Faith is, hands-down, the best episode of Outlander Season 2. It may even be the best episode of the series for me. Just why is that the case?
Outlander Season 2 pushed everything when it came to “Faith” to create a beautiful masterpiece. While the most heartbreaking episode of the season (and I think one of the most heartbreaking of the series so far), Episode 7 really captured the emotion, the raw pain, and the aftermath of losing a child. The fact that Caitriona Balfe didn’t win an Emmy or Golden Globe for this performance alone is an outrage.
For many, “Faith” is an episode that is skipped after the first watch. It’s too hard to watch; too emotional and devastating. There are few Outlander episodes like this. The only other one I can think off is “Wentworth Prison” for similar reasons as “Faith.” The episode was filmed in a way to stir so many uncomfortable emotions that people don’t want to live through again. It’s understandable, but it’s this that makes the episode the best of the season and, possibly, the best of the whole series.
The emotions within Claire’s story
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After following Claire’s story for a season and a half, we learn that her baby is stillborn. Balfe transforms not just into a grieving mother, but someone who shows most steps of grief clearly. We see the denial, the pain, the sadness, the anger, and, eventually, the acceptance. The only one that isn’t there is bargaining, but that’s possibly because there’s something more important to focus on: childbed fever.
It’s soon clear that Claire may not only lose her baby but her own life. All the while, Jamie is locked in the Bastille and she has no idea why he broke her promise. At this point, she believes that he just couldn’t let his vengeance go for a year–whatever side of the argument you are on that topic isn’t the point here.
Claire’s whole world is crumbling and it’s almost like she’s open to death at this point; willing it to happen. If you weren’t already a mess, just thinking of that will leave you broken as you realize this strong, independent, stubborn woman has given up on everything. The grief and pain is too much that she’s done with life and everything that has been thrown her way. There is nothing to live for anymore