New week, new review! Outlander 6×04 “Hour of the Wolf” is a transitional episode that hints at the future. In the episode, Ian takes the spotlight for the first time to tell his story and overcome his past. Time for a review!
Here we go!
“FLESH OF MY FLESH, BONE OF MY BONE”
Do these words sound familiar to you? Jamie and Claire’s wedding is one of the things we never forget. We love when Outlander reminds us of its milestones, don’t you? But in Outlander 6×04 “Hour of the Wolf”, those words take on a really sad meaning.
Ian had to find out who he was before he was ready to. He was just a boy who admired his uncle more than anyone else when Geillis kidnapped and raped him – another rape that Outlander should have prevented – and then… well, he started a new life away from everything he had ever known and that forced him to face not only his trauma but also his identity. Who is he? Where is his place in the world?
When we grow up, we form an identity of our own, based on the experiences we live. The past is part of us. And Ian survived a tragedy before he was ready to take that step of growth and maturity. So he had to grow up too fast, mature too fast.
And just as he was beginning to find his place, his identity, he found himself in the Mohawk tribe, again, not knowing exactly who he was and feeling like an outsider. Again, not feeling like he was home. That changed over time.
As the Mohawks, Ian began to find his place in those faraway lands, to find himself, his purpose, and his identity. He found his home along with the Mohawks. He got to know Emily better, got married, and she got pregnant.
That’s the life Ian imagined, his wife, his children, a family, a home, a prosperous life. But the best-laid plans tend to go awry very quickly. Ian and Emily lost their child, and then they lost another…and everything fell apart.
Ian feels guilty, he can’t help but think that he’s wrong, there’s something wrong with him that caused his children not to be born and that Emily moved away from him. And he can’t understand why God allowed such a thing, why did He make him suffer?
That is the million-dollar question, but theological and philosophical questions aside, Ian had to face another loss too soon. The loss of his dreams, of his longings, of the life he imagined, of his identity and his purpose. Ian had to face life in pieces.
And it’s a pain he shares with Jamie. Jamie and Claire also had to say goodbye to Faith without knowing her and Jamie felt exactly what Ian is feeling now. He felt so destroyed, so…lost. Jamie understands. And he also understands that Ian will get over it and find his true path.
Ian will never forget, just like he and Claire will never forget Faith, but he will get to live with it. That’s why we like that Jamie lets Ian tell his story first, get it off his chest, and then let him see that his life isn’t over.
“YOU’RE MY HOME”
Ian had to deal with losing everything in Outlander 6×04 “Hour of the Wolf.” He lost not only his children but also the Mohawks and Wahionhaweh. His home and his family. And also his best friend. Kaheroton betrayed him in the worst way. And he knows it. Therefore, in the present, he asks Ian to take care of Emily and his child. He wouldn’t ask anyone but him.
At first, I not only blamed Kaheroton for this but Emily as well. They both betrayed him. They and the Mohawks abandoned him. But when Ian confronts her, it’s Kaheroton who talks and she repeats what he says. Did Emily decide to leave Ian because of what she might lose if she didn’t? Probably yes. This doesn’t mean that what she did was right or justified, but it helps to understand her.
This circumstance makes relevant what Jamie says to Ian “Claire and I… it’s different.” And he’s right. Claire would never have abandoned him, she would have given up everything for him, just as he would have done for her. They have done it many times in their life together. They always choose each other.
Emily didn’t choose Ian. Never. Like Kaheroton says they are the ones who choose. Well, Emily didn’t choose Ian. But she not only didn’t choose him when they both lost their children, but she also didn’t choose him from the beginning. She didn’t know Ian, she didn’t know what happened with Geillis, she didn’t even notice or care that Ian was uncomfortable talking about his previous life.
Then Ian realizes that he didn’t choose Emily either. Not really. Because she didn’t know him but he didn’t know her either. Ian was forced to choose between his two identities, so he didn’t want to remember his family, not understanding that both identities are part of him.
Ian, like Emily, didn’t grow up or mature enough to choose his mate. That’s why Ian can let Emily and Kaheroton go in peace. Ian just put his past behind him, and he still doesn’t feel quite right about it but he will get there.
SPELLS AND SPIES
Malva continues to give us chills in Outlander 6×04 “Hour of the Wolf.” We don’t like the look of satisfaction on her face when she discovered the benefits of ether and how to use it. It’s like she plans to use it for her ends. The way she takes an interest in Claire’s book is also disturbing. Her interest goes beyond medicine.
When Claire talks or is interested in the medical aspects you can see a sparkle in her eyes and she can’t stop talking about it because she is passionate about it. Being a doctor is part of who she is. But when Malva does it… it has a disturbing undertone. And our gut tells us that something is hopelessly wrong, even though we don’t know exactly what.
The comment about her brother also caught our attention. We, as you know, thought that the one who had spread the rumor of Claire being a witch was Tom but, once he made it clear that it wasn’t, Allen seems to be the culprit. Not even Tom talks like that about Claire or what she does. Why does Allen if he doesn’t even know her?
And when did Malva tell Allen about that book? We mean, she knows that she shouldn’t tell her father, but at what point did it occur to her to tell her brother? If Malva wants to keep this secret and, especially, for her father doesn’t find out, telling her brother doesn’t seem like the best strategy…
But the most disturbing thing of all happens at the end of Outlander 6×04 “Hour of the Wolf.” Malva is spying on Jamie and Claire’s intimate moment. She’s there, an uninvited and unwelcome spectator, seeing Jamie’s scars and him and Claire in a moment of passion and intimate connection.
Why would Malva do something like that? Disturbing curiosity? Again, we are struck by the instinct that something is wrong with all this, with her, and we don’t believe that curiosity is what moves Malva to do this. It’s clear that the show is preparing something … and soon we will know what.
Other Stuff In Outlander 6×04 “Hour of the Wolf”
- Jamie and Fergus scene broke us again. Jamie and Claire saved his life so many times…they gave him a family and identity. And no matter what happens, they will always be there for him…just like he is for them. He also saved them. Because that’s what family does. They were always aware of his value, it’s time for Fergus to value himself again.
- We love that Jamie and Claire haven’t lost their passion. But we miss Jamie’s ass so next time more explicit, please and thank you.
- The callbacks to season 1 gave us FEELS.
- Faith…her name and Jamie and Ian’s shared pain brought tears to my eyes.
- The future for Native Americans is not good and I like that Bree tipped Jamie off and he tipped off the Chief. They may not be able to change the horrible future that awaits them, but they can warn them. It’s the least they can do.
- I hate Cameron. He is a drunk and racist. Jamie treats the Native Americans like his equals, asshole Cameron treats them like they’re inferior to him. He grosses me out.
- I just want to hug Ian real tight.
- And I admire him because, despite everything, he helped Kaheroton and that proves that he has honor and a good heart.
- I’m proud of him.
Outlander season 6 airs Sundays at 9PM ET on STARZ.
