Outlander Recap: “Dragonfly in Amber”

As last night’s epic 90-minute season finale of Outlander opened, the setting was Scotland in 1968 with children, and a grown Roger Wakefield, gathered around a television set that was airing an episode of the 1960’s series The Avengers.

Dorothy, we are not in the Outlander that we have all come to know over the course of two seasons. However, book lovers know all too well that the second book on which the series is based opens in 1968 with Claire and her grown daughter Brianna in Scotland.

The small screen version has shuffled the details of book two around quite a bit in some places, but the way this ending played out was about as perfect as any viewer could hope. Granted we didn’t get an elaborate goodbye scene between Jamie and Claire (we knew this was coming given the events of the season premiere), but we certainly got an emotional one.

But let’s go back to the start of the episode, shall we.

We are at the resident of Reverend Wakefield – the man who was helping Frank Randall with his genealogical research in the 1940s at the end of World War II. The Reverend has passed on and his wake is being held with two surprise guests: Claire Randall and her 20-year-old daughter Brianna.

In quick succession, we learn that Claire and Brianna were in London visiting relatives when Claire learned of the Reverend’s passing; her husband Frank had passed on; Mrs. Graham was also gone (but her granddaughter Fiona works at the home) and Roger and Brianna share a common interest in History: she studying it at Harvard and he on break from the History Department at Oxford.

The rest of the episode was heavy on juxtaposition between what was taking place in 1968 and on that fateful day – April 16, 1746 – as the Battle of Culloden was neigh. While several days played in 1968 between Claire, Roger and Brianna only a mere hour and a half passed between the main characters in 1746.

Despite their best efforts, Claire and Jamie were unable to stop the battle so they were down to worst possible decision: end the life of Bonny Prince Charlie in order to save thousands of lives. But that plan came to a crashing halt when Dougal overheard their plans to give Prince Charles the same yellow jasmine for which Colum used the night before to take his own life.

Of course, a battle between uncle and nephew ensued with Dougal nearly getting the upper-hand until Claire clobbered him with a wooden box, allowing Jamie to – albeit awkwardly – overtake his uncle – and with a major assist from Claire – plunge a knife deep into Dougal’s chest, ending his life.

It was then a race against time – not only from the start of the battle but also from Rupert – who walked in to discover Jamie kneeling over Dougal’s dead body. In order to save his family from his crimes, Jamie signed over Lallybroch to his young nephew, sending adopted son Fergus to his ancestor home with the paperwork. He then ordered Murtagh to get the Lallybroch Frasers back to their homes while he took Claire to Craigh Na Dun to send her back to Frank.

The hardest scene to watch was the goodbye between Claire and Jamie at those imposing time-traveling stones, as Claire tried in vain to stay there with her love, who gave such an impassioned speech to her about what he would say to God upon his judgement day about his life with her. Their lovemaking may have been quick and dirty in the muck and mire of Craigh Na Dun, but it was passion-filled. And, as he led her to that large embossing stone, making her face him the entire time, walking her backwards to the stone and then putting his hand on hers as she touched the stone to go back to Frank, I’m sure there were very few dry eyes.

The stories that played out in 1968 were a combination of Brianna trying to find out about an incident that she learned took place in her parents past (prior to her birth); Claire finally saying goodbye to Jamie at the Clan Fraser stone marker on Culloden Moor; Brianna meeting Gillian Edgars (aka Geillis Duncan) – remember she told Claire that she came back to the 18th Century from 1968! – and Claire finally coming clean to her daughter about her true parentage and even giving Roger some knowledge about his family tree as well.

The final scene revealed that Roger’s adopted father did research at the behest of Frank, learning what really happened to Jamie at Culloden Moor. He didn’t actually die in that battle; he (and four other Frasers) survived, hid out in a home for two days but only one of the five escaped execution: Jamie Fraser.

As the sun began to rise over Craigh Na Dun, much like when Frank and Claire had watched Mrs. Graham and the “Druids” conduct their dance at the stones back in 1945, Claire – filled with all the hope in the world at the news that Jamie survived – knew that she had to go back.

The announcement was already made by Starz that Outlander will return not only for season three but also for season four, but no official announcement has been made as to when season three will actually air; but it will most likely be in early 2017 (although fans can hope for Droughtlander to not extend that long).

Memorable dialogue:

“Goodbye, Jamie Fraser, my love. Rest easy, soldier.” – Claire to Jamie via the “Clan Fraser” stone marker at Culloden Moor

“This child will be all that is left of me, ever.” – Jamie to Claire (after he told her that he figured out she was pregnant)

“He was the love my life!” – Claire screaming at her daughter Brianna

“It was the most powerful thing I ever felt in my life.” – Claire to Brianna about her love for Jamie

“Tell Frank that I am grateful, I trust him and that I hate him to the very marrow of his bones.” – Jamie to Claire

“If that is true, I have to go back.” – Claire to Roger and Brianna (upon learning Jamie didn’t die at Culloden Moor)