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.

More from Recaps

• Outlander Season 7, Episode 8 recap: Is Rachel in love with Young Ian?
• Outlander Season 7, Episode 7 recap: The First Battle of Saratoga
• Outlander Season 7, Episode 6 recap: Roger finds something to do
• Outlander Season 7, Episode 5 recap: Bree is trapped in a tunnel
• Outlander Season 7, Episode 4 recap: William and Young Ian meet (again)

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.

Laoghaire learns the truth

After getting through the stones, Brianna falls down and sprains her ankle. She continues on her journey to Ayr Harbour, but collapses just before reaching Laoghaire’s house — a place Brianna had seen in the distance and hoped would help her get to her destination.

At first, Laoghaire is nice and Joanie takes to Brianna. The three women look like the could be friends. However, Laoghaire eventually learns that Brianna is Claire and Jamie’s daughter. It naturally makes Laoghaire angry and after some shouting, Laoghaire locks Brianna into her room and heads off for the authorities. She’ll claim Brianna is a witch.

Fortunately, Joanie doesn’t quite believe the truth and gets Brianna out. After taking her to Lallybroch, Brianna gets to meet Ian Murray.

This is where we get a mention of Jenny. Many fans will remember that Laura Donnelly couldn’t be in Outlander Season 4, so Jenny was written as being away helping with the delivery of her grandchild. It’s a sweet reason for Jenny to be away and allows Ian to just quickly give Brianna some money (and a trunk of Claire’s clothes) and then get her to a harbor. He also hints that she needs to ask about Jocasta and would like Young Ian to write more.

While at the harbor to secure passage to the Colonies, she runs into Mr. Weymss, who has a request. He wants Brianna to buy his daughter as an indentured servant to avoid her being sold off as a concubine. After hearing the full story, Brianna very quickly decides to take Lizzie on the journey with her and secures passage for two.

Flashbacks of the past

Throughout the episode, Brianna thought back to the last days with her father. We hear arguments that had happened in the past and got to see Brianna talk to Frank about his research. He’d found the obituary of Jamie and Claire, so clearly knew that Claire would go back through the stones at some point.

Of course, Brianna paid little attention to the actual obituary and just tried to be there for Frank. When that night ended with an argument, she woke him the next morning with a good old-fashioned cream tea. That would solve anything.

It’s a good time to bond, including a hint of considering a move to England. Of course, later we see Frank’s last night. He tells Brianna that he and Claire are getting a divorce and he’s planning to take a job at Cambridge. He wants Brianna to come with her.

Angry about the divorce, she leaves him without saying goodbye. Finally, we get that flash of her at the cemetery, talking to his newly laid grave. She wonders whether she could have prevented the accident had she been in the car with him or agreed to go to England.

What is clear is that Frank is still important to her. Throughout her time with Laoghaire and Joanie, she talks about how much Frank meant to her and has continued to keep his name. When it comes to heading to the Colonies, Frank’s ghost is at the harbor, watching with pride as she soldiers on and goes to save Jamie and Claire.

What did you think of Outlander Season 4, Episode 7? Did Roger and Brianna hold the episode themselves? Would you watch more without Claire and Jamie? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Outlander Season 4 continues on Sundays at 8/7c on STARZ.