After a devastating episode, it’s hard to think that Outlander can offer hope and brightness.

However, that’s exactly what we get with Outlander Season 8 Episode 8.

Of course, there are still a threat or two out there, but most of the episode focuses on new beginnings and the hope that relationships can mend, making it clear that the series is getting ready to wrap things up.
(Courtesy of Starz)

Feelings of Loss and Hope

While the hour opens with Marsali and Jamie standing over Fergus’s grave, there’s still a sense of hope.

Marsali has figured out what to do, deciding to take the money and rebuild the printshop, which I said should happen during my Outlander Season 8 Episode 7 review.

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Honestly, her reasoning is everything I expected. She can’t allow her husband’s death to mean nothing, and he would have wanted the children to have the printshop.

On top of that, she’s fighting for freedom herself. That was one of the reasons she came to America in the first place, and now she continues to fight that fight.

(Courtesy of Starz)
Marsali has no idea how the war will play out. At no point has she been told anything about Claire’s ability to time-travel and the knowledge of the future.

Her decision to fight for freedom doesn’t come from knowing which side to be on, but from the hope that so many others at the time shared.

It’s pure, and it’s bright. Yes, it comes with danger and the threat of death, but if you’re going to die, you want that death to mean something. Marsali understands that.

The best part is that Jamie gets to hear how Fergus felt about him. Would I have loved for Fergus to tell him that as he did in the book? Sure, but I’m glad that Marsali got the opportunity to share it.

As many suspected, Marsali also reveals to Fergus’s grave that she’s expecting another child. Well, Fergus and Marsali did joke about populating the colony.
(Courtesy of Starz)
It offers that sense of hope that Fergus won’t be forgotten, though. Marsali is continuing his message and his beliefs, and she’ll do it with their children.

It’s not the only message of hope throughout the episode, either. William comes to the Ridge to speak with Brianna, and that opens another door.

At first, William is angry. This is a man still trying to figure out who he is, with all these blows he’s taking.

While it’s Bree he turns to for some advice about Amaranthus and Ben, it’s Claire who helps him realize that he needs to step up and start doing his part to make amends.
(Courtesy of Starz)

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That means being honest and communicative about his feelings.

That’s all it takes.

There’s so much that William has been holding in, and Outlander Season 8 Episode 8 finally allows him to release it all.

He’s able to share how much he looked up to Jamie while at Helwater and how hurt he felt when Jamie left without looking back.

As the two are able to have an honest and open conversation, the floodgates open, and it’s so heartwarming to see Jamie just hold his son.
(Courtesy of Starz)
William breaking down as he finally releases all that anger and pain offers that glimpse of hope for the future.

Sure, there is still a lot to work through with Lord John Grey — and hopefully, he can save John in time to do that — and there are still a lot of feelings about Amaranthus and the current situation with Ben, but there’s hope and a light as one thing mends.

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The Men Look at Brianna with Pride

Now, of course, Jamie and Roger were always going to defer to Brianna about history and architecture.

They have listened to her when it comes to the creation of plumbing and heating, so I don’t think any of us had any doubt that they would be proud of her for recreating the Hall Rifle to help at Kings Mountain.
(Courtesy of Starz)
What did surprise me was the way Buck looked at her.

Buck is a man of his time. He has acted out of fear and anger before, but he has also come a long way.

He has become a dear friend to the MacKenzies, but there are still parts of him that prove he’s a man of the 18th century.

Just look at how he went back to 1980 and dealt with Rob Cameron — after, thankfully, realizing that being around Geillis was not a good idea due to her particular interests in him — and then came back to Roger.

So, part of me expected a questioning look at first. To him, a woman creating a rifle is unheard of.
(Courtesy of Starz)
Seeing Brianna race Jamie while shooting the apples was a great touch, though!

We are getting closer and closer to Kings Mountain, and Jamie knows it.
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There’s still a lot that annoys me about Frank’s book and the conversations between Claire and Jamie, though.

Why didn’t Jamie ask about the dedication to Deadeye, and why didn’t Claire mention that was Frank’s nickname for Bree?

It was always clear that Frank didn’t write this book to get back at Claire and Jamie, and Claire should have known that. Frank was a damn good historian!

While a lot of people are frustrated by the Faith plot wasting time, I think this back-and-forth about the book has been a complete waste of time and doesn’t make sense.
(Courtesy of Starz)
But it comes back to a problem I’ve had with Outlander for a very long time — probably since the beginning. All it takes is for people to actually talk to each other, and many issues could be solved!

Fortunately, the issues have been resolved, and Jamie can now see that the book is a warning, not a taunt, and he’s training his men to fight.

He even gets support from Whittaker, making it clear that good people will always be rewarded. That reward doesn’t always come in the way expected, but it happens.

Jamie has gained the trust of the free Black men, and they want to fight alongside him as a sign of that trust. Word is sure to spread, but will it be in time?
(Courtesy of Starz)

Chit-Chat Through the Stones

There was a lot going on throughout the episode, but I only have a few thoughts on some storylines.

Fanny’s fear of where Jane is in the afterlife was beautifully shown, and I’m so glad she had Rachel and Roger to help her.
I’m glad not much time was spent on Roger’s ordination, although I couldn’t help but hum the hymn constantly afterward!
Pregnancy bumps certainly help give us an idea of the time jumps without them being explained.

(Courtesy of STARZ)

I still love the use of Frank’s voiceovers to help with the storytelling. It’s capturing the heart of the first season.
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Now the title “In the Forest” makes a lot of sense. I don’t think I’ll hear the phrase the same again.

There isn’t an episode of Outlander next week. As we’ve seen before, Starz is taking a week off after a big cliffhanger. The show will be back on May 8.

This is where we turn to you! We love hearing your thoughts about the latest Outlander episode — all we ask is that it remains focused on the episode and not an attack on the showrunner, writers, or cast.

This episode has gone past the books, so does it work for you after years of reading and watching?