Outlander Season 4, Episode 5 gave us a reunion we’ve been waiting for. It was everything we needed and more and here’s why.
Outlander had already promised Claire and Jamie would run into old faces in Episodes 5 and 6. The first one came this week and it was just the person we needed. The writers delivered everything we needed and more.
Of course, there are spoilers in this episode. If you want the recap before moving on, here it is. For those who haven’t watched the episode, I do highly recommend seeing it before reading anything. You want to see how the reunion plays out and who it is between.
If you’re still reading, I’m assuming you’re happy with spoilers or you already know. There were technically two reunions in the episode with one of the same characters. Here’s just why it was so beautiful.
The reunion with Jamie was full of emotion
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You know now that I’m talking about the reunion with Murtagh. As we’d hoped, he was in the Colonies and had a chance to make a life for himself once he’d paid off his time as an indentured servant. It was hell for him, but his second owner helped him develop a trade he could use in Wilmington.
It was because of that trade that Jamie ran into Murtagh. From behind, Jamie had no idea who he was talking to, but Murtagh certainly recognized the voice. It was only when Murtagh turned around that Jamie realized who the blacksmith was.
No words were really needed between them. We could get all the emotion from their faces. It was clear that both had worried and thought about each other over the years. The last Jamie saw of Murtagh, he was being forced to the Colonies. As for Murtagh, he’d seen Jamie being taken to a place Lord John Grey had kept quiet — Helwater.
Neither knew if each other survived and it was clear as they set eyes on each other. Both were grateful the other was still well and alive.
And then we got the hug. Both embraced tightly, thankful they had the chance to see each other face to face. Who didn’t tear up as they did?
The reunion with Claire was full of laughter
By the time it came to a reunion between Jamie and Claire, the reunion was a little different. Murtagh had found out Claire was back from Jamie and we knew Jamie would have told Claire the good news. There’s no way Young Ian would have been able to keep this quiet. So, the reunion was always going to have a different element of emotion to it.
Claire had her back turned and we got that perfect connection to Outlander Season 1’s “The Search.” Sure, this may not be a favorite episode for many, but it certainly helped to deepen the bond between Claire and Murtagh. They saw each other in a different light, as both were just as passionate as each other to find Jamie.
Murtagh walked behind Claire whistling the “Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy,” making it clear that he was there instead of making her jump. The recollection of the time they searched all those years ago was clear on her face. Then we got his little jig.
Keeping this reunion lighthearted was important considering the events of the rest of the episode. We got to see Claire smile again after the devastation of losing Adawehi. It was the perfect balance of losing one friend but regaining another.
There’s so much to come for the three of them. With Murtagh as part of the Regulators, there’s plenty of drama and tension along the way. It was just beautiful to see these two reunions happen and they delivered far more than we could ask for.
Which was your favorite of the two reunions in Outlander Season 4, Episode 5? Were they everything you needed for the episode? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Outlander continues on Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.