Just like that we have arrived at the Outlander Season 7 penultimate episode, "Written In My Own Heart's Blood". It's a bittersweet moment because we have one episode left for the season, and following next week's finale, we have one season left of Outlander...ever. It is tough to believe that we are so close to the end of the road, and to saying goodbye to our favorite time-traveling romance. I do not like to think about the end, but alas, it is closer than ever before.
However, before we get tearful about the end, let's talk about this week's explosive episode. A lot has been taking shape in the forming United States of America, including this episode's Battle of Monmouth. Jamie (Sam Heughan) is finally heading out into the trenches, which doesn't bode well for our anxiety, or for Claire's (Caitriona Balfe). Whenever these two are separated or going off into dangerous situations, there is this unsettling feeling in the pit of our stomachs. That feeling is in full force during this week's episode, so let's talk about why in our review below! And remember...MAJOR SPOILERS AHEAD!
A montage to kick us off
The episode opens with a montage of moments that Claire is looking back on, which remind her that the American Revolutionary War is not her first rodeo. Before she ever time-traveled, she was a nurse in World War II, and then there were her post-time-travel battles, including Culloden. The montage reflects on all these difficult moments including the loss of Murtagh (Duncan LaCroix), and the many others that have since gone.
This montage appears to take place to remind us that yet again we are in the trenches of war in Outlander, and nothing is certain when war is involved. There is a foreboding sense of doom and gloom as Claire reflects back, and with that, the credits begin to play.
We get back to the episode with Jamie contemplating the fight that lies ahead. It's cumbersome yet familiar to be back at this point, but during this, he recalls his late mother's death. He remembers the details of her funeral and how there was a baby wrapped in her arms. She died during childbirth, and it is something that still sticks with Jamie until this day. However, he is joyous that his wife made it past the age of 38, and he hopes that the years will continue as their love deepens for one another.
Jamie is going into this battle with a confidence that he and Claire will be just fine, and nothing will happen to him or their magical love story. However, Claire does not give off the same vibe, and doesn't seem confident that things are going past this point. It doesn't make us feel any better, but hey, at least Jamie feels sure about this!
The scene switches to a conversation between Jamie and Claire with a very darkened feel to it as Claire says, "Something feels different this time". This is something we go back to throughout the episode, and it is very unsettling. Claire seems to think that while they made it out of other wars and situations alive, this time they may not be so lucky. Come on, Claire, where is your cautious optimism?!
Taking it back to 1739
We meet back up with Roger (Richard Rankin) and Buck (Diarmid Murtagh), who know they're in the wrong time but aren't sure of their next steps. Unfortunately for Roger, while he may have realized that Jemmy is not in this time, he doesn't know that Jemmy actually never left their time to begin with. It complicates things, but this is the nature of time-travel.
Buck begins to think about the intricacies of time travel, and wonders if perhaps his parents also possessed the ability to do what he can. As we all know, his mother definitely could, but as for his father, it doesn't seem like he ever did, or at least we never saw him/he never had the opportunity to learn if he could. In case you've forgotten, Buck's parents are Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek) and Dougal MacKenzie (Graham MacTavish). As Buck is thinking about all of this, Roger tries his darndest not to reveal anything, but he can't hold it in and reveals the identity of Buck's parents — and reminds Buck that he has already met them.
Buck does not take this revelation lightly and is upset that Roger never thought to tell him the truth, especially when his parents were there. Meanwhile, Roger potentially meddled with time by interacting with his own father. How is that fair? We totally get you, Buck. Plus, it isn't like other Outlander characters haven't revealed major elements of history to others. This happens all the time, so not cool Roger.
Buck is also quick to point out that his and Roger's presence during Dougal and Geillis' first meeting was probably supposed to happen. Dougal showed up to discuss the fairy man and that would not have been a topic of conversation if it wasn't for Roger and Buck looking for this man. Maybe things were supposed to transpire this way, because if they hadn't, then there would be no Buck, and subsequently, no Roger.
Triage and chaos
Back at the warfront, Claire is busy trying to provide her medical expertise. However, because she is a woman, Dr. Leckie (Ben Cura) doesn't take much stock in what she has to say. It's a very annoying recurrence for this poor woman, but we all know how amazing she is at her job. Forced to do triage, Claire sets up shop outside to tend to all the wounded soldiers with Rachel's (Izzy Meikle-Small) help.
The two of them talk about death some more, which is a heavy theme of the episode and points to something awful happening. Claire knows that Jamie is a dedicated soldier, and fears that he won't consider his life in the line of fire. It's funny she has that thought as she is doing something very similar by putting herself in the same position time and time again.
Mission Save William
Before Jamie sets off to the trenches, he shares with Claire that when he last spoke to William (Charles Vandevaart), it resulted in angry words and a fight. He fears that he may never get that chance again, especially with him going into battle and William being kidnapped and caught by the Hessians.
Luckily, Lord John Grey (David Berry) and Ian (John Bell) are on a mission to save William, and they do just that. They both pretend to be Continental soldiers that were tasked to take the prisoner away. Oberst Von Schnell (Martin Oelbermann) is not having it, however, and refuses to believe they're who they say they are. He's a smart man, but his resistance to them pushes Lord John Grey and Ian to shoot everyone but Oberst dead. While Oberst is spared and released, he tells Ian he will regret letting him go. Since this is something Ian has heard before and lived to regret with Mr. Bug, he makes sure to take Oberst's life a bit later in the episode. He didn't want to have any loose threads running around that could risk his family's safety, especially Rachel's.
William and Lord John Grey also last saw one another on angry terms after William learned that Jamie is his father. However, their reunion is a happy one, and that conversation will be saved for another time. Lord John Grey shares what they were planning to do with William, and how Captain Richardson had ulterior motives due to William's heritage/lineage.
Of course, who William really is doesn't sit well with him. He brings up past conversations Lord John Grey has had with him about reputation and a man's name. William feels conflicted about his own name and identity, now that he learned his father was a "groom", which he says with the utmost disgust. Ugh, if only he understood how amazing Jamie is. Luckily, Lord John Grey is there to defend Jamie and tell his son that his birth father is an incredible man, and always has been.
Back at the British camp
As if thinking about his real father wasn't enough stress, William returns to camp to learn that Jane (Silvia Presente) has been arrested by one of the British soldiers. Her younger sister Fanny (Florrie May Wilkinson) is furious with William as he vowed to protect them, but since he got kidnapped, he wasn't around when an officer saw Jane and recognized she was around when Captain Harkness was murdered. It's unclear what William will be able to do to save Jane, but he better think of something quick if he is to save her life.
Lallybroch 1739
Roger and Buck arrive at Lallybroch hoping that Jamie's father, Brian Fraser (Andrew Whipp), can help him with something. He wants to use Brian's study to write Brianna (Sophie Skelton) a letter in hopes that she will come across it in the future. That is a big leap of faith considering the letter has to stay in the exact same spot for at least 250 years, and then Brianna has to happen to stumble across it. The letter explains that he ended up in the wrong time, and that he will do what he can to get back to their family.
Simultaneously, Brianna writes Roger a letter sharing that she and the kids are traveling through the stones to find him, but if he is to come back, to stay put. It's all very confusing, but luckily, while writing the letter, Brianna finds Roger's letter and learns what happened to him. I was a bit worried for Brianna, however, because I thought she was trying to avoid Lallybroch given the whole Rob Cameron situation. What if he was still around?! What if he finds her letter to Roger?!
Meanwhile, back in 1739, Buck makes Roger a generous offer, given that they are family and blood, to travel back to the future to let Brianna know what has taken place. However, this offer will not go anywhere because Brianna and the kids are already at the stones of Craigh Na Dun preparing for their journey. However, something unfortunate happens as Brianna explains to Mandy that she must be thinking of Roger when they go through the stones. She hands Mandy the gem and before she gets a chance to gather them all together, Mandy runs towards the stones as Jem and Brianna chase after. Let's just hope that Brianna had the gem in her hand too, before handing them to the kids...
Ending of Outlander Season 7, Episode 15 explained
After Claire defiantly and bravely proves Dr. Leckie wrong regarding her medical skills, he is quick to accept her help once things get tense on the battlefield. The British soldiers make their way towards the field hospital, but Claire refuses to leave the wounded soldiers despite Dr. Leckie, Rachel, and Denzell insisting that she leave. We all know Claire is not one to walk away from duties, and there is no one that can convince her otherwise.
A wounded Lieutenant Bixby (Hyoie O’Grady) shows up and informs Claire that last he saw Jamie was with General Washington when General Lee was told to let go of his duties after telling his men to retreat inaccurately. As a result, they proceeded with the attack, which may have resulted in the British soldiers retreating and leaving. Perhaps they are winning after all!
In all of this, Jamie makes his way back with the soldiers to the field hospital and calls out "Sassanech" to Claire who is more than ecstatic to see her husband is still alive. However, the remaining British soldiers in the area start arguing with the American soldiers, something Claire stated wouldn't happen because it was an area of wounded soldiers. Shots ring out, and before we know it, we learn that Claire was on the receiving end of one of the bullets.
Dr. Leckie is quick to give up on helping Claire and walks away, so in her dying state, Claire says that they need Denzell. Bixby rushes to get Denzell and Rachel, who come bearing cheese from Lafayette. As it turns out, that cheese would have penicillium in it, which could be used later as a means to help Claire recover from any infections. She is a genius even on the brink of death!
Denzell prepares to perform surgery on Claire, as he is her only hope. Meanwhile, Jamie sends a bloody message to a very angry General Lee who is demanding Jamie come to him at once. Jamie promptly says he resigns because there is no way he is leaving Claire's side right now. It won't bode well for Jamie, but that is future Jamie's problem to worry about. Right now, it is time to save Claire's life, and all eyes are on Denzell.
Grade: A
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