Young Ian made it back to America in Outlander season 7, episode 10. That meant a chance to talk to Rachel and reunite with Rollo. It also meant danger.
This was a big episode for Young Ian. His past came back to haunt him as Arch Bug showed up. With Young Ian back, it was time for Arch to carry out his revenge. It didn’t matter that Rachel had nothing to do with his wife’s death.
This moment opened up much more for Rachel and Young Ian. Here are my three favorite Young Ian moments throughout “Brotherly Love.”
Young Ian and Rollo reunite
I guess this is more of a Rollo moment, but Young Ian is involved. Rollo immediately realizes that Young Ian is back, and he takes off. He runs through the streets to find his best friend, and I think that it’s important to connect back to the title for this episode. I know the title is more about Ian and Jamie, but there’s a “brotherly love” between Young Ian and Rollo.
We see that reunion happen. Young Ian has certainly missed his dog, and Rollo has clearly missed Young Ian. The reunion was short-lived with Young Ian worried about Rachel, but it was still a sweet one.
Young Ian jumping in to save Rachel
This scene was changed a little from the way I remember the book playing out. In the book, Rachel is pushing Young Ian to be more of a pacifist, and he doesn’t end up fighting Arch Bug—William is still the one to kill Arch. However, I never felt like that was right for Young Ian’s character.
The scene we got in the show was much more of Young Ian’s character. He steps in to fight Arch, getting his arm sliced in the process. Young Ian will do whatever he can to save the love of his life.
Figuring out how he and Rachel can be together
Young Ian loves Rachel. He has told her, only it turns out that she didn’t understand because he didn’t say it in English. Well, it’s time for him to say it in English, and he does it beautifully for the moment. What comes next is such a great moment for Young Ian, as well as him and Rachel as a couple.
Young Ian notes that while he would become Quaker for Rachel, he wouldn’t mean it in his heart. He knows that she wouldn’t want that, so he is very honest and clear in that. He shares his weakness, but he also shows that he wants some sort of hope to come from this. Rachel has that hope for him when she makes it clear that he is her wolf.
Outlander airs on Fridays on STARZ.
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