Pacing will be the most pivotal question of the remaining two seasons of Outlander.
Especially during the 7th series, which premiered last weekend. There are still some very important plotlines to wrap up before the story turns to the big ones connected to the big moments of real-life history.
Thus, it is little wonder that there is no time for a slow re-introduction of the world of Outlander at the beginning of this season. The plotline with Claire’s (Caitriona Balfe) incarceration at its centre has to be closed as soon as possible.
The heroine has to be free and active as a character again as soon as possible.
On the other hand, although it is not one of those well-known events, history came to help Claire avoid the gallows. During the summer of 1775, Fort Johnston was taken by the patriots (or the rebels, if you prefer the British point of view), while Governor Josiah Martin (Eugene O’Haae), who already has had to leave his palace in New Bern behind a bit earlier, fled to the ship HMS Cruizer. (By the way, similar experience will have his predecessor, now governor of New York, William Tryon, who will exile to the ship Duchess of Gordon in the harbour of New York later this year.)
This is the moment, when Claire meets big history again, as she is taken to the ship to help the governor’s wife (Reanne Farley) , who is with child. (In the real past, she was most likely already in New York, but this kind of alteration of historical facts is really an everyday business in the world of historical fiction.)
There is a little tension between Claire and the Martins. Gossip about a woman who murdered her husband’s lover reached even the highest circles of society. But Governor Martin soon turns to a more worrying problem (at least according to his own words): when it comes to loyalty to the Crown, the Frasers are a bit suspicious people in his eyes, especially after Jamie has withdrawn himself from the position of an Indian agent. And unfortunately, Major MacDonald (Robin Laing), who seems a bit more annoying character than he was in the previous season, is here too to keep the governor’s scepsis alive.
Nevertheless, Claire persuades Martin to send a message to Wilmington with a list of some necessary medical items, among them a strange something, called “vir meus”. Thank God, Tom Christie (Martin Lewis Jones) , the receiver of the message, realises quickly, that Claire wants to have Jamie (Sam Heughan), who has arrived just a bit later in Wilmington after Claire has been taken from the jail, on the governor’s ship as soon as possible. Vir meus is in Latin, literally means “my man”.
There is something in the scenes set in Wilmington, that Outlander has done always very well: the chaotic atmosphere before an upcoming armed conflict. Like in the scene before the Battle of Culloden, when little Fergus was sent to Lallybroch. As he left the building and turned once more back.
Now Wilmington is in a chaotic and anxious state of preparation. And as it used to be,
in the storm of big historical events, there are small but pivotal personal moments.
Like the one in the life of Thomas Christie.
After negotiating with the governor on the ship (he should recruit 200 men and send them to Major MacDonald, in turn to get Claire back), Jamie arrives back in Wilmington. Tom is already determined to do what he thinks, is the only way to free Claire. He is quite drunk, which seems a very new thing for the teetotaler, and tells Jamie his plan: he is about to confess the murder of his daughter.
Neither Jamie, nor Claire believe that Tom Christie was the murderer, but the strange old man, desperately in love with Claire, is very determined. (He even sends his confession to the local newspaper to publish it.) In a well-written and performed monologue, he talks about the search for something great and meaningful in his life. He thought it was God’s love, and it would be enough, but no, it’s the love between humans.
To give love and to receive love.
And it looks like he finally found peace with himself as he can give Claire only one thing: sacrificing himself for her.
As Claire arrives back in Wilmington and has the chance to sleep in a nice big bed, Jamie leaves their room, and visits Richard Brown (Chris Larkin). It looks like he intends to kill him, but the scene, and the entire episode with it, ends at that very moment.
While Wilmington is anxious and foggy (very very foggy) the Mackenzies are in a sunnier and nicer place, although they can’t avoid the preparations for the war either.
But the scenes involving Bree (Sophie Skelton) and Roger (Richard rankin) seem more suitable for a season opener with a possibly important setup for the upcoming few episodes.
When Roger quotes Muhammad Ali, someone, none other than the time traveller guy called Wendigo Donner (Brennan Martin) recognises the famous words. He is among those incarcerated men conscripted into the British army (there is a camp of British soldiers right next to the place where Roger trains to be a reverend). Donner explains to Roger, why he is here. He stole a gem only because he wanted to go back in his time. Donner wants Roger to help him.
First, Roger is willing to help, but after an argument with Brianna about the morality of being only a bystander during a brutal attack against a woman, he changes his mind. He will only help him by praying for him.