This week on Starz hit series Outlander – Dragonfly in Amber, the Battle of Culloden is upon us, we say goodbye to a friend, and make a couple of new ones.
Warning: This article contains spoilers from last night’s episode of Outlander. Read at your own risk.
“LORD, YE GAVE ME A RARE WOMAN, AND GOD! I LOVED HER WELL.” – JAMIE FRASER
Can you say blown away? Last night’s season two finale of Outlander – Dragonfly in Amber hit everyone of my expectations and then some. While it is sad to see our season come to an end, and having to say goodbye to an old friend, we got what we long have been waiting for we met Brianna Randall (Sophie Skelton) and an adult Roger Wakefield (Richard Rankin).
We start off our journey in 1968, where we meet the dapper Roger Wakefield, at his father’s wake (the reverend) in Scotland, in that house we all became familiar with. The house that Claire (Caitriona Balfe) hadn’t seen in 20 years. The last time she was there, if you recall, was when she was returned from the fairies before she set off for Boston with Frank (Tobias Menzies). Roger is giving a toast for his late father, when a girl, Brianna Randall, catches his eye. Eager to meet her, the chase begins.
Claire joins them, and reintroduces herself as she takes in the house, and the ghosts start coming back to her. Roger eager to get to know Brianna better, suggests that the mother and daughter stay with him, rather than travel at night.
Just when we get all giddy about the duo, the screen flashes back to Culloden the year 1740. It’s the day of the war, and Jamie (Sam Heughan) is trying to talk the cupcake prince, Prince Charles Edward Stuart (Andrew Webber), out of the war. The Prince who cannot be reason with, goes as far as calling Jamie his doubting Thomas.
Knowing what is in store for his loved ones, Jamie is trying his hardest and of course the Prince cannot be reasoned with. Of course Claire has an idea. In a last ditch effort, she takes Jamie in the house and tells him of her plan to kill the Prince. No Prince no battle, no deaths, well one death to save hundreds, or thousands. Of course with our couple, nothing is as simple as talking it out and coming up with a plan. Dougal (Graham McTavish) is listening in.
Back in 1968 Roger is taking Brianna on a tour of Scotland. First stop Fort William. Almost on cue Brianna get chills as Roger explains that a lot of blood was shed in that land as Scottish prisoners were flogged there. Not the most romantic of first dates Roger, but not to fret he does redeem himself as has a picnic with Brianna with the most breathtaking view of Scotland.
Brianna determined to learn more about her past, well her parents past, and perhaps get to know her mom better, prods Roger for any information that his father may have stored away. Roger happily agrees, warning her that maybe the past should be left in the past.
Back in the 1700s Dougal confronts Jamie and Claire for what he just heard. I don’t need to tell you, that this is not going to end well for the war chieftain. Jamie and Dougal are struggling, and Claire pitches in to get Dougal off of her husband. The couple that kills together stays together. Immediately after the deed is done, Rupert comes in and see what has happened.Honor among men, Rupert grants Jamie two hours to get his affairs in order. First order of business telling Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix). His response was epic! Next order of business making sure Lallybroch stays in his family, and out of his name.
My heart couldn’t handle this scene. Saying goodbye to Fergus (Romann Berrux) tugged at my heart strings. If I am being honest I was a babbling idiot from the beginning, crying and sobbing. The editing and weaving of this 90 minute season finale, was the most beautifully done show I have ever seen. Seeing Claire 20 years older, and meeting Jamie’s daughter and seeing Jamie and Claire part ways at the stones. I can’t capture all I am feeling or felt in proper terms. It was magical. It felt real. I don’t know how they did it, but it felt real, as if we were right there with them.
We got introduced to Gillian Edgars aka Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek). Gillian holding a rally at the university, cross paths with Bri and Roger. When we first “meet” her you only hear her voice, but talking about bonnie prince Charlie its undeniable that it’s her. Then she appears. Geillis in her previous life, I guess you can say.
Claire catches up with her just in time to see her go through the stones, also witnessing the impossible are Roger and Brianna, who up until that moment didn’t believe a word of what Claire had to say about it and Brianna’s true father.
While Roger is showing Brianna the town, Claire painstakingly retracing her steps from her old life with Jamie. First stop Lallybroch, then to find out who it belongs to and what happened to it.
Well we see the original document signed by Claire, as relive those painful memories of a former time. Claire briefly smiles. She knows Fergus delivered it, he did his job. Also while checking out real estate, she checks on Roger, and his family tree. Comes to find out Roger is not a Wakefield, but a MacKenzie.
I cannot even begin to talk about or describe the moment when Jamie brings Claire to the stones, to safety not just for him but there barin. Yes Claire is pregnant and yes, Jamie figured it out before she even said a word. Is he not perfect? I mean there is a war going on and he paid attention to know she was pregnant!
