We have reached the end of the very short Outlander series 6, and it’s the battle for the Fraser’s, the darkness of vengeance, and the MacKenzie Family Road Trip all in this episode.
Mob Vengeance
Let’s talk about the one character in the series who had to wait two seasons for its lines. That’s right, the Big House. When one has to do battle for what they hold dear, The Frasers retreat to the house they have painstakingly built. Which becomes part of their night-long defense again the Browns Committee. We watch all that lovingly made woodwork shot up, which if you check out the Instagram account for Outlander Starz there’s some information on how they had to set up the sFX on the shots to look realistic and feel realistic to Catriona Balfe (Claire), and Sam Heughan (Jamie).
The battle takes up the first part of the episode, showing Claire and Jamie willing to go down with the house. The Brown’s take on Claire wonders if this is the right time, the newspaper article telling of the fire that kills the Frasers in four months. Jamie reminds Claire that printer dates aren’t always exact, having been one himself. Claire tells Jamie she would rather die than go with them. In the course of the long night, the couple reconfirms their love, even in desperate sex scenes( juztaposed with the MacKenzie’s joyful camping trip, in tents). So huzzah for the house, that many feared would be fired this season. Just wait.
Road Trip
While the MacKenzies are on their way to Edenton to see if Roger can get ordained or go into seminary training, they have a family road trip with a real wagon instead of the station wagon they would have had in the 1970s. Along the way that young rascal Jemmy picks up lice from the fisher folk kids, has his hair cut off (wait, there is a part of this that they didn’t follow up on. Just cutting hair doesn’t get rid of lice and Brianna should know this, turpentine?). She notices a weird scabby thing on his head and Roger states it’s a natural thing, sometimes hereditary, and starts talking about his…and the realization that Jemmy may really be his son makes everyone all smiles. Roger then asks Brianna to cut off his hair, too. It’s a father and son thing to do.
Surrender
Mr. Crombie comes to the big house with the fisher folk and tries to reason with the Frasers that they should go with the Committee and everyone can see justice before a judge. In the debate that heatedly follows, Tom Christie offers himself as surety to make sure that no harm comes to Mistress Fraser since he is the aggrieved party, he should have a say. So another long, unpleasant road trip reminiscent of Season 1 continues, where Claire is a prisoner and Jamie stays by her side. The Browns make sure that the countryside knows who they are taking to the goal, and they are pelted with rocks and physical assaults along the way. And seemingly the Revolutionary War is there to add to, or keep them from justice, as the towns they go through have had uprisings and destruction, and no real courts can be found. All along the way, Tom Christie rides behind them and sees for himself that there is justice, true justice. Jamie verbally jabs at him a few times. Claire is separated from Jamie, and Tom vows to protect her, to make sure that she is safe until trial.
Tom’s Infatuation With Claire
Since Malva’s death, we have watched Tom Christie realize that this is not true justice, and he questions the whole of the situation. He was hellfire and fury over Malva’s sins and refused to have a Christian burial for her. He has gone from an understanding and uneasy friendship and respect with Claire, which is if you had not picked on this by now, really he has a crush on the woman. When Allan vehemently accuses Claire of Murder, Tom sort of falls to the wayside, where you can see him questioning how someone who has pledged to do no harm, to treat the sick, and quite frankly put up with Tom’s self-righteousness to help heal his hand. He has respect for her. He also has feelings for her. And recognizes this is becoming another witch trial.
He seems to be under the burden of not wanting vigilante justice, but true justice. When he sees that the Brown’s Committee of Safety is encouraging violence and vengeance against the Frasers, which is really about how they have prospered and others have not. His common sense makes him more determined than ever to make sure that Claire isn’t harmed before coming before a judge. When finally they find a justice of the peace, Claire is thrown into the jail cells. Tom assures her he will stay in town until her husband comes. Good thing Jamie got his rescue from being taken back to Scotland.
All Hail The Production Crew and Actors
While many of you are perplexed, and some of us readers know a bit more, it was a rather choppy way to leave off the season. Now, let’s look at it from the productions view point. A massive worldwide shut-down and slow reopening of filming began. In the studios and local shoots, the production team had to have the parking lots turned into a Covid testing station, then deciding to cut down to 8 episodes from the 12 typical of Outlander production had great challenges. I believe that they did a remarkable job in getting the production completed at all. Filming is currently underway for Season 7, which they have promised to add on extra episodes to help make up for the shortened season. I say have a little faith.
If the filming was dire and not what you typically take for Outlander quality, let’s look at the fact that several of the original crew have left, and gone on to their next big project. The times are changing in the world and will be reflected in some of the production. Life during the 18th century was not all rosy and much of what we think of our 13 colonies was not grand and beautiful for some time. There were Loyalists and rebels. It was a revolution after all. One of several in the world at that time. And it dragged out for some years.
So what do we have to look forward to in Season 7?
- Jamie has to meet his son, again, and be on opposing sides of a conflict again with someone he loves.
- 2. The Ridge needs to get over the petty anger and distrust if they are going to survive a revolution.
- It will not be until Spring 2023 before we see Outlander Season 7, so reread An Echo in The Bones.
At long last, we were treated with an early release of episode 501, The Fiery Cross in the US and Canada if you had a subscription to the Starz® App. On the LA Premiere night Thursday, it was announced we would get the first episode dropped at midnight for Valentine’s treat.
Lord John Grey (David Berry), is one of the honored guests and pulls Jamie aside behind a wagon to discuss the private matter of locating Stephen Bonnet. Unfortunately, Brianna walks up to the other side of the wagon and overhears the conversation. Lord John tells Jamie of his inquiries, what scant intelligence he has that he is following. Brianna is in shock, the worst possible thing that could have happened on her day, hearing that Bonnet is indeed still alive. She stumbles off into the wedding night, trying to keep it all in and away from her family.
The Fiery Cross
With the first of the three last episodes of Season 4 Outlander 411 If Not For Hope, we have three storylines arcing, tangling, and about to snap. This week we see the scenarios begin their play.
More misunderstandings begin, but these with a happy ending. Jamie assumes it’s yet another colonial lass without a man, desperate for protection. He is handsome, he gets this a lot. He begins with he is already married. Slowly Brianna lets out she’s his daughter. In a scene very well played by both actors, we see a man realizing he has seen his child for the first time, and a daughter ends her desperate search to finally find her father and her mother. It’s one you have to just view, hopefully with a friend, and a box of tissues nearby. Sam Heughan and Sophie Skelton will melt you on the spot. Heughan has been working the rolling emotions all season, and this time he really pulls you in new directions. The brilliance and beauty in this scene are a credit to the writers, actors, and crew. Really, they just nailed it.
Together Brianna and Jamie sit at a bench and wait for Claire to exit the apothecary, the only place she would be in town, and when Jamie calls out ” Sassenach”, her joyful, shocked embrace with Brianna releases the torment of separation from them both. Brianna’s tearful reunion with her mother is brought to an end, and the obituary for James and Mrs. Fraser is shown to them. Jamie points out the careless date smudge in the corner, for no one knows the exact years date. Young Ian (John Bell) meets his new cousin for the first time, and the Frasers leave Wilmington behind and head up the river to Fraser’s Ridge. 
When the Frasers arrive at the Ridge, they are greeted by a somewhat harried but thankful Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), who had narrowly escaped Governor Tryon’s men. Jamie tells Murtagh there’s prime land set aside for him, and to say the word and a cabin would be started. He has come to the Ridge to lie low for a time, and is introduced to Brianna. Murtagh shows us his slow joy we know and love with a, “What took you so long, lass?” and welcomes her to the Ridge. Later, after super, Murtagh at the encouragement of Young Ian, tells a tale of a 14 year old Jamie and Dougal MacKenzie. When the others leave, he tells his Godson that he is lucky to have his child there with him.
Jamie spends weeks trying to get to know his daughter, and takes her on another book favorite, The Bee Hunt. The writers did a wonderful thing in keeping this treasured book moment, where father and daughter can have some bonding time and learn to be more at ease with each other. Brianna must learn about her true father, while dealing with and sharing her experiences with Frank Randall. Jamie must fu
An Outlander Muse 