brothel couldn’t be as joyous as this.
A: He does look like a mix of Ian and Rachel.
O: They got a real baby. Good.
L: Yes, they did and he’s so adorable.
A: Fanny needs to learn what marriage means.
O: That’s a killer line from Fanny. Whew! At least now she sees how it’s supposed to be when a couple welcomes a babe into their arms and life.
L: See that’s what I was thinking. A brothel birth isn’t a welcoming event.
It’s more of an intrusion and there is no real family. I’m glad she got to experience what it should be like.
A: I thought they were saying “Augie” short for August, until now.
O: I kind of like Oggy.
L: Hmm, now we have the name picked before the baby gets here. He’ll be Oggy no matter what Christian name they decide to give him.
A: Marmaduke Murray doesn’t sound good.
O: Marmaduke? Please.
L: Girl, I thought about Marmaduke the dog as soon as he said the name. That’s a no for me.
A: Not keen on Fox Murray.
O: I’m a no on Fox.
L: I’m with Ian and you Olivia, that’s an absolute no too.
A: Not Rollo!
O: Probably.
L: Okay Ian, you’re not in the tribe now.
A: It’s been a long time since Ian has been so happy.
L: It’s amazing what a joy a baby brings when they enter our lives.
O: Yes. It was so good to see.
A: It would have been nice for Old Ian to see his grandson.
O: That callback to Ian’s father, Auld Ian, was a nice touch.
L: It really was. I wish he would have been around longer.
A: It’s sad that Jamie didn’t get to see his children grow.
O: This is poignant–that Jamie never had the chance to raise any of his children from infanthood to adulthood. You can see that’s a big regret.
L: No, he doesn’t. Jamie has been robbed of raising his own children and that’s sad. But he does get to help with the rearing of his grands and Ian’s son.
I was so supported by everybody, but it was also like I’ve always appreciated what amazing actors everybody is. You see it when you’re in a scene with them. But then to be on the other side, I was like the weirdo at this monitor … because you see what they’re doing, and I understand exactly what they’re going for. When they surpass your expectations, it’s just so exciting. There’s a scene that Sam and John Bell had that is just I can’t wait for people to see it, it’s so lovely. It was just such a thrill to watch them.
A: Ian will be a great dad.
O: I have no doubt.
L: He’s had so many great examples before him.
Slàinte mhath ‘lle,
agus beatha fhada shona.
(Good health, and a long and happy life.)
A: Uh oh, more drama.
O: Who is this bugger?
L: I don’t know, but I don’t like him much. He’s rather cocky.
A: I don’t like this man.
O: That man’s disrespect of Claire, since she is a woman, got on my nerves.
L: Did you hear that ominous thunder when he rode off? He’s not a good man.
A: Oh no…
O: Uh-oh.
L: That was one of the names Jamie asked Roger about. He is awful.
Benjamin Cleveland.
A: I don’t like this man.
Your servant,
O: And so what business is it of Cleveland’s?
L: I told you he was cocky. I don’t trust him at all.
General Fraser.
A: Wow, he’s really rude.
O: None of your g-d business!
L: He reminds me of the Browns. I don’t like him one bit. I wanted to punch him through the screen.
O: And…so what?
L: Right, nobody wants to team up with him. Jamie can take care of the Ridge.
A: Did these men get a trial? Were they caught red handed passing messages? I highly doubt it.
O: Oh boy. So this man is judge, jury, and executioner.
L: Yes, he’s evil and judgmental. Get gone, Cleveland, get gone!
Jamie’s concerned; in Frank’s book, he fights alongside [Cleveland and his militia], who are dealing out their own style of justice and law — not Jamie’s.
O: Well, it’s clear Jamie’s going to have to keep a close watch on this man.
L: So that gives him the right to hang people. Jamie is going to keep him on his radar, that’s for sure.
Mr. Cleveland,
I turned down George Washington himself.
What makes you think I would
change my mind for you?
A: You tell him Jamie!
O: I like Jamie’s response here. If Jamie turned down Washington to his face, what does this man think he can do about it? It’s like, try it, buddy.
L: An evil invitation, he said he didn’t want to fight in this war, leave him be! When Jamie has you in his crosshairs, you can bet you’ll be gone without a wink. Do you all remember Mr. Brown?
It’s just a friendly invitation,
one neighbor to another.
A: Uh oh, not a good sign.
O: Okay. So, what’s this mean?
L: Maybe Frank’s warning Jamie, so he’d be there for Claire since he’s gone?
A: Frank clearly saw the historical evidence.
Cleveland.
Wasn’t that one of the names
Frank mentioned?
O: Yeah, it seems clear Frank got the right James Fraser.
Aye.
That was him.
Says he ken the others, too,
wants me to fight with them.
So then you are
the James Fraser in the book.
L: There’s that ominous music playing. I’m not a fan of this storyline. Jamie still has a lot of living to do, in my opinion.
A: It’s too soon to tell what Cunningham is up to.
O: We can’t tell, yet.
L: Cunningham is the catalyst of this season. Is he good or bad? We will have to just watch and see. Cleveland is still evil in my eyes, I’m not sure how the rest of you feel.
A: The plot thickens…
O: Hmm. This is intriguing.
L: It is intriguing. How is this going to play out? Oh, they have locked in now!
A: The Lodge rules will nudge Cunningham to tell the truth.
O: The Lodge meeting seems a good way to suss Cunningham out.
L: It does unless this guy is a great con or playing on both sides of the coin type of person?
A: To be fair, the records left behind would likely focus on the officers.
O: I like Roger’s line. Is it good to be left out, or was it an insult. I say Frank’s mission was just to focus on his romantic rival, Jamie.
L: Me too, what was the name of that battle? I need to do some more research.
[Claire] Does Roger Know?
[Jamie] About the battle? Aye.
Didna tell him that Frank says I die.
[Claire] Good. Because you won’t.
He doesn’t tell anyone right away because he wants to protect his family.
Just because something’s written doesn’t mean that they believe it. For Claire, there are things she refuses to believe are possible.
A: Claire is staying positive, period!
O: Claire is laying that down.
L: I’d be saying the same thing. Claire is not speaking on those negative things. Tthat’s my girl!
He made me promise not to look for you.
A: So much for unbiased historical research.
O: This is why I don’t trust Frank’s historical report.
L: Me either. I don’t trust Frank at all, never have, never will. He told her to forget about him while he was digging around trying to find him.
That was his condition for taking me
back and raising Brianna.
A: Jealousy is easy for an 18th-century man to understand.
All the while, he was searching for you,
found you, kept it from me.
Why?
O: I agree with Jamie’s take here.
If he cared half as much for you as I do,
he’d do whatever he could to keep you wi’ him.
But how could obsessively searching for
you in history keep me with him?
Maybe he wasn’t searching for me, Claire.
Maybe he was searching for you, to see if you’d leave him.
L: This right here, he didn’t want her to leave him, while he was leaving her.
A: I can see it.
O: Now that’s a thought.
L: Things that make you go Hmmmm.
A: No fights allowed!
O: I’m glad there’s no weapons in the Lodge.
L: Crombie is a stickler for the rules, isn’t he, and it’s a good thing right here.
A: This is important since the war is diving everyone.
O: Setting aside political and religious differences is a good idea.
L: So the Lodge is a place of peace among men. I wish we could go back to where your choice is your choice and no one else’s business, but I digress.
A: It seems like Cunningham wants to be the Ridge mayor.
O: I’m telling you, Cunningham wants to be top dog on the Ridge.
L: You think so? He was top dog when Jamie was gone; that outpost has to bring in a great deal of revenue. Hmmm.
A: This story, about his son’s death, definitely evokes sympathy.
O: It’s a moving story, all right. He’s reeling those other men in with it, too.
L: Heck, he reeled me in, too. I don’t know what to think about Cunningham.
O: Okay, so he thinks he won’t die for seven years. He thinks he’s invincible now, then.
L: So that’s why he said he wasn’t going to die anytime soon. You’re right, and he operates without fear of death. Look at Jamie watching the men watching him.
A: There has to be more to this.
O: Yes, that’s a good thing to do. But what aren’t you telling us?
L: How is it he is choosing to do it there on the mount?
O: Jamie makes a good point.
L: I’m with Jamie, too. Why is he on the mount, and what is he called to do?
A man being called by God is one thing.
A man who thinks he canna die, is quite another.
A: William definitely thinks the soldiers are hiding something.
O: What are you expecting to find, William?
L: William is going with his gut; something is most definitely rotten in Denmark and he’s going to find out, but that’s got to be stinky.
A: That’s why the General was so shady.
O: Aha. One piece of the riddle solved. So Ben’s not in the grave (and wasn’t all that ill to start with) so where is he?
L: Yeah, but where is Ben? Has he been taken away, or did he escape, and whose clothes is he wearing?
Thank Christ!
O: I’m telling you, Frank is pulling a number on Jamie from the grave. You can’t trust him. Afterall, he is a descendent of Black Jack Randall.
L: Is Cunningham a time traveler? Yeah, Frank did have a lot of Black Jack in him.
[V: Lorinda, he’s not supposed to be a time traveler.]
[Frank] Seven years from
Saratoga, Cunningham said,
so he has five more years
to live.
He’s not the only one
who knows the day of his death.
A: Jamie wants some comfort.
O: You betcha. The man has a fine-looking torso.
L: Girl, yes, he does! He needs to feel alive to battle those demons Frank has put in his head.
Sassenach.
There are moments in this final season where Jamie needs Claire physically, but he needs her because he needs solace and comfort. And they’re always physical, aren’t they? That’s how they reconnect with each other, certainly in moments of stress or trauma. We always pushed for something deeper to show about their relationship.
Sorry.
I need you.
O: It’s urgent lovemaking on Jamie’s part.
L: Why did my husband say, Jamie still has stamina in his old age! He took me right out of the scene.
A: OMG, nooo. Lol.
I was like, “And their clothes stay on.” [Both laugh.] I was fortunate, I had Barbara Stepansky, the writer and supervising producer of the episode, to talk about the scenes with and say, “Okay, what exactly do you want from the scene?” What’s the visual language that I want? I know what Sam and I bring to it. Then we worked with [intimacy coordinator] Vanessa Coffey, who has worked with us for the last couple of seasons. She brings so much to those scenes, helping us craft them. It’s collaborative. That’s the loveliest thing about it.
A: I don’t like this foreshadowing.
O: I don’t believe it.
L: Me either, maybe it’s an impersonator. Their story cannot end like this. How many times has Jamie come close to death? I need to go and research it.
A: I don’t want Jamie to die in battle. I want him to die of old age.
O: Frank is dispensing poison, just pure poison!
L: I believe he’s instilling fear into Jamie, tormenting him.
[Frank] You’re going to die.
A: This is a good echo of last season’s separation.
O: Now, he’s twisting the knife.
L: I agree with you, Olivia. It cannot end like that. What would be the point of it all?
Who will hold her
once you’re gone?
We give this episode 4‑shots. It still carries the weight of Faith’s confusing family plot line, but it delivers enough emotional highs and narrative intrigue to keep the season’s momentum strong.
The mix of Frank’s “historical record,” the questions around Ben, and Amy’s death gives the hour real texture, and the ending leaves us guessing how the final threads will tie together.
Favorite scene(s)
We have a lot of favorite scenes this week because so many of them hit in different ways. The Ridge women talking and laughing before the bear attack feels easy and warm right up until the danger hits.
Claire working on Amy is tense and heartbreaking, and it pulls you in even when you want to look away.
Roger’s prayer after Amy dies is the moment that stays with us the most. Because it is simple, raw, and deeply moving.
Jamie talking young Aiden, through his fear, adds a tender note, especially when the boy tries to look brave.
Mrs. Cunningham also surprises us. She speaks so plainly about the losses she has lived through, yet there is real compassion under her tough exterior, and her scene with Claire shows it clearly.
Mercy’s wedding speech brings a soft, hopeful lift that balances the heavier moments of the episode.
Directing
We all landed in a similar place on the directing this week, and the consensus is that it works because it feels steady, clear, and very Outlander.
Caitríona Balfe keeps the visual tone of the show intact, and none of the scenes feel rushed or stretched. Everything flows in a way that makes the episode easy to follow, even with so many emotional beats and moving parts.
The transitions are smooth rather than jumpy, and the episode ties its threads together without losing the viewer. Overall, it feels confident and cohesive, and it makes us want to see her direct more.
Standout Acting / Performance(s)
We had a few clear standouts in the acting this episode, and the through‑line is that everyone brought real emotional weight to the material.
Florrie May Wilkinson’s performance as Fanny is especially strong. Even with the ongoing confusion around the Faith storyline, she makes Fanny’s trauma and resilience feel lived‑in, and her facial expressions carry so much of the character’s history.
Sam Heughan also leaves a mark. His performance of Jamie feels fully middle‑aged, grounded, and in command. He plays that authority with a quiet confidence that fits the moment in the story.
Frances Tomelty brings a matter‑of‑fact warmth to Mrs. Cunningham that makes her scenes unexpectedly touching.
Across the board, both Sam and Caitríona deliver the steady, emotionally layered work we expect from them. It really feels like an episode where every actor shows up ready to land their moment.
Favorite Costume(s)
We actually had a few favorite costumes this episode, and they stood out for different reasons.
Rachel’s blue cape comes up more than once because the color and the wool give it such a striking, practical look. Mercy’s wedding dress also works beautifully. Even though white wasn’t common for brides until Queen Victoria, the simplicity fits Quaker tradition and feels right for the character.
Jamie’s leather waistcoat and the leather jacket he wears later in the episode add a rugged, lived‑in texture that suits where he is in life.
The overall costuming feels thoughtful and well matched to each character. Nadine Powell’s work shows in how natural everyone looks, from everyday pieces to the more symbolic ones.
Cinematography
We noticed a lot in the cinematography this episode, especially how it captures both the beauty and the danger of the Ridge.
The wide shots really show off the landscape, and the opening title cards are gorgeous, with the beehive and Claire standing out as especially striking.
The bear attack is also shot in a really engaging way. Seeing it from Amy’s perspective, then Bree’s, and even getting flashes of the bear’s point of view, gives the whole sequence a layered, chaotic feel that pulls you right into the moment. The mix of calm, scenic visuals and sudden intensity makes the episode feel alive.
LOOKING FORWARD
What we are looking forward to in Outlander S8 Epi2 – Prophecies
Lorinda: I’m looking forward to seeing how Jamie and Capt. Cunningham’s relationship goes. What other kind of mayhem does Cleveland start, and how does Jamie deal with the demons in the book Soul of a Rebel, sent by Frank Randall? Follow Lorinda on Bluesky: rinrin65.bsky.social; IG: wmofgod and FB: Lorinda Cockrell.
Olivia: I want to see more about Cunningham and his motivations. And also how Jamie deals with this Cleveland fellow and Frank’s so-called historical research on Jamie’s supposed death. Follow Olivia on Bluesky: newsollie.bsky.social and on IG: oliviajourno19.
Amanda: I want to see Ian and Rachel adjusting to parenthood. I’m also curious to see if Cunningham truly can be trusted or not, and what William does next. Follow Amanda on Bluesky: amandaraeprescott.bsky.social.
Outlander S8 Epi3 – Abies Fraseri ~ Video via STARZ
Synopsis:
A new neighbor relies on the Frasers for help, and Jamie exposes a false ally. William looks into the mysterious circumstances of his cousin’s death.
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