Outlander Season 4, Episode 12 was a powerful and emotional episode. Richard Rankin had the opportunity to show off his talents, as Roger’s tale gained more focus. Here are the top Roger moments from the episode.
I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again, “poor, Roger!” This is one character who is such a good man and has really been dealt an awful hand in Outlander Season 4. And I know it’s only going to get worse.
More from Top Moments
- 3 best Brianna moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 3 best Roger moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 3 best Young Ian moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 3 best Claire moments in Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
- 5 best moments from Outlander Season 7, Episode 8
Episode 12 has been the worst part of the journey for him so far. Even the walk from North Carolina to New York was nothing compared to the events that happened at the Mohawk village. It’s time to look at the best moments.
I’ll admit that the “best” moments are more of the top moments, those that involved the most character development or showed us the type of man he really is. After all, there was nothing really “good” about what happened.
5. Talk of putting himself first
I know there are a few upset with Roger’s decision to only look out for himself, but this moment actually showed how far he’d been pushed. We all have our limits.
Everything Roger had done up to this point had been because of his kindness and love. He went after Brianna to protect her and headed to Fraser’s Ridge in the hope that he’d be able to make up with her. Then he chose not to go through the stones (I love that we found out what happened) because he couldn’t leave her.
It’s all led to this point. He realized that looking out for others has put him in an awful position and now he doesn’t know what it was all for. That talk of putting himself first showed just how far he’s been pushed at this point.
https://twitter.com/Outlander_STARZ/status/1087157679821271040
4. Trying to get the priest to put himself first
After the priest is tortured, Roger spends time cleaning the wound where his ear was. It’s then time to discuss what had happened and what’s to come next. Roger wants the priest to put himself first.
This comes off the back of Roger talking about putting himself first. It’s clear that part of him can’t do that. He wants the priest to do it, though.
What we get is a look at what Roger will do to save himself, though. If he had the option of pretending to baptise a baby or not, he’d do it. He’d make sure he lived. In a way, it’s smart, but it also shows that his beliefs are vastly different to the priest and part of that will be the priest being Catholic and him being Presbyterian.
However, you can see that he wants this priest to fight for his own survival. He wants to know that someone else can survive. In a way, it’s hope for him, that he’ll be able to get out.
Father Alexandre (aka @YanTual) may be more similar to Roger than expected. #Outlander #Providence pic.twitter.com/gUtPc0dytI
— Outlander (@Outlander_STARZ) January 21, 2019
3. Planning escape
While the priest was being tortured, Roger decided that he wasn’t sticking around. He would get out if he could, and that led to him digging for a way out.
What he’d planned on doing after that wasn’t clear. He’d be in the middle of a forest with no food and no idea where exactly he was. Chances are he would have died (more on that in another article) but he was focused on getting to safety.
He was relatively smart about it too. He found the best section of the hut to dig from, used a tool to manage it, and made sure something was around to cover up his hole. I’m not sure how he dug three feet or so on the other side, but I’ll leave that for another day.
Back where he started. Thank for tweeting along, West Coast! #Outlander #Providence pic.twitter.com/CoDNHJrvz2
— Outlander (@Outlander_STARZ) January 21, 2019
2. Realizing why he was there
We’ve not had much time to focus on what Roger had thought while walking to New York. There was that point where he said that he would get back to Brianna, but it’s clear that the walk gave him far more time to figure out what had actually happened.
I love that he realized how he got there. He knew that he had been sold by this point and that it had to come from the attack near Fraser’s Ridge. The historian and researcher in him came out, as he tried to piece it all together.
We got to see the logical side to him. Who else would have beaten him without question. He doesn’t quite know why yet, but he knows that Brianna’s father had something to do with it. This is not a stupid man.
To take away someone's suffering is quite a gift. Thanks for joining us, East Coast. #Outlander #Providence pic.twitter.com/n7ZObcL8UG
— Outlander (@Outlander_STARZ) January 21, 2019
1. Going back for the priest
As Roger got away, he heard the priest’s screams. It was clear that his heart wouldn’t let him leave. Roger needed to do the right thing, give the priest a merciful death.
So, he headed back. And that’s exactly what he did, although it also led to the priest’s lover and mother of his child walking into the flames. While it was sad, Roger still made the right choice for him. He knew what it would mean for him when he was caught, but he just couldn’t let another man suffer.
All that talk of looking out for number one was just talk. It was realistic and understandable. On the surface, he wanted to be selfish. Deep down, he just couldn’t be and that will fuel him into the following episode when he learns the full truth about Brianna.
We got to see Roger learn more about himself in this moment. And it did add a little humor to an otherwise horrific storyline for him.
What were your favorite Roger moments in Outlander Season 4, Episode 12? What did you expect to happen? What would you like to see next? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Outlander continues with its season finale on Jan. 27 on STARZ.