Want to relive the Outlander Season 4 finale episode? We do a minute-by-minute reaction to “Man of Worth.”
[8:00 p.m.] I’m no prophet but starting the episode with a song long reserved exclusively for the most intense of losses is not, perhaps, the best sign of where the next 60 minutes of our lives are headed. Please let us be wrong. Please let us be wrong.
[8:01 p.m.] I’ve never thought of myself as a time traveler, but this season has made me rethink that. Because rounding second base with a set of standing stones is the only plausible scenario for feeling like I watched the premiere, blinked, looked up and found us already at the end of Season 4.
[8:03 p.m.] They found the Mohawk camp! It took longer than anticipated, but sometimes Waze can do you like that.
[8:05 p.m.] These Mohawk frat boys can pretend not to care for Roger, but they valued him enough to take the time to give him a real frat house name and everything, so they care.
[8:06 p.m.] “What is he to you that you’d come all this way?” Oh, you know, just a chance to salvage both what’s left of the brand-new relationship with my daughter and any shot in hell that I could bear to live with myself should something happen to him.
[8:07 p.m.] I love that, to get Roger back, the Frasers are unveiling their own QVC of sorts. Call now and we’ll throw in a second set of pots and pans for free! Although, now that the trade is going the other way, a necklace for a man doesn’t sound that great. I’d at least ask for a matching bracelets and earrings.
[8:08 p.m.] That Hope Diamond necklace of Claire’s has mucked the whole deal all to hell, but I love that this woman is like, “yes yes, she must go, spawn of evil and whatnot… but can I get a deal on that scarf first?”
[8:09 p.m.] Murtagh’s going after that roast like a man on death row eating his last meal. What, too soon?
[8:10 p.m.] “I’m no an easy man to kill.” And thank to be all things Outlander holy for that. Of all the twists and deviations of this season, and series as a whole, sparing Murtagh’s life so that we might all enjoy an abundance of Duncan LaCroix is by far my favorite.
[8:11 p.m.] “I think it’s best that you don’t stay in one place too long.” Best line ever for family who are threatening to overstay their welcome. I’m making a mental note for next Thanksgiving.
[8:12 p.m.] Poor Murtagh, he gets thrown in jail for a few days and finds that, to quote Hamilton, the world has turned upside down. Can you imagine the mental gymnastics involved with trying to figure out how Bree got engaged to Lord John?
[8:13 p.m.] Bree, get used to those nagging doubts about being a mother. They’ll be with you for the next 20 years or so.
[8:14 p.m.] I really thought she was going to say “we’re here for the scarf.” Girl was eyeing that accessory like Claire was her own personal Stitch Fix that finally arrived after a postal delay.
[8:15 p.m.] Of all the things I thought we would focus on in this episode, accessories was not one of them.
[8:16 p.m.] A story of a time traveler bringing chaos into a village and Jamie’s all like, tell me about it.
[8:18 p.m.] Does anyone have a literal Outlander headcount? I think we’re at three severed heads in four seasons.
[8:19 p.m.] He buried it far, far away – like 800 miles away? I can’t even hide Christmas presents with any level of confidence that prying eyes won’t find them, but I guess maybe I need to expand my range a bit. Then again, Claire found it, sooo…
[8:20 p.m.] Yes, Bree proposed to Lord John. Until this moment, women studying at universities was the craziest thing Murtagh had heard.
[8:21 p.m.] She forgave her father and that makes me equal parts squishy and relieved and also believe heartily in the impactful merits of art therapy. All that sketching did a pregnant lassie good. Do adult coloring books have the same effect?
[8:22 p.m.] Camp raids in the middle of the night….just like the old days before Culloden. I hope there are s’mores! Also, this one time at band camp…never mind…
[8:23p.m.] “It’s Jamie… he won’t hurt you.” Um, YOU SURE ABOUT THAT?
[8:24 p.m.] Oh hell. Roger’s right… YOU SHOULD HAVE BROUGHT THE WHOLE MACKENZIE CLAN.
[8:25 p.m.] Ohhh, I love it when they do the three-legged races at camp! Also, this scene feels like one of the New York street magician tricks – ball under the cup, slide, slide, slide, now where is it? I keep trying to follow the bright light to keep up, but it’s not working. I can’t for the life of me track who’s hitting who, where the punches are landing and how they’re faring. I’ll just go ahead and assume that since it’s Outlander, not well.
[8:26 p.m.] Claire looks equally confused, which is not good given that she may need to help at some point.
[8:27 p.m.] “You outsiders are not the reason for the strife. The pain and disharmony caused by Otter Tooth has always been with us.” This feels topical.
[8:28 p.m.] Kids grow up so fast. One minute they’re feeling up a girl in your Print Shop and the next they are trading their life for an in-law.
[8:29 p.m.] Can we go ahead and just call him Ian now – no Wee or Young needed? He’s a man. An honest to God man with his own identity capable of making selfless, grown-up decisions such as these that affect himself and, more importantly, others.
[8:30 p.m.] Ian’s all, “Um you got this with my mom? Cool. Tell her I’ll write.”
[8:31 p.m.] But seriously, I can’t imagine how exactly you’d be able to turn and walk away. Or better yet, be the one to to watch them leave you behind uncertain as to the implications of your choice. Sigh. Bye Ian, indeed. And I thought dropping a kid off at college would be tough.
[8:33 p.m.] “Whisky is hard to come by in the new world.” Necessity is the mother of invention and that’s why I’m bringing you Regulator Rye – a smooth, easy drinking whisky made with American grains and pure mountain water by a Scot who knows damned well what he’s doing.
[8:34 p.m.] These two are about three verbal burns away from their own butler’s pantry moment. Or more… Having just watched European Vacation with my family, I am reminded of the conversation between Russ and Clark. “He’s going to pork her, dad. He’s not not going to pork her, Russ…he might pork her.”
[8:35 p.m.] Silver Fox indeed. I’d say it’s a shame Aunt Jocasta is blind, but I’m assuming Murtagh’s not complaining that the woman compensates for that by doubling down on her ability to see with her hands. Jocasta didn’t need Ulysses to help her find her way around the bedroom last night.
[8:36 p.m.] Who could have thought that Ian would have navigated the gauntlet easier than Jamie is navigating this “reunion” with Roger.
[8.37 p.m.] I love that the path to becoming a welcomed Mohawk is paved with an episode of American Ninja Warrior.
[8:38 p.m.] Ian left his homeland and has trekked over so much land and sea with a wanderer’s heart and soul and, here among the Natives, this fair-skinned ginger Scottish lad finally found his tribe. We should all be so lucky, I mean without all that bargaining yourself to save another man’s life stuff, of course.
[8:39 p.m.] I guess Roger the gimp found his second wind. The scholarly historian packs quite the punch. I can’t help but wonder if Claire is standing there looking at these two men lying on the ground calculating the first aid that will be required to patch them up. You two done?
[8:40 p.m.] Outlander misunderstandings are just bigger, Roger. It’s a fact that you’ll have to accept if you choose to remain among Clan Fraser. Also, y’all better work this out because the Mohawk said that all sales are final.
[8:41 p.m.] Brianna was attacked. Gasp. By Stephen Bonnet. Gulp. She’s pregnant. Blank stare. But wait there’s more!
[8:43 p.m.] You think I would leave her? Well, History Professor, history would show us that, yes, you just might leave her.
[8:44 p.m.] It’s one thing to go up against Momma Fraser or Daddy Fraser but to stare them both down at once must be terrifying. To see Jamie and Claire united in defense of and fierce love for their daughter is…why is my face leaking?!
[8:45 p.m.] Roger, here’s a previously used Outlander response that would not work well in this moment, ”that amount of time doesn’t exist.”
[8:46 p.m.] Wait, are they parting ways? Or does he intend to take the time he needs by sticking with them, sleeping in that giant REI tent with his in-laws within earshot?
[8:47 p.m.] Jocasta postdating a birth certificate like my 20-year old self postdating checks with likely equal effectiveness.
[8:48 p.m.] That baby grew as quickly as Fraser’s Ridge was erected. He’s two months old today and, technically, hasn’t yet been born according to Jocasta’s special brand of birthday math.
[8:49 p.m.] You didn’t bring Roger back with you? Then it looks like I’m marrying a gay man who is in love with one or both of you and who also happens to be the father of my brother. The family tree will be complicated.
[8:50 p.m.] Seriously, where’s Roger? Did they neglect to give him directions to River Run? Did he stop at the packie store on the way in to grab a bottle of wine? Think he needs to come bearing a ham? So many questions. Just get here already, lad.
[8:51 p.m.] Yes, please, Murtagh’s eyebrows tell me a story.
[8:52 p.m.] Claire wants to bring Bree home to Fraser’s Ridge (a la Season 2 Claire). It’s a reminder that home and family are as powerful a healer as Claire’s herbs.
[8:53 p.m.] These Fraser women have a way of squaring themselves against disappointments and failures and steeling their eyes on the horizon and whatever lies just beyond it. Because that’s what mothers do – they put one foot in front of the other and keep moving. Even when it hurts the most.
[8:54 p.m.] Smart man stayed behind for a horse. That does make him stubborn, but also not a fool.
[8:55 p.m.] There will forever be a special place in my heart for men who father children that they did not father. And yes, that’s a nod to you, Frank Randall. It’s the only one you’ll ever get from me.
[8:56 p.m.] Jamie’s all, ummmm – putting a pin in this. No time right now, but we’ll be re-grouping on this later.
[8:57 p.m.] Jamie, please make Gov. Tryon an offer he can’t refuse. Because nobody crosses The Godfather.
Closing Thoughts:
Nikki: And with that another Season of Outlander is in the books. There was so much to love about the season but I think that my big takeaway will be the importance of family and our family’s ability to buoy us in times of need, struggle, or indecision. And like family, this season was not perfect. No one person liked everything. Despite that, I hope that we can all agree that we saw characters grow and change and develop into people that we want to see again next season.
Speaking of family, to sit among this group of people from around the country who have come together ONLY because of their love for a series of books that gave birth to a show is like witnessing the formation of a family. We don’t look the same and we don’t sound the same, but we are all here because we love the same thing. To those of you who are here and to those of you around the world, who listen to the podcast, participate in the Outlander Cast Clan Facebook page, and read our blogs, thank you. Thank you for being part of our Outlander family. We love you. We appreciate you. We love making this journey with you.
Ashley: I know the title of this episode refers to all the men redeeming themselves, but in the end, it also described itself. This episode of worth only made my feelings for this truly enjoyable season grow stronger. Perhaps having a final story time hour with all my favorite characters that served as the culmination of such a season made me like it as much as I did. Maybe it was the way they did the required season finale thing of tying it all up with a bow, except this time without it feeling equivalent to shoving as many tray-passed appetizers down my throat as I can before the party stops serving food (true story, that just happened). Were there critical pieces missing in this episode? Certainly. Were there flaws in the season as a whole? You bet. But does it matter? Absolutely not. Because if I ever find myself so harsh a critic that I can’t find pure escapist (but also relatable) joy in seeing emotional choices made, relationships mended, babies born, love pursued at any age and, most importantly, families sticking together no matter the mess that befalls them – all within the course of 60 minutes – then I’m left with one nagging question. Why the heck do I even bother watching?
Thank you all immensely for your patronage of this season – of these recaps, for sure, but also of our Outlander Cast podcast, online community, social channels and everywhere else you lend your support and excitable energy to a book series and/or show that unites us all. It’s a level of trust we do not take for granted. While Season 4 has officially gone dark, via new content served regularly during that dim in-between time, we will forever keep the lights on for you should you want to come nestle in our corner of this great big fandom and banter about the world of Outlander. Until next season, friends…
If you’ve missed any of our Season 4 episode recaps, you can catch up with them here:
Episode 4.01: “God Bless America”
Episode 4.02: “Do No Harm”
Episode 4.03: “The False Bride”
Episode 4.04: “Common Ground”
Episode 4.05: “Savages”
Episode 4.06: “Blood of My Blood”
Episode 4.07: “Down the Rabbit Hole”
Episode 4.08: “Wilmington”
Episode 4.09: “The Birds & The Bees”
Episode 4.10: “The Deep Heart’s Core”
Episode 4.11: “If Not For Hope”
Episode 4.12: “Providence”
A complete library of recaps from Seasons 2-3 is also available here.
If you like Ashley’s minute-by-minute episode recaps, the fun continues at All Souls Witchy Women, a blog and podcast formed by three women on our staff who met over Outlander and then jumped into the All Souls trilogy like the time-traveling witches they wish they were. Ashley and Nikki are dishing up recaps on the new series, A Discovery of Witches. We’d love to have you!
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