Outlander recap: Brianna and Roger head down the rabbit hole

Outlander Season 4, Episode 7 is an episode all about Brianna and Roger. Both head through the stones to a world much more dangerous than theirs.

Brianna and Roger head “Down the Rabbit Hole” in Outlander Season 4, Episode 7. In an episode that is just about them, we see how they both get their start to the Colonies in the 18th century. It’s a dangerous world both with their own demons to face.

W Network gave us a sneak peek of Brianna meeting Laoghaire. Has Laoghaire really turned a new leaf or will she turn on Brianna? Meanwhile, Roger heads off on a dangerous passage that could lead to the end of his life.

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I’ll split this piece up in two halves: focusing on Roger and then on Brianna’s journey through the stones. Of course, if you haven’t seen the episode yet, there are spoilers in this Outlander recap.

Roger takes his trip through the stones

We’d already seen Brianna head through. Now it was Roger’s turn. Cleanly shaven, he hands Fiona the car keys and heads through the stones to the past. We don’t see how he makes it to the harbor, but he does and ends up offering to work on the ship to the Colonies, with a captain who happens to be Stephen Bonnet.

You just know this is going to turn out to be dangerous. For one, it’s Stephen Bonnet! But Bonnet also flips a coin to decide whether Roger will join. For a man who claims to make his own luck, he relies a lot on Lady Luck to make some of his decisions.

There is a backstory for that decision. It turns out Bonnet’s life was saved due to the flip of a coin years ago, but that’s by-the-by.

Learning how far Bonnet is willing to go

When the ship he’s on ends up with a case of smallpox, Bonnet decides to throw the child overboard. Of course, Roger is disgusted at the idea. In one sense, I’m on Roger’s side. On the other, I remember this is the 18th century.

I’m not advocating for throwing young girls overboard but I can get Bonnet’s decision. He couldn’t have a ship full of passengers with smallpox. He’s ruthless enough to get rid of the sickness immediately to protect the many.

That does lead to Roger finding the mother and child he’d previously met on the ship. The baby is teething, so naturally has a rash. Anyone who has had a teething baby in the house knows that a rash is common, along with upset stomachs and a lot of crying. Roger knows that and decides to hide the baby and mother, who happens to be Morag MacKenzie.

Maybe Roger knows or maybe it’s just the name MacKenzie, but this is an ancestor of Roger. Well, Morag’s husband and son are. If they die, Roger isn’t sticking around.

Of course, there has to be drama and it’s not surprising that Bonnet finds the hidden Morag and baby. They’re not the ones Bonnet is going to kill. He flips a coin for Roger’s life. Fortunately, it lands on the side that spares Roger’s life. So, we’re good for another episode.