Why Young Ian remaining with the Mohawks made the perfect sense in Outlander

Young Ian remained behind in New York in the Outlander Season 4 finale. This was the perfect choice for the situation.

In the Outlander Season 4 finale, Claire and Jamie finally made it to Roger. Getting him back wasn’t as simple as they would have liked, with the Mohawk chief making it clear they didn’t have anything to trade. However, Jamie and Young Ian both realized they did.

This is something that happened in the books but regardless of the book storyline, Young Ian going with the Mohawks was always going to make perfect sense. You could see that the storyline was leading up to this decision.

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Young Ian was fascinated with the Natives’ culture. He had already made friends with the Cherokee neighbors in North Carolina and had learned the language. As a young man, he was ready to take that journey into being one of them. You could see the look of happiness on his face when he was welcomed in after doing the gauntlet.

That smile on Young Ian’s face wasn’t just relief. He was genuinely happy to be adopted into the tribe, showing his respect for their ways of life and the potential future as a Mohawk.

Jamie wouldn’t have gained that same enjoyment. While Jamie had made friends with the Cherokee and spoke some of the language, it was Young Ian who did most of the translating. Ian was the one who was ready to immerse himself as an adopted member of the tribe, whereas Jamie would have looked for the first chance to leave.

While Jamie had family of his own, Young Ian didn’t; not really. Sure, he had his uncle, aunt, and cousin, but what about his own family? His parents and siblings are in Scotland and all he has is the hope of settling down in the future. Where better than in a tribe that has welcomed him in? He has the chance to find his own family, rather than constantly wonder what his wife and children left behind are doing.

It was certainly an emotional scene, but one that made a lot of sense. I do write this as a woman who has left her own country for another, leaving her parents behind. Sure, it’s not the same thing as Ian, but it leads to a growth of character and maturity.

What did you think of the Outlander finale? Were you excited to see Young Ian step out on his own? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

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