Starz’s Outlander season eight, episode eight opens at Fergus’ gravesite. Marsali (Lauren Lyle) and Jamie (Sam Heughan) say their goodbyes to Fergus, and the mood lightens when they recall his devilish sense of humor and stubbornness. Marsali’s decided to pursue Fergus’ inheritance so that she can continue his important work in the print shop.
(The following is a recap of season eight, episode eight – “In the Forest” – and there are spoilers.)
Jamie believes she’s made the right decision and reminds her he’s always there if she needs help. Marsali’s worried that Fergus wouldn’t want her to acknowledge the Comte St. Germain was his biological father, and Jamie thinks that’s because he viewed the Comte as unscrupulous. Marsali scoffs and corrects him, saying, “He never wanted to call anyone but you his father.” Being Jamie’s son meant everything to Fergus.
Jamie declares, “Fergus Fraser was my son. Son of my name, of my heart. Now, then, forevermore.” Nothing will ever change that.
Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) and Roger (Richard Rankin) unload the guns that Roger and Bree were able to secure. Jamie picks one up and reveals that Frank’s book said Patrick Ferguson designed a new breech rifle. That’ll be an advantage on Kings Mountain, and Bree confirms Frank showed her one. She knows of a simpler design, the Hall rifle, they can use to make the militia’s guns faster.
Roger jokes that Bree’s childhood nickname was Deadeye, and Jamie realizes the book’s dedication – “For My Dearest Deadeye” – means Frank wrote the book for Bree! That also means everything he did, from teaching her history to learning to shoot and ride horses, was to prepare her for when she tried to find Jamie, which he knew she would.
Jamie and Claire (Caitriona Balfe) finally understand the book is a warning from Frank. “He was trying to save you for Bree,” says Claire. Frank believed Jamie would do what he could to protect Bree.
Jamie confesses he used to pray for Frank to be safe so that he could protect Claire and Bree. “Maybe this is Frank’s way of praying for us,” muses Jamie.
Amaranthus (Carla Woodcock) rushes into Lord John’s office, frantic that no one’s seen William in days. They both blame themselves for William taking off, and Lord John (David Berry) hopes William can forgive them.
Frank’s voiceover warns Jamie not to waste the months he has left to prepare for the impending battle on Kings Mountain. Jamie studies Frank’s drawings of the area and spends time training his men alongside Buck, while Bree sketches the design of the Hall rifle. Claire and Fanny (Florrie Wilkinson) prepare bandages to help any wounded.
Later, Buck spends time alone with Roger and informs him that he visited Geillis again. Unfortunately, Dougal was there and had no way of knowing that Buck’s interest was due to Geillis being his mom. Dougal and Geillis both thought Buck’s interest was romantic. After leaving them, he went to Craigh na Dun. Ultimately, he let the stones decide where to send him and that’s how he ended up in 1980. He saw Rob Cameron buy a gemstone in a shop and followed him home. They fought and Buck killed him after telling him that he owed Roger a life.
Buck took the articles that Rob had collected to time travel, including a new hat. Roger’s thankful that Buck protected them all. Bree’s also thankful and surprises them with her version of the Hall rifle, which is much quicker to load and shoot. She can adapt all their rifles to fire faster. Jamie realizes this will make a huge difference during battles.
William (Charles Vandervaart) surprises the Frasers by showing up unexpectedly on Frasers Ridge. Fanny is super excited, and Jamie welcomes him to their new home. When William asks to stay for dinner, Jamie can’t stop smiling.
William speaks to Bree (Sophie Skelton), pouring out his feelings about Amaranthus’ betrayal. He needs to tell someone how he feels, and Bree’s the only family member who hasn’t broken his trust. She thinks Frasers Ridge will help him heal; it’s a magical place.
Everyone gathers for a big family dinner, and William tells Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small) that her brother helped him escape the rebel camp and saved his life. William leads a toast to the health and happiness of Ian and Rachel’s new family.
Jamie’s a little disappointed that William’s at the opposite end of the table. Claire thinks he should be happy that William’s there in the first place. Roger announces his application to become a minister has been accepted. Jamie’s the next to lead a toast to good news, new beginnings, and joyous arrivals. They clink glasses to their future.
Bree and Roger volunteer to do the dishes, and Jamie asks William to go fishing with him in the morning. William recalls that the last time they went fishing Jamie lied to the Cherokees that he was William’s father—or at least William believed that was a lie at the time. He declines the invitation and announces he’ll be going with Bree on a tour of the Ridge.
Bree says that’s not until the afternoon, and Jamie claims every overnight guest is required to help catch their own dinner. Roger and Bree back him up, and William has no choice but to agree to go fishing.
Morning arrives and William and Jamie fish while discussing fishing spots near where William grew up. They try to one-up each other by swapping fish stories. It’s friendly enough until William tells Jamie to ask “his father” if he’s telling the truth. William confesses that he and Lord John are fighting after he learned Lord John is homosexual. He realizes that Jamie already knew this and asks if Lord John agreed to raise him because they were lovers.
Jamie’s shocked that William would ask him that. “He’s one of the best men I know,” says Jamie. He reminds William that Lord John has always loved him like a father, with his whole heart and soul.
William’s done fishing, unable to get past the fact that Jamie and Lord John lied to him.
Claire finds William packing his horse to leave without saying goodbye. William’s incredibly rude but then apologizes for his behavior. He claims it was a mistake to come to Frasers Ridge, and Claire advises him that since they’re in a war, this could be his final time seeing Jamie alive.
She warns him to think about how he’d feel if this was the last time he saw his father.
William watches Jamie teaching Marsali’s daughter how to ride, and that sparks a memory of Jamie teaching him as a child. He smiles as he recalls the lesson but then frowns, remembering Jamie, aka Mac, leaving the Helwater estate.
Jamie continues training his men, practicing while moving in a skirmish line uphill. He reminds them not to engage the enemy until they know their true strength. William rides up and they discuss the men’s training, and William believes they have potential.
Aaron Whitaker and his men show up, and Jamie introduces Aaron to William. Aaron reveals Ferguson is burning down free men settlements and they’ve had to move deeper into the mountains. Jamie asks how he can help, and Aaron surprises him by saying they’re there to help. Jamie happily welcomes Aaron and his men into the militia.
William asks Jamie to go hunting with him in the forest, repeatedly saying “in the forest” for no other reason than he’s very nervous that Jamie may turn him down. Of course, Jamie agrees to go hunting tomorrow.
The following day, Jamie and William head into the forest and seem happy in each other’s company. Jamie shoots an elk and says a prayer over its dead body. William apologizes for what he said at the river, saying his accusation was “malicious in intent.” Jamie accepts his apology.
William confesses that as a child, Mac the groom was the person he wanted to grow up to be like. He admits he worshipped Mac as a hero, but when he left, Mac didn’t look back. This is tearing William apart since Jamie knew at the time that he was his son. He needs to know how Jamie could have left him. Jamie replies, “I loved you, too, but I had nothing to give you. No name, no money, no land.” He was a traitor and everyone hated him and he didn’t want that to affect William’s life.
Jamie left because he thought it was for the best. He didn’t look back because seeing William’s face would have changed his mind. Jamie realized he had to do what was right for William, even though it hurt him deeply. After seeing him and Lord John years later, Jamie believed he’d made the right choice.
Jamie’s deeply sorry for how William learned the truth and asks for William’s forgiveness. William holds his father tight, sobbing in his embrace.
The Ridge gathers for Roger’s ordination ceremony. Fanny pops in but doesn’t stay because she’s having a hard time dealing with the reaction to the pamphlet about Jane. People were gossiping about it and saying Jane is in hell.
Roger speaks to her after the ceremony and Fanny confesses she doesn’t feel that God is welcoming. Since Jane committed murder and then killed herself, she must be in hell according to the Bible. Roger points out that Presbyterians don’t think suicide is a sin, and the Catholics also change their positions on things. Men, not God, established the rules.
Fanny wonders if Roger can ask God if Jane is with him, and Roger suggests she ask him herself. Anyone can talk to God, and Fanny thinks she will.
Later, Fanny sits by Jane’s cairn and says Roger gave her hope she’ll see her again. She asks for a sign and then bends down to pick up a rock. Her attention is drawn to a green stone and when she picks it up, it burns her hand. She quickly drops it but picks it up again. Fanny hears loud buzzing and covers her ears. (This confirms she’s a time traveler, too!)
Episode eight ends with Lord John meeting Percy after Percy sends a letter saying he has news on Captain Richardson. Percy’s acting strange and as Lord John asks for Richardson’s location, Richardson appears behind him and knocks him out.
- Outlander Season 7 Finale Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 “Soul of a Rebel” Recap
- Outlander Season 8 Episode 2 “Prophecies” 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
