Starz’s Outlander season eight, episode two begins in London in 1775. William’s thrilled that his cousin Benjamin Grey (Alex Bhat) is being sent to Boston under General Howe. Ben always made William feel as though he was a part of the family. William (Charles Vandervaart) hands him the toy soldier Ben gave him as a child, and Ben promises to always keep it with him for good luck.
(The following is a recap of season eight, episode two – “Prophecies” – and there are spoilers.)
The setting shifts to Philadelphia as Mercy Woodcock (Gloria Obianyo) and Henry Grey (Harry Jarvis) exchange vows. The reverend notes that the laws that try and block their marriage are unjust. God’s law matters more. Mercy is grateful for their friends, including Denzell Hunter and William, who support this marriage and hopes a bill will soon pass that will make interracial marriages legal. William toasts the couple and announces that he’s incredibly proud of his cousin, Henry.
Henry pulls William aside, aware that something’s wrong. William’s forced to break the news that Henry’s brother, Ben, has died. William didn’t want to tell Henry this on his wedding day but couldn’t delay passing along the message. Ben had a wife and son, and William swears he’s going to find out more about what happened to him and how he died.
William rides to the camp of the Americans who captured Ben to uncover more details on his death. He’s told that many prisoners died due to an outbreak of jail fever. That explanation doesn’t satisfy William, and he asks if any of Ben’s possessions remain and if he can visit his grave.
William sits next to the makeshift grave, marked with a simple piece of wood. He fills Ben in on everything he’s missed and confesses he always thought of him as his brother. He will make sure Ben’s son knows all about his father.
William speaks with a soldier who actually knew Ben and was sorry to hear he died. The soldier reveals Ben’s condition had improved and he was surprised to learn he’d died during the night. By the time the soldier heard about his passing, Ben had already been buried.
William looks through Ben’s belongings and doesn’t find the toy soldier Ben swore he’d always keep in his pocket.
Night falls and William begins digging up Ben’s grave. He discovers the man buried there is definitely not Ben!
Death Comes to the Ridge and Jamie’s Invited to Join a Militia
North Carolina 1779 – Claire (Caitriona Balfe) gives Fanny (Florrie May Wilkinson) a little anatomy lesson, and Fanny confesses her sister Jane would have loved this place. Fanny hints that there was something different about Jane and that Mrs. Abbott, the madame, thought she was strange. She even accused Jane of practicing the dark arts.
Claire gently lets Fanny know she can tell anyone in the family anything, anytime, but to be careful with the rest of the residents of Fraser’s Ridge. Claire wants to protect Fanny’s innocence from men who learn she was raised in a whorehouse.
As Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Roger (Richard Rankin) cut wood, Roger fills Jamie in on Dougal’s son, Buck, and that they invited him to come with them here, but he refused. Roger acknowledges Buck’s a good man and he’s family—he loves him for that if nothing else.
Jamie asks if Roger’s ever heard of John Sevier, Benjamin Cleveland, or Isaac Shelby. They are Overmountain Men who Frank mentions will be instrumental in leading the patriots to a winning battle against the British here on the mountain. Roger hasn’t heard of them, but admits he’s not an expert on the Revolutionary War in North Carolina. Frank’s book said Jamie will fight alongside them, but he doesn’t know any of these men.
Roger reminds him it might be about a different Jamie Fraser and volunteers to read Frank’s book. Captain Cunningham (Kieran Bow) joins them and Jamie confirms Cunningham’s a fellow Freemason. Jamie wants to begin building a lodge here on Fraser’s Ridge to host meetings. He invites Cunningham and he agrees to pitch in and help out.
Bree (Sophie Skelton), Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small), Lizzie (Caitlin O’Ryan), and Amy (Joanne Thomson) pick berries and discuss marriage and pregnancies. Rachel jokes that her baby is running out of space in her womb, and Lizzie reveals that she gave birth on a table in the house after mistakenly believing she only had to use the toilet. Bree warns Rachel that most births aren’t that easy.
Suddenly, a bear runs toward the women and attacks Amy. Bree acts quickly and fires a shot, but not before Amy is injured. Jamie hears the gunshot, grabs Amy, and races home to Claire.
Amy’s losing a lot of blood and Claire tries to help with the pain. The bear mauled Amy’s face and neck and Claire assures her that Evan’s on his way while signaling to Jamie that she isn’t going to survive.
Roger arrives with Amy’s husband, and Evan (Gary Lamont) comforts his two young children. Claire delivers the devastating news to Roger, and Evan takes the children in to see their mom.
Bree shakes uncontrollably and looks at her blood-stained hands.
Claire covers the half of Amy’s face that was ripped apart, and Amy’s son pleads with her to hang on. Amy’s able to hold her son’s hand as Claire apologizes to Evan for not being able to save his wife. Evan comforts Amy, promising to take care of the boys. Amy’s family tells her how much they love her, and Evan asks Roger to say a prayer for her. Roger obliges.
Ian (John Bell) races to Jamie’s house to check on Rachel and panics when he sees blood on her apron. She quickly assures him both she and their baby are fine. Rachel’s in shock knowing it could have been any of them.
Claire’s tending to Amy’s body when Bree joins her, admitting she wishes she’d acted quicker. She’s going to join the hunt for the bear because she has to do something.
Mrs. Cunningham barges in to help and has already retrieved Amy’s funeral shroud. Claire’s stunned that Amy had one and admits she doesn’t…but maybe she should.
Jamie hands Amy’s son a rifle and assures him that the kill will be his and Evan’s. The boy admits he’s never hunted a bear, and Jamie explains he should aim right behind a bear’s shoulder to take it down. After that, he can finish it off with a bullet to the heart.
As the small hunting party heads out, Claire and Mrs. Cunningham discuss Amy’s face and how to make it presentable enough for her family to say goodbye during her wake. The shared duty of taking care of Amy’s body breaks the ice between Claire and Mrs. Cunningham, and Mrs. Cunningham allows Claire to call her Elspeth.
The hunting party stops when they hear gunshots. It seems Captain Cunningham got to the bear first and has already killed it. Cunningham describes the bear as a formidable foe and Jamie thanks him for taking care of it.
In the days that follow, Ian watches as Rachel helps Bree and Claire make cabbage stew and sauerkraut. Ian’s not enjoying the smell, but Claire explains it’s very healthy and helps with heartburn. Suddenly, Rachel begins experiencing labor pains. Ian’s incredibly nervous as he grabs a pelt and asks Claire to wrap his baby in it. Claire says he can do it himself.
A short while later, Claire hands Ian his newborn son and Ian declares that he’s the most perfect baby. Ian sits with Rachel and smiles as they hold their child. Fanny looks surprised and tells Claire she’s never seen anyone happy to have given birth. That never happened in the brothel.
Bree asks about the baby’s name and Ian and Rachel toss out possible choices including Fox and Marmaduke. Ian suggests Wolf and Rachel jokes that Ian will next suggest Rollo. Ian admits that’s not a bad idea. “He was a good dog,” says Ian, beaming.
Later that evening, Jamie and Ian spend time on the porch, drinking and talking about Ian’s new addition to his family. His name’s Oggy…for now. Ian wishes his dad could have met Oggy and hopes his mom will meet him one day. Jamie thinks Jenny would be over the moon.
Ian views Jamie as a second father and asks his advice on raising a child. Jamie can’t offer much because he never got to experience what Ian’s about to experience. Still, Jamie says what Ian needs to hear. “You will be everything that the bairn needs,” says Jamie, lifting his glass in a toast.
Claire’s harvesting mushrooms when a stranger rides up, rude and unwilling to give his name. He rides on to the woodshed and introduces himself to Jamie as Benjamin Cleveland (Turlough Convery). Benjamin calls Jamie “General Fraser” and knows Jamie resigned his commission to tend to his wife. When Jamie confirms he’s not rejoining the army, Benjamin invites him to join his militia. Jamie asks who the other men in the militia are and Benjamin lists John Sevier, Isaac Shelby, William Campbell, and others. The militia was established to protect the land from Tories and Indians.
Benjamin admits he killed the men Jamie saw hanging from a tree because they were Tories. He hates Tories and asks about Cunningham (a Tory) and why Jamie allows him on his land. If Jamie joins him, he can help with Cunningham. The militia has 100 men now and is continuing to grow.
Jamie doesn’t accept his offer, and Benjamin insists it’s just a friendly invitation. Roger walks up as Benjamin leaves, and they both realize Jamie is definitely the Jamie Fraser Frank mentions in his book.
Jamie tells Claire and Roger that Benjamin thinks he should kill Cunningham. Jamie hasn’t found Cunningham mentioned in Frank’s book, and Roger asks if he’s mentioned in the battle. Jamie shares that he isn’t. Jamie wonders why none of his men are mentioned fighting in the battle, and Claire thinks that’s because Jamie doesn’t really join the militia.
After Roger leaves, Jamie confirms he hasn’t told him that Frank’s book says he dies in the fight. Claire insists he won’t. She’s still not sure why, after 20 years of marriage, Frank never mentioned this battle. Claire explains that Frank made her promise not to look for Jamie; that’s the only way he’d take her back. Yet Frank apparently was looking for Jamie and kept what he learned from her. Why would he do that?
Jamie believes Frank was actually searching for her in history, not him.
The Freemason lodge finally opens, and the men gather for their first official meeting. Jamie guides the meeting, hoping to strengthen the community. Cunningham’s the first to speak, telling Evan he has the group’s sympathies and support. He recalls the loved ones he’s lost, including his 18-year-old son, Simon, who was shot and killed next to him in the Battle at Saratoga. Cunningham recalls sitting next to his son’s body in the hospital tent and seeing the light reenter his face. Simon opened his eyes and said, “Don’t worry, father. I’ll see you again in seven years.” He closed his eyes and died.
Cunningham believes the Lord showed him the soul doesn’t die when the body does. Since he knows when he’ll see his son again, he wants to fill his days helping others. He tells those gathered to cherish their families while they have them.
Roger and Jamie discuss Cunningham’s speech, and Jamie’s worried. “A man being called by God is one thing. A man who thinks he cannot die is quite another,” Jamie warns.
That evening Outlander welcomes back Tobias Menzies – or at least his voice – as Jamie continues reading Frank’s book. Frank’s voice fills Jamie’s head, noting that Cunningham has five more years to live. Also, Cunningham’s not the only one who knows the date of his death.
Jamie wakes Claire, telling her he needs her. They make love, with Frank’s words still ringing in Jamie’s ears.
Episode two ends with Frank’s voice telling Jamie, “You’re going to die. Who will hold her once you’re gone?” A passage from Frank’s book is shown and it reads:
“The Rebels suffered minimal losses—only twenty-eight fell—though, they too, lost one of their senior officers, with James Fraser among the fallen.”
- Outlander Season 7 Finale Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 “Soul of a Rebel” Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 3 “Abies Fraseri” Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 5 “Send for the Devil” Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 6 “Blessed are the Merciful” Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 7 “Evidence of Things Not Seen” Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 8 “In the Forest” Recap
