WiC Watches: Outlander season 5

Outlander — Courtesy of STARZ

Episode 506: “Better to Marry Than Burn”

I feel rather conflicted about this week’s episode of Outlander. I’m not sure if I really enjoyed it or not. There’s a part of me that feels Iike I can find the silver lining in every episode, but there was something about “Better to Marry Than Burn” that just didn’t click. Perhaps going through this review will help me gather my thoughts.

There were two plot points of this week’s episode: a disaster at Fraser’s Ridge and Jocasta’s wedding at River Run. Let’s talk about Fraser’s Ridge first.

Chaos ensued when locusts — yes, locusts — came flying into the community. It presented a huge problem because it put their crops in danger. Can I just say how gross the flock of locusts was?! It was definitely cringeworthy. I’m not sure if it was all CGI, but I was definitely freaking out.

As I’ve said before, Roger isn’t my favorite character on Outlander and I often question his decision-making skills. But this week he manages to save the day after recalling that smoke drives locusts away. The only issue is, how do they create smoke without burning down the crops or even Fraser’s Ridge itself?

Poop and goose fat, duh!

With buckets of this, they set up a barrier around the crops and created a large area of smoke. This causes the huge swarm of locusts to fly right over. Hooray, Roger! You saved the day!

Meanwhile, at River Run, the festivities for Jocasta’s upcoming nuptials are in full swing. There’s dancing, food, and lots of interesting characters, including one Phillip Wylie (remember him from season 4? The guy shows up all decked out in makeup and with an eye on Claire. He’s definitely smitten with her, and even tries to grope her in the stables.

Why was Claire in the stables with him? Well, he knows Bonnet’s whereabouts, and Claire wants nothing more than to seek revenge on him for what he did to Brianna. I totally get it, but Wylie was creepy AF, and I’m not sure I’d want to give him the wrong idea.

Luckily, Jamie shows up and beats the guy down. However, things take a turn when Jamie tries to strike up a deal with Wylie. During a previous conversation, Wylie picked up on the fact that the two wedding bands Claire wears are important to her. He wants them in exchange for giving them information on Bonnet.

Jamie doesn’t see the harm in making this exchange, but it’s a much bigger deal for Claire. And I get it. These rings have been through a lot and managed to make their way back to Claire; remember when Bonnet stole them? It’s also a reminder of her marriage with Frank.

It leads to an argument between the couple, which sorts itself out and leads to some barnyard sex. Because this is Outlander.

Oh, and Jamie managed to keep the rings! Husband of the year, right?

Luckily, all this drama was worth it because a meeting is set up with Bonnet. Who, FYI, has just learned that “his son” owns River Run. Earlier in the episode, Jocasta signed the papers making that official.

Is anyone else nervous about what repercussions this may have? Bonnet scares the crap out of me, and I’m not looking forward to seeing how this will all play out. It seems like he’s going to make his presence known at Fraser’s Ridge very shortly.

Last but not least, Jocasta is in her feelings the night before her wedding because, as we all know, her heart belongs to only one person: Murtagh. I must admit that I was waiting for him to show up all episode, and I was so glad when he did. Unfortunately, too little too late, because Jocasta rejects him as he gets down on one knee.

Murtagh didn’t say anything when he first heard of her engagement, and now Jocasta is going to push through into whatever her wedding day and marriage brings. It broke my heart that things ended this way. But Jocasta’s life was destroyed by a man surrounded by conspiracy and war, and she won’t live like that again. It cost her a child, and she knows where a life like Murtagh’s leads.

Is this truly the end of Murtagh and Jocasta? I sure hope not.