Outlander
Season 4 Episode 1: “America the Beautiful”
Directed by Julian Holmes
Written by Toni Graphia
Created by Ronald D. Moore
Based on the books by Diana Gabaldon
Starring Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Ed Speleers, César Domboy, John Bell, Lauren Lyle, Richard Rankin, Sophie Skelton, John Bell, Steven Cree, Laura Donnelly, Keith Fleming
Starz
Air Date: Sunday, November 4, 2018, 8:00pm

Warning! Spoilers below for Sunday night’s episode of Outlander!

During the season 3 finale of Outlander, Claire and Geilis (Caitriona Balfe, Lotte Verbeek) had a showdown, as she and Jamie (Sam Heughan) raced to save young Ian from her clutches. Claire dispatched Geilis (we think) and they jumped back on the ship and right into a storm. They all nearly drowned, but Jamie saved his beloved and they washed up on America’s shore, quite conveniently. Look out colonial Americal!

Outlander 4.1 “America the Beautiful” review: We see natives in 2000 B.C building stone circles and dancing with Balfe doing a voiceover. Cut to a hanging. Hayes is about to be hanged. Jamie tries to get him out of it, but he’ll have none of it but a drink and a friend’s face to look upon. he gets that face but a skirmish allows another prisoner to escape.

They are in a pub, planning to visit Jamie’s Aunt Jocasta, worrying about how to bury Hayes. They sing for him.

They go to bury Hayes properly (although sneakily), and Young Ian (John Bell) has a PTSD attack from his time with Geilis. Jamie understands how he feels. Ian unburdens himself about being used. “Have you ever lain with someone when you didn’t want to do it?” He certainly has. After their talk, they go to get Hayes and they find 2 bodies – one is Stephen Bonnet (Ed Speleers and that other escaped prisoner), who hid in the wagon, pretending to be a friend of Hayes. Jamie lets him go after he helps bury Hayes and they give him a ride. He and Claire seem to bond over drowning and rings. He warns the couple about thieves and outlaws. So they spend a lovely night in the woods, feeling lucky to be alive and with each other.

They ready for a dinner to sell a jewel. The talk is of Cherokee savages and talking down to women. But the bait is hooked with the jewel, and they are very interested in Jamie’s relation to the Widow Jocasta. He is propositioned with lots of land for loyalty to the king. Claire and Jamie discuss his probable reasons. Jamie wants to stay for Brianna.

They break the news to everyone. Lesley (Keith Fleming) wants to stay. Ian wants to stay too. There is some more good news РFergus and Marsali (C̩sar Domboy, Lauren Lyle) are having a baby and want to stay in America.

They head across river. That night, to the tune of “America the Beautiful,” Stephen Bonnet and his crew comes and viciously attacks and robs the Frasers, Claire of one of her wedding rings – Jamie’s ring.

Great episode! The Stephen Bonnet of the show is a bit more charming and handsome than in the book , yet still evil. There was a glimpse of humanity in the books and we see that a bit here. This episode was fantastic and came full circle with the jarring ending and mismatched music. I love the couple together, no matter what is happening, for better or for worse (and the end was definitely for worse).

Outlander airs on Sunday nights at 8:00pm ET on Starz.

Trailer

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