Grading the Outlander Season 5 episodes

Episodes 9 to 12

In the final block, we got to see more development for Brianna outside of being a wife and mother. There was a chance to see more development for all women, to be honest. And yes, the finale is one of my all-time favorite episodes of the series for the way it handled the story it developed from Book 6.

I actually really enjoyed some of the Book 6 storylines being pulled forward. There’s a lot of dramatic material in the sixth book, while the fifth book is more about life on the Ridge. So, pulling storylines forward works for TV.

Episode 9: Monsters and Heroes

This episode of Outlander Season 5 certainly offered some entertainment. It also offered us some emotional moments, especially as Claire feared that she would either have to lose Jamie through death or lose him through anger by not keeping her word.

There was also that moment with the bison that will always stand out. We got a chance to see how different women reacted to the situation, but how, ultimately, they all kept Jemmy and the Ridge safe.

The standout moment for me was certainly seeing Brianna be the one to find a way to create a syringe. She didn’t know how to use her skills in the past, and this episode gave her that chance.

Episode 10: Mercy Shall Follow Me

I’ll admit that I wondered where the show would go with Outlander Season 5 after the snake bite. While there are some moments, most of the standout elements of the fifth book are small and not great content for TV episodes. So, I understood when I saw the show’s writers moving towards the sixth book.

It certainly made a lot of sense to wrap up Stephen Bonnet’s storyline. And I loved the way it happened. It was contained enough to make sense for the episode but there’s so much more to learn when you go into the novel. It really is a favorite part of the story for me, mostly because Brianna is my favorite female character.

This episode stood out the most for the ending. Brianna shooting him and not telling Roger whether it was out of mercy or to make sure he was dead was perfect. Nobody has to know the answer to that.

Episode 11: Journeycake

Outlander Season 5, Episode 11 is the one written by Diana Gabaldon. Really, it should be an A+, right? However, I don’t rate it as highly as the episode that had come before. Nor do I rate it as highly as the previous two episodes.

Don’t get me wrong; I enjoyed it. When I look at the overall season, it’s a great episode and has some great storytelling, but as a standalone episode, I admit that I got a little bored throughout. Like much of “The Fiery Cross,” the episode is mostly about life in general. It’s the characters together on the Ridge with the threat of the Browns looming.

There are some beautiful moments with Young Ian learning the truth, Brianna and Roger choosing to leave for their own time, and Jamie telling Brianna about Willie. For me, though, they weren’t enough to pull up the episode. But overall, I enjoyed it.

Episode 12: Never My Love

Finally, it’s all about the Outlander Season 5 finale. This is at the top with “Famous Last Words.” I worried about how the episode would work out with Claire’s abduction and rape. The show couldn’t shy away from the content in the books but it did have to tread carefully and offer something different to the way rape has been handled in the past.

The writers found a way to manage it. Did we expect anything less from Matt B. Roberts and Toni Graphia? Of course not! They brought a stylized approach that made sense. We got to see Claire disassociating herself to stay safe and fight against everything that was happening to her. It was all about survival.

I got goosebumps when Fergus and Young Ian said they would kill for Claire. I cheered when Marsali killed Lionel Brown. This is one of those episodes that stands out for all the right reasons for me.

How do you grade the Outlander Season 5 episodes? Share yours in the comments below.

Outlander Seasons 1 to 5 are available to stream on STARZ