Starz’s Outlander season six comes to an end far too soon with episode eight, airing on May 1, 2022. And May 1st is a fitting date for such a pivotal episode. Fans of Diana Gabaldon’s bestselling books and the award-winning show know it’s James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser’s birthday.
The season six finale begins with what appears to be a brief trip to the ‘60s, with Claire and Bree (face hidden behind a menu) in a diner about to enjoy burgers and fries. That peaceful snippet fades into Richard Brown and his Committee of Safety demanding Jamie (Sam Heughan) hand over Claire. Jamie, of course, refuses while Claire (Caitriona Balfe) frantically tells Mrs. Bug to go get help.
Lizzie (Caitlin O’Ryan) and one of the Beardsleys emerge from the barn and see what’s going on. They race off before anyone (other than Jamie) spots them.
One of the Committee members makes it around back and into the Frasers’ home. Claire acts as though she’s about to hand over her rifle and instead uses her pistol to shoot him in the stomach. He runs off as out front Jamie fights with half a dozen men.
Richard’s about to shoot when Claire screams for Jamie to duck. The shot misses and Jamie runs into the house. They quickly move furniture in front of the doors and windows, incredibly outnumbered but unwilling to go down without a fight.
Jamie retrieves more weapons as bullets fly, destroying the interior of their home. Dishes shatter, chandeliers are ruined, and the walls are pockmarked with bullet holes.
Jamie and Claire take up strategic positions and are able to hold off Brown and his Committee. Unfortunately, they’re both aware it’s only a short reprieve.
Jamie knows Richard Brown doesn’t care about arresting Claire. He wants them both dead in retribution for his brother’s murder. “Malva’s death is but an excuse for revenge,” says Jamie.
Richard Brown waves a white flag and approaches the house. Jamie fires a warning shot, deliberately missing. Richard doesn’t stop walking toward the house while demanding the “murderous witch” surrender.
Richard claims they won’t hurt Claire. They plan on taking her to Salisbury where she’ll stand trial. Jamie shoots Richard’s hat out of his hand in reply.
Richard orders his men to hold their fire.
The sun’s setting as Richard and the Committee continue to surround the Frasers’ home. Jamie believes as soon as it gets dark, they’ll set the house on fire. He admits it’s what he’d do. Claire doesn’t understand how they could be burned alive this evening since the obituary said the house would go up in flames the Sabbath before January 21st. It’s May – so that doesn’t make any sense.
Jamie reminds her you can’t trust everything you read in “the broadsheets.” Still, that’s a four month difference so it’s unlikely what’s happening right now is what was referred to in the obituary.
Claire swears she’ll never go with Brown and Jamie replies, “I would never let you go.” However, he still hasn’t come up with a plan. Mrs. Bug will likely go for Arch but thus far no one has shown up to help. Arch would run for Kenny Lindsay and Lizzie will probably go find Ronnie.
Claire’s worried about Lizzie’s involvement and Jamie assures her Lizzie will be safe. “Dinna fash, mo nighean donn,” says Jamie. “She’ll be safe. She’s with her husband…well, one of them.”
Jamie’s mind turns to food and he suggests they eat. They’ll need strength for what’s to come.
While Jamie and Claire are pinned down and fighting for their lives, Brianna (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard Rankin) are on the road, heading to Edenton Seminary. (Talk about your horrible timing! Why did they leave when things were so unstable on the Ridge?!) They discuss battles of the Revolutionary War and although Roger’s a historian, he’s happy they’re heading somewhere safe.
Bree and Roger also discuss how and when to break the news to Jemmy that they are time-travelers. Bree’s torn over whether her parents should have told her sooner. She understands Claire gave her word to Frank that she’d grow up believing he was her father. “I guess I don’t think she should have broken it,” says Bree.
Roger correctly points out that if they tell Jemmy early on, there’s no way he’ll keep it a secret. That could cause a lot of confusion among his friends. It appears they’ve landed on waiting until he’s old enough to understand why he can’t tell people.
Roger notes it’s possible that if they tell Jemmy he’ll decide to go through the stones at some point.
The family settle in for the night and Roger and Bree remember the time they drove her Mustang in the North Carolina mountains. Roger almost drove off the road at 75 mph thanks to Bree distracting him with a kiss. That was the same weekend they broke up which was then followed by Roger pursuing Bree through time to get back together.
Bree and Roger get naked and explore each other’s bodies, attempting to keep the noise down so as not to wake Jemmy while they make passionate love.
Back to the Ridge and Claire recalls the American tradition of allowing prisoners to choose their final meal. The episode’s opening scene makes sense as Claire says she’d choose a cheeseburger, fries, and a Coke from Carmi’s. That was she and Bree’s regular order at the diner.
Jamie would choose what he’s eating right now with his lovely wife in their home.
Claire’s concerned Ian hasn’t shown up yet but Jamie believes he’s out hunting. She asks about everyone else and Jamie confesses if they aren’t there by now, they’re not coming. Claire thinks that means they genuinely believe she killed Malva.
Aldo snacks on their leftovers as Jamie and Claire wake from a brief nap as the fisherfolk arrive. Hiram Crombie (Antony Byrne) appears to be leading the group and Jamie’s sure he won’t let Brown smoke them out or hang them.
Hiram asks Jamie and Claire to come out in order to avoid further bloodshed. He’s been asked by Richard to negotiate their surrender and he places himself between the Frasers and the Committee. Jamie and Claire agree to step outside but will do so while armed.
Jamie declares they’ll take Claire over his dead body and Mrs. McGregor replies, “Thou shall not suffer a witch to live!” and throws a heavy stone at Claire. Jamie continues to insist Claire is innocent and the crowd turns on him, suggesting maybe he’s the one who murdered Malva.
Claire, voice breaking, attempts to explain she tried to save Malva and the baby, but the crowd isn’t listening. Richard believes anyone accused of a crime is entitled to a trial and he wonders why Jamie would refuse that request if Claire’s innocent.
Hiram thinks that’s fair but Jamie tells the crowd he knows Claire will be killed if he hands her over to Richard Brown. “He would slaughter her out of hand for sake of revenge upon me,” says Jamie.
Allan Christie (Alexander Vlahos) speaks up and demands they take Jamie as well as Claire. Mrs. McGregor still believes Claire murdered Malva because only a witch would steal a baby from the womb.
Hiram suggests they take them both just as Jamie’s men arrive. Unfortunately, there aren’t enough of them and Jamie knows it would be a fight to the death. He whispers to Claire that their only choice is to go with Hiram. But he warns Hiram if they’re handed over to Richard and killed, their blood will be on his hands.
It’s at this tense moment that Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones) walks through the crowd and announces he’ll travel with them to ensure their safety. That appears to satisfy all parties, including the Frasers.
Lizzie rushes up and cries out, “No, Mr. Fraser!” and Jamie asks her to stand down.
Tom Christie says they’ll leave in the morning. “There’s no reason you and your wife should not rest in your own bed,” says Tom. Jamie thanks him for this act of kindness.
Once alone inside their home, Jamie promises Claire – with this life – this won’t be the last time they see the Ridge by moonlight.
Neither can sleep and Claire admits she’s scared. Jamie strokes her face and she strokes his in return. He gathers her hand in his and kisses it, and then they share a long, sweet kiss before making love for what could be the final time in the beautiful home they’ve made together. And if things go badly, they know this could also be the final time they’re able to cling to each other for comfort.
The following morning Richard assigns Oakes (Hunter Bishop) to keep an eye on Claire and Jamie after they’re placed in the back of a wagon. Richard warns the Frasers not to leave the wagon or there will be hell to pay.
Claire peeks out of the wagon at their home for what she obviously believes is the last time.
The group stop for a break and Claire wonders if she should tend to their wounds. Jamie points out she doesn’t owe these men anything.
Tom Christie gently hands Claire a bowl of food and Jamie tells her to eat because it was “kindly given.”
Richard Brown’s gone ahead of the group and has learned Salisbury no longer has a court. The sheriff quit and the town’s split on the question of independence. Richard decides they’ll travel to Wilmington which is 200 miles away. They can’t stop in Cross Creek because Jamie’s aunt lives near there and they won’t get a fair trial.
Richard confirms he’s an evil man by informing Jamie that he told the town of Salisbury about Claire. “Word’s spreading like wildfire now,” says Richard with barely hidden glee.
Back at Fraser’s Ridge, Lizzie races outside as Ian (John Bell) arrives in a wagon. She collapses to her knees, overcome with emotion.
The group is back on the road and Jamie points out to Claire that Richard’s losing control of his men. It’s apparent they never expected to be gone from their homes for any period of time and they’re getting tired.
Claire wonders why Tom volunteered for this trip. “Is he really protecting us only to see me hanged?” asks Claire.
They ride through a town and Oakes yells out, telling everyone they’re transporting the murderers to be hanged. The townsfolk have heard Claire’s a witch and they begin throwing stones at the wagon. Claire’s hit but she manages to punch one young man in the face.
Tom demands they stop this but Brown’s lost control. Tom fires his pistol and the townsfolk scatter.
Once more we go to Roger and Bree, and Bree’s getting antsy. She asks, “Are we there yet?” and Roger chuckles, reminding her Jemmy’s supposed to ask that. Roger’s apparently been waiting for just the right minute to show Bree what he received from Fergus. She picks up a newspaper – The New Bern Onion – and realizes it’s Fergus’ maiden effort. Fergus wrote a piece on why it’s called the Onion, and it has to do with onions being complex and having layers. Bree finishes reading Fergus’ explanation of the name: “A pungency and savor of the reasoned discourse always to be exercised herein.”
There’s also a Poet’s Corner and they think that was probably Marsali’s doing.
Jemmy crawls into Bree’s lap to say hi to his unborn sibling. His head’s itching and Bree discovers he has lice! They pause in their journey to cut off his hair and Bree discovers there’s a strange mole on his scalp. Roger corrects her and says it’s a nevus. He explains they show up when you’re two or three and they’re harmless. “I’ve had one just like it ever since I was a kid,” explains Roger.
He points his out and adds, “They’re hereditary.”
Bree and Roger realize at the exact same moment that this is confirmation Roger is in fact Jemmy’s biological father!
Roger takes off his hair tie and asks Bree to cut off his hair to match his son’s. And that concludes Roger and Bree’s story for season six. Now back to Jamie and Claire…
The group’s made camp for the night. Claire’s in pain from punching a man and she’s also “crabbit.” When Jamie points that out, Claire replies, “Oh, crabbit my arse!”
You can’t blame her one bit for being in a foul mood and Jamie attempts to lighten things up by describing how she had blood in her eye as she pounded on the lad in a fit of fury. He says he’ll always treasure the memory.
They discuss their current location and Jamie reveals they’ve stopped at a meat camp. It’s where hunters gather to dress their game. It’s a wild place and Jamie thinks Brown’s probably having second thoughts about spreading gossip about them since his group’s been caught up in the middle of stonings.
Jamie suggests Claire sleep and then gets up to urinate. He has a brief moment alone and Ian appears out of nowhere. Ian explains he’s not alone and will come out of the shadows when Jamie tells them to. Jamie doesn’t think it’s the right time but asks Ian to stay close.
Ian suggests Jamie and Claire make a run for it, but Jamie knows that’ll just turn them into hunted fugitives.
Ian confirms he’ll remain nearby and keep watch.
Morning arrives and they hit the road again. The man Claire shot in the gut finally dies and Richard orders his body strapped to his horse so they can continue.
The group stops at a well for a drink and Jamie’s allowed out to get water. He figures out too late that it’s a trap! Jamie’s grabbed as Claire’s wagon is driven away, with men in the back holding onto her so she can’t leap out.
They ride a short distance and stop, and Richard says it’s none of her business where they’re taking Jamie. She calls him a petty bastard but he claims he’s not doing this because of his brother. He’s only doing this because she murdered Malva and her unborn child.
Tom rides up and Claire shouts for him to go back to Jamie. Richard says Jamie’s not being harmed; he’s being sent home. Tom has a brief private conversation with Richard and then tells Claire that Jamie won’t be harmed. Brown gave Tom his word.
Tom won’t leave Claire’s side and will continue the journey with her, even though she wants him to check on Jamie. Reluctantly, Claire admits to herself that Tom’s right.
Claire hopes the news of her arrest will reach Roger and Brianna in Edenton. She worries about her future but can’t stop thinking of her beloved Jamie. She suspects Tom knows more than he said, and that Jamie is dead.
Claire’s group arrives in Wilmington and there’s evidence of a fight everywhere she looks. Windows are broken and there’s a man hanging in the town square.
Richard delivers her to The House of Correction for the County of New Hanover and she’s placed in a cell. When Richard steps away for a word with the sheriff, Tom secretly hands Claire a bag of coins. He also assures her Jamie is alive. “I would not have his death on my conscience, nor yours,” says Tom. He tells her to trust in God because he will deliver the righteous out of danger. He also commits to not leaving town.
Season six wraps up with Jamie on a beach tied to a massive pole. Oakes takes the bag off Jamie’s head and informs him the ship he sees in the distance will transport him back to Scotland. Oakes says he hopes Claire dies, and then Jamie’s made to stand up. Oakes delivers a gut punch and snarls, “You’ll never see your witch of a wife again.”
One of Jamie’s captors is about to knock him out when an arrow strikes its mark and kills him. Ian and his friends have arrived and easily dispatch the men holding Jamie. Oakes is the last man standing and Jamie warns them not to shoot. Oakes is the only person who knows where they’ve taken Claire. “So do we, Uncle,” says Ian as Chief Bird-Who-Sings-In-The-Morning (Glen Gould) shoots Oakes through his outstretched palm and into his eye.
Chief Bird has the final word of the season. “I told you I would fight with you, Bear Killer.”
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- Outlander Season 6 Episode 3 “Temperance” Recap
- Outlander Season 6 Episode 4 “Hour of the Wolf” Recap
- Outlander Season 6 Episode 5 “Give Me Liberty” Recap
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