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Outlander Recap (Season Finale): “Man of Worth”

By Rueben | January 28, 2019

Outlander has come to a close for its fourth season with the culmination of the main stories for our beloved characters, starting with getting Roger back and ending with a twist that is not actually featured in the books.

Our first glimpse was of the Mohawk camp along the river in New York in 1770 with daily life progressing for the tribe; braves playing a game, men and women at their chores and Roger swaying back and forth inside the “idiot” hut. Then there was Jamie stealthily walking toward the Mohawk camp – they finally made it there! – using the spyglass from his days at sea to ascertain if Roger was in the camp. Unfortunately, Jamie could not see him, which was what he reported to Claire and Ian as he returned to their camp. They knew they had to proceed forward – especially since Jamie was sure that the Mohawk knew they were there. They made the short trek through the woods with their goods strapped down on one of their horses. Rollo led the way with Ian, Claire and Jamie following as they entered the Mohawk camp. Naturally, several braves had already been watching them from the hillside and as they slowly walked into the camp they were surrounded by most of the villagers.

Jamie spoke first saying “Greetings” and “Peace” and then told them “we come to trade” and as some of the villagers looked at what they had on the horse, Ian spoke to them in their native tongue about the man that had been sold to them, showing them the picture Brianna had drawn of Roger as well as showing them the necklace given to him during the trade. Those who looked at the drawing recognized him as Dogface [the name given to Roger by the tribe] and then the Mohawk brave Kaheroton stepped forward, and Ian recognized him, asking him in English about the man he had sold to him in North Carolina. Kaheroton asked “Why. What is he to you that you would come all this way?” Ian explained that he was important to their family. That is when Kaheroton stated they needed to go to Tehwahsehwkwe,

After a few tense moments as the villagers gathered around them, the Chief descended down from his longhouse and was told about the trio’s desire to trade for Dogface. Ian, Claire and Jamie then bowed to the Chief, who spoke to them in English. He confirmed to them that Dogface was in the village, and that they must want him very badly, bringing him blankets, whiskey and metal trinkets. While they waited for the Chief and his men to make a decision about the trade, Claire pulled off her scarf to give to a young boy. However, lying beneath her scarf was the stone necklace which she had found under the fallen tree along with the skull of the Indian brave [who we learned in the episode “The False Bride” was actually from Claire’s century]. The villagers reacted in shock to her wearing the necklace. In fact, the woman from last week’s episode who had told Roger to take firewood to one of the longhouses exclaimed that Claire was wearing Otter Tooth’s necklace. The Chief became agitated, telling the trio they must leave; that they would not trade with them.

Back at River Run, Murtagh arrived – after escaping from Wilmington – mainly to check “on the lass;” but also to have a good, decent meal with Aunt Jocasta, who was sitting next to him at her ornate table. Of course, Jocasta seemed to be apprised of what happened in Wilmington – Brianna told her most of what took place. In true Jocasta style, though, she told Murtagh there was a rumor that he had aligned himself with the regulators or perhaps it was that errand Jamie had sent him on that had him in Wilmington again when he was captured. Murtagh admitted it was a little of both for which she, of course, berated him about. But when she informed him of Brianna’s engagement to Lord John Grey, well, that didn’t sit too well with Jamie’s godfather. It didn’t help matters that when Murtagh gave Jocasta a hard time about being married three times herself and seemingly forcing marriage on Brianna that she left the room abruptly after telling Murtagh that a room would be prepared for him.

We next got to see Brianna, who was by now very pregnant lying in her bed with Phaedre checking the progress of her baby and talking about her latest drawing. Brianna said she just couldn’t capture the front visage of River Run perfectly. While Phaedre told her “It’s a beautiful drawing, Ms. Bree, but tis your bairn who will be perfect.” Thankfully Phaedre told Brianna that she has brought a number of children into the world so Brianna would be in good hands when her time came to give birth.

As Jamie, Claire and Ian returned empty-handed to their camp, Claire knew – based on the villagers’ reaction to the necklace – that there was more of a story within the Mohawk camp AND that they were so close to Roger, that they couldn’t give up. Jamie agreed wholeheartedly, as he could not return to Brianna without Roger. In fact, Jamie told Claire he was going back to the camp that night, but she told him he couldn’t go in there alone and, for that matter, she was sure they wouldn’t even be save in the woods that night.

As they prepared to settle in at their campsite, Jamie stopped dead in his tracks, as he could sense that trouble was near. Sure enough, there were several Mohawk braves who came out of the woods, with one of them attacking Jamie, but Jamie overpowered the brave and held a tomahawk to his throat as the woman from the village, who recognized Otter Tooth’s necklace, came out from behind a tree, telling the braves to “stand down” and demanded Claire give her the necklace. Claire was bold enough to demand in return that she would give over the stone if they would help them get Roger back.

Claire asked the woman’s name – Wahkatiiosta – and then asked why the stone was so important. The woman and the Mohawk braves sat opposite the trio around a campfire as she told them the story of Otter Tooth, who came to them many years ago before she was born. Wahkatiiosta explained the man would not “tell them from whence he came, but he spoke of when he came.” The man’s name was Ta’wineonawira [Otter Tooth]; he warned them of the white man, that they needed to take up their tomahawks and make war upon this enemy. He basically told them kill them before they kill you. As the story continued, the man painted himself, performed a war dance and, in doing so, convinced many of the tribe to follow him, returning with white scalps. She said the village was angry and afraid that soldiers would come to the village exacting vengeance. Wahkatiiosta’s grandfather, who was Chief at the time, said that Otter Tooth must leave the tribe for “he would bring destruction” to them.

Otter Tooth left the village, but ranted and raved so much that the tribe came to believe he was possessed by an evil spirit. He came back to the village again and again to the point that banishing him would not be enough. They tied him to a tree and painted his face black for death, but the next day he was gone. Some of the warriors chased him for days into the woods and finally caught him. But even as they struck him down, he spewed words of warning, spitting out blood along with his rantings until one of the men struck him down dead. But his words of warning kept ringing in the ears of the warriors, even after they cut off his head. The Chief then took the head and buried it far, far away. That’s when Claire shared how she came to find the skull and the stone, and Wahkatiiosta told them it was believed that whoever held the stone would know how their story ended and would see the ghost of Otter Tooth – which was exactly what happened to Claire. That was when the two sides agreed to help each other – the Mohawks would help the trio get Roger out of the camp and Claire would give them the stone.

Back at River Run, Murtagh was speaking with Brianna, asking her about her unexpected engagement. Brianna assured Murtagh that it was just a way to keep Aunt Jocasta at bay. Neither she nor Lord John were going to go through with the marriage; it was a means to an end until Roger came back. Then he berated Brianna about going to see Stephen Bonnet. She explained that “Da told me I should forgive him” and when asked if she did, she shared “as close to it as I could come.” Then, of course, Murtagh asked Brianna if she could forgive her father as well and she thankfully said she already had.

As we returned to New York, Jamie, Claire, Ian and Rollo were in several boats with the Mohawks, rowing toward the camp in the hopes of getting Roger out. Led by Wahkatiiosta they creeped into the Mohawk camp, Jamie knocked out the guard at the “idiot” hut, allowing he and Claire to sneak inside to wake up a stunned Roger, who – as Brianna predicted – recoiled upon seeing Jamie. They got Roger out of the hut, but not out into the dark of the camp before one of the loyal braves came walking by. He fired off his rifle, alerting the camp to their presence. There was a lot of running and fighting, but ultimately the band of rescuers were overpowered. But as Kaheroton pulled Jamie’s pistol from his belt, aiming it directly in Jamie’s face, Claire screamed, “Peace” and then muttered “It’s over!”

In the morning, the rescuers were kneeling before Chief Tehwahsehwkwe, who was very angry at Wahkatiiosta for bringing in braves who had been banished from the tribe, and was told she “would be Mohawk no more” and was removed from the village. As for our trio and Roger, they were told they are not the reason for the strife in their village – but rather Otter Tooth. He told them they could leave with the stone, but that no fair trade had been made, meaning that Roger could not leave with them. Jamie offered himself up in trade – telling Claire that he would do all he could to escape and return to her – and while Ian was to explain the trade to the Chief and his council, Claire and Jamie made their tearful goodbye only to be surprised when Ian explained to his uncle that he had offered himself up in trade for Roger. Jamie, at first, would hear none of it; but Ian told Jamie that he would prove he was a “man of worth,” that he had made his decision, that he would stay with the Mohawk. More tears were shed as Jamie and Claire embraced Ian before departing with Roger.

Once again at River Run with Murtagh and Jocasta each having a glass of whiskey – something that’s hard to come by in the Colonies – it should be added – she asked him where he would go. Murtagh shared that he would go back to the regulators. Jocasta was clearly frustrated with him, telling him he hadn’t learned anything. Their conversations went back and forth – Jocasta telling him he was a fool and Murtagh telling her that basically living in the lap of luxury at River Run didn’t allow her to know about the sufferings of others. She had only heard talk of the struggles of others in the area, but that she was an old woman now and her fighting time was over. They argued back and forth with Jocasta finally telling him that she never really liked him; and he obviously took offense to what she spewed, causing him to grab her arm. When he wouldn’t let go, she threw the rest of her drink in his face; and that seemed to be that until the next scene opened the following morning with Jocasta standing at the edge of her bed, wrapping her sleeping gown around her waist and – what was this? – Murtagh was in her bed. They had obviously had a good night in each other arms and she asked him “do ye have to leave? They both knew he couldn’t stay, but upon his invitation she climbed back into bed with him and they shared a passionate kiss.

Then it was back to Jamie and Claire talking about what to tell his sister Jenny about Ian now living with the Mohawks while Roger sat on the ground, brewing in anger focused directly on Jamie. It was then that Roger cold-cocked Jamie – much the same way Jamie had done to him on Fraser’s Ridge – and Jamie told Claire to let him be. Roger needed to get his anger out upon Jamie, and for what it’s worth, Jamie let him. It was at this same time that Ian was being put through the gauntlet of braves, fending off blows and punches all the while Roger was battering Jamie with his fists. Ian, being young and agile, made it through the gauntlet and was welcomed into the tribe while Roger finally ran out of steam and stopped battering Jamie – much to Claire’s disapproval as she was forced to watch on without stopping the two pigged-headed men.

That is when Claire explained to Roger where Brianna was and what had happened to her. When he learned that he had been mistaken for Stephen Bonnet, who was the one who raped Brianna on the night of their hand-fast, Roger reacted in shock and then explained that he had been on Bonnet’s ship to get to the Colonies and he told Jamie that he only left Brianna because she told him to. That revelation came as a surprise to Jamie – since Brianna hadn’t been clear about that detail with her Da. Roger continued explaining that he was forced by Bonnet to return to the ship, getting two small gemstones in payment, and returning for Brianna as soon as he could do so. He had gotten the stones so he could see her safely through the stones. That’s when he shared that he could take her home, back to their time because he found standing stones “somewhere between here and Fraser’s Ridge.” But Claire had to give him the news about Brianna’s pregnancy and that the baby may not be his. It was a lot of information for Roger to comprehend and in the end he told them he needed time to think; but they both warned Roger that this was their daughter, and he better be sure.

It was then that Brianna was seen struggling to give birth to her child with Lizzie, Phaedre and Aunt Jocasta all tending to her, as Murtagh paced in the hallway outside her room. Soon enough, Phaedra brought in Brianna’s son and the look of joy and wonder on her face was very moving. The scene then skipped two months later with Murtagh and Brianna sitting with the baby as Phaedre rushed into the room, letting Brianna know that riders had been seen coming onto the property, and that one of the riders was her mother. As she walked to the front door and out onto the veranda, she saw that it was her parents – and only her parents – who greeted her. Jamie told Brianna that Roger was alive, but he was obviously not there with them. It was another teary moment for the family: Jamie and Claire being happy to see Brianna and the new babe and Brianna happy that her parents were back, but bittersweet because of Roger’s absence.

As they all gathered in the main room, sans Brianna who would not leave her bed chamber, Jamie and Claire were told by Jocasta that the babe did not have a name yet, as Brianna was waiting for “Mr. Mackenzie” to come back. As Claire went upstairs to check on Brianna, Jamie asked Murtagh about Bonnet. The tale of Bonnet’s capture and their arrest as well as the jail break and explosion was explained with Murtagh stating he got out but Bonnet didn’t. Then mother and daughter got to have some time together with Claire telling Bree that they would take her home to Fraser’s Ridge where she could be surrounded by family and be taken care of by all of them. That night the family gathered for dinner, sans Brianna again, but soon enough the young woman joined her family at the table.

The next morning they were preparing to leave for Fraser’s Ridge. As Brianna was packing in her bedchamber, she glanced out the window, seeing a rider on horseback slowly approaching the plantation. The look of shock and joy crossed her face, she dropped what she was doing and raced down the stairs and straight outside. She kept running until the scene panned to Roger as the one on the horse and they soon wrapped each other in a tight embrace. Brianna said she wasn’t sure if he would come and he jokingly said “I may be stubborn but not a fool.” They shared “I love you” and several passionate kisses before Roger asked about the bairn. “The boy,” she said and he told her “take me to see my son.”

As they walked arm-in-arm, though, a small regiment of redcoats raced toward the plantation, causing a great stir inside River Run – with a quick, but intimate conversation between Jocasta and Murtagh that shocked and surprised Jamie and Claire before the wanted man raced to the slave quarters to hide and Jamie met the redcoats at the door. They were there to deliver a message to Jamie from Governor Tryon on behalf of the King, who ordered Jamie to muster and lead a militia to go after the regulators and hunt down and kill the fugitive: Murtagh Fitzgibbons. And we go to a black screen yet again!!

It was a moving season finale once again! What was your reaction to Brianna and Roger finally being reunited? What did you think about Ian exchanging himself for Roger? What do you think of Murtagh and Jocasta’s very unexpected coupling? What do you think Jamie will do? Please share your thoughts with us in our comments section below.

This episodes brings another season to a close for Outlander, but viewers have season 5 and season 6 to look forward to on Starz. Although given how long a Droughtlander we had between seasons 3 and 4, it could be awhile before we get season 5.