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Outlander Devours a Lifetime of Drama: Must-See Moments!

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By Avery Sandridge

Outlander Devours a Lifetime of Drama: Must-See Moments!

Photo of author

By Avery Sandridge

“I understand, madam, the reality of loving in the shadows, perpetually haunted by the threat of exposure and violence.”

In the latest instalment of Starz’s Outlander titled “A Hundredweight Of Stones,” we find Claire (Caitriona Balfe) in an intimate moment with Lord John Grey (David Berry), as she lies bare and discusses his secretive life as a gay man in the 18th century. If you switched off last week’s episode prematurely, you’d be forgiven for thinking you missed more than just 20 minutes. During that time, Claire transitions from Jamie Fraser’s (Sam Hueghan) wife to his widow, implicated in treason and espionage, to Lord John’s new spouse, resulting from a night blurred by tears, alcohol, screams, and a desperate physical connection borne from grief.

The team behind Outlander is pushing hard to cover Diana Gabaldon’s extensive literary work as they race towards the series’ eighth and final season. Despite the narrative’s accelerated pace, as I mentioned last week, this episode’s tranquil post-lovemaking scene between Claire and Lord John is particularly poignant, casting a long-overdue spotlight on Jamie’s loyal friend, whose unrequited love has kept him distantly connected to the unfolding drama. Here, he is vulnerably portrayed, sharing the burdens of a life where love must lurk in the shadows. Claire probes into his secretive world, driven by curiosity and a personal desire to understand the man she has unexpectedly married.

To Claire, Lord John is somewhat of a mystery. He is the guardian of Jamie’s illegitimate son, William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart), during her two-decade absence in the future. He is the man who once received an offer of Jamie’s body in a desperate moment, knowing well Lord John’s feelings for him. Now, as a former officer loyal to the British, his standing is the only barrier between Claire and her capture by the Redcoats. Claire’s inquiries into his romantic life and feelings of loneliness might seem intrusive, but such intimate conversations are not unfamiliar territory for her, at least with Jamie, and it brings a new level of intimacy to her interactions with Lord John, unlike with any other man since Frank (Tobias Menzies).

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However, the episode’s frantic pace soon overtakes this moment. Not only does it kick off with a distressing wedding, but Claire and Lord John must also navigate a new life together amid her overwhelming grief, which nearly drives her to self-harm before she opts for alcohol instead. Lord John’s drastic step to marry her, though a grand gesture meant to save her life, is not entirely appreciated by Claire, who had enjoyed a love with Jamie that Lord John could never fully have. This also highlights Claire’s blind spots as a woman from another era, questioning the authenticity of Lord John’s experiences, especially his interactions with Manoke, the cook at his Mount Josian plantation.

The episode’s most powerful moment comes when Lord John confronts Claire’s prejudices after she accuses him of bigotry for dismissing his nephew Henry’s plans to marry Mercy Woodcock (Gloria Obianyo), a freed Black woman. Lord John counters Claire’s perceived moral superiority from the future, emphasizing the real dangers of their time: “I know what it is, madam, to have your love be a crime and live in fear of discovery and of violence. I will not allow Henry or Mrs. Woodcock to risk imprisonment or worse.”

This confrontation prompts Claire to embrace her new identity as Lady John Grey more fully, despite her initial reluctance. Although she could flee to the future to reunite with her daughter Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and grandchildren, she tells Ian (John Bell) that she’s determined to fulfill her and Jamie’s role in America’s foundation. This resolve is tested in the final scene when Jamie unexpectedly returns, having survived a shipwreck that everyone believed had claimed his life. His return throws their lives into disarray, particularly when William overhears a conversation revealing Jamie as his biological father, just as Redcoats arrive to arrest Jamie as a Patriot.

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Outlander has often built up to major events over long periods, and this episode’s dense narrative—from a wedding to a near-suicide, from societal accusations to unexpected resurrections—is testament to that. Following Moira Rose’s advice from Schitt’s Creek about needing eyedrops for her densely packed film The Crows Have Eyes III: The Crowening might actually apply to Outlander fans too.

Random Thoughts

  • • Meanwhile, away from the drama of Claire and Lord John, Ian and Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small) are finally aligning in their relationship, providing some solace for Ian who is mourning the recent loss of his father. He finds some comfort in the thought of Jamie keeping his father company in the afterlife.
  • • Surprisingly, the 1980s are still eventful, with Brianna awaiting Roger’s (Robert Rankin) return and their son Jemmy. Unexpectedly, their kidnapper, Rob Cameron (Chris Fulton), shows up, having deceived them about his travel through time in a bid to coerce Bri and Jem into a quest for Scottish gold.
  • • The bedroom scene between Claire and Lord John provides a touching glimpse into his life, but Claire’s casual judgment of his relationship with Manoke is quite bold, given her own time-traveling escapades for Jamie.
  • • Lastly, Roger’s historical search for his son leads to an unexpected clue about his own father, a WWII pilot, potentially lost in 18th century Scotland. More on this next week!

     

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