After a year-long Droughtlander, Starz’s Outlander season seven episode one leaps right into the action, with Claire (Caitriona Balfe) being hung as a murderer. Of course, that doesn’t really happen. Unfortunately for Jamie (Sam Heughan), it’s a vision that’s haunting his every waking minute since being forcibly separated from the love of his life.
Jamie feels deep in his bones that Claire is still alive and is committed to finding her. With Young Ian (John Bell) at his side, nothing will stop the determined Scot from reuniting with the missing piece of his heart.
Claire’s indeed alive and doing as well as can be expected, given that she’s locked up in a Wilmington jail. Margit Tolliver (Liza Sadovy) is in charge of the jail, and she lays down the basic rules of the facility. Claire can purchase extra supplies if she has money, which she does thanks to Tom Christie.
Claire’s cellmate introduces herself as Sadie Ferguson (Sarah Finigan) and explains that there haven’t been any trials in months because the justices are in hiding. Sadie warns Claire to be on guard; a mob could come for her even if she hasn’t been officially found guilty.
Obviously, Claire can’t share that the war will keep the courts closed for years. But that information eats at her.
Morning arrives, and soldiers come to fetch the healer – unaware of whom they’re looking for or what she’s charged with. After Claire says she’s the healer, Sadie steps forward and claims to be the one charged with murder, labeling Claire as a forger.
By the time Jamie and Ian make it to town, Claire’s been taken away. Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones) has no idea where they took her, but Sadie offers info – for a price. Another prisoner explains that forgery is a capital crime while murderers can repent for their sins. Sadie insists she was simply trying to help.
Mrs. Tolliver reveals Claire was taken on her husband’s orders to do the Crown’s duty. All she knows is that he was on the way to put down some unrest in Fort Johnston.
In fact, Claire’s been taken to a ship to replace a surgeon sent to treat the wounded at Fort Johnston. The patient is a pregnant Elizabeth Martin (Reanne Farley), wife of Governor Martin, and she whines about her current circumstances and that her husband’s being hunted by his own citizens.
Claire treats Elizabeth kindly, but the woman becomes alarmed when she figures out Claire’s accused of murdering her husband’s pregnant mistress. Apparently, Claire is quite notorious; everyone knows her story. Elizabeth makes her swear she won’t hurt the baby before accepting her help.
Elizabeth confesses she’d rather die than lose another baby. (She’s had six pregnancies and lost three of them.) Mrs. Martin’s impressed and thankful for Claire’s loving care. She promises to keep the murder charge a secret.
Claire overhears Governor Martin (Eugene O’Hare) discussing their destination and asks to be let off the ship to retrieve supplies. He won’t allow it and instead suggests she make a list of items to pick up. As they’re speaking, Major Donald MacDonald (Robin Laing) joins them with news that Fort Johnston has fallen.
MacDonald fills Governor Martin in on Claire’s story, including the detail that Jamie resigned his commission as Indian Agent. Martin also learns Claire’s been accused of murder. She swears she’s innocent and that she did everything in her power to save the unborn child. She’ll do the same for his wife and can empathize with his own loss.
Claire outsmarts the Governor and addresses her supply letter to Tom Christie. In it she writes that she’s treating a patient on the HMS Cruizer. The letter explains that the Governor’s man will meet Christie in the harbor and ferry the supplies out to the ship, which won’t be at anchor long.
The supply list includes a request for oil of porcupine, camphor, potassium nitrate, and vir meus. Christie takes the addition of “vir meus” to mean she’s requesting that he find Jamie. Christie does as asked and passes off the note to Jamie.
Claire’s on the deck when Jamie arrives in a rowboat. They hug and share a passionate kiss as soon as he climbs aboard, and Jamie immediately asks to speak with Governor Martin. Jamie requests the release of his wife, reminding Martin that since martial law has been declared, he has full control over the prisoners and has the power to release Claire.
Governor Martin remains unconvinced and proposes a deal. If Jamie gathers 200 men and commits to fighting alongside Major MacDonald, then he’ll let Claire go. She’ll remain his prisoner until Jamie does as instructed.
Jamie seems to agree with the proposal but then whispers to Claire that he’ll see her in the morning.
Jamie returns to Wilmington and assures Ian that he’s not about to recruit any men. But he is determined to return to the ship and do whatever he must to free Claire.
Jamie and Ian encounter Tom, a little drunk and asking for Jamie’s help. Tom wants Jamie’s permission to go to the ship and free Claire by claiming he murdered Malva. Jamie swallows his pride and allows Tom to be Claire’s savior.
Tom’s unsure of what his future holds and wonders what Jamie would say at his funeral if he has one.
Jamie replies, “I would say that Thomas Christie was an honorable Scot, a leader of men in his own way, though he didn’t kin quite where to lead them.”
Jamie smiles and adds, “Stubborn as a damn mule, but despite our differences, a man I respected and whose respect I hope I had in return.”
Claire’s on the deck again when Tom Christie arrives in a rowboat. They speak privately, and Tom reveals he’s come to confess to Malva’s murder. Claire’s confused, and Tom confides in her that Malva was his brother’s daughter and that he believed she and her mother were witches. He doesn’t blame his brother because his wife was a seductress who could work her charms on any man.
His wife was eventually hanged for murdering his brother. Tom then raised Malva as his own, alongside his flesh and blood son, Allan.
Tom’s certain Malva was a witch, just like her mother, and she even confessed that she tried to kill him and Claire. This rings true to Claire, who realizes Malva was also behind the love charm. Malva wanted Jamie and would kill to get him.
Claire believes his story but doesn’t believe he killed Malva.
Tom confesses to Claire that he loves her, and then hands her his written confession to the murder of Malva. It’s too late to turn back as he left a copy with the newspaper in Wilmington. He’s spent his life giving his love to those who aren’t worthy of it and asks that now she allow him to give his life for “the sake of one who is.”
Jamie is pacing on the shore when he spots the rowboat appearing out of the fog with Claire at the front.
Later, they share a bed (fully clothed) and she asks if he made Tom confess. Jamie explains what happened, and both agree that Tom didn’t actually kill Malva. Claire feels guilty that Tom confessed just to save her, and Jamie says he would have done the same if it could have saved her.
Once Claire’s asleep, Jamie slips out of bed and into Richard Brown’s room. He spotted Brown’s horse tied up outside earlier and has been waiting for him to return to his room. Brown (Chris Larkin) is shocked Jamie isn’t on board a ship back to Scotland and offers Jamie a drink. Jamie wants to wait until he’s done, and Brown warns him not to harm a hair on his head.
Jamie doesn’t raise his voice or break eye contact as he assures Brown that Ian and the Cherokee have already taken care of Brown’s men. Brown tries to appeal to Jamie’s better angels, calling him a good and moral man. Jamie, eyes locked on his enemy, reminds Brown he’s also a violent man. His goodness comes from Claire, and Brown tried to take that from him.
Jamie suggests Brown should make his peace with the Lord and then closes the gap between the two men as episode one fades to black.
Roger Has a Shocking Encounter with a Fellow Traveler
When season seven catches up with Roger (Richard Rankin) and Brianna (Sophie Skelton), they’re preparing for Roger’s new position of ministering to soldiers. Roger claims he’s tough enough to handle it but admits Reverend McMillan will surely test his mettle.
Rev. McMillan (Iain MacRae) warns Roger not to judge which side the soldiers fight for. All will need prayer, no matter who they support. The prisoners in chains taunt Roger and McMillan, claiming they have nothing useful to say.
“Float like a butterfly, sting like a bee, and surely God will go with thee,” replies Roger, quoting Mohammed Ali.
He’s shocked when a man says, “Ali,” in response, and Roger quickly engages the stranger in conversation. Wendigo Donner (first seen in season five, episodes 11 and 12) introduces himself and asks for help. Roger recognizes the name as one Claire told him was among Lionel Brown’s men when she was kidnapped and tortured.
Wendigo (Brennan Martin) swears he didn’t touch Claire and would never hurt her. He’s been conscripted to fight after being caught stealing a gemstone – the gemstone he needs to travel home. Wendigo explains that he traveled with five other Native Americans to help the Indian Nations, but they got separated traveling through the stones. He never made it to where he was supposed to go.
Wendigo begs for help, and Roger collects items that might be useful in helping him escape. Bree’s shocked when she discovers what he’s up to and wonders how exactly Roger thinks he can bust out a prisoner. “You’re not Steve McQueen in The Great Escape!” says Bree.
Roger and Bree agree Wendigo didn’t hurt Claire, but Bree reminds Roger that the time traveler also didn’t lend a hand to help her mother. Roger understands how she feels, but thinks Wendigo is just scared to death and wants to go home. He recalls his own time as part of Stephen Bonnet’s crew and that he would do anything to get back to her. Wendigo did the same to get home.
Later, Roger tries to mend fences by telling Bree he hasn’t helped Wendigo escape. However, he needs to listen to his instincts and help the man – but by praying for him, not releasing him.
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