Outlander review, Episode 708: “Turning Points”

Outlander, you never cease to amaze me. Whenever I think you will enter a slow burn or pump the brakes a little bit, you proceed with full force ahead…and I love it!

After seven incredible, heart-thumping episodes, we have arrived at the Outlander season 7 midseason finale. And as expected, things got chaotic and wild before ending on a glorious note.

While this particular season will not be impacted by the current writers and actors strikes (it was filmed before they started), we have no idea when we will get the second half of season 7. If I had to guess, I’m thinking 2024, which isn’t fair, but it is what it is. What fun is this show without a torturous, unfair Droughtlander?

Let’s get into all the major events of the Outlander Season 7 midseason finale–and heads up, MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!

A wounded Jamie

We last left Jamie (Sam Heughan) wounded and unconscious after fighting in the first Battle of Saratoga. This week’s episode starts with the revelation that Jamie is not dead, *phew*. However, his hand is severely wounded.

Luckily, before a woman and her son can loot and kill an unconscious Jamie, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) shows up to save the day. She scares them away, gives Jamie a stern talking-to (I love their arguments) and proceeds to tend to his wounds like the amazing doctor she is.

This season of Outlander has kept Jamie and Claire’s famous sex scenes at a minimum, but the pair now share more emotional moments. It’s nice to see them bond this way, and how solid their love is. Past seasons have demonstrated that love through sex scenes, but there is something special about their love in Season 7.

Roger goes back through the stones

Ah, yes, let us return to the chaos of the present time! As we learned last week, Rob Cameron (Chris Fulton) turned out to be the shady man we all suspected him to be. His showing up for dinner was just a ruse to get into Roger’s (Richard Rankin) and Brianna’s (Sophie Skelton) things so he could learn more about them. The two were so distracted that they didn’t even notice that Jamie and Claire’s letters had been tampered with and that one was missing until later.

It’s not until Mandy wakes up screaming late at night shouting that she can’t feel the connection with Jemmy anymore that they realize something is wrong. And that is where we pick up this week.

To summarize, Rob Cameron essentially kidnapped Jemmy under the ruse of a sleepover with his kid and took him through the stones. He must have learned that Jemmy knows the location of the Jacobite gold and forced him to go back in time to locate it. What an a**hole! Ugh!

Of course, with no other option but to go after them, Roger decides to make the trip through the stones to rescue Jemmy. Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) says he will go with him because after all, it is his time they are returning to, and I’m sure going back home sounds nice after hiding out in another time for so long.

As luck would have it, Brianna has long prepared for a “just in case we need to time travel again” scenario and has gems on standby. Before we know it, Roger and Buck walk right through the stones, leaving Brianna and Mandy behind. Book readers probably know what’s coming, but for the rest of us, we are waiting with bated breath.

Second Battle of Saratoga

As history marks it, the Battles of Saratoga gave victory to the United States over the British in the American Revolutionary War. In the Outlander midseason finale, we see this moment come to fruition, resulting in some very interesting moments.

First and foremost, Claire meets yet another historical figure. This time it’s the traitor Benedict Arnold. While acquiring some medications from him, she realizes who she is getting acquainted with and tells Jamie. It’s strange knowing what he will do and how that one action defines him for the rest of his life, and for many, many years after.

During the battle, Jamie also spots his son, William (Charles Vandevaart), and nearly kills him, thinking he’s just shooting at another British officer. It’s a massive moment for Jamie and the fans because they have been tiptoeing around one another all season. We finally see them talk when Jamie hands William his hat since he shot it off earlier. Father of the Year award, please!

There is a truce between the camps as Jamie learns that his relative Simon Fraser (Angus Macfadyen), who was fighting with the British, is dying. They say their final farewell, and it is emotional. I’m still reeling from that moment.

Ending of Outlander Season 7, Episode 8 explained

After the death of Simon Fraser, Jamie is told that one of his cousin’s wishes was to be taken back to Scotland to be buried. And there’s no one better to take him than Jamie himself.

I can’t help but grin at this moment, because going back to Scotland was exactly what Jamie and Claire wanted. They didn’t expect to be taking His Majesty’s ship, but hey, whatever works.

In the final moments of the Outlander season 7 midseason finale, Jamie, Claire, and Young Ian (John Bell) emerge from the ship’s depths to see that they have arrived in Scotland. Aye, bonnie ‘ol Scotland! It is an exciting moment, but many questions remain. What does the future hold? Did Roger arrive in the past safely? Will he find Jemmy? And what does the future of Lallybroch look like?

We have no idea, but I cannot wait to find out after this stellar first half of the season. Bravo, Outlander, Bravo!

Episode Grade: A-

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