Outlander season 7, episode 10 recap: Lord John Grey has bad news

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As a long-time fan of the Outlander series, I must say this week’s episode was nothing short of a rollercoaster ride of emotions! From Claire saving Henry Grey’s life to the heartbreaking news about Jamie’s supposed death at sea, it seems our favorite characters are facing some of their toughest trials yet.

In the tenth episode of season 7 in the series ‘Outlander’, both Claire and Young Ian arrive at Philadelphia. Simultaneously, Jamie remains with Ian while Roger grapples with deciding his next course of action.

Caution: This post contains SPOILERS from Outlander season 7, episode 10.

In this recap, we’ve divided the events into three distinct segments for clarity. First, let’s delve into Jamie’s portion, which is more modest in scale compared to the other two sections.

It seems, to some extent, the narrative divides into four aspects in this episode. The tale of young Ian develops as he reconnects with Rachel. However, given that Arch Bug poses a danger, what implications might this union have?

Jamie says goodbye to Ian Murray

The episode begins by showing a flashback where Ian’s father, Mr. Murray, is teaching both Ian and Jamie how to fight. This scene sets the stage for their bond as brothers, as Mr. Murray emphasizes that if they want to fight like brothers, they must treat each other as such. This backstory gives insight into their upbringing and friendship.

As a devoted fan, I’ve realized there’s a crucial lesson for me too, much like Ian. It seems I must always be on Jamie’s left side, acting as his shield to safeguard his vulnerable flank. This not only strengthens our bond but also ensures that my warning of “on your left” is heard clearly. In the midst of his final journey from consumption, my last words were Jenny, who stood faithfully by his side.

It’s interesting to note a slight twist in the plot of Outlander season 7, episode 10, where instead of Jenny joining Jamie in America as many anticipated, she chooses to remain at Lallybroch for now. Although Jamie proposed this idea while burying Ian, Jenny feels compelled to stay put. This decision seems to streamline the character storylines and potential costs within the series, considering that season 7 was initially planned to be the last.

Jamie communicates his travel itinerary to Jenny, which involves visiting France first to see Joanie join the convent and ensure Michael is comfortably resettled in Paris. Afterward, he intends to return to America. He also informs Claire of this plan, as this information pertains to Lord John Grey’s unfortunate news.

William saves Rachel’s life in Outlander season 7, episode 10

Meanwhile, in Philadelphia, another life hangs in the balance. William and Rachel have been growing closer, but it’s evident that while William harbors feelings for Rachel, she doesn’t reciprocate. When Rollo takes off, Rachel understands this indicates Young Ian has returned. She follows Rollo in a hurry, but alas, he outpaces her.

In a turn of events, either Rollo returned to the barn with the horses or found Young Ian, who would then return for Rachel. It turned out that the latter had happened, but not before someone else, Arch Bug, reached Rachel first. As promised, Arch Bug appeared and initiated conflict. However, it was Young Ian who ultimately arrived in time to safeguard Rachel, leading to a physical altercation between the two men.

As I rush into the fray where Arch and Ian are engaged in their struggle, a gunshot rings out. That moment, with my pistol clutched tightly, marked the end for Arch Bug – a choice I knew would remain between us, as Rachel’s decision wasn’t leaning in my favor. Regardless, I chose not to reveal the thoughts that swirled through my mind when I made my way to the barn.

Rachel is deeply smitten with Young Ian. She openly expresses her love for him, and he reciprocates, albeit not fluently in English. He vocalizes his feelings plainly, but makes it evident that although he’d go as far as converting to Quakerism for her, it might not be a complete heartfelt commitment. Indeed, Young Ian finds it challenging to alter his fundamental nature.

Despite the obstacle, Rachel won’t let it keep them apart. She explains that Rollo is a wolf, yet he’s both faithful and affectionate. Young Ian, on the other hand, is much like Rollo, but he’s Rachel’s own wolf. Aww, how sweet!

Roger figures out who the fairy man is

Initially, I mistakenly believed Mr. Murray was referring to a ferryman, but it was actually “fairy man” he meant. Intriguingly, the tenth episode of Outlander season 7 provides Roger with vital hints to identify this mysterious fairy man.

After informing Buck that Geillis has either killed or intends to kill five husbands (I’m yet to figure out the identities of two of them), the duo ponder if Geillis is involved in some way with Rob Cameron. Despite their shared geographical background, it seems unlikely for Roger. Since Geillis traveled through the stones in 1968, and it’s now 1980, they question why Rob would wait a full 12 years. Furthermore, it’s hard to understand how Geillis could know that they needed to wait that length of time.

I’ve been trying to find out from Geillis if she knows about a guy named Robert Cameron, but it seems like she doesn’t recognize the name. It looks like he’s not connected to her as to why Rob returned to this era.

When Dougal MacKenzie arrives, the story takes an intriguing turn. He explains that he’s been searching for Roger, having learned that he’s on a quest for a mythical man. One of his men has stumbled upon a trinket from a card game, which bears the name “Jeremiah MacKenzie”. Dougal mentions that this is the name of Roger’s son, leading him to believe there might be a connection with Jemmy in all of this.

It appears the charm involves Roger, not Jemmy. Roger swiftly identifies what the charm is, but he requires a private conversation with Buck. The charm is a pair of World War II dog tags, specifically Air Force ones. Even though Buck mentions there are numerous Jeremiah MacKenzies, Roger counters that there aren’t many from the RAF. These dog tags belonged to his father.

Contrary to what we initially thought, the fairy man isn’t Rob Cameron; instead, he is Roger’s father. This revelation is bound to send chills down many a spine. Roger’s father, who was reported missing during World War II and never found, is actually from the past and he is the cause of why Roger and Buck are in this time.

Claire saves a life but gets bad news in Outlander season 7, episode 10

As a devoted fan, I’ve saved the most significant and heart-wrenching narrative for last – that of Claire. Her story is not only a crucial part of the plot but also an emotional rollercoaster that leaves us all in tears.

1) Claire arrives at Philadelphia just in time to help Henry Grey, who is also being attended by Denny Hunter. Denny manages to extract one of the musket balls lodged within Henry’s body, providing some relief, but he couldn’t reach the other one. Lord John Grey purchased all necessary supplies for Claire to create ether, enabling her to perform surgery on Henry.

Denny attends Claire’s operation to help her learn, as he recognizes her expertise as a teacher. Incidentally, Mercy Woodcock, who you may recall from Ticonderoga, where we met her husband Walter, is present too. Interestingly, Mercy develops feelings for Henry and stays in the room to make sure he remains unconscious with the ether.

After Henry’s rescue, various matters crop up in Philadelphia as we await Jamie’s arrival. One such issue involves sharing with Mercy details regarding her husband. Claire manages to provide Mercy with the comfort and resolution she needs about her spouse. I appreciate that this modification from the book eliminates unnecessary ambiguity.

This connection also enables Mercy to develop faith in Claire, feeling secure enough to confide in her about a possible arrest as a spy. She carries correspondence from Philadelphia, including one addressed to George Washington. However, the individual who gave her the letter has been apprehended, and the British soldiers recognize her visage. She’s trapped and can’t escape.

Claire retrieves the letter. She manages to escape the town since she’s been gathering plants for sustenance. Since she had recently gone foraging, it gives her an alibi to claim she needed arrowroot. Naturally, Captain Richardson stands guard at the gate, and he harbors suspicions about Claire. It’s no wonder, then, that he approaches Lord John Grey with questionable but compelling evidence suggesting that Claire is a spy.

The unfortunate news reaches Lord John Grey, confirming that Jamie Fraser is presumed lost at sea. His ship sank without a trace of survivors found, including Jamie, who was listed on the vessel’s roster. Although Claire refuses to accept it, the evidence strongly suggests that Jamie perished in the ocean. The sorrow that ensues is palpable as we share in Claire’s anguish throughout the night.

Lord John Grey cannot abide the thought of her being executed as a spy, therefore, he covertly enters her chambers with the intention of proposing marriage to save her life. Indeed, his proposal is an act of self-preservation, for if she refuses, they will take her into custody and execute her.

Claire appears quite unconcerned about death, as she yearns to pass away in order to reunite with Jamie. However, John manages to dissuade her from this notion by explaining that if Claire is executed, those close to her may be arrested as spies, regardless of their actual involvement. This includes Young Ian, the Hunters, and Mercy, who could all face the same fate – hanging. And indeed, they have the power to do so; remember, we’re dealing with the British Army here!

Claire must consent to marrying John on that specific day due to Richardson granting John just 24 hours, and even this was done as a kindness to avoid any drama at the residence.

So yes, THAT storyline is happening from the books!

Outlander airs Fridays on STARZ.

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2024-11-30 05:38