Blacklanderz®Convos!
Outlander S8 Epi8 – In The Forest
Written by Ronald D. Moore | Directed by Tracey Deer
This conversation is between Blacklanderz® Amanda, Ayana (Ay), and Vida. Arranged and edited by Vida.
A: For the record, I am still distraught about Fergus dying. I know it’s probably in “Go Tell the Bees,” which I didn’t read, but still, it’s hard for me to accept. That anecdote about the rain proves there’s so much we didn’t see of Fergus raising his kids.
Ay: The amount of stuff I’m just ignoring this season is growing. Fergus lost is one of them. So we can decide to keep Murtagh alive but the thought of both Fergus and Henri-Christian staying alive is a step too far? I’m so annoyed. This is a beautiful scene though.
V: Just so you know, Amanda, Fergus is still alive in the book. That was a cute story Marsali told about the rain. But I’m with you, Ayana. To kill him off means more additional storyline.
A: Thanks, I now have way more questions than answers. Going back to the scene, I believe taking the money to rebuild is a good idea.
A: Marsali sees how much Fergus and the boys cared about the cause, and that’s keeping her from becoming overwhelmed by her grief. The print shop is a huge piece of Fergus she won’t want to let go of.
Ay: The pen being mightier than the sword, so I get this.
V: I get it too. But is she going back to Savannah to resurrect the print shop and be there alone with the kids? Make it make sense.
A: Marsali has already proven she’s ready for the risk, given how the hate mail didn’t immediately stop her from helping with the press.
Ay: It is such a good trade to know and important work.
V: I’m just worried about her and kids not having family nearby. I get it, but who’s going to do the writing? Her?
A: There’s no doubt Jamie is going to make sure she and the kids are safe. Also, Fergus was likely not aware that the French didn’t want British soldiers in Louisiana and other French territories, so they were backing the rebels.
Ay: I am so glad Jamie is learning this now. I’m sure he knew how Fergus felt about him, but it’s nice to know for sure.
V: I’m glad she told him too.
He never wanted to call anyone
but you his father.
Thinking of himself as your son,
meant everything to him.
Fergus.
Fergus Fraser was my son.
Son of my name, of my heart.
Now…
…then, forevermore.
A: Period.
V: Although that was a nice touch, it was something we already knew. Jamie doesn’t care about legalities, he never has when it came to Fergus.
No piece of paper nor anything
in this world can change that.
A: In their economy and also today, financial security is key to maintaining independence.
V: Her little dismissal of Jamie was so Marsali. And yes, financial stability is a sure way to independence. But in that time, I’m worried about someone taking advantage of her.
A: I had a feeling during last week’s episode that she was pregnant.
V: She and Fergus were like jack rabbits.
A: I’m not sure what the string and the wire mean at the very end. Ron writing this episode tells me we’re going to get a lot of S1/S2 call backs because he was more hands-on in the development process.
Ay: I am already teary eyed. So glad he came back to pen an episode in the final season. I hope this takes me back to season one.
V: I was also glad to see him come back to write an episode. He really understands the DNA of the show, but I’m not sure he can fix it from last week’s episode. We’ll see.
A: I agree with Jamie, I’m not a sauerkraut fan.
V: Me either. But ole boy gave them a good supply of guns, as promised.
Ay: I love sauerkraut myself. But I see how they are happy to be rid of the smell.
A: To be honest those Ferguson rifles sound more expensive than a few barrels of sauerkraut. Bree should have also thrown in twenty pounds of sausage.
Ay: This sounds like our weapons are about to be faster loading and firing. I’m a little upset our time travelers didn’t bring a modern weapon from the future.
V: It does sound like it would be faster.
Ayana, I don’t think, with Rob on her tail, Bree thought about weapons. She was just trying to get away from his ass and back to Roger.
A: Bree is possibly adding “gun engineer” to her list of skills. We love to see it!
Ay: Are we in the gun with magazines part of history yet?
V: They had magazines during that time, but I doubt anybody has any. Frank did equip her with the knowledge she would need in that time. Let’s see if she comes up with anything. That would certainly give them a surprise advantage.
A: Does the Ridge have a smithy??
Ay: If it doesn’t, sounds like they are about to get one Amanda.
V: No, I don’t think they do. Remember when Jamie was scouting for his militia, most of the men didn’t even have a gun. She will become their smithy in due time.
A: Of course Bree does, she’s Jamie’s daughter!
Ay: Roger trying to keep the peace.
V: Roger is but I don’t know why. Jamie already told Buck about the book. I can’t imagine he didn’t tell him Frank was also Bree’s father. But I guess that still wouldn’t cover why she is such a good shot.
But there’s a reason why she
was nicknamed “Deadeye”
practically by the time she could walk.
Frank called you that?
Yes.
A: Aww, Frank!
Ay: Did he ever call her that in this show?
V: No, I don’t recall him calling her that in the show.
A: It makes a lot of sense that the book was his way of helping Brianna.
[Jamie]
“For my Dearest Deadeye.”
It’s Brianna.
Ay: He never asked about the dedication before this?
V: No, Ayana. He and Claire have been too fixated on Jamie’s death and Frank’s motive for writing the book and haven’t questioned anything else.
Dedication is for her.
That was such a sad, but magnificent parting gift that Frank could have given her. He was such a selfishly wonderful father that he was happy to kind of prepare her to go and meet Jamie.
A: The book is truly a labor of love and history.
Ay: I can’t believe they did not think about the Bree of it all. Bree has some interesting skills her father made sure he taught her.
V: Though I’m glad all of this finally came out, like other scenes this season, it was drawn out too long.
He armed her the knowledge
of how to survive in this time.
The book isna for me or you.
V: Now, they finally realize it’s about Bree and not them.
Isna taunt from the
future about my death.
It’s a warning.
He was trying to save you for Bree,
Because he knew that you would–
Continue to protect her.
A: Yes, he will.
Ay: Of course, he would.
V: Claire should have come to this conclusion a long time ago.
Used to pray for him, you know.
For Frank?
Aye.
A: It’s a lovely way to think about it.
Ay: Lovely sentiment.
I’d sent you back to him
so that you and Bree could be safe.
V: It is, but how long do we need to talk about it?
I needed him to protect you,
so I needed God to protect him.
A: This cuts at the core of the story.
Ay: It was meant to be. Frank was preparing for his family to come back and arming them the best he knew how.
V: I do get it and it makes sense. But again, all this speculation now. Can we move it along?
A: Food for thought.
Ay: Jamie told Claire this in S2 when they made their way back to Scotland. She saved lots of people that would have surely died, changing their history.
V: That is true, Ayana. They have changed history, as she said, in small ways.
Ay: I think Claire is going to blue light Jamie. The show didn’t introduce that for nothing.
V: Yeah, either Jamie or someone else. But then again, they have introduced subject matters this season and we still don’t know why they did it.
A: I also suspect Claire may be the last person Jamie sees at the battle. He is the most important person to her.
V: If so, perhaps that will explain how he went to the future in his dreams to see Claire in the window.
A: This is William’s fourth crash out this season.
Ay: We need to tell William all secrets at once. He needs to have one big ass crash out and call it a day. They are giving him information piecemeal.
V: I agree with both of you. My question is why is Amaranthus running around town asking e’rybody about William like he is her man.
A: It’s better you don’t know …
Ay: I was about to ask why she was so nosy but then remembered she has stuff she’s hiding too that William discovered. William’s going through it.
V: It’s none of your business what they had words about.
Again, she is acting like the two of them are already in a relationship and that hasn’t been established. It’s odd to me.
A: You forgot stubborn LJG.
Ay: Pigheaded! Can’t forget that.
V: You can’t tell me she didn’t hear William and LJG arguing. That house isn’t that big.
A: Don’t waste it, Jamie!
Ay: Love the Frank/Black Jack voice overs.
[Frank] You have a few more months
yet to prepare, Fraser.
V: Jamie and his twitching finger. I’m glad Frank included the terrain and all. And, that Jamie is finally having the conversation in his head to be proactive.
Don’t waste it.
A: Definitely a schematic.
Ay: I want Bree to skip so much history and produce an AK-47. This would turn the tide of battle!
V: Ayana, you’re hilarious. That would probably take longer to make than whatever it is she’s making.
A: Hand-to-hand combat is definitely something the men should know.
Ay: I enjoy an Outlander preparing for battle montage.
V: These scenes are excellent, a true masterclass in show, not tell. They land with far more power than any stretch of dialogue could.
A: I hope Claire also has a to-go kit packed.
V: I’m sure she does. But my thought is how will people from the battlefield get to the Ridge? So many questions. Maybe she will have a kit and create a triage, of sorts, closer to battle.
I love Buck. So does everybody else–or they love Diarmaid. Both actor and character are immensely appealing; that’s why he suddenly turned up (out of nowhere) in this season–they couldn’t resist bringing him back, and I think that was a great decision.
A: Very essential skills as we’ve seen in past battles.
Ay: Glad Buck is here and the transition from human Buck to Elk Buck was seamless. I see you Outlander!
V: Where the hell is Ian? He should be back soon and, hopefully, will show them how to use a bow and arrow.
V: Spoke too soon. Man, I am so glad that Ian and Rachel are back. I wondered how long it would take them to get back. Now, I need him to help train Jamie’s militia.
A: Same! They had to travel through active battlefields and behind enemy lines.
Ay: Thank goodness Ian and family made it back in time.
A: She looks like she’s making a bullet or a mechanism for the rifle.
Ay: I guess she is the smithy for real.
V: Yes, she is and working fast.
I can [pour a bullet]! I can also change the rifle over because originally in the scene that showed the passage of time and Brianna doing all the drawings and stuff, we were going to see her properly changing the rifle over. I can get competitive with Sam. Brianna can be competitive with Jamie. Naturally, I had to learn how to do it as quickly as possible so that I could whip him in that scene where we have the shoot off. It’s the final season. I’ve got to get the last win in.
A: Target practice is important.
Ay: Great to get practice with knives and guns.
V: I bet these men have never had this sort of training, which is needed on the Ridge, battle or no battle.
A: Geillis is not someone I’d spend any time with, but I get why Buck wanted to.
Ay: I hope spending time was all he did with Geillis. He was warned beforehand.
V: That was tricky business spending time with her, but he knew she was his mother. So, there’s that. She is a nut job, glad he got away unscathed.
A: Yikes on bikes.
Ay: Seems he took heed to the warning.
V: Can you imagine?
Going back in time to spend time with your parents and your mother is interested in you and your father is jealous. Just crazy!
A: I guess the stones are cheaper than divorce court…
Ay: Did he just abandon his children? That’s a choice.
V: He abandoned them all, but it is probably better for them, as he mentioned. That’s not what happened in the book. Well, this is another theory thrown in there about time travel.
A: Ugh, I thought we got rid of Rob Cameron.
Ay: Doesn’t Buck have a bad heart? How much time traveling did he do?
V: Not this much in the book. He went back to his own time. All of this is the TV version. But it is amazing Rob was the first person he saw. So, at least, we get to hear what happened. I wondered if Jamie told Bree and Roger when he first met Buck, but I guess he didn’t.
A: He definitely wants the Spanish gold.
Ay: Now, I wonder if Rob can travel.
V: Ayana, that’s what I was wondering or was he too stupid to know it’s genetic. We don’t know what all Roger wrote in the book.
A: Buck is not playing around!
Ay: Buck isn’t playing around but apparently the modern day police are? Isn’t there a warrant out for Rob Cameron. How is he able to walk around Scotland free?
V: No, he’s not. Ayana, he must’ve been able to avoid them. How, I don’t know. He seemed to be walking around freely. Look at him cosplaying.
A: It had to be done. He was going to steal the gold and threaten Roger and Jem again.
Ay: Not so free anymore.
V: Rob is delusional if he thinks he can out man Buck.
A: I’m not going to think about how Buck hid that from the constables…
Ay: I wonder if Buck took anything else back with him. I need to see one modern weapon used in the 1700’s. Is this too much to ask? What is the purpose of time traveling? To flex on people!
V: Amanda, he didn’t hide anything.
He left Rob on the floor with the knife still in him, then . . . vanished back in time. It’s not like they will be looking for him.
Ayana, you’ll get one. The one Bree is making.
Aside from his personal appeal, Buck’s filling the ‘Murtagh’ slot in the story–the invaluable person who’s got Jamie’s back and who can be trusted with valuable things, like small children. He can be wherever the Frasers need him to be: gathering information, delivering guns, carrying barrels of sauerkraut, etc. (I don’t recall whether he actually did carry the sauerkraut, but I’m sure he would have, if he was present.)
A: Buck is once again the GOAT!
Ay: Morag and his children? Free and clear.
V: He surely is and they are too.
A: Oooh, I think Bree figured something out.
Ay: I think Bree is finished.
V: Yes, and she seems pleased with herself.
A: We all know that was too easy for Jamie.
Ay: I wondered why we didn’t have shooting in the earlier montage. I guess this is why.
V: Of course it’s easy for him; she’s setting him up.
A: Upping the stakes.
Ay: Reloading is so time consuming.
V: Yeah, I knew she was setting him up. Let’s see what happens.
A: I see you Annie Oakley!
Ay: Not AK-47 fast, but faster than the enemies they will face.
V: That was pretty fast and it will be unexpected. If she can make more, that will surely give them an advantage.
It is wonderful for her to be able to stretch her engineering muscles and actually become the person that she wanted to be, not the one she was trained to be to go back to the past and survive there, but the one that she was born to be. She is also trying to do what she can to protect her family.
-[Roger] Holy Moses!
-What?
A: I love how proud they are of Bree!
Ay: They are super proud of her. Love to see it.
V: Look at Roger beaming.
Jamie too.
A: The Loyalist militias better watch out!
Ay: I’m excited to see this battle now.
V: Me too, but I wonder IF we’ll see the battle.
They’ve added so many storylines, rather than tying up the ones they have, I’m wondering what will be left out.
V: Hmm… how long he’s been riding and where is he going?
Oh, he’s at the Ridge?
A: Fanny really misses William.
Ay: William came a long ass way. He’s big mad at Lord John. I hope he let someone know where he was going. This has to be like a month’s long journey.
V: Well, Fanny has a crush on him, no doubt. And yes, it is a long way away, but these people are traveling at warp speed this season. LJG probably has no idea. But I’m with Claire, why is he there?
A: She wants all the tea!
Ay: I want to know everything too!
V: Half of what’s been going on is not exactly what he would tell her. So, what’s the discussion going to be about?
A: Jamie won’t ever refuse William no matter what.
Ay: William always has a home here, even if he doesn’t always think so. I also love that when he is having issues he runs to family first.
V: OMG, Fanny, let the man catch his breath for a minute.
Beyond surprise, Jamie is doubling over with joy that he is there.
A: Jamie thinks he only wants to talk to Bree.
Ay: Move over dad, he is here to talk with his sister.
V: Well, that was disappointing for Jamie. I do hope some things get resolved between the two of them. This has gone on too long.
With all that has happened, he needs to talk to someone and there aren’t too many people he can talk to.
But I do feel for Jamie in this moment.
A: As the kids say, ‘he was down bad’ for Amaranthus.
Ay: Where are they sitting? Is this the back porch? It’s so large and has a great view. They need a Bar-b-que grill up there. Also, I can see why William is mad, but why would Amaranthus say anything? That’s damaging information if it got out. Just because William can’t keep a secret, spilling his guts about his parentage secret, doesn’t mean Amaranthus has too.
V: I wondered that too, Ayana; it is a nice view. They are on the balcony, probably where Fanny was standing last week; it elevated. He is just wishful thinking. It also makes no sense, if she had fessed up, he would’ve wrapped her in his arms. She still lied to everyone from the beginning.
I’ll definitely be giving Charles advice about women. It was so sweet because when we were filming that scene on the balcony and he’s talking about Amaranthus [Carla Woodcock], we literally between takes were talking about a girl Charles was dating and I was like, “This is so cute. I’m actually just your big sister.” I’ve never been able to be the big sister in my life. It was very sweet.
A: I’m glad William is opening up but he really needs to talk to Jamie and LJG.
Ay: Right here is when you let him know about Fanny. Tell him everything all at once.
V: He also has no idea Bree knows LJG is gay. If only he knew…
A: I think the Ridge will convince William otherwise.
Ay: Wait until he learns he has time travelers in his family.
V: Ayana, that’s what I was thinking. That information would topple him over the edge for sure.
A: I love this scene of the extended Frasier family all together.
Ay: Family dinner. Now I wish Marsali would have stayed longer and been here.
V: I liked that William was able to give Rachel an update on Denny. I guess she’s been pretty busy and hasn’t had time to write him or vice versa.
I wish Marsali and the kids would have stayed too. But more importantly, who cooked the meal? We know Claire can’t cook.
A: Knowing that Denny is okay is definitely going to be a comfort to Rachel.
Ay: If the show would have removed the Faith being alive of it all, we could have had time for the Danny and Dottie storyline.
V: Ayana, I agree.
But that would have changed this whole Amaranthus story, the way they created it, and possibly made another headache for us to watch.
A: A little bit of jealousy there.
Ay: The laugh I let out.
This man took his whole wife and new baby to see his ex-wife and came home with a whole ‘nother child and has the nerve to be jealous. LOL
V: Ah, yes. He knows how much William was into Rachel. If she had felt the same, Ian would be sitting there alone.
A: Claire’s right, this is an opportunity to repair the bond.
Ay: I would gently remind Jamie of the shit he was talking about William a couple episodes ago. He came home when he was mad and upset. That’s huge.
V: That is huge, but he also has nowhere else to go. He’s not going back to LJG and Amaranthus, so the Ridge is his best bet.
A: Yay Roger! He’s been working so hard for this. (Wasn’t he already ordained by this point in the books?)
Ay: I can’t remember all that well. I remember him making this decision the last trip here but don’t remember him becoming ordained.
V: I keep forgetting he is Presbyterian. I grew up Presbyterian on one side of my family, and Baptist on the other.
Yes, Amanda, he was in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. So, this is later than it was in the books. But at least it has arrived now to give closure to his arc.
Congratulations.
So there’s a traveling minister,
the Reverend Edwards,
who’ll be passing through soon.
And he’s agreed to perform
the ordination ceremony
when he comes to Fraser’s Ridge.
So, well, I’d like to invite
you all to come.
A: The more toasts, the merrier!
Ay: A toast is an unneeded pause in the drinking I say.
V: I liked it, but if feels like the calm before the storm.
A: Ian and Rachel look so happy!
Ay: So happy to see they made it back to the Ridge without incident.
V: ‘New beginnings’ with Ian and Rachel, for what? Swiftest of Lizards? I was a little confused by that toast.
A: I really do hope William stays for a while.
Ay: Was it though? I guess it was. They were joyous to see him; his mood wasn’t joyous though. And this is yet another pause to the drinking.
V: You are so crazy, Ayana. I think it was joyous only on Jamie’s behalf. You saw the look William gave. He is so conflicted.
A: The war is looming, but the future looks bright.
Ay: He should have toasted knowing the future!
V: Yeah, and unfortunately, we don’t know what that future will look like.
A: I love how they’ve divided up the chores in the house.
Ay: Free babysitting with trusted family.
V: And it seems like they are all living in the house. How many rooms do they have?
Bree is really beginning to show, and no one has said anything about her being pregnant.
A: That’s very polite to offer to clean up.
Ay: Guest my ass. Pick up a dish cloth William.
V: He has one. Rachel gave him hers, but I doubt he knows what to do with it. He’s probably never cleaned up after dinner. So, what is he going to do to help?
A: Men love to bond over fishing, so this is a good idea.
Ay: William’s face right now is so funny. He is stuck between “Are you for real” and remembering he’s mad at Jamie too. You need to get up too early to be into fishing. Men can have it.
V: So, that’s what was in the title cards – a fishing pole. At least Jamie is trying to bond with him, whether he likes it or not. This can’t be a wasted trip.
A: The best lies begin with the truth honestly.
V: I can’t believe he is saying all of this in front of Bree and Roger.
Guess his anger is in overdrive. Is he ever going to remember the good times they had when he was a kid?
I know he is upset, but how long can this go on?
A: William doesn’t realize it yet, but Jamie did indeed love him like a son.
Thank you for the invitation,
but I cannot go fishing with you.
Brianna is giving me a tour
of the Ridge tomorrow.
Ay: No, he’s not trying to use Bree to wriggle out of spending time with his dad. As an older sister myself, I already know Bree isn’t going for this.
V: Yes, he is and no, she’s not. He doesn’t know her that well. She’s not going to allow him to get out of it like that.
And there’s a rule here on the Ridge
that all overnight guests have to help
catch their supper.
Brianna has always wanted a big family. She’s had a lonely life — spurts of family and then it’s torn away. This is a dream come true. She sees herself in William. He’s literally living out her younger mistakes in front of her. For her to be able to change how it plays out for him is like healing her younger self. The relationship is one of my favorite parts of Season 8. I love working with Charles. I think that shows on screen. We’ve not really had that kind of relationship of siblings on Outlander before.
I’m sure Da will be going at the crack of dawn,
and I won’t be ready to give you the tour until
mid-afternoon, at the earliest.
A: I think they just made that rule up.
Ay: You know they did. Guests don’t have to clean dishes, but have to catch their own dinner? Make it make sense.
V: Rules made on the spot. All are ganging up on him, and he can’t outsmart any of them. He opened that door and with precision, they close it!
Aye. Aye, that’s right.
An ironclad rule here on the Ridge.
V: What made him think Bree and Roger would go along with his BS, last minute use of Bree to get out of spending time with Jamie. Their loyalty is to Jamie not him. Fool.
Thank you, very much
for your help.
– You’re welcome.
– Anytime.
A: Yeah, there was no way that plan was gonna work.
Ay: See, elder sis didn’t go for that at all.
A: William is back to sort of playing the Earl’s role.
Ay: The cinematography on this show still astounds me all these years later. This looks so peaceful, early and cold.
V: It’s a beautiful scene and I didn’t know fishing was a gentleman’s sport. He can’t help but fall back into a role he wants to give up. And Jamie fishing in his kilt was not on my Bingo card.
A: See, fishing stories are the ultimate male bonding.
Ay: Glad William is talking and not being a whiny brat.
V: Jamie’s trying to break down his walls, if only William would allow it.
A: Bragging about fishing. Male boasting at its finest.
Ay: That sounds like cheating in the fishing world.
V: Here we go with the MANO A MANO aspect of who caught the most. Such male boasting at its finest, as you said, Amanda.
A: Jamie had a feeling William would eventually find out about LJG, but he didn’t want to be the one to do it.
Ay: This fishing does seem like it is about to be cathartic.
V: Yes, and William catches himself and decides to go on the attack. Bree gets the Amaranthus drama and Jamie gets the LJG drama. At least William is getting it all of his chest.
I am tired of hearing him call LJG a sodomite and am surprised he so freely told Jamie. What if Jamie didn’t know?
He’d be jeopardizing LJG’s reputation and his damn life. On another note: His hair is really red now.
I like William and Jamie together, too. Though this being show (rather than book), their rapprochement is pretty much instant. In justice, it has to be if that loose end is to be tied up before the show ends, but it works. William’s been through enough by now to have some perspective on things like being a bastard and having two fathers. (I don’t think he’s come to terms with the fact that his other father is gay–I totally didn’t like that they did that in the last episode. But at least it’s not getting in the way at the moment.)
A: Jamie is relieved that he didn’t break LJG’s confidence.
Ay: Lord John is in love with Jamie. Raised Jamie’s son, was engaged to Brianna, and married Claire. Oh, and making out with his stepbrother. Him being gay is not the interesting part.
V: It surely is not, but it is to William. He doesn’t know half of what you mentioned. His head would explode, if he did, especially the part about LJG and Bree. And Bree catching LJG in a worse position than William did.
A: It’s a rude question but blackmail would be a motive in such a situation.
Ay: I will give William that, Lord John was crazy for that. In the middle of the foyer was WILD. That question was low-key rude. Why would it matter either way? He has to understand Lord John loves him as a son. No matter how it came to be.
V: Because he has to make Jamie the bad guy in all things. He can’t fathom there are any other reasons other than the ones he made up in his mind – LJG and Jamie had to be lovers.
A: Jamie knows that William is jumping to the worst conclusion without all of the facts.
Ay: William in a glasshouse and throwing stones.
V: Exactly, but in his mind, he’s done nothing wrong and Jamie is the villain.
A: Jamie’s understanding of LJG’s love life is the best we’re going to get in an era where all the major religions and belief systems would have condemned him. LJG sacrificed a lot to raise William and also maintain his standing in society.
Ay: It does my heart well to hear Jamie say this ‘cause just a few months ago he wasn’t. He was set off just by a letter from John. I’m happy to know that even through his own anger and upset, he knows John is an honorable man.
V: Who would have thought William’s visit would get Jamie to focus back on what their friendship was all about and that LJG is an honorable man. His private life is nobody’s business. And you’re right, Amanda. He has sacrificed everything, including love, for William. Hopefully, William will come to see that.
V: I have had it with William. If I were Jamie, I would have dunked his ass right there, and we would’ve duked it out. Enough with this disrespect.
A: William is so frustrating. But at the same time, the fact he even is asking these questions means he wants to know the truth.
Ay: And we are back to whinny William. We are all sick of his shit. Just tell that man everything so he can have the crash out, to end all crash outs, and we move on. He still doesn’t know his relation to Fanny and Jane. He doesn’t know about time traveling either. Just tell it all.
A: And this is crash out #5. William chill!
Ay: Wait, did Claire just bring up crash out #1 for reflection? I’m genuinely laughing over here.
V: She did. All he knows how to do is run away rather than face whatever is in front of him and get it over with. I’ve lost count on his crash outs.
V: Wait a damn minute, William. Don’t you dare talk to Claire like that. Man, there has to be a turning point soon. I can’t take much more of him. He’d better be careful. Claire is prone to slapping people.
But hasty exists seldom
result in happy reunions.
A: Maybe she should slap him. I was sympathetic, but he lost me with the disrespect.
Is that one of Dr. Franklin’s aphorisms?
You really are a goddamned American
now, aren’t you?
Ay: On a side note. Did William catch any fish? Was he just going to leave them without any dinner?
V: No, he did not, just boasting about what he caught in the past.
A: There he goes again, assuming the worst out of everyone.
Ay: He really thinks he is the center of the world doesn’t he?
V: Yep, it’s all about him, only him!
A: Deep down he wanted to hear the truth from Jamie and Claire knows it.
Ay: He came to a place where he was safe and able to express himself. It was no accident.
V: He is giving me whiplashes. My god, get over yourself. You’re there, get some answers, or let that shit go. Enough already with the back and forth.
A: He’s not going to admit it now that it’s not just about seeing his sister.
Ay: Either one, still family.
V: Of course, he won’t admit it. He reverts to being a little boy every time Jamie comes up and he can’t handle it.
A: Claire’s reality check is the only way to stop him from crashing out again.
Ay: Life is short and you never know when your time’s up. Don’t put important things off.
V: He should know if Claire is speaking this way, the shit is about to hit the fan and he better take heed. I’m glad it seems someone is getting through to him.
A: He does need to stop and think. He will regret not settling things with Jamie before the next battle.
Ay: William has seen actual war now and this gets through to him. I think a few years back, he rode off in a huff. Glad to see William grow.
V: Gawd, finally. Claire knew exactly what to say to make him rethink his next step.
A: Mandy on the horse is so cute!!!
Ay: Jamie, his grandbaby and a horse. Perfect!
V: Will it all come back to him? That was a nice scene with Jamie and Mandy.
A: This flashback is definitely why Ron wrote this episode.
Ay: William’s theme!
V: And there it is, well, part of it. I was hoping for this flashback scene, even though it was playing in my head.
And you’re right about Ron, Amanda. He knows how to ‘show’ and not just ‘tell.’ I wish he’d written more episodes that flowed like this one.
A: William’s hurt deep down is about why Jamie left that day.
Ay: This scene brings tears to my eyes.
V: Mine too, Ayana. I loved that episode and their closeness. I’m just glad all these memories are finally playing out in William’s mind. Now, we know what’s been bottled up for so long.
A: These pamphlets are basically Ye Olde TikTok and TMZ combined.
Ay: Social Media in the olden days. Hopefully, Rachel tells her to ignore the comments.
V: Too funny, Amanda. But why do we have to have these scenes about Jane? I think the showrunners are setting us up for something. Otherwise, why all of the discussions about her. And why is Fanny wandering around and going to the trading post alone? It’s not like it’s around the corner.
A: Rachel’s response is from the Quaker perspective, but it’s clear that Fanny learned a harsher theology and now she’s distraught to think about her sister suffering.
Ay: She referred her to someone more knowledgeable and I appreciate that.
V: I’m wondering how Fanny even knew anything about the Bible. Did they have one in the brothel?
A: Rachel has a point especially as many people back then were actually illiterate and only knew what they heard in sermons. I’m sure Roger will know the right way to comfort Fanny.
Ay: Many people are just as illiterate today. We are still dealing with this two hundred years later.
V: Yes, and with people interpreting what they want to suit their needs. As you said, Ayana, still doing it to this day!
V: What is Amaranthus doing outside, at night, by herself? Where is she coming from? How did she really get that letter that was supposed to be outside? I don’t trust her AT ALL!
Again, with her obsession of William.
A: I’m also a little suspicious of her. But, at the same time, I don’t see her benefiting from reading any correspondence LJG had with anyone else other than William.
Ay: I feel she genuinely cares for and about William.
It’s convenient but I somehow get it. I am still going to side-eye her though.
V: I think all she cares about is gaining a husband and William’s title for her next child.
[Percy] “My dear Lord John,
I have located the whereabouts
of our mutual acquaintance.
Please come to my solicitor’s
office in three days’ time,
and I will have more information.
Your obedient servant,
Percy Beauchamp.”
A: Hmm… the same Richardson who threatened the freedmen? That’s not good.
V: No Amanda, I think that was Ferguson. But a letter coming from Percy feels off.
Ay: I don’t trust Percy AT ALL.
A: These men appear to be taking in what Jamie is saying. Working together is going to be key.
Ay: Using the environment to their advantage. I hope they prepare the battlefield as well since Jamie knows where and when. Lay pools of oil to ignite at advantageous times. The enemy is already expecting lesser weapons.
V: I think Jamie will have something up his sleeve. I am hoping he allows Cleveland to stay on the ground and he positions his men on top or the surrounding area. That will throw them off. But where is Ian? We need some bow and arrow training too.
A: Looks that that’s William. I’m hoping he doesn’t interpret this as Jamie trying to ignore him.
Ay: Claire’s message seems to have hit home.
V: Finally, he’s come to his senses. Hope I’m not speaking too early.
A: Jamie is definitely preparing them with both skills and strategy.
Ay: Smart strategy. Gives nothing away while learning.
V: This is why he is the King of Men. Like I said before, they need this type of training to protect the Ridge in general.
A: The men can’t become skilled professionals overnight but they’re quick to learn.
Ay: British regulars got their asses beat earlier.
V: Now, I’m wondering if William will offer any insight. He fought for the British and should know some of their tactics.
A: I believe a battle simulation should be in the training schedule.
Ay: Isn’t this the worry of all commanders? Will their men stay and fight?
V: I was thinking the same thing, Amanda. Put some smoke out there and see how the men react to it.
A: It’s a fair comment. Whitaker doesn’t know William; at this point, the only person he can trust is Jamie.
Ay: Does Mr. Whitaker just hang out at the edges of forests? Your servant is a strange greeting. You have no idea who these men are, and William’s greeting is “Your servant, sir?” LOL
May I introduce William Ransom.
V: I thought that was a funny scene. Whitaker got jokes. But that smile, hmmm . . .
At your service, sir.
Somehow, I doubt that.
A: Ugh, they left slavery only for the British to try to drag them back.
Ay: If you are just kind, for no reason and just random with it, it will come back to you. The world is only so big. Using fear to get people to join. Where have we heard of that before?
V: And to scare them into submission. The thought makes me sick to my stomach. I am glad Claire saving his wife and babies is paying off in more ways than one.
A: William may also be feeling guilty that soldiers on his side were guilty of threatening the freedmen. He’s also seeing that Jamie is more forward thinking than many others of his time.
Ay: William still thinks his side will be winning the war, so he feels all this is unnecessary.
V: This will also give them the advantage that the Loyalists won’t see coming. Guilty of threatening freemen? They killed some of them just because they refused to fight with them. I also think it is registering to William that many people look up to Jamie and his leadership.
A: I’m sure Jamie’s men and Whitaker’s men can bond over the fact they’re fighting for their families and their homes.
V: I’m sure they will. If Jamie says so, they have no other choice.
Ay: I think Mrs. Whitaker had a hand in this too. They moved their families higher in the mountains, but the men came back down to help fight.
A: William is following Claire’s advice, this is a good sign. Jamie may also sense William wants another chance to talk.
Hunting.
V: You can tell William was nervous because he kept saying in the forest – the episode title, no doubt. I’ve never seen him so flustered, but it was a light-hearted moment.
We should go hunting
in the forest-
obviously, in the forest.
But together, you and I,
Ay: They changed this episode’s title to ‘In the Forest’, this must be the reason why. Also, he didn’t catch any fish and still needed help with dinner.
if-if you have the time and inclination
for hunting in the forest.
I don’t know why I keep saying forest.
Would tomorrow morning suit?
Yes. Excellent.
Tomorrow morning.
V: I know she may still be upset with what the boys said at the post about Jane burning in hell and it all being in the Bible. She can’t possibly think God doesn’t care about His daughters. Look how her life has turned out for the better. She is also young, I get it. But are we moving away from the Faith storyline to now having the Fanny and Jane show? I love Fanny, but she is taking up too much scene time now. SMDH.
A: I’m not sure where the show is going with Fanny and Jane. But I think the larger point here is that she has had limited exposure to religion and what she does know feels oppressive and unwelcoming. She’s not going to see how God helped her in her life because she’s grieving.
Ay: I also love Fanny in both this show and in the books. But this show only has so much time left to tell its stories, and both the Faith and Fanny storylines have taken up so much time.
A: The word Fanny is looking for is misogyny, but no one used that term at the time. Roger has been around Bree and Claire too long to not ignore women.
Ay: She has valid questions. I have asked these myself.
V: I’m still trying to figure out how she knows about religion in the first place. I know there were no Bible study classes in the brothel.
A: This was a good way for Roger to explain the citation.
V: Yes, it was. He is really good at explaining things so she can understand.
Ay: Roger has really found his calling.
A: She’s not ready to ask what she really wants to.
V: Then, why did she even come to see him? These stretched out scenes are killing me.
Ay: I also think his next sermon will be about God’s daughter’s.
A: I’m not sure if William has ever seen anyone pray after a kill. Jamie is going to use every part of the deer for meat, skins, and bones.
V: He probably hasn’t. I’m sure when he hunted, once the kill was made, someone else picked it up while he went on his way.
Ay: William has seen Jamie do this before. Remember he didn’t want to dress the deer he shot. This was during his first visit to the Ridge.
V: Ayana, you’re right. I’d forgotten about that.
It’s nice to see them finally enjoying themselves.
Lord, bless the blood and flesh of this creature
you give to me, your sacrifice of flesh and blood,
life given for life.
[Gaelic] Beatha air a thoirt airson beatha.
All right, lad?
A: Jamie knows William is struggling with his emotions and he’s modeling how to be a better person.
V: He’s trying to get him to spit it out. He’s been holding something for a long time and Jamie can tell. Just glad he finally apologized. Maybe this is the last time he lashes out in anger, only to have to apologize afterwards.
Ay: Oh, he is trying to say he’s sorry. Man, he looked extremely uncomfortable. I thought he was trying to get out of dressing the deer again.
V: In addition to the number of crash outs, we should have also counted the number of times he’s had to apologize for crashing out.
A: William is coming to his senses, but it’s not complete yet.
V: Not at all and I’m ready for him to spill it, all of it!
Ay: Also Jamie got the kill, so William still hasn’t helped with dinner. I don’t think Jamie cares about this really. Just William asking to go hunting said so much.
A: These memories are at the heart of it.
V: Yes, they are. I was beginning to wonder if he even remembered. Now, I have my answer. I’m just as surprised as Jamie hearing him call him ‘Mac the groom.’
Ay: William is trying to not dress that deer. We already knew he remembered this. He looked back when he left the Ridge the first time. He can reminisce as he’s helping.
At Helwater, when I was a boy, I
looked up to you. Mac the groom,
the man who never treated me like a child,
even when he secretly made me a
stinking papist.
A: “Mac” was caring for William as if he was able to love him publicly as his son.
V: Their time together was precious. I see the fog lifting and William is remembering how Jamie treated him with care.
Ay: William was the cutest child.
A: Jamie left such a strong impression.
V: OMG, finally! The truth is coming out and I’m glad he is telling Jamie how much of an impression he left.
Ay: I could have sworn we had this conversation before. Not as an adult though.
You were the one person
in my life I wanted to emulate
when I grew up.
A: William is realizing that Jamie can’t be the villain he’s been thinking he was.
V: No, he’s not. It’s just so nice that he is telling Jamie how he really felt back then. That should ease some of Jamie’s pain and guilt, at least a little.
Ay: This is parallel to Fergus and Marsali’s conversation. Jamie is getting to hear his son say he is a great man.
I worshipped you like a hero,
A: William sees Jamie leaving as a betrayal but not understanding that he couldn’t stay.
V: Yeah, as a child, I completely understand that he didn’t comprehend the reality of the situation. I hope Jamie tells him. They both need to heal from that period of their lives.
as only a young boy truly could.
Ay: Bear McCreary outdoing himself with the music here.
I loved you.
A: Finally, William is getting somewhere.
Then, you left Helwater. Left me.
V: There it is, the crux of his pain of abandonment.
And as you rode away,
you never even looked back.
I am your son. I didn’t know
it then, but you did.
How could you leave me?
Ay: We have arrived at the real issue.
I loved you too.
A: If Jamie could have raised William, he wouldn’t have left. He’s crying for all the lost time they couldn’t bond.
But I had nothing to give you.
No name, no money, no land.
I was a Jacobite. A traitor.
V: I’m crying for both of them. Jamie did the only honorable thing he could by leaving. He’s right, he had nothing to offer him. If Jamie had raised him, his life would have been scrapping for survival, in turmoil. There is no way Jamie was going to allow that!
But I made those choices.
I was prepared to live with the consequences.
Ay: He could not stay at Helwater and raise him. Surely William can see that now that he is older. Lord John has kept his oath to the King and still trusted Jamie and Jamie trusted him. I need William to get that here as well. His fathers really loved and sacrificed for him.
But you?
Much as I wanted to cry out the truth
to all the angels in heaven,
A: You know that old saying about not punishing a son for the sins of his father…
I ken you’d be condemned to a life of pain.
V: Exactly, and he has a moral code that William knows nothing about. But he’s seeing/hearing it now. Finally!
So…
…did what I thought best.
I left.
Ay: He’s old enough to understand this time.
A: Jamie really wishes he could take all of that back, but he can’t.
V: We all know, if Jamie could do it all over again, the results would still be the same. He still had nothing to give. I hope it is now registering with William why LJG took him in as his son. That was the only way Jamie could see him from time to time.
Ay: I’m glad to see William is listening to hear and not to just respond.
And no, I…
dinna dare look back,
lest the sight of your face
shatter my resolve.
I’ve regretted it for years.
A: Finally!!! I’ve been rooting for William and Jamie to reconcile. Now he needs to apologize to LJG and Claire.
And I hope you can forgive me.
Ay: I think it was asking for forgiveness that did it.
V: Wow, that was an incredible scene. So glad William didn’t hold back. And Jamie looking up, seems to signal him thanking God again for the blessing bestowed upon him. Maybe they will get an apology, Amanda, but time is running out for the show. So, don’t hold your breath on that one.
A: Reverend Wakefield at the pulpit.
V: And the whole ’famn damily’ is there.
Ay: William is there. Why am I just noticing that? Now I really wished Marsali would have stayed a bit longer.
V: Damn, Roger can’t even have his moment that he’s been waiting for before Fanny interrupts it, makes it about her, and doesn’t even come in. Why did she even show up? They could’ve cut this scene and went straight to next rather than take away from his moment.
A: I agree, Vida. I would have rather the scene focused on reactions from Jem, Mandy, and Bree.
Ay: She is struggling just like William. Glad to see she did try but just wasn’t moved enough.
V: Have we not had this conversation, somewhat, already. Why are they dragging this out?
She’s talking about a place where her sister is not welcomed, like Jane is still alive. They’re going to have to let this go.
A: I had a feeling Fanny was going to do a circle back. At least Roger is getting immediate practice on dealing with tough theological questions from others.
Ay: Her room is real nice. However, does she think the Frasers would not have welcomed Jane to that church?
A: Snark aside, it’s clear Fanny has had a harsh upbringing and poor exposure to religion.
V: Exposure from where? She doesn’t even speak like a child brought up in a brothel. Did they have school for her there? And her constant snark is beginning to irk me.
Ay: I’m sick of hearing her put this on God. Don’t take the actions of men and put them on God. Like what? God loves all his children, but all his children don’t love him.
A: What Roger said backs up Rachel’s point that not everyone who reads the Bible can fully understand.
V: This is crazy that they are writing her as if she’s read the Bible herself. Isn’t she just going off of what the boys at the post said, or has she read it herself? So many questions.
Ay: Can Fanny read? I agree Vida, she is speaking as if she read it herself.
A: Roger’s explanation is a good one. The people who wrote the pamphlets are clearly biased and pushing their religion on others.
V: Okay, is she Catholic? Anyway, I do like his explanation because it is so true. I wish he could tell present day folk this because they need to know it too.
Ay: Preach Roger!!
A: Roger reading the actual scripture and not just a paraphrase will help Fanny understand.
V: I hope so because I didn’t like her attitude from before. But where are they going with her constant discussion of Jane and if she is in hell or now heaven?
Ay: It does feel like fifteen minutes of this episode has been Fanny and Jane focused. This show better not end on a cliffhanger.
A: Roger is guiding Fanny to her own prayer and meditation.
V: Yes, he is and I’m going to need her to attend Bible study classes once Roger sets them up.
Ay: Does she read? I need her to read for herself. I do appreciate a preacher that leads a person to ask God for themselves.
A: Hahaha a dad joke.
V: That was funny and it was the original title for this episode – A Bit of Time. I wondered what it meant then, now I know.
Ay: That was a good title too, especially since it seemed both William and Fanny needed time.
A: Fanny is starting to take Roger’s advice.
V: Yes, she is.
But I am a bit tired of the storyline. I thought we’d bypassed the Faith story, but now they’ve substituted it with Fanny and Jane. Enough.
V: How is there a large gemstone just sitting out there? Now, that’s too convenient. OMG, does that burn mean what I think it does?
A: Isn’t that the same friction from the standing stones?
V: Yes it is, but where is the portal? Claire’s been there several times and didn’t feel it.
Ay: So she can travel. Will she travel in the next two episodes?
V: Yep, that’s what I thought. She can time travel, but why is this necessary?
A: Where would Fanny go back or forward to?
V: Probably to Jane. She’s the only person she constantly talks about.
Ay: If they have this child time travel to see Jane I am going to scream. Also is the gem itself buzzing or is she near standing stones?
V: If they make her time travel in this season to find Jane or whomever, I am going to scratch my eyes out. Otherwise, why introduce such nonsense at the end of the series. Maybe she’ll show up in Blood of My Blood. Still, it’s nonsense.
A: I didn’t finish Blood of My Blood but introducing such a big plot with only two episodes left isn’t making much sense to me.
Ay: She will be showing up in Blood of my Blood. I’m calling it now. I’m going to just believe the gem was buzzing. Because it’s hard to fathom the six time travelers, currently living there, just missing a portal.
V: Especially Claire who’s been there a few times.
A: LJG clearly suspects something is up.
V: If he did, he wouldn’t have shown up. Yet here he is.
Ay: I just hope he told someone he was coming here. I know Amaranthus saw he received a letter but knew nothing of the sender or contents.
V: Me too. But again, how did she really get that letter?
A: I’m not sure if I trust Percy TBH.
V: Percy is a snake. I’ve never trusted him. Ne-vah!
Ay: Percy is looking really snakish right now.
A: LJG wants a clear head.
V: Well, you remember what happened the last time they drank together.
Ay: Percy seems weird. He’s moving differently. Don’t drink or eat anything.
V: Why are they, once again, talking so openly about Percy finding Richardson with the damn door still open?
A: I hope LJG has a gun or a knife on him just in case.
Ay: They are in their big ass houses and offices talking hella loud. People are always around. Me too Amanda, I hope he’s armed. Also can’t he see Percy is acting weird.
V: Ooh, ooh . . . that’s why the door is still open. Percy you are a snake, a back-stabbing one at that. You’ve been working with Richardson this whole time.
A: Ugh, I had a feeling Richardson was going to show up immediately.
Ay: So we are doing this storyline in two episodes, huh?
V: Oooo . . you just wait til Jamie and William hear about this. They are going to KICK YOUR ASS, Richardson! Oh Lord, what is Amaranthus going to do now? She better not be in on this.
A: Where’s Buck when we need him??
Good to see you.
Ay: In two episodes we will have to somehow have the Frasers/William learn of this and travel between GA and NC. If this show cliffhangs me, I swear… Woosah.
We gave this episode 4.5 shots because the episode delivered real emotional payoff. Jamie and William’s long‑overdue reconciliation finally gave their storyline the weight it deserved, and Marsali’s scene with Jamie added a beautiful layer of closure.
But the Fanny/Jane plot ended up taking more time than the episode could spare. With only two episodes left, introducing a whole new arc pulled focus from Roger’s ordination and the father‑son healing we’ve been waiting seasons for. It was well-acted and true to Fanny’s character, but it still felt like the wrong moment for such a big detour.
Favorite Scene(s)
We had several favorite scenes in this episode. The episode’s emotional power came from its bookends: beginning with Jamie still shattered by the loss of Fergus and ending with him finally reconnecting with his first biological son, William. That bittersweet symmetry grounded everything, and the reconciliation between Jamie and William was the clear standout — raw, overdue, and beautifully acted — finally letting William drop his defenses and Jamie speak the truth he’s carried for decades. Together, Marsali and Jamie at the start and Jamie and William near the end gave the episode its emotional spine, tying grief, legacy, and healing into one of the season’s most resonant hours.
And in the middle of all that emotion, Bree and Roger casually shoving William under the bus, named Jamie, was priceless. They didn’t even pretend to save him, just cheerfully nudged him toward “go fishing with your daddy” emotional growth.
Mr. Whitaker returning with the freedmen to pledge support to Jamie’s militia added another strong moment, especially with the show using them to highlight a part of history that’s too often erased.
Directing
The directing stood out most in the quiet, reflective moments. Close‑ups and long pauses allowed the emotional weight to settle, especially during Jamie and William’s reconciliation.
The montage showing everyone on the Ridge preparing for the upcoming battle added a strong sense of purpose and community. It moved through Jamie strategically training in the woods, practicing knife throwing, and drilling his men to hold the line, while Claire and Fanny prepared her surgery, Bree designed and built the rifle, and Buck trained the militia in hand‑to‑hand combat.
These scenes were intercut with wide shots of the woods, the river, and the animals moving through the landscape, grounding the episode in the world they are fighting to protect.
It was a visually thoughtful hour, even if the slower pacing stood out more without the action that usually drives the show. Some scenes lingered longer than necessary, but the way the director framed grief, preparation, and the rebuilding of relationships was undeniably effective.
Writing
Ronald D. Moore’s writing brought a noticeable shift in how the episode conveyed emotion and information. As the original developer returning to script one of the final chapters of the series, he leaned into a style that trusted the audience to observe rather than be told what to think or feel.
Although some scenes seemed to drag, Moore avoided long conversations or explicit explanations and instead let the story unfold through visual cues, quiet pauses, and shorter dialogue.
His use of flashbacks was especially effective. The moments of William as a child with Jamie as the groom were woven in so seamlessly that we slipped into those memories with him, sharing the emotional clarity they brought without interrupting the present‑day narrative.
The brief flashback revealing what happened when Buck returned to 1980 to deal with Rob Cameron was handled with the same restraint, quick, sharp, and purposeful, giving us just enough to understand the emotional and narrative impact without lingering on exposition. This was a clear contrast to last week’s more dialogue‑heavy episode.
His script stepped back and allowed the directing, performances, and environment to carry the emotional weight. It felt like a return to the show’s early storytelling DNA, where subtext and atmosphere did the heavy lifting and the writing invited viewers to lean in and feel what was happening beneath the surface.
Standout Acting / Performance(s)
This episode delivered some of the strongest performances of the season, with Lauren Lyle and Charles Vandervaart standing out across the board.
Lauren brought remarkable depth to Marsali, shifting effortlessly from happiness to heartbreak to a quiet resolve to move forward despite her grief. Her work this week, building on last week’s emotional intensity, made Marsali’s journey feel layered and lived‑in.
Charles continued to elevate William in ways that completely won us over, especially since William can be a difficult character to connect with in the books. He captured William’s pride, confusion, and vulnerability with a subtlety that made his emotional shifts feel authentic.
Sam Heughan also delivered a grounded, restrained performance, especially in the quieter scenes that relied more on presence than dialogue, particularly in the moments shared with William where so much was conveyed without a single word.
Favorite Costume(s)
The costumes this week offered a mix of charm, nostalgia, and classic Outlander flair. Mandy’s riding outfit was an instant favorite, giving her a look that was both adorable and perfectly suited to the moment.
Claire’s blue blouse and skirt stood out as well, carrying a quiet elegance that echoed her S1 wardrobe and added emotional resonance to her scene with William.
And of course, Jamie fishing in his kilt delivered that timeless Highlander energy the show has always done so well.
Cinematography
The cinematography this week was especially thoughtful, using perspective and natural imagery to deepen the emotional tone of the episode. The early sequence with Jamie and Bree practicing with the apples was a standout, cutting between Jamie’s steady aim, the tight focus on the apple, and the clean burst of impact. The framing made the moment feel both playful and precise.
The landscape shots were stunning throughout, grounding the episode in its environment and giving the quieter moments room to breathe. The view off the patio during William and Bree’s conversation was beautifully framed, adding warmth and openness to a scene that needed it.
The shot of Jamie and William fishing was equally striking, capturing the calm of the water and the quiet tension between them. The wide framing emphasized the distance—emotional and physical.
The hunting sequence later in the episode was one of the most visually layered moments. It began from the deer’s point of view, watching Jamie settle into position while William observed him, then shifted between William’s perspective and Jamie’s as they focused on the animal. The alternating angles created a subtle tension and let us experience their bonding moment.
The close‑ups on Jamie’s face as William spoke about his childhood were another strong choice, capturing every flicker of emotion with a restraint that made the moment feel intimate and unguarded.
The transitions through nature added a reflective texture, especially the moment with Fanny at Jane’s cairn, where the soft buzzing sound and the close framing of her hand holding the stone created an almost tactile sense of connection.
LOOKING FORWARD
What we are looking forward to in S8 Epi9 – Pharos.
Amanda: This Droughtlander seems like a move to build suspense on Richardson and the battle but I would have preferred to rip the band aid off. I want to know what happens in the battle and that’s what I’m looking forward to. Follow Amanda on Bluesky: amandaraeprescott.bsky.social.
Ayana: I am learning of the hiatus right now. One thing Starz has no issue with is having Outlander fans wait extra-long for stuff. Why stop for the last two episodes of the show? I am hoping they rescue Lord John post haste. He has done so much for the Frasers you can’t just leave him. Follow Ayana on X – @Ayana80Smith and IG -@Ayana80Smith.
Initially, I was annoyed about the Droughtlander. As you said, Ayana, they’re forever making us wait for no good reason — just rude. But now that I’ve seen the promo, I am looking forward to what’s coming. Jamie and William together again has me genuinely excited, and I want to see whether they manage to rescue LJG. I also really want to know who Claire is pointing that gun at, because that moment was intense. I didn’t see any clips of the battle. Will it happen? Last, I’m ready to see whether this whole Amaranthus mess finally gets sorted out. Follow Vida on X – @blacklanderz; Bluesky – @blacklanderz.bsky.social; FB – @Blacklanderz; IG – @blacklanderz.
Outlander S8 EpiEpi9 – Pharos ~ Video via STARZ
Synopsis:
Political threats come to a head when an old friend of Claire and Jamie’s goes missing.
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