We’re back! Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel,’ is the perfect kickoff to the show’s final season. It beautifully sets up the conflicts that will unfold throughout the season while giving us some answers and plenty of reunions that brought tears to our eyes. Ready?
Here we go!
Discovering the Truth in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’
Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel,’ starts strong, giving us some answers about Faith. And it broke our hearts in those first few minutes. We knew Faith had to be dead because otherwise Jane and Fanny wouldn’t have ended up in the brothel, but the confirmation… that hurt. And not just us. For Jamie and Claire, learning what happened to Faith evokes mixed feelings. The fleeting joy of knowing she lived is quickly crushed when they learn what happened to her, Jane, and Fanny.
For them, it’s like losing her all over again. The pain of losing Faith never truly disappeared for either of them; they simply learned to live with it. Now, knowing that she survived and that they couldn’t be there to raise her, to protect her, and that they never will be, is like reliving the pain of that loss a thousandfold. So, once again, they share the grief for their little Faith. And the love for her. But this time, they can hold onto the belief that she was loved, that she had a happy life. And now they have Fanny, their granddaughter, to care for, to love.
And that makes all the difference for Jamie and Claire. That’s what allows them to keep the pieces together and not break. Protecting Fanny, helping her trust them, and helping her through her grief is their priority now. And it’s beautiful to see how they begin to achieve that, how Fanny starts to find her place in the Fraser family, to trust Jamie and Claire, and to talk about Jane. She learns that she can share things about her, that she can remember her. That Jane, or what she went through with her, however horrible it was, is not a taboo subject in her new home. That they don’t want her to pretend to be okay; they want her to be herself. And that helps Fanny with the grieving process.
However, while Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’ gave us some answers, it also raised more questions. The only person we can think of who could have saved Faith is Master Raymond, but why did he do it? And why did he keep it a secret all those years? Clearly, he has a lot of explaining to do.
MORE: INTERVIEW: Sophie Skelton & Richard Rankin on Roger and Brianna’s New Fears in Outlander Season 8
No Risk, No Gain
Before Jamie, Claire, and Fanny arrived at Fraser’s Ridge, they paid a visit to Fergus, Marsali, and the children, and we almost melted watching those scenes from OutlanderSeason 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel!’ We weren’t prepared to see Grandpa Jamie in action. Nor were we prepared to see Henri Christian being so cute. However, Jamie realizes that Fergus is taking too many risks. And it doesn’t surprise him.
After all, it was Jamie himself who taught him how to circumvent the law. But Jamie wants Fergus to be aware of what he’s risking. His family is on the line. It’s not just about him now. But Fergus is determined to keep going. No risk, no gain, and since he can’t fight, he’ll help the independence cause however he can. It’s his way of contributing.
And Jamie understands. In fact, beyond concern, he’s proud of his son. He trusts him to keep a low profile. Fergus is brave, he always has been, but he’s not reckless. And, at the end of the day, it’s his decision. That said, it’s clear that the secret Fergus is keeping in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel,’ will be addressed again later in the season.
MORE: INTERVIEW: Outlander Executive Producers Tease the Emotional Impact of the Finale
New Faces at Fraser’s Ridge in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’
After this visit, the Frasers return to the Ridge, and we can’t stop smiling! It’s clear they’ve come home. Fraser’s Ridge prospered quite a bit in Jamie and Claire’s absence…and new tenants arrived. Captain Cunningham settled in the Ridge with his mother, and although he gives Jamie his word that he left his life in the British army, there’s something about him that doesn’t sit right with Jamie. And neither do we.
Jamie noticed that Cunningham has gained the community’s trust and enjoys a prominent position within it. This is very clear in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel.’ And neither Jamie nor we like that at all. Jamie may intend for the Ridge to remain unaffected by the war, but it continues, and a charismatic Loyalist living on their lands could become a problem.
Jamie has no reason to doubt his word, but he also can’t blindly trust that Cunningham won’t take up arms again for the crown, so Jamie intends to keep a close eye on him. And we think it’s the best option. This captain doesn’t inspire confidence… especially if he’s anything like his mother.
MORE: Outlander Season 8 Review: A Heartfelt First Step in Its Farewell
Family Reunions
After a day full of reunions, Roger and Brianna appear with the children! And we love this scene where everyone enjoys being together. There are problems that have brought them back together, and they have a lot to talk about, but in that moment, nothing else matters. All that matters is that they are all together again, as a family.
Jamie and Claire never thought they would see them again. They wrote those letters hoping they would read them, as a way to maintain a thread that connected them across time and, at the same time, a way to allow them to let go. But Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’ brought them back.
As for Brianna and Roger, they arrived at Fraser’s Ridge and back in the past, fleeing the threat Cameron posed, but alongside Jamie and Claire, they feel at home. In the future, they built a life, a good one; they were happy, but their home is on the Ridge, with their family.
MORE: Everything We Know About Outlander Season 8
Frank’s Book
That said, Roger and Brianna’s return in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’ brings more than just happiness. Jamie keeps running into Frank…and his book. Seeing him on that cover is like reliving a nightmare. He’s so similar to Jack Randall…although Jamie feels something very different for Frank. He hates him, yes, he hates him for having been with Claire, for having loved her, for having cared for his daughter. But he also feels grateful to him for those same things. And Jamie is aware that Frank must feel something similar about him.
And reading that book, knowing that Frank wrote about him, about where and how he’s going to die…Jamie is afraid. Not for him, not really. Jamie has stared death in the face too many times to fear it now. If not for what it would mean. For leaving Claire, his children, his entire family behind…and for the danger they will face if he isn’t there. So he needs to know, he needs to know if what Frank wrote came from resentment towards him, as a twisted form of revenge, or if he wrote it because he was sure it was true.
When Claire confirms to him in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’ that Frank would never have written anything that wasn’t true, Jamie breaks down. All his fears, his nightmares, come true right before his eyes. And the worst part is that he doesn’t know how they’re going to stop it from happening, or even if it’s possible.
Now, if you ask us, we don’t think Jamie is going to die as Frank indicates in his book. This show taught us that what history tells us may not be true. Jamie should have died at Culloden, and he didn’t. He and Claire should have died in the fire that destroyed their home. But they didn’t. However, the historical record left them presumed dead. So we think this must be something similar. We’ll see…
MORE: Who is Claire’s Brother in Outlander: Blood of My Blood?
Identity Crisis in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’
Far from Fraser’s Ridge, in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel,’ we find William tormented by the truth about his lineage and what happened to Jane. He feels like a fraud and a sham. William feels like he failed Jane. He swore to protect her, but he wasn’t there when she needed him. And that title… Earl of Ellesmere. It sounds like a mockery. Like a joke. Just another lie. Everyone William trusted betrayed him. And he can’t find a way to forgive, or to move on with the lie. Not when William no longer knows who he is.
Lord John tries to encourage and support William, giving him space…and not shaking him to his core. Beyond his identity crisis after learning the truth, renouncing his title as Earl of Ellesmere would endanger him, and that’s not something he intends to allow. John will protect his son even from himself, and he knows Jamie would too. The problem is that William isn’t particularly interested in what John has to say…but the sudden death of his cousin changes everything.
This brings him back to reality and makes William realize that, blood or not, this is his family, and he can’t simply abandon them. He loves them. Ben’s death hits William hard…but he isn’t very kind when he meets his widow, Amaranthus. He treats her like an opportunist. He was a jerk, really. And, playing devil’s advocate here, even though William had no right to treat Amaranthus that way, we understand his misgivings.
Amaranthus’s appearance with a baby in tow seems a little too…convenient. After all, being under Lord John Grey’s roof protects her and her child from whatever might happen. Do we think Amaranthus has bad intentions? Not exactly. But we do think she’s not telling the whole story and that her only goal is to protect herself and her child. No matter the cost.
MORE: Outlander Season 7 Episode 16 Review: ‘A Hundred Thousand Angels’
Other Stuff in Outlander Season 8 Episode 1 ‘Soul of a Rebel’
- That son of a b**h deserved to suffer more, but we applaud Claire for taking him down; he deserved no less. But we were surprised that it was her who did it and not Jamie.
- We love how Jamie and Claire support each other in their grief for Faith, in the pain of not having her with them…and in their promise to protect Fanny and show her all the love she deserves.
- The family scenes and reunions in this episode made us cry. We need the whole Fraser family together at least once this season!
- Brianna with gifts for everyone…it was fantastic!
- We weren’t prepared for Grandpa Jamie. We were smitten.
- Seeing all the residents of Fraser’s Ridge again and feeling their joy at Jamie and Claire’s return was like coming home. We loved it!
- The welcome gift for Jamie and Claire is their new house…and that made us emotional again. It’s perfect!
- How dare that witch Elspeth speak to Amanda like that and slap her?! Part of me understands why Jamie and Claire didn’t want to make enemies with her, but another part of me needs her to be ripped out!
- We didn’t like that they cut Jamie and Claire’s scene just when it was getting interesting…
- We would have loved to see Brianna, Roger, Jamie, and Claire catch up. We needed to see their reactions to all the news!
- We felt Jamie’s fear when he was talking to Claire about Frank’s book, all the times he appears in it…and how he foretells his death.
Outlander Season 8 air at midnight on Thursday on the STARZ app and Fridays at 8 PM ET on linear.
I was very disappointed with the first episode of season 8. It was nothing like the book. The last page of book eight , Jamie and Clair are sitting at the edge of a field. They see 4 people come over the ridge but at first don’t recognize them. When they recognize them they go running down the hill to welcome Brianna, Roger and Children home. It was the perfect ending of 8 long books, and almost 40 years of a families life.
So how did Faith know the words to that song when she was swapped at birth? Claire sang it to the dead baby.
Umm, happy the season is finally here, but lots of little things to DISlike:
(1) Jamie & Claire (J&C) should have said they won’t tell Fanny who they are RIGHT NOW, but soon. After all, wouldn’t Fanny LOVE to know she’s with her ACTUAL blood grandparents?
(2) Tons of settlers on the Ridge spent weeks/months building J&C a house and dr ofc, but no one comes by in wagons or on horseback to say hi, bring baked goods, talk about crops & hunting, ask Claire to fix boo-boos?
(3) Marsali has 4 kids with only one husband, but Lizzy only has one baby with 2 husbands?
(4) Just about everyone we see is on horseback or using wagons – but Bree, Roger, and the kids stroll up walking? AND carrying the Merck Manual and LOTR? It’s like they sauntered over from next door, not from 1739 Scotland. [If there was a scene w/settlers visiting, then Bree, Roger, and kids could have been on the last wagon. J&C could have sighed, “Oh no, another one,” before seeing who it was.]
(5) Yes, J&C were shocked to see Bree, Roger, and kids – but they should immediately been alarmed at WHY they came back during the Revolutionary War. Instead, this was a throw away line spoken hours later.
Sigh. . .