Outlander 7x1 & 7x2 Full Reaction!

"Nothing is lost. Only changed." Damn! Episode 2 was crazy, this whole Malva situation, I mean what the hell. I was starting to feel sorry for Malva, but then I started to think about all the things she did. She poisoned Claire, she tried to kill her, tried to take Jamie, she made Claire an outcast. Claire was nothing but nice to her. I think you said it best "That's a mess, a mess and a half." It was sad when Roger and Bree had to go back through the stones. I can see Claire being left all alone when this series finally ends, I think she's going to lose everyone. I don't know why, I just don't think there will be a happy ending to this story. I really hope I'm wrong. Jamie also had to say goodbye to John Grey, hopefully it's not forever. I feel like we just keep losing people in this series. That scene when Jamie said he dreams of things he's never seen, he said he always has, this is strange, I can't wait to find out more about that. He then gives Claire that stone and said that she could go with Roger and Bree back through the stones. She takes it and throws it out the window and says "I love you." I love what Jamie said to her "I'm not as brave as I was before, you ken? Not brave enough to live without you anymore." The scene with the firefly's was beautiful, I like when Bree told Jamie about Disneyland. I love what Jamie said to wee Jemmy at the stones, "If one day, you should meet a very large mouse named Michael, tell him grandsire sends his regards." It was a beautiful moment at the stones for Roger, it was great for him to know that Jamie and Claire love him. I love what Jamie said to Claire at the end when they talk about the one's they've lost. He comforts her and asks "Can you bear it if I touch you?" She begins to cry and then he asks her "Can you weep for them, mo nighean donn? (My brown haired lass.)" He then holds her so tight and says "Grieve for them. When you're done, I'll be here." I love what you said at the end about Jamie and Claire's love for each other. "It lightens the load I think, of the harshness of this world to have a partner that you've invested in. That they've invested in you, that you love, and it's a safety for you both. Protection. Love. Security. It's so taken for granted I think, but it's worth more than anything. You can't put a price on that." The way you talk Imon. There really is no one like you. You're beautiful, always. <3

The way season 7 episode 1 starts with Claire in that noose, lucky it wasn't real, but it could have been. I thought it was hard when Claire traveled back in time in season 1. You would think that with everything she knows now things would be a little easier the second time round, but things just seem so much harder now. They both have to fight so hard for everything they have. I'm not sure how all of this will end, I just hope that when it's all over Jamie and Claire still have each other. That's all I want. I love what Jamie said at the start when he was thinking of Claire, "I canna let my darkest fears cripple me. Blood of my blood, bone of my bone, I gave ye my spirit till our life shall be done. And that's why I ken ye're alive still. I'd feel it if you were gone. You live. I ken it in my bones, and I will find you." That scene when Jamie climbs aboard the ship to see Claire. God the way she holds him. That love they have, it's beautiful. I liked the scene when Tom asks Jamie what he would say at his funereal. I'm still not sure if Tom killed Malva, I thought it might have been her brother. We then find out that Tom wasn't her father, but her uncle. He has a tragic story, I think deep down he was a good man, or at least he tried to be, like you said "He had a very hardened heart, he clearly hadn't met the best people in his life." You said that in time he starts to trust people, that he sees the good in Jamie and Claire. It was sad when he told Claire that he loves her, he said "I have yearned always for love, given and returned. I've spent my life in the attempt to give my love to those who are not worthy of it. Allow me this... to give my life for the sake of one who is." I wasn't sure how I felt about him at times, but I know when he's gone I will miss him a little, it's strange. I love what you said about Tom "He saw what beauty Claire had, that inner beauty. He's never felt it before." I like the scene at the end with Jamie and Mr. Brown, he knows Jamie is there to kill him, he tells Jamie that he's a good man, a moral man. I love what Jamie said to him "I'm also a violent man. Any goodness that prevails in me is because of my wife. You tried to take her from me." I fell a wee bit behind on Outlander, I still have five episodes to catch up on, sadly I will have to continue with them tomorrow. As always Imon, it's been a pleasure watching with you and listening to what you have to say. You're beautiful, always. <3

I like season 7 (part 1) better than seasons 5 and 6, though I do very much liike season 5.

Clay F

Fantastic ☺

Brian

I can definitely see your perspective. I dont believe anyone is 100 percent evil, usually hurt people hurt people. So I do find some sadness for Malva, but I cant help but still be so angry with her. She was going to ruin another persons life by killing them and taking their husband etc etc. It is just a sad story all around.

Imon_Snow

Regarding the Malva revelation, I understand why you felt conflicted. During my first viewing I also for a second felt like they tried to change what was previously shown, and that something didn't make sense and didn't add up. But later I realized that the whole revelation not only fit the previous scenes in terms of plot, it also made perfect sense in terms of Malva's contradictory and paradoxal character. From the very start Malva was shown as a really complex character, a strange and often confusing mix of light and dark. You could feel her childlike innocence and deeper emotions in certain scenes, and then the psychopatic vibe and devilish look in her eyes in others scenes. The best example is the scene where Claire confronted her about Jamie. If I remember correctly, that's the scene they used during the auditions while searching for the right actress to play Malva, because it showed perfectly the contradiction and pathology of her character. When she starts crying after Claire was the one to apologize to her after everything she's done, I saw real regret, guilt, shame and pain in her eyes (which is in line with what Allan says to Claire in this episode). I also saw that deep down she genuinely cared for and respected Claire (just like with Tom, Claire managed to wake the purest part of Malva). I saw the product of Claire's kindness to her and the freedom she saw in Fraser's way of life (Claire herself says she saw such light, fire and curiosity about life in Malva). But only seconds after, when her abusing brother and source of trauma Allan enters that same scene, her demenour towards Claire and her whole character completely change. She becomes the dark, troubled Malva - the product of being raised by a dark mother and overly strict and conservative (not loving enough) stepfather. A product of the trauma when she as a young child saw her mother hanged as a witch. A product of being regularly punished and beaten by her father. A product of being raped by her own brother for years and then the disgust because she was impregnated by him. That darkness stuck within her and it explains such evil acts of cutting Claire's hair, trying to poison her and Tom, making a love charm out of the fingers of the dead Sin Eater. I think that's why Claire refers to her as 'sweet Malva' in this episode. Not because she suddenly forgot all the harm Malva did or cause she suddenly thought Malva was actually completely innocent and sweet. It's because she realised there was such potential for Malva to develop into a much better person and that under better circumstances (such as under Claire's proper guidance) her life could have taken a drastically different course. I think she felt responsible for not paying enough attention and realising something terrible was happening to Malva, she felt like she failed as Malva's mentor and protegee. I agree that the whole Christie family and storyline was really bizzare, but simultaneously it felt profound, it had gravitas. It showed how generational trauma and unchecked darkness can fester, evolve and manifest, in the meantime literally destroying an entire family and causing harm to all around them. P.S. The reason why the first two episodes of season 7 are so jam-packed is because initially they were planned to be the finale of season 6 (before shortening season 6 due to Covid and Balfe's pregnancy). They were supposed to tie up all lose ends and storylines from season 6. So episode 3 is actually where the real season 7 begins (in terms lf storyline and story structure).

Bojan Rogic

I like how even the smallest details in this show always pay out or get a callback, not a single thing is ever shown or said in vain. For example, Jamie giving the gem and saying those words to John 20 years ago gets such a satisfying and poignant payout here. Or Roger only now revealing to Bree the ship jumping incident (even though it happened several seasons prior), because during this storyline that confession had so much more weight and meaning to it. It added something to the moral dilemma regarding Wendigo Donner and Roger and Bree's character and relationship development. Also, just the small detail of Bree casually mentioning that Amy Mcallum made them a goodbye gift adds such depth, richness and believability to this whole world. They didn't have to mention Amy again, she's a minor character no longer relevant to the plot. But regarding her deep connection with Roger in the prior episodes, her being referenced adds a feeling of coherence and continuity to the show. Such great attention to details always.

Bojan Rogic

It's really interesting to me that even though this episode moved you, for some reason it didn't make you cry. I say that because even though I have been deeply moved countless times by this series, this episode was one of the rare ocassions where I actually cried literal tears. Especially in the scene where Claire cries to Jamie in the bed, I literally sobbed and that's probabIy the performance by Caitriona Balfe that touched me most deeply in the entire series so far. The despair and tears in her eyes felt so unbelievably real, I could literally feel the overwhelming emotions pouring out of her face. Her performance felt so completely raw, untamed and unfiltered, I was just completely lost in it and mesmerised. It was one of the times where I forgot I was watching an actress playing Claire, I felt like I was ACTUALLY WATCHING CLAIRE, a living and breathing real person. I guess that's the beauty of this series, we all have different parts and episodes that just strike a special cord within us for some reason.

Bojan Rogic

Aww I hope the surgery went well! I’m glad you can watch along with me and take your mind off things for a bit! Hope your foot heals nicely. Season 7 has been a whirlwind so far!

Imon_Snow

I would have never guessed! That’s amazing. I really love her so much and just knowing she sang for this series we alll love is amazing !

Imon_Snow

The intro song is sung by Sinead O'Connor, who sadly passed away earlier this year. Her version is different of course, and I love it.

Kimberly Graham

Happy Holidays, Imon! I've been checking and re-checking my email for notification that you've started Season 7, especially because I had foot surgery one week ago today and have been able to walk very little so far. So I've basically been at home and in bed for a week, with my foot elevated. I could really use the company so THANK YOU for posting this today! So excited to settle in with my ice pack on my foot (20 minutes on, 20 minutes off since last Wednesday night!) and watch. :)

Kimberly Graham