Yes, there have been hints that Lord John Grey (David Berry) will be bringing Ulysses (Colin McFarlane) back to Season 6. As you remember, in Season 5, the series changed up Ulysses storyline and had him save Jocasta from death at the hands of her lawyer. Having committed a crime, Ulysses had to flee to Fraser’s Ridge and Jamie and Claire got him a place with Lord John Grey who took him out of the country. In the books, Ulysses has a different exit. However this new storyline keeps a beloved character available for future seasons and intrigue.
So what has McFarlane been up to during the COVID months? Just like many other actors, Colin has been working on voice roles and what looks to be more animated or game related characters. He has previously worked on Castlevania: Lords of Shadow, Batman: Arkham Night, as well as playing PC Malcolm Williams in the 12th series of children’s favorite Fireman Sam. Not to mention, Peppa Pig! And yes, there was that time on Doctor Who. Check out a full repertoire of characters voices here
Currently in production films: Jungle Cruise, Offering to the Storm.
Colin is represented by Michael Hallett at Emptage Hallet, where other Outlander cast members are repped, and for Voice at Calypso. And if you have a friend who is a big fan, you can get a personal video from Cameo.
Some really great news to help us get over the longest ever Droughtlander.
Starz ® announced during #WorldOutlanderDay on Twitter that it’s a wrap on Season 6. Here’s what we know so far:
There was an apologetic celebration on Outlander_Starz announcing that due to the difficulties of dealing with a world pandemic and restrictions on filming and production, they have decided to have Season 6 end after the 8th episode. Sounds a little ominously GOT to me. However, they have promised to return with a longer Season 7, with a promise of 16 episodes and a Season 6 opener of 90 minutes length. Plenty of time to set up the aftermath of Claire’s ordeal and recovery at the end of Season 5 in “Never My Love”.
The time travel adventure will take on two of Diana Gabaldon’s books in the series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and An Echo in The Bone. Given it takes Gabaldon anywhere from 5 plus years to write a book, with her 9th book Tell The Bees That I Am Gone, due out this fall, we wonder if Season 7 may be the last season. Indeed since one more book is planned, the writers, who have already changed and added storylines, will no doubt have to wrap up the series. We are hoping we can see it reach a Season 8, and finally the mystery of the Ghost of Jamie in Inverness in the 1940’s will finally be explained.
Robert Wilson for Starz
And new pictures have arrived! What we do know, is that Claire (Caitriona Balfe) will be recovering from her kidnapping and rape, only to have a whole other ordeal to live with coming to the ridge. The seeds of the American Revolution have been sown, and war is on the horizon. Fergus and Marsali continue to add to their family, and that if one of the book storylines is brought in, the MacKenzies may just make it back to the 1970’s as war becomes more of a reality.
The Season 6 Episodes so far titled are:
“Echos”, written by Matthew B. Roberts
“Allegiance”, written by Steve Kornacki and Alyson Evans
“Temperance”, written by Shaina Fewell
TBA
TBA
“The World Turned Upside Down”, written by Toni Graphia
TBA
TBA
We have perhaps our first glimpse of Amanda, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger’s (Richard Rankin) daughter?
Robert Wilson for Starz
New relationships (Beardsleys and Lizzie) will blossom on The Ridge, as well as a powder keg of ideals with religion, loyalties to King, or the new forming country.
Robert Wilson for Starz
Returning for Season 6 are: Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Sophie Skelton, David Berry as Lord John Grey, Maria Doyle Kennedy, Cesar Domboy, John Bell, Lauren Lyle, Caitlin O’Ryan, and Colin McFarlane.
Keep an eye out in these pages as we confirm this season’s locations and add them to our inclusive list of Outlander Locations. It was a season of very well kept locals for production and Covid standards expediency. So once travel get’s back to normal, we are all heading back to the highlands, lowlands and all places in between.
Robert Wilson for Starz
So now watch Happy World Outlander Day with your fellow fans, where you will see old friends and new characters. See who is returning and joining the cast here:
I’m still putting together my information from my Sasnak City October 3rd chat group with Duncan Lacroix, and will tell you all about that later, but I wanted to get this out there for you.
YOU HAVE UNTIL OCTOBER 23rd TO ENTER A RAFFLE for a 20 minute chat with some of your favorite OUTLANDER actors. And at $10.00 a ticket, it’s a great price for a great cause! HURRY, GET THAT TICKET! OR should I say TICKETS? O
ONE ON ONE Fun!
Cast members from Outlander have donated their time to be raffled off for a Camp Encourage benefit. Find out about the great opportunities this camp provides for youth with Autism Spectrum Disorder to learn many skills and gain the camp experience. It’s all about empowerment.
The following current and past cast members have donated time for the raffle:
Graham McTavish, Caitlin O’Ryan, Duncan Lacroix, Grant O’ Rourke, Nell Hudson, Colin McFarlane, Annette Badland, Kyle Reese, Lauren Lyle, Paul Gorman, Gary Lewis, Steven Cree, Tim Downie, Richard Rankin (2 chats).
Oh, that Richard Rankin, he’s upping the anti. Challenging the other actors to donate more!
And Maria Doyle Kennedy is making you a one-of-a kind pillow.
To bid on these great prizes and keep an eye out for more:
I just entered for TIM DOWNIE! I am so going to tell him how much I enjoyed his storytelling from his Instagram and all the other fun things he’s done to cheer us up. I also have several episode ideas for his wee series. Just kidding, it’ll all be about the cakes.
Here it is, the Ulysses and Murtagh tête-à-tête right before Jocasta’s wedding. Watch Colin McFarlane give Duncan Lacroix a piece of his mind. This and other goodies are available in the Blu-Ray Collector’s Edition of Season 5, available on September 15, 2020.
So,in case you didn’t get to hang out with us a few weeks back, here’s Colin, Duncan(occasionally, tech issues), Ed, John, Tim, and Richard. Fun had by all.
It’s the penultimate episode, and another one filled with danger and loss. In an episode penned by author Diana Gabaldon, what else do you expect?
Jamie, Claire, Brianna, Roger, and Ian are traveling back from Willmington after the ordeal with Bonnet. Jamie teases Claire about the bags of peanuts she has brought back, asking if they are for some medical experiment. Claire smiles and remarks they are for eating and her next experiment will be creating peanut butter.
“I’ll be damned if Jemmy grows up without tasting peanut butter and jelly sandwiches.”
All is not smiles for long. The party comes upon a burnt-out cabin and finds several dead bodies inside. Jamie (Sam Heughan) looks around and states that they must have been dead before the fire started. He and Roger (Richard Rankin) go looking around the exterior. Roger comes upon a young girl burnt nearly beyond recognition. He tells her it will be alright and tries to calm her. Jamie looks her over and with a knowing look, making sure Claire (Caitriona Balfe) is not around, indicates that she should be put out of her misery. He is, of course, concerned that Claire will try to save her. He tells Roger he will take care of it, however, Roger takes the responsibility. He found her and had reassured her. It’s a sign that not all is well and that the troubles leading to war are definitely brewing. And might I say, this is indeed another BAFTA set moment. What a set.
It’s been building up over the season that Brianna and Roger, at Claire’s urging, should try to go back through the stones to their own time. Revolution is a dangerous thing. And while Roger is learning that real history is nothing like in the books, he, of course, agrees with and has been trying to persuade Brianna to take Jemmy back home to their time. Brianna has been resisting, not wanting to leave her parents behind, however, after dealing with Bonnet and realizing how truly dangerous it is in the 18th-century, rape and kidnapping being a good indicator, Brianna is in agreement. However, they don’t know if Jemmy can really go through the stones.
Leave it to clever Ian to find that out. Ian is playing a dangling carrot game with young Jemmy, in this case using Ottertooth’s massive opal necklace. The shiny object is of course incredibly attractive, and as young Jemmy touches it cracks and is hot. Brianna and Roger rush over and Brianna interrogates him. Then Claire, Roger, and Brianna hear the buzzing sound of power. They ask Jemmy if he can hear it, and he says yes. They all look at each other and discuss it. Poor Ian of course left on the outside asks what does it mean when he and Jamie cannot hear the sound. Jemmy can travel.
Of course, something always interrupts joyous times, and the Browns (Chris Larkin and Ned Dennehey) come riding in with a large group of men. Jamie addresses them and wants no quarrel. They discuss Morton and grumble about the past and letting bygones be bygones, however, Richard Brown asks Jamie to come to aide with the Committee as the Browns had gone to the Regulators conflict. Jamie reminds them that it was sanctioned by the Governor and did they have authority from the Governor. Ian (John Bell) points out that it was not Indians, it was staged to look like it.
No one on the Ridge wants trouble and they certainly don’t want them finding out about Claire, Brianna, and Roger as time travelers. Claire asks about how young Bonnie is doing (the child that was rescued from the Beardsley’s), she is fine, however, Lionel Brown’s wife is looking poorly in the back of the wagon. Upon examination, Claire and Marsali notice the injury to her wrist has to do with being intentional, not from a fall. Claire, being Claire, asks her questions, and then of course when Lionel comes to the surgery, there’s a confrontation. Lionel gets surly and well, we know that isn’t going to go away easily.
Ian is troubled by what has transpired with the stone. He ken’s that strange things always happen around Claire, and still believes her to be a Fairy. Claire assures him she is not. He wants to know why Roger and Brianna are so different, that he has suspected that there is more to the stories he’s been told. He tells them that the Mohawk discussed the opal, and Otter Tooth, what transpired many years ago. It is said that the ghost appears to those that touch it. Claire admits she has seen the ghost. Claire finally tells Ian that she is from the future. Ian presents them with a small leather journal, one that the Mohawk said Otter Tooth had. Claire looks at it, is astounded. The writing had been done with a ballpoint pen. Ian asks if Murtagh knew, and they tell him yes. Finally, Ian is let in on the store of Claire and how she came to be in the 18th-century.
Claire and Jamie check on Ulysses (Colin McFarlane) who has been staying in Murtagh’s forest shack. Ulysses is horrified at what he had to do, but he would do it again to save Jocasta. Claire has brought him books to read, as the man is dying from boredom. He reveals that he is Manumitted and is a free man. He had been freed after Mr. Cameron had died. He had stayed to help Jocasta. There are penalties for slaves on estates if one commits murder. Jamie and Claire work to find a solution to help Ulysses escape from North Carolina.
Brianna and Roger try to reason out what is going on with Jemmy. He could definitely feel the hot stone and hear the buzzing sound. How would they travel with him? Brianna mentions that the can’t just disappear from the Ridge, too many questions would be asked. Roger and Brianna cook up a plan to tell everyone that Roger has accepted a teaching position in Boston, and they would be moving out of the area.
It is time that Brianna learns she has a brother, and Jamie wants her to know before she leaves. His opportunity occurs when Lord John Grey (David Berry) suddenly arrives (he has that knack), Jamie apprizes him of the fate of Bonnet. Lord John is relieved for Brianna’s sake and of course, for others, he has harmed. He and Jamie have a long conversation as John is returning to London, the Helwater. He must arrange things for William’s estate and make sure that his grandmother, Lady Dunsany, is provided for. He tells Jamie of his son, how he has been at school in London. He must never know of his true father or he risks losing his whole fortune.
Lord John also being a man of the army recognizes the storm that is brewing, and warns Jamie, who is all too aware. He then brings a small portrait gift to Jamie of William.
Later Claire is examining her new lens provided by Lord John for her microscope. She invites Jamie to look. He asks if they are the wee beasties she calls germs, and she informs him that no, it is his seed. He is quite amazed at the vigor of the wee things.
Later Jamie brings the portrait to Brianna and shows it to her. Finally, he can tell her of her brother. Brianna asks a lot of questions, however, she is very glad to know that she has one. She is glad that Lord John has been a father to him. Sadly she will never meet him, and it is discussed why she should not meet him. Jamie then asks when they will leave, struggling with the words. But of course, they must go, Jemmy will be safer in the future.
Even though they have a good exit plan, not that it is not filled with danger, the MacKenzies taking leave of their neighbors. Marsali and Fergus are taken aback, and Marsali is grieved, she feels that Brianna is a sister to her. They then realize that they must say goodbye to everyone on the Ridge. This becomes a really difficult task, as Lizzy (Caitlin O’Ryann) expects to be taken along with them as a servant. Brianna has to release her from service and tell her her home is on the Ridge. She is crushed and Brianna struggles with reassuring her. Lizzie’s whole world has been built around Brianna and Jemmy.
Later Ian, in heartfelt anguish, asks if he can go with them through the stones. Apparently hearing how Claire and Jamie tried to change history and failed, did not rub off on him in the right way, and he is desperate to go back in time, to help his wife he has talked very little of. Brianna and Claire assure him that history cannot be changed, nor can they pinpoint a specific time to go back to. It is not an exact science.
When it comes time to leave, Roger and Brianna ask Ian to help them get to the stones that Roger had encountered when he had been taken as a slave to the Mohawk. Keep in mind that this particular travel took a few months as it was several colonies away. Ian agrees to accompany them, and the MacKenzies with their stones and a rope tied about them, hear the calling of the stones and say farewell to Ian. As they disappear through the stones, Ian is in shock seeing the reality of it, and he then touches the stone, hoping to travel.
Of course, Claire and Jamie are crushed at the loss of their children and grandchild. Claire hears a commotion downstairs near the surgery and rushes to find out who is trashing her medical instruments and medicines. She meets with part of the Brown party, breaking the glass and riffling through all of the drawers. She attempts to stop them and they seize her and take her captive.
Jamie comes to the surgery and cannot find her, he rushes out to the wicker Celtic Cross in the Ridge built to send a call for arms and fires it. He is calling the Ridge to aid him in the search for Claire.
Never My Love airs this Saturday, May 9 at Midnight on the Starz App, Sunday, May 10 at 8:05 PM ET/5:05 PT and Monday, May 11th on Amazon Prime UK and IE.
Thoughts
Brianna and Roger don’t time travel back to the future until A Breath of Snow and Ashes, book six. We don’t know if they really have gone back to the right place, or another parallel storyline in another time. What was the scary thing Brianna and Roger saw when they traveled through the stones? The burnt-out house? Did they go back in time and find Otter Tooth? Or is this the way of dealing with them as the writers and producers have not got a season 7 offer yet from Starz and they are really consolidating storylines from the books.
While this episode has done quite a bit of housekeeping, and we see the beginnings of the feuding with the Browns becoming over the top and the next villains in the cavalcade of baddies for Outlander, I felt like a few things were rushed and brining elements in from book 6 making me wonder if we may not get a season seven. While we do need to see some action getting towards the actual battles of the Revolutionary War coming to pass, there were a few changes here at may not have translated well in season 6. I just this that this episode could have had a bit more threat to it, and it is true that Claire does get taken hostage quite often. It was, however, a reality in the times that people were often absconded with for many reasons, pressing into the navy, sold as slaves, revenge. Here’s hoping that the finale is action-packed and a great cliffhanger.
And stay tuned for an extensive DROUGHTLANDER this time as production crews around the world wait out COVID-19 pandemic closures.
A cautionary tale was begun with the opening episode, America The Beautiful, in season 4. In that episode, Jamie, Claire, Ian, and friends rescue an erstwhile pirate from hanging. And their lives were forever changed. In this tale that has played out until this week’s episode 510, Mercy Shall Follow Me, we met the ugly side of American Colonial Life. The outright lawlessness that seemed to be rampant in the colonies, one that had played out to many a newcomer. For our time travelers, first Claire then Brianna and Roger, would all become victim to one of Outlander’s greatest villains, Stephan Bonnet. The story of Bonnet and his misdeeds forever crossing paths over the years. Until finally he turns up in Willmington again and meets with another Fraser Foe, the lawyer Gerald Forbes. Remember him? Aunt Jocasta’s lawyer and Brianna’s spurned suitor? It’s a tale of ruthlessness, revenge, cruelty, and downright sociopathic.
Birds of A Feather Plot Disaster Together
Stephan Bonnet (Ed Speleers) is a sociopath, one who is erratic, changeable, rages, and a person not able to have a normal life. We open with Bonnet meeting again with Gerald Forbes (Billy Boyd) in a brothel. Bonnet is dressed to the 9s in his refined gentlemanly wear, trying to pass as such. It has been very important for Bonnet to pass himself off as a gentleman as he hopes to claim young Jemmy. Forbes informs him that contacts have been made for a magistrate to sign papers relieving him of any accusations for crimes, witnesses have been found, and their plot to expose Brianna (Sophie Skelton) as a willing participant in Jeremiah’s procreation. This is the diabolical plot to claim Jeremiah as his own and have custody of the child. Forbes warns Bonnet that he must downplay his activities and that rumors are floating that Bonnet is now trading in the flesh.
He advises Bonnet to keep his activities on the “respectable side”, and Bonnet reminds Forbes that his trading has helped many a gentleman on the shores to bolster their profits. Forbes asks Bonnet when he will get his payment for his discretionary services. Bonnet informs him that Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and her recent bridegroom Duncan Innes will meet with an unfortunate accident and that they both shall drink a dram on the porch of River Run in celebration when he has custody of Jemmy and his inherited property. He assures Forbes he will get his 20% of the profits. Forbes informs Bronnet that he is going upriver to River Run as Jocasta has asked for his legal expertise. He shows great contempt for her, and her slights against him when he asked for Brianna’s hand in marriage. He wants revenge and money.
He’s Only a Man After All
The Frasers, Ian (John Bell), and the MacKenzies are themselves plotting in a tavern to pull off the great Wylie’s Landing Bonnet Capture. Claire and Jamie discuss the ending of Bonnet, for he is really only a man after all. Bonnet must be stopped before he harms more people. The pact is made for the men to go to Wylie’s Landing for the arranged meeting to sell whisky by Philip Wylie while Brianna and Claire get some medicinal errands done, to replace a syringe with a glass blown tube, and including a trip to the beach.
The men get to Wylie’s landing, including young Ian who is now in a tricorn and wool suiting to play Alexander Malcolm. Roger (Richard Rankin) tells Jamie he wants to be the one to kill Bonnet, it may have been his daughter that was raped, but it was his wife. Jamie cautions him to be quick to purpose, don’t hesitate or think. Jamie also pledges to avenge him should Bonnet kill him, and Roger likewise. It’s a grand thing they have all bonded.
“A bargain is it?” “A rare bargain indeed.”
Of course, when Bonnet’s men show sans the pirate, all hell breaks loose as a confrontation happens in which Roger shows his fine barrel pitching skills. If you can’t kill them, throw them. Jamie then shows Roger the fine art of questioning at knifepoint.
Which is of course what we have been suspecting, that Bonnet is in Willimington and following Brianna and Claire. In a storyline taken from book 6, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, the plot to kidnap and get Brianna and Jemmy is underfoot. Claire and Brianna are having a laugh at the beach, racing each other. Claire is collecting sponges and seashells to get calcium from, always distracted by medicinals, she wanders away from Brianna who is dipping her feet in the waves. She is come upon by Stephen Bonnet, who overpowers her and comes into a confrontation with Brianna. He knocks both women unconscious and takes Brianna after telling her he only wants her and their son.
“It’s you and your son I want.”
Beauty and The Beast
Brianna awakens in Bonnet’s lair, his house on an island. He has laid out tea for them and begins to tell Brianna of his twisted desire to become a father and a gentleman to be right for Jeremiah. She listens in disgust and pity as she hears how truly demented Bonnet is. He asks for her help in learning how to eat like a gentleman and Brianna plays along to buy time. Bonnet is often one who turns on a person without warning. He shows her a box of toys for young Jemmy and tells her he has a present for her. It’s a beautiful dress that happens to fit just perfectly.
“I want something money can’t buy” “A moral compass?”
She tries to play along with his whims and almost succeeds to talk him into letting her go. She fakes telling him the story of Moby Dick from a book on husbandry, a story that is not written for years to come. He starts telling her his back story, his fears of drowning in the sea, the dark. He even tells her that he had no mother or father, was nearly killed by those he thought friends. No one ever comes to save him from his nightmare. Brianna softens a bit too much.
“You can’t make someone love you.”
To punish Brianna who has appeared false after trying to persuade him to let her go get Jemmy and prepare him to live with Bonnet, he realizes she is stalling for time, he has it on with the wench from the “Mare” he fancies from the brothel has come to help with breakfast, and ends up being breakfast instead. Brianna begs her assistance when he leaves. The woman says she cannot help her for fear of Bonnet as he is prone to violence. Brianna begs her to tell her parents where she is. Bonnet makes arrangements to sell Brianna.
Claire rides to meet the men who have come back empty-handed from their meeting and informs them Bonnet has Brianna. They race back to Willmington to find out where Bonnet could have taken her and run into Philip Wylie. After painfully interrogating a fearful Wylie, who is in more fear of Bonnet, he informs them of a brothel, Mistress Sylvie’s where Bonnet frequents. Yeah, the Frasers are off to deal with yet another brothel madame. They’re good at this game. Roger and Ian are instructed to go to the tavern to find out information about Bonnet there.
Jocasta the Bountiful
Meanwhile, our duplicitous Forbes has arrived at River Run to an audience with Jocasta, Duncan, and Ulysses (Colin McFarlane). Jocasta and Forbes ask to be alone and Jocasta goes into a shocking revelation for Forbes: She wishes to make gifts in her lifetime from the bounty of River Run. She starts naming off all of the children of Jamie and his adopted son Fergus, £200 to Ian, £1000 for Brianna and Roger. As Forbes makes a list, he becomes more and more enraged and sarcastic. His 20% of profits are going out of the window. He rounds on Jocasta and starts telling her off.
” You can’t give away my money!”
She is aghast, and he grabs a pillow and begins to suffocate her with it. He is almost successful until Ulysses grabs him from behind and snaps his neck. Incredibly bereft Ulysses races to a collapsed Jocasta’s side, calling out to her with love, “Jocasta!”, finally she breathes air, as she comes to, he gently kisses her hand.
Claire and Jamie come to the brothel and Mistress Sylvie mistakes them for a client couple. After Claire becomes forceful and begs help to save a young girl from Bonnet, the women all look around at each other, not wanting to get involved. Later she addresses the whore that had been Bonnet’s favorite. She claims to have never heard of Bonnet and turns away. Claire, seeking her medical knowledge as a lure, tells the girl of her condition, uneven legs that a simple fix could be done at the cobblers that would release her limp and back pain. Reluctantly she tells them the island where Brianna is a hostage.
Meanwhile, Bonnet has brought another captain to look at the prospect of acquiring Brianna. He starts looking her over like a fine horse and then makes the mistake of looking at her teeth. She of course promptly bites him and things get a bit ugly and Bonnet offers to sell her for a mear £6. The bargain is struck and Bonnet drags Brianna out to the shore where the captain’s man has his money. They are set upon by Jamie, Roger, Claire, and Ian on the dunes and a fight breaks out. After they secure Brianna, Roger chases down Bonnet and beats him soundly.
They all agree to bring Bonnet to justice in Willmington and Roger suggests they contact Tryon who owes them a very big favor for nearly killing Roger, and have him contact the new Governor about Bonnet’s crimes.
And so it is we find Bonnet being sentenced from shore being tied to a mooring and sentenced to death by drowning his one great fear. After the tides begin to come in and he is screaming and distressed, he is shot by Brianna and put out of everyone’s misery.
They all agree to bring Bonnet to justice in Willmington and Roger suggests they contact Tryon who owes them a very big favor for nearly killing Roger, and have him contact the new Governor about Bonnet’s crimes.
And so it is we find Bonnet being sentenced from shore being tied to a mooring and sentenced to death by drowning his one great fear. After the tides begin to come in and he is screaming and distressed, he is shot by Brianna and put out of everyone’s misery.
Well, that’s two more villains cleaned up this episode.
And so ends the timely fate of another great Outlander villain. But wait there are more villains to come, we’ve only just met the Browns. And with that we leave you to prepare for episode 511 Journeycake, an episode penned by Diana Gabaldon herself.
Sadly, conventions have been canceled due to COVID19. However, Wizard World is getting them online! Join two Wizard World Outlander events live online. You can purchase personal videos and autographs. Some open sessions are free. Go to the Wizard World Website for details.
From Wizard World:
During each session, the celebrities will participate in a FREE live moderated video Q&A, followed by one-on-one video chats, recorded videos, and autographs. Sessions are accessible to virtual attendees on their computers and mobile devices via http://wizd.me/virtual.
Purchase a recorded video from each star specifying the message if desired
Purchase an autograph on an 8”x10” photo
Pricing begins at $65 for the individual chat, video, and autographs, and vary by item, available on the Website.
Virtual Experience Outlander April 30, 2020
Seasons 1 and 2 cast Stephan Cree, Lotte Verbeek, Grant O’Rourke, Nell Hudson, Stephan Walters, Annette Badland.
Virtual Experience Outlander May 5, 2020
Yes, @duncan.lacroix (Murtagh), @rikrankin (Roger MacKenzie), @johnhunterbell (Young Ian Murray) Ed Speleers(Stephan Bonnet), @colinmcfarlaneactor (Ulysses) and @timdownie1 (Gov. Tryon). Ahem, where are the ladies? Not that we mind, but fair is fair.
After a two week hiatus, we return to Outlander Season 5 with Famous Last Words. It is a reference with an opening scene were Roger Mac is back at Oxford, lecturing in his Socratic way, to a group of his students in the English University way of Tutor and students around a big table. Brianna slips in through the door, Roger tries to not be distracted, fails a bit, and goes on to juggle “heids” about the famous last words of historic figures, and what they really may have said, or meant.
“Will those really be your last words?”
So begins a very dark and brooding episode in the aftermath of the loss of Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser at Alamance. It is an episode with three brooding men ( Roger, Jamie and the return of a prodigal son) dealing with darkly, difficult emotions. To set the mood, for Rogers’s storyline, this episode references Roger’s and Brianna’s fondness of going to silent classic movie film festivals and uses that style of storytelling to reflect on the darkness and silence of Roger’s survival of hanging and rescue by Claire, Jamie, and Brianna.
Dark Matters
Roger (Richard Rankin) sure has gotten the raw end of the character plotlines in season 4 and 5. Not that he fared any better in Diana Gabaldon’s books. The process of Roger’s hanging and rescue was much more drawn out. Roger’s ordeal of being beaten and sold to the Mowhawk by Young Ian and Jamie created a very long and angry introduction to the yes, you are a historian but had no clue as to how brutal it really was to live in those times lessons for Roger. Now, as if nothing could get worse, Roger has full-on PTSD about being hung and surviving.
“People live and die by words.”
Roger has been despondent for months about his ordeal, struggling daily with everyone on eggshells or overly encouraging him to come back to life. For as Brianna (Sofie Skelton) is constantly reminding him, that she feels like he is dead, not living as he does not speak. Claire (Caitriona Balfe) has assured all that he should be able to speak after her emergency surgery on his throat to deal with the crushed windpipe. About that. The cliff hanger last episode.
We come to a series of flashbacks told in silent movie sepia tint style, with cards and showing the silence and despair of Roger being hung and rescued, Claire’s field operation on him. He has a series of reoccurring sepia PTSD moments using the silent film inserts to emphasize his lack of speech and darkest moments.
The first in silent film mode scenes show the Frasers, Jamie, Claire, and Brianna, trying to rescue Roger from the tree hanging scene we left off with at the end of episode 507. Roger is hanging and Jamie and the others are trying to cut him down. Claire discovers he is barely alive and goes into emergency cricothyroidotomy mode, using the stem of a smoking pipe to keep an airway available to him. After he comes out of the PTSD flashback, Claire is examining him and talking about how it has healed nicely and he should have most of his voice back. Brianna is trying to coax Roger to say something, anything. Brianna is losing patience with him, he is traumatized and shutting her and Jemmy out. There is a great deal of stony tension. Roger’s silence is self-imposed.
Lord John Gray (David Berry) has traveled great distances again to visit, there is an invitation to dine at the big house. Roger declines, grimacing. Flashbacks intercede again with his many times Great Granddad Buckleigh MacKenzie (Graham McTavish) and friends handing Roger over to Tryon’s men as a traitor. It’s traumatizing to be hung at all, but by your many time great Grandad, it’s a bit much.
Brianna and Claire discuss Roger’s behavior. Brianna talks to Claire about her old college roommate and how her boyfriend came back from Vietnam. He had not been seriously injured, but he had a thousand-yard stare about him. She says she sees that look in Roger and feels she has lost him. Claire tells her about combat stress, and what it does to people. She reassures her that he will come back, it will take time.
After the dinner with Lord John Gray, they read through a letter he has brought giving Brianna five thousand acres in the backcountry. Claire remarks that it is in exchange for the loss of her husband and Brianna is angered. She doesn’t want land, she wants her husband back. Brianna leaves the table and rushes outside. Lord John follows carefully and tries to distract her. He gives her an astrolabe, used for gauging time and distance at sea. She marvels at it and calculates time, off by half an hour as Lord John corrects her. He tells her to have patience, that things generally have a way of working out.
Jamie (Sam Heughan) has been struggling with the loss of Murtagh, his Godfather. He tries to help Roger and Brianna with their troubles, however, he is struggling under his own weight. Aunt Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy) and Ulysses (Colin McFarlane) visit to pay respects to Murtagh’s cairn and burial place near the big house. Jocasta in her take-charge fashion, trying to not really show her own grief, states she could have paid for a headstone, even though she and Murtagh were not husband and wife. Jamie points out that the feelings are still valid. They agreed that Murtagh was loyal above all else.
Roger trying to keep busy, and playing guitar and singing is a painful reminder turns to stay busy and improve his woodworking skills. He tries to build the sleeping loft for the cabin. In the process of building, he is reminded by rope and canvas of the hanging, the sacking put over his head, everything said by Tryon and his officers.
Claire and Jamie bring dinner to the cabin. Little Jemmy reaches for a steaming hot kettle and Roger cries out in a very guttural “No!” and Jemmy starts crying. He is embarrassed after rescuing the child. Jamie and Claire take charge of Jemmy. Later, Brianna has been singing “Clementine” to Jemmy as Roger has not sung in months. She keeps hoping to get some interaction from Roger, who is trying to get woodcut and formed for building a loft in the cabin.
Later, Claire and Jamie are playing with young Jemmy as proud grandparents do. They play a game of hide-and-seek, then Jamie comes upon a wild boar, telling claire carefully to get Jemmy out of harm’s way. Just as the Boar charges Jamie, and we prepare ourselves for another set of Jamie scars, and arrow is shot with great precision into the boar. Jamie and Claire look up, and it is Ian Murray (John Hunter Bell), the younger, dressed in his Mohawk garb and hair adornment. He looks dark and broody. He comes back to the Ridge with Claire, Jamie, and Jemmy. When Roger and Brianna are at their cabin, there is a tense moment as Roger and Ian just stare at one another, they have a guy hug. When last we saw the two, Ian sacrificed himself for Roger with the Mohawk tribe to make up for selling him to them and get him back to Brianna. Brianna hugs her cousin, however, Roger retreats. Ian seems to pick up on the sentiment.
After Brianna and Claire seem to not be able to do anything with Roger, and now find they have both Jamie and Ian’s murky waters as well, Marsali (Lauren Lyle) decides to take a hand. Of course, she can’t do it easily, she pulls out a tarot deck and starts laying out Roger’s cards. Of course, we all know how bad this is going to be. Marsali kept pulling The Hanged Man each time she tries to read Roger, and he in disgust dumps all the cards on the floor. Brianna comes in when Marsali is running about picking up cards and asks what the matter is. After Marsali begs off, Brianna lays it in thick on Roger. She relates to her dealings with Bonnet, that she knows about how hard it is to come back from a dark place. She barks that she needs to know that he is not gone and lost forever.
And again that night, Marsali is determined to uproot everyone. She pushes poor Ian who is very quiet and not the fun-loving lad that left them. She and Fergus (César Domboy) want to know everything about living with the Mohawk. Ian is not adjusting to being inside, eating at a table, being around his family. Jamie tries to take control over all the grief going on with the men, being that fatherly laird type he is. He suggests that Ian go and survey the acreage that has been given to Brianna, to stake out the lines. Later Ian ends up sleeping on the porch as he had stared at a bed for some time and tells everyone he is more comfortable sleeping on the ground.
Roger and Ian make up a surveying team. In Brianna’s farewell, she folds Roger a paper airplane. It is their first wedding anniversary, the gift of paper. He takes the plane folded with him on the trip. Over time he and Ian form a bond, each of them struggling. Ian tries to get Roger to talk. He lashes out, how can Roger be this way, he has his whole family. We get more hints of what has happened to Ian with the Mohawk.
Claire later runs out of her surgery calling for Marsali. She has a jar of Water Hemlock, asking if Marsali has prescribed any. There is only one root left. She questions whether Roger may have taken it contemplating suicide.
Later, Ian asks Roger about his dreams. This is, of course, a very touchy subject, but Ian is deeply troubled. He shows Ian the paper airplane, of course, Ian not being from his time doesn’t know what it is. Roger shows him a bit of it flying. Ian makes a remark about birds. While surveying, Roger walks to a precipice and looks down. The mood changes, he has another flash, however, starts seeing color again when he thinks about the paper airplane. He throws it off the cliff and it flies well, and Roger is lifted with the flight. In time, he sees that he is alive.
Later we come upon Rollo, tied up with a rope. This is very unlike Ian to do this, and Rollo is very worried. Ian goes about ritualistically burying his Tomahawk in the leaves. He then recites some Mohawk words while boiling water. He brings out the Hemlock roots to brew a tea, he wants to end his sorrow. Roger comes and kicks the roots and the fire in one sweep. They start brawling. Ian demands it is his right to end the pain. Ian accuses Roger of buying his weapon, his voice. Roger tries to get Ian to come back, fight for family. Their whole family. After tense moments and the physical guy thing, they return, and Roger finally begins to use his voice. It is still not right, but it is something.
Thoughts
Jocasta seemingly let Murtagh go, and Jamie tried to shake her back into reality. Will we see that she really did love him and misses him?
We’ve had an episode where we barely heard of Bonnet. So, since he knows where Jemmy is, will he try to come to get what he thinks is his son? Will he be the monster? Check out the preview below.
Is it just me, or is Fergus not really saying much this season? He has very few lines.
And why is Jemmy not sprouting that flame-red hair he has in the books?
Only a few episodes left, what other events may get moved up from A Breath of Snow and Ashes, book 6?
Next, episode 509 Monsters and Heros. Catch it Saturday, April 18 at Midnight on the Starz® APP, Sunday at 8:05 pm EST and 5:05pm PST on Starz®, and Monday, April 20 on Amazon Prime in the UK and Ireland.
If anybody needs to lift their spirits after episode 507, The Ballad of Roger Mac, there will be a fast and furious, packed with thousands of questions Q & A with two silly acting comrades of the show, David Berry and Tim Downie on Sunday, April 5. Both guys are really sweet, as many of you have been joining me on Tim Downie’s bedtime stories can attest at 8pm UK GMT, or Noon PST for me. Great stories to uplift during the lockdown and in. David Berry has been doing a bit of sketch art with his pal Tim as the subject. David is really good, we should hire him for parties.
HINTS: As you know these Q&A sessions are indeed packed by thousands and may crash the servers, no really. It’s happened. If you have burning questions, write them down and put them in your note pad on the phone and have them ready to go. Make sure they are not too long, specific. They will be having to choose a few out of thousands. Cross your fingers.
Please tell me there will be a Duncan Lacroix one again!
Colin McFarlane, AKA Ulysses, has been learning to bake during his lockdown and is starting to blossom and will be trying new adventures in baking this week.
difficulties of dealing with a world pandemic and restrictions on filming and production, they have decided to have Season 6 end after the 8th episode. Sounds a little ominously GOT to me. However, they have promised to return with a longer Season 7, with a promise of 16 episodes and a Season 6 opener of 90 minutes length. Plenty of time to set up the aftermath of Claire’s ordeal and recovery at the end of Season 5 in “Never My Love”.
The time travel adventure will take on two of Diana Gabaldon’s books in the series, A Breath of Snow and Ashes, and An Echo in The Bone. Given it takes Gabaldon anywhere from 5 plus years to write a book, with her 9th book Tell The Bees That I Am Gone, due out this fall, we wonder if Season 7 may be the last season. Indeed since one more book is planned, the writers, who have already changed and added storylines, will no doubt have to wrap up the series. We are hoping we can see it reach a Season 8, and finally the mystery of the Ghost of Jamie in Inverness in the 1940’s will finally be explained. 
To punish Brianna who has appeared false after trying to persuade him to let her go get Jemmy and prepare him to live with Bonnet, he realizes she is stalling for time, he has it on with the wench from the “Mare” he fancies from the brothel has come to help with breakfast, and ends up being breakfast instead. Brianna begs her assistance when he leaves. The woman says she cannot help her for fear of Bonnet as he is prone to violence. Brianna begs her to tell her parents where she is. Bonnet makes arrangements to sell Brianna.
And again that night, Marsali is determined to uproot everyone. She pushes poor Ian who is very quiet and not the fun-loving lad that left them. She and Fergus (César Domboy) want to know everything about living with the Mohawk. Ian is not adjusting to being inside, eating at a table, being around his family. Jamie tries to take control over all the grief going on with the men, being that fatherly laird type he is. He suggests that Ian go and survey the acreage that has been given to Brianna, to stake out the lines. Later Ian ends up sleeping on the porch as he had stared at a bed for some time and tells everyone he is more comfortable sleeping on the ground.
An Outlander Muse 