Outlander Recap: “The Fiery Cross”

Droughtlander is finally over Outlander fans! The fifth season premiere of the Starz series aired last night after a 13-month absence; and as they say, “absence makes the heart grow fonder,” but I’m sure fans are happy that the wait is over.

The premiere opened with a flashback to a young Jamie after the untimely passing of his beloved mother, receiving the news from his ever-faithful godfather Murtagh, who told him that he swore an oath to always be by his side. And while he couldn’t be by Jamie’s side for Brianna and Roger’s wedding, but he did catch “a glimpse from afar” [it’s better than nothing at all, right?]

The final preparations leading up to the ceremony found Claire putting the final touches on Bree’s dress while Jamie prepared something old, something new, something borrowed and something blue – the tradition that Brianna obviously shared with her Da at some earlier point (that didn’t come into existence until 1883]. The look of love on both Claire’s and Jamie’s faces as they beheld their daughter in her wedding dress were very touching. But what was most moving was seeing Jamie escort Brianna outside yelling to the gathered settlers and guests, “The Frasers of the Ridge are here!”

It was a short ceremony with vows exchanged, the ring placed on Bree’s finger and plenty of kisses shared between the bride and groom, as the parents of the bride nearly missed it as they stared at each other, uttering “as long as we both shall live.” [Who gasped a little, too, with that brief flashback to Claire and Jamie’s wedding!]

With the couple FINALLY married, let the celebration begin EXCEPT this is Outlander and no celebration ever goes as planned. Governor Tryon, the man who holds the fate of Fraser’s Ridge in his hands – he is the one who arranged for Jamie to get all that land in the wilds of North Carolina after all – was in attendance, and growing tired of Jamie’s letters giving no indication that Murtagh has been captured and killed [as Jamie was ordered in the season finale]. Tryon was there to tell Jamie that a platoon of soldiers, led by new redcoat Lt. Knox, were being provided to work alongside Jamie to bring in Murtagh and the Regulators. Dun, dun, dun…Jamie is really in the hot seat now.

For everyone else there was plenty of dancing, lots of food and even a silly drinking game that was owned by Marsali. But just as Bree decided to seek out her Da for a dance, she overhead Jamie and Lord John talking about disturbing news: there have been sightings of Stephen Bonnet (the bastard who raped Brianna the night she and Roger were hand fast) in the province. What a horrible way to bring her down from her wedded bliss.

She also didn’t share that news with her mother, her Da or even Roger – not a good thing for her mental health, which was clear by the look of absolute fear on Brianna’s face, even after some hot sex with her hubby. The action didn’t stop there, though, with a montage of wedding revelers dancing the night away, Aunt Jocasta and Murtagh getting busy in a cabin – which Murtagh dubbed an “enchanted wooden palace” – and Claire and Jamie having hot sex while their grandson slept in the next room of their big new house. Oh and we learned that Marsali and Fergus are going to be parents again!

The wedding wasn’t the only big event taking place in this premiere as Jamie told Claire that Governor Tryon demanded he leave in a week – with the redcoat platoon – to hunt down Murtagh; and since Tryon wanted a Scot, Jamie was going to give him one. Jamie pulled out his full Highlander garb – that was quite a moment seeing him standing tall and proud in his plaid before his beloved wife – and made quite the presentation to the settlers of Fraser’s Ridge, burning the fiery cross similar to what a clan chieftain would have done back in the day before going into battle. And while they are not a clan and Jamie isn’t their chieftain, he told them that he hoped they would stand by him. The oath – just like that which was made before Colum MacKenizie in season one – started with Jamie calling Roger, “son of my house,” forward to be his Captain as well calling forward Fergus, “son of my name and of my heart.” The rest of the men came forward as well.

In smaller events within the episode, it was clear that Claire has quite the medical practice going on in their grand new home, but Jamie pointed out to her that she needs “a lieutenant” to help her. And Aunt Jocasta informed Roger that she intended to name his son Jeremiah – instead of Brianna – as Heir to River Run. While Jocasta made it clear that she doubted the virility of Roger’s devotion to Brianna (because Protestants are partial to divorce to her way of thinking) or his son (who could still very well be the progeny of that bastard Bonnet), Roger went at her full force saying that none of them wanted her money. That was exactly what she wanted to hear and the outcome of that conversation went “even better” than she expected when asked by Ulysses if the conversation went as she hoped.

The final scene was between Murtagh and Jamie, who released his godfather of the oath he made all those years ago when Jamie was a boy. Murtagh is very much a wanted, and soon to be hunted, man, wanted by the Crown and Governor Tryon. Jamie made it clear to Murtagh that he needs to “be hard to find.”

What did you think of the season premiere of Outlander? The next episode airs on Starz on Sunday, February 23 at 8/7c.