User Reviews

Anyone who has read the books knows that Brianna's foray into the past was significantly altered for the tv series. Originally, Brianna meets all of her family members, and Laghorie at Lallybroch, and it is so poignant because her experience is almost the exact opposite of Claire's first foray into the past. When Claire arrives in the past, she is the Sassenach, exposed and alone, a stranger in a strange land. Brianna on the other hand arrives and finds that she has the large and loving family that she didn't have before, since Claire and Frank in Boston didn't have any immediate family there.

Unfortunately, due to practical considerations regarding scheduling the showrunners could not have a big gathering at Lallybroch like in the books. So, this was changed to have Brianna spend most of her time with Laghorie instead. I have to say, it was so well done and really gives you a Laghorie's perspective of the story up to this point. To see Laghorie caring for Claire's daughter in a similar way as Claire has been caring for Marsali shows you that maybe Laghorie is not the complete devil that the show has at times portrayed her out to be. She's been disgraced by Jaime, abandoned, left to fend for herself after Claire's return, and it's hard not to have some sympathy for her.

The other noteworthy portion of the episode was Brianna's flashbacks to Frank. Tobias Menzies was so spectacular throughout the series and Drums of Autumn was so premised on fatherhood, and the ghost of Frank Randall was so prevalent in the novel that it was nice to see the tv series finally lean into those themes, something I don't think Season 4 nearly does enough of.

Unfortunately though, there are two aspects of the episode the foreshadow problems in the second half of the season. First, Roger MacKenzie's storyline is relatively mediocre. Nothing really stands out in his portion of the episode. More importantly, this episode is emblematic of the tv series problem with Brianna Randall Fraser. The tv series gives her no agency, no character, no story of her own. In the book, her arrival at Lallybroch is rife with self-discovery, of Brianna finding out who she is. Unfortunately, too often Brianna isn't the center piece of her own story. This episode ends up being more about Laghorie's story than Brianna's, more about Frank's realization that Claire would return to the past than about Brianna.

This is a problem that comes up again and again in the tv series, and sure enough, the next episode spectacularly fails because of it.

Shame they changed so much. Didn't quite work. Some things should be left well alone.

I was a bit nervous about this episode, being such a lover of the novels. I understand changes have to be made when transitioning book to series - and I respect that to a degree. But staying to true to the story is important, and I had heard and seen some reviews to say this episode steered away to much. Well, I'm glad I do not agree with any of the reviews or comments I have seen. I loved this episode! I think a little time away from Jamie & Claire was refreshing. I love Bri & Rogers story and seeing it brought to life is so surreal, and I have to add that Sophie & Richard okay these characters so incredibly well. Ed as Stephen Bonnet - wow, what a character! They kept him true to the book - maybe a little better looking than I pictured, but still just as evil. Yes, the story differs from the novel - but the main information remained the same! So I fully accepted and enjoyed the changes! To be honest, I was captivated. Seeing more of Franks story was also interesting - and seeing the love he had for Brianna and how he had found out Claire goes back to the past at some point, because she died in the past - was a great little Easter egg thrown in there! It made sense as to why he just wanted to leave, take Brianna as to not risk her leaving him too and just let Claire go... I could go on, but I won't. Just watch it. Enjoy it. Don't think to much and just let it unfold! Next week is going to be emotional that's for sure!

Frank knee more than he told Claire. He was just a very cunning man. Good storyline. Good way to tie up some loose ends. It's slow walk, but we are getting there. Frank explained a lot and now we know why Brianna began to piece it together. Good writing given Jenny could not be there. It's good she made peace with Frank

I wouldn't have thought a Brianna-centric episode would give us the best of the season to date, but such is the case here. Her trek to get back to Mom was well-done here as was the realistic struggles on the ship. Few shows would give us a child being pushed overboard, but Outlander plays by its own set of rules.

I don't know what the books are like or if Brianna is portrayed in the show the same way as the books but this is one of the most frustrating Brianna plot lines. She never seems to see things for what they are, she just chooses to feel like she is betrayed and never accepts that she is wrong or at least in part. This is my second time watching the series and she acts like roger told her that he murdered her mom himself or something. I could understand if she was taken back at why he didn't tell her he knew about her moms death and even if she was frustrated and angry but after he told her his reasoning, she clung to her right to feel betrayed. She is in a foreign time and place and is so vulnerable but her arrogance and childishness is overwhelming. She accused roger of taking away her right to decide to do something about her moms death but how in the world could Roger even know that Brianna going back was ever an option?

Rabbit Hole. They get back to the past - it had to happen - And flashbacks, I always thought Tobias Mendes owned the show in a way. The one that beared the biggest burden and suffered the most. Perhaps he paid his ancestor' karma. It is good of the writers to show us the ugly face of a good love story. Claire and Jaime are happy but look at the lifes of others who are not loved back. Interesting that Brianna is not assaulted - that is a relief thanks writers

Main takeaways from this episode:

1) Brianna is not very bright. She's not stupid, but she gives so much away, can't read the room, and for the love of God, use a bag with a flap or closure of some kind. I have to see her every episode now, and I swear....

2) What did we do to deserve having to see the incredibly unstable, creepy, obsessed "Leer"-y again for half a damn episode? Her sole redeeming feature is that she at least seems to genuinely care about her daughters, but she has serious mental issues. I don't mean that in a flippant way, it is actually disturbing. She didn't even want Jamie when she bloody had him. Ugh, shoo fly.

3) Lovely to see Tobias again. Frank truly got such a raw deal, the detail of him knowing what would happen at Fraser's Ridge made some previous moments fall into place, that was really well done. I wish he had gotten his chance at a new life.

4) Roger is slightly less clueless than Brianna although very out of his depth (who wouldn't be, however), but I saw more to like about him this episode.

5) Fiona's coat was the best character this episode.

6) There is something special about Ed Speleers, isn't there? I haven't seen him before, and I know Bonnet does awful things, but this guy gives him something incredible.

And finally,

7) HOW DOES A SANDWICH TRAVEL 200 YEARS?

This episode was a let down for those (like me) who read the books. Brianna stumbles through the 18th century Highlands to end up in Leoghaires house. That was wasted screentime. Her visit to Lallybroch was set in the margin. What was the writer thinking? Laura Donnely (Jenny Murray) wasn't available but that part could be played by Steven Cree (Ian Murray) who shows her round. Lallybroch was her newly found familie's estate and it was a thrill for Bree to see the background of her biological father. To read letters from him and learn that her mother and he were united. Nothing was left of that. What a bummer!

It's one of the best episodes I've watched to this show, the moment where Brianna's father emerged and gave his blessing, it means I am always with you it's remarkable and bring deep emotion to surface

Since I'm behind the airfares and I try to avoid social media for spoilers, I wasn't aware of the backlash of the episode.

Yes, its true Brianna doesn't magically appear in the middle of Scotland and she doesn't break her leg. Yes, she never ends up staying with Lagomire and Joanie isn't the one that takes her to Lallybroch. The time the viewers did get to spend with the half sisters was special.

I was only puzzled as in the book Brianna is wearing pants and a shirt and shows up at Lallybroch where we meet a very jilted, greedy, and screeching ex wife of Jamie's. Ian is trying to catch up his niece and she keeps saying I know. The costumes make more sense in the show and it's nice to have women portrayed differently than screaming banshees. I just couldn't understand why Bree couldn't put two and two together or at least try to wiggle her way to Lallybroch if she did figure out who she was staying with.

In the books, Fiona says she is a caller and there is no history of males going through. I thought the episode simplified it.

The events on the boat are simplified, but for the most part true. The actual details on the boat are more graphic and horrific. The story Bonnet tells Roger means more as Roger knew of the story of someone being buried in the foundations and was hoping one day he may discover more. It is a bit more impactful when he hears it from the captain.

The biggest departure would be the return of Frank as he is not mentioned in the book. I liked the adaptation and how we see how both girls (Joanie and Breanna) were raised by other men that were not their biological fathers. It was nice to see Tobias again too.

Thankfully, the show adapted an older Lizzie to take (or at least older than I envisioned from the book). Overall, I really enjoyed it.

Really good episode and I loved seeing more of Rodger and Brianna. Rodgers acting wasn't as good as usual but maybe it was just him being beardless that distracted me 😂. Brianna was as brilliant as always. I wanted so much to give 10 stars BUT I was so looking forward to seeing Jenny again, my favourite character. Why why why why was she not there to see Bri?? I'm not one to compare books and films. They are always going to be different and I like watching the differences, it's keeps things fresh. But I re read the chapter of the book where she met Brianna countless times. Gutted for this scene to be missing!!

I totally admire and love this. Finally we got to see Brianna and Roger....! in their own worlds, ok, but they're on their way to the Americas! SUPERB & EXCELLENT acting by Skelton, Ranking, & Hudson!! I wish Heughan & Balfe were always this good. SORRY!! not sorry. Best episode so far ever. I loved the scenes with Uncle Ian & Brianna, and Roger seen from a different angle too. Good translations by how Brianna says goodbye from Frank to move on.

Brianna has magically appeared in the middle of 18th C Scotland. No Claire or Jamie. So much great source material in the book is cut out, and large amounts of screen time for Laoghaire, of all people! Book 4 is my favorite, but this season is moving too fast and is just jumping around. I like seeing Brianna and Frank, but overall this episode is just too choppy.

Generally a good episode, but that stupid baby crying scene ruined it all for me. For that reason alone, I would not recommend this to anyone.

My God I hate this episode. Brianna and Roger are such morons in this episode. I really dislike the actress they picked play Brianna as well she's not a very good actress and even though she gets slightly better as time goes on her character and the way she portrays her just don't go together. And in this episode she really shows what a spoiled upper middle class dummy she is. It always made me mad that Claire and Frank didn't teach her some resemblance of logic practicality and survival skills. Considering the way Claire is and what she cares about and Frank's job and his personality. Their daughter turns out to be a clueless spoiled dummy. I always liked marsley so much better and the actress plays her so much better. I thought that she fit the role of Claire's and Jamie's daughter so much better. Which is kind of an insult considering her mother and the background there.. And yes I understand that Jamie didn't raise Brianna but she has absolutely no characteristics from him genetically at all besides red hair which by the way is a mutation and only partly genetic, so it's more like a 90% chance that the children won't have the same color of hair. But in this episode with Roger, you'd think that if you went back in time to look for someone you would ask around where you thought they might have gone and spend weeks or months searching for them locally rather than immediately jumping to conclusions that she went across the sea to the US. Just imagine that that Roger would run into the worst scum of the Earth and board his ship to go to America. Just like how it almost Scotland Brianna is saved by Leary.. a script writers must think there's about six people who live in this area lmao. Youd think Brianna might dress appropriately for the weather and bring better supplies and tools to help her with her journey. But Brianna proves once again what an idiot she is and how her parents really didn't teach her life skills at all. Maybe it was different in the books and maybe it was the directors and script writers choice to make her like this..but whatever it was I honestly can't stand it! Claire and Frank are very intelligent capable down to earth people. Frank in the '60s is portrayed as such a snotty uppity jerk. Quite the vast contrast from the way he was showing to be in the first couple seasons. And of course in this season they have to do everything so it goes wrong. Unfortunate series of events rather than her coherent flowing excellent story. The only redeeming qualities are the flash backs which help fill in the story from the past a bit. Going to Harvard together, sharing an office.. What the crap? Cringe,is she 5 years old.