Outlander Season 3 premiere recap: The start of the 20-year separation

Meanwhile, it’s the storyline that kept me hooked throughout the Outlander Season 3 premiere. It’s all about the failed Battle of Culloden. The Jacobites have fallen and we see how through a series of flashes told from Jamie’s point of view. These memories adapt slightly with each telling, showing the haziness of memory.

While Claire’s story took place over the nine months of pregnancy, Jamie’s story was focused on the direct aftermath of Culloden. It was clear from this point that we’d see the 20-year separation at different points in time.

All Jamie wants to do is die. He believes he’ll go off to see Claire somewhere in the afterlife and even hallucinates her on the battlefield when it’s actually Rupert coming to save him. The soldiers who have survived are hiding out in a barn, but that isn’t going to last long.

The Redcoats find them and Lord Hal Grey organizes the execution of all the Jacobites. They will die with dignity, though, being shot in the head. Those who can’t stand will be strapped to a post to allow the death that he believes they deserve.

Since Jamie is so badly wounded after his fight with Black Jack Randall (who died on the battlefield as Claire told him), he’s left until the end. He says goodbye to various people both through memories and in person. The most important is certainly Rupert, who won’t forgive Jamie for killing Dougal but doesn’t want to go to his grave angry at him. After all, they were brothers-in-arms once. Rupert is shot off-screen and it’s the only time I’ll agree that a death off-screen is a real death.

When all the able-bodied men have been executed, it’s time to move onto the injured. Jamie finally gets his chance to die but there’s a catch. Hal realizes that Jamie is the same Red Jamie who saved his brother’s life. Because of that, there’s a debt that must be paid. Hal manages to secure Jamie safe passage to Lallybroch, despite Jamie certain that there is no debt that needs to be paid.

It was a devastating episode with the goodbyes (although all were handled perfectly) but one full of beautiful direction, lightning, and true depictions of the past. This is still my favorite episode of the whole of Outlander Season 3.

Next: Ranking the Outlander Season 3 episodes

What did you think of the Outlander Season 3 premiere? Which storyline drew you in more? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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