Outlander review, Episode 606: “The World Turned Upside Down”

This week’s episode of Outlander just might contain one of the craziest twists in the show’s run. That is not an exaggeration, and if you’ve read the books I think you’ll agree. I’m still trying to wrap my head around the nearly 70-minute episode that had less to do with the impending war and a lot more to do with a dysentery epidemic that hit Fraser’s Ridge. The last time I heard/read that word was when I used to play The Oregon Trail video game, so it was definitely a throwback.

The dysentery epidemic, however, isn’t the crazy twist I’m referring to; it was simply a stepping stone to something larger and more sinister that is going to change things dramatically for the Fraser family.

I read a lot of the interviews the cast and creators did ahead of the season premiere, and one thing is for sure: they were not kidding when they said this season is going to get dark. Ladies and gentlemen, it got dark as all heck, and I must warn you: be prepared!

SPOILERS ahead!

A dysentery epidemic strikes Outlander

In the 18th century, dysentery was a deadly serious malady often called the “bloody flux,” and this week it spread like wildfire through Fraser’s Ridge. To be more specific, it is amoebic dysentery, which Claire (Caitriona Balfe) confirms with her makeshift microscope. The disease can be spread through contaminated food or water, and Jamie (Sam Heughan) eventually learns that it was a dead elk lying in the water that the fisherfolk use that caused the disease.

Claire comes to learn of the dysentery after Roger (Richard Rankin) shares that he hasn’t seen the MacNeill family in recent days. Claire, Brianna (Sophie Skelton), Malva (Jessica Reynolds), and Lizzie (Caitlin O’ Ryan) pay a visit to the MacNeill cabin only to find the entire family is on the verge of dying from the disease. Sadly, none of them make it, and it kickstarts a very dramatic series of events.

Claire falls ill on Outlander

As time passes, the dysentery epidemic overtakes Fraser’s Ridge. Many pass away from the illness, while others barely cling to life. Unfortunately, Claire is among those who fall very ill, but as we come to learn, it’s not due to dysentery.

Earlier in the episode Claire reveals to Malva that an amoeba is what caused dysentery. Malva, wide-eyed and curious as ever, is surprised to learn something so small could have such a catastrophic impact on one’s body. I want you to remember this point because it becomes very important later.

While attending a funeral, Claire faints from a high fever. Her health rapidly declines, and we can’t help but wonder if she’ll make it out alive. Drenched in sweat, Claire is in and out of consciousness for much of the episode.

Malva, Jamie, Lizzie, and Brianna are by her side through the whole ordeal, but it’s Malva who seems to be going above and beyond. Normally, I’d commend this sort of thing, but from the get-go, she’s always seemed off. Something about her didn’t sit well with me, and now I understand why.

While Claire is sick, Malva uses the opportunity to cozy up to Jamie, talking to him or simply lingering around the Fraser household as she helps nurse Claire back to health. One night, Claire awakens from a feverish dream about snakes and storms to see Jamie standing by the window having a drink. She also sees, or at least she thinks she sees, Malva, standing behind him and putting her hand on his shoulder.

It is not a good look, but Claire chalks it up to a feverish hallucination. When she finally returns to her senses, Roger is by her side and she is baffled to find out that all her hair was chopped off. According to Roger, Malva and Mrs. Bug  (Sarah Collier) cut Claire’s hair off because that is what they thought you are supposed to do to help someone with a high fever.

So, yes, Outlander fans, Claire Fraser has a new hairstyle, and I won’t lie, she’s pulling it off!

Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones) doesn’t seem to think so, though. Claire pays him a visit after learning that he too had fallen ill with the same thing she had. It wasn’t dysentery, but rather a bacterial infection of sorts. The only thing that doesn’t make sense is that the two of them had not been in contact with one another, so how were they the only ones to get sick with something that is usually transmitted through food, water, or proximity?

Are you thinking what I’m thinking?

It was absolutely Malva! We already know she despises her father, and we know she has a thing for Jamie so she wants Claire out of the way. And to top it all off, earlier in the episode Malva was creepily pleased with the prospect of something small causing chaos in the human body.

All the pieces of the puzzle are coming together, but the worst is yet to come.

Malva’s secret

As Claire’s health continues to improve, Jamie and Roger head off to the Continental Congress. As a historian, Roger couldn’t be more excited to be a part of this historical moment, and I don’t blame him; this is one of the upsides to being a time traveler! But right as they are about to depart, the Christie family shows up looking none too happy. Something is definitely up, and as the viewer, my heart sank.

Tom Christie declares that Malva is with child, but he doesn’t know whose child it is. The uneasy music implies that Malva is about to claim it is Jamie’s, which is exactly what she does.

Now, as a fan of Claire and Jamie’s relationship, I absolutely do not believe Malva. She’s been shady from the start, and this must be part of some strange elaborate scheme of hers.

It’s infuriating to see Malva put on a spectacle, claiming that Jamie and she slept together while Claire was sick and that she knows about all the scars on his body. (Let’s remember: the only reason she knows about the scars and moles is that she was creepily watching Jamie and Claire have sex a couple of episodes ago.)

It’s a difficult moment to digest, but what’s worse is that Claire gets emotionally overwhelmed, slaps Malva, and promptly runs away from the conversation. Jamie continues to be adamant to Tom Christie and his son Allan (Alexander Vlahos) that Malva is lying, but it appears they have all but convinced themselves that she’s telling the truth.

Jamie eventually follows Claire out to the barn, and the two have a discussion that nearly breaks my heart. Claire knows that Jamie wouldn’t do this, but she does recall seeing Malva and Jamie standing in the room when she was sick. She can’t shake off the horrible feeling that this could be true.

However, Jamie’s composure and honesty about the one time he slept with someone (Mary McNab) before he handed himself over to the Redcoats tells us everything we need to know. Plus, Claire understands that if Malva’s child was truly Jamie’s, he would never abandon it no matter who the mother was.

So, just like that, it’s Claire and Jamie against the world, or rather Fraser’s Ridge.

Outlander’s biggest shock yet

While Jamie is out of town for the next two months, Claire is left to bear the judgmental glares of everyone in Fraser’s Ridge. They choose to believe Malva (which is beyond me), and shun Claire.

I absolutely love the moment when Claire decides to go to talk to Malva about what happened. Malva is adamant that Jamie is the father of her child. But Claire lets it be known to Malva that there is no way that she can get in between her and Jamie. They’ve been through much worse, and there is nothing in the world that can tear them apart. I loved hearing her say that.

Naturally, the conversation goes nowhere, and in fact gets worse when Allan comes out and accuses Claire of being a witch. The ungrateful Malva is super eager to go against the very woman who has been helping her learn medicine and backs up that claim. Ugh, I hate Malva!

As the episode comes to a close, Claire returns home and learns from Ian (John Bell) that he slept with Malva once and that he could be the father of the child. There is no way to really know that because apparently, Malva has been sleeping around so it could really be anyone at this point.

But that’s all besides the point, because the episode ends with the biggest twist I’ve ever seen on Outlander…

Along with all the recent drama, Claire is still reeling from the trauma of her assault. She often hallucinates Lionel Brown is around her and gives herself anesthesia to fall asleep. It happens once again at the end of this episode, just as she sees Malva walking up to the cabin from a distance.

Malva wakes Claire up and badgers her about how she kills herself and brings herself back to life, not understanding how anesthesia works. In her drowsy state, Claire grows agitated and threatens Malva with a knife. However, the anesthesia is still keeping her drowsy and she soon loses consciousness.

When she wakes, something feels not quite right. And that’s because it isn’t. Claire walks outside to her garden only to find Malva’s body with her throat slit. MALVA IS DEAD! Frantic, Claire tries to do a C-section to save Malva’s baby, but it’s too late.

It’s hard not to think that Claire might have done this, but I know she didn’t. It just doesn’t make sense given the anesthesia, but that begs the question: who murdered Malva? Well, book readers know exactly where this storyline is going, and I myself wandered into spoiler territory. But they’ll be none of that here.

All I can say is that I’m baffled at this twist and did not see it coming (I have not read all the books yet). This is really going to mess things up for Claire, who is already hated by the settlers of Fraser’s Ridge. Naturally, the blame will fall on her regardless of whether she committed the crime.

Sigh, I’m not ready for this, fellow Outlander fans!

Verdict

Folks, I think we’re all going to need a few days to process the events of this week’s Outlander episode. I simply can’t believe the turn things have taken, and I can’t even imagine what this means for Claire. Not to mention there is still a war to worry about!

Also, so much happened this week and now we only have two more episodes before the season concludes. What the heck is going to happen?! Will Claire get blamed for this, or sentenced to some form of justice? And also, WHO KILLED MALVA?!

So many questions, no answers, and not much time left in Outlander season 6. I don’t think I can handle this stress.

Grade: A

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