Double Feature: Outlander Takeaways for Season 7, Episode 5 “Singapore” and Episode 6 “Where the Waters Meet”

I decided to group these two episodes of Outlander together since the ongoing story between the two episodes was a continuation for our cast of characters with Jamie and Claire on the run from Fort Ticondaroga and Roger and Bree dealing with the Nuckelavees as well as Bree’s prickish co-workers.

Here are my takeaways from those two episodes. First, let’s take a look at episode 5 entitled “Singapore”:

They changed the opening introduction again to include new scenes in 1980s Lallybroch

Bree is clearly bothered by her children “visiting” their grandda at the graveyard; her pain in missing her parents is palpable

I’m glad Bree was moved enough to read another letter from her parents so she and Roger could learn about their having to go to Fort Ticondaroga

Clearly Jamie and Claire are both dealing with idiotic pricks at the Fort; Claire with the doctor who really isn’t a doctor and Jamie’s commanding officer is a clueless twat

I loved that Jamie showed up his commanding officer, showing him that the British could get a canon up that sheer face of Sugar Loaf Hill

That couple who “helped” William and the Hunter siblings were horrible, horrible people, and they got exactly what they deserved. Thank God William was awakened with stomach pains from that horrible meal prepared by Mrs. Johnson so he could save their lives

I have to admit I felt a little bad for William, as he had to kill Mr. Johnson in order to save his life, but he – like so many other affluent men of his time – he was clueless about the reality of taking a life in battle (or otherwise)

I know that Bree wanted to make a good impression on her first day at her job as plant inspector at that Dam, but how in the hell did she not see the trick her “co-workers” were setting her up for

And how about that apparent portal in the tunnels under the Dam; that was clearly what that was

I felt bad for Ian when he asked his Auntie Claire about his Mohawk wife not being able to carry a child to full birth and if he could “check” his sperm; that was a little awkward, but Claire handled it so well

If only Claire could have gotten the better of that dumbass “doctor” who was running the medical tents at the Fort, but thank God for Denzell Hunter who put that man in his place

I was pleased for Ian that he not only got to put things to rest with his former Mohawk wife but also – shocker of all shocks – he learned that her son, name Swiftest of Lizards, is clearly Ian’s son and not the son of the man Emily married after Ian left the Mohawk; and that Ian got to give the little boy his name from his people “for when he walks in that world” – Ian James

I felt bad for Jemmy when he came clean with his dad about why he was so angry, getting in trouble at school for speaking Gaelic – even in the 1980s the little boy couldn’t use a language that was part of his culture

Good on Bree for going to the local bar and not letting what her “co-workers” did to her get in the way, and I loved that she put that prick Rob Cameron in his place. I was smiling from ear to ear when she said that if they ever did that to her again she would have the lot of them fired

When that idiot commanding officer saw that long line of British officers and all of their fire power on the very hill for which Jamie warned him about, it felt like vindication; but then that same idiot told the big man in charge that “noone could have predicted” that would happen – please!!!

Thank God Jamie planned further ahead than that idiot by having his men prepare boats so they could get out of the fort before the British raided it. That idiot and everyone else owes Jamie their lives

Lastly, it was touching to see Bree walk into the graveyard to the spot where Jemmy said he and his sister Mandy leave a stone in honor of their grandda and where they talk to him. Listening to her “talk” to her Da as the screen went black felt right

Pictures from Episode 5 “Singapore”:

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Now, let’s take a look at episode 6 entitled “Where the Waters Meet”:

At Fort Ticondaroga, the British Army has taken over, and William learned that the three messages he was unable to deliver to were actually going to spies within the Continental Army

Jamie, Claire and Ian were leading the refugees from the Fort as far away from the British as possible, but were frightened by Indian yells that turned out to be the British pretending to be Indians – for shame

That caused the nervous Mrs. Raven from last week’s episode to run away from the group and, of course, Claire went in search of her while Jamie and Ian went off to “take care” of the British soldiers following them

When Claire finally found Mrs. Raven, she was inconsolable and then abruptly shot herself in the head (GASP!), right in front of Claire and seconds later Claire was grasped from behind

Claire ended up a prisoner of the British, taken back to the Fort along with other refugees. Yet again, she’s a prisoner, groan!! It was while Claire was trying to help some of the refugees get food, water and medicine that she had an encounter with William, who recognized her immediately. He even commented that she saved his father’s life when he was a young boy (that will help her later in the episode)

Jamie and Ian, naturally, raced to the Fort after learning from Denzell that Claire was missing; but rather than Jamie barging in to get his wife back, Ian went inside the Fort – since he was part of the Mohawk, who were working with the British. He could pretend to be on the side of the British and attempt a prison break with his Auntie Claire by his side

That prison break effort almost failed because William saw Ian walking away, and soon enough William put two and two together, remembering that Ian talked to him about his Auntie Claire (Damn it!). He figured it out quickly that Ian was trying to get his Aunt out of the Fort.

That was when Jamie – standing outside the Fort – starting shooting fire arrows into the Fort, making it appear that Indians were outside the Fort and giving a diversion for Ian and Claire to attempt escape

William almost stopped them, as Claire was a “prisoner of the King,” but because of Ian not only rescuing William after his recent injury but also Claire saving his father in the past, he let them go saying to Ian, “A life for a life, Mr. Murray.”

It was clear that the next time they meet up, and you know that’s going to happen at some point, all bets are off

Thankfully Ian gets Claire out of the Fort and back to Jamie where she eventually tells him about meeting William at the Fort; it was touching to listen as Claire described Jamie’s son to him

We also got to see another touching moment between Ian and Rachel as they talked about her watching over Rollo while Ian was gone

As for Roger and Bree in the 80’s, it looked like Roger finally found his new niche; he went to Jemmy’s school to talk to the Principal about the teacher who punished Jemmy for speaking Gaelic

That conversation turned into an invitation extended to Roger to hold a class about the Gaelic language, which he jumped at – finally he finds something that moves him other than writing his “guide to time travel” book

Before he left for that class, Bree told him about her experience in the tunnel under the Dam, and they figured out that it must be the laylines that help to create a portal (it’ll be interesting to see how that new location comes into play in later episodes)

At the class, Roger taught the attendees line singing (and his voice sounds so great, it was terrific to hear Roger happily singing again); and then we learned that Rob Cameron, the main instigator of trouble for Bree at work, was there because he’s interested in Gaelic

Unfortunately, Roger’s “sci-fi book” was mixed in with the Hymn books that were passed out during the class and that book ended up in the hands of Rob; I’m not sure if Rob believed Roger that it was a book he was writing or if there was something more nefarious going on there

Because Rob literally invited himself to dinner at their house and he claimed to Roger that Bree is the best inspector they’ve had at the Dam – what exactly is going on with this guy

Then in the final scene, Roger was dancing around while putting groceries away in the kitchen when he saw someone staring in the window – and doing a horrible job at trying not to be seen, I might add

Roger raced outside to confront the man, who quickly tried to run away; the man was clearly wearing clothes from the 18th Century, and when he turned around upon Roger catching him, Roger’s reaction was complete and utter shock and he punched the guy out and the screen went black

NOTE: It should be noted that while it wasn’t explained in the episode who this man is, plenty of recaps and reviews for this episode have revealed that the man was actually Buck Mackenzie, who was originally played by former series regular Graham McTavish during season 5. Actor Diarmaid Murtagh is now playing the part of Roger’s four-times great-grandfather, but how exactly did Buck get to the 1980’s? And is he the Nuckelavees, who Jemmy claimed was taking food from their house? Hopefully this is a mystery they will solve soon.

Pictures from Episode 6 “Where the Waters Meet”:

The next new episode of Outlander, which is the penultimate episode before the summer finale, will air tomorrow night, Friday, July 28, at 8 PM on Starz.

What did you think of the 5th and 6th episodes of season 7 of Outlander? Please share your thoughts with us below.