Hoo boy! Hoo. Boy. Now that was quite the episode of Outlander, was it not? Not only was there major dramz, a major reveal, and a serious bit of truth-telling, but Claire made a choice that looks as though it may define both of her lives, for better or for worse. After last week’s episode, though, we’re thoroughly happy to see a bit more drama added in for excitement’s sake. And yes we’re looking at you, Laoghaire and Geillis.

Needless to say, there are spoilers aplenty in the following recap, so don’t say we didn’t warn you, ya silly sassenachs!

The Trial

First thing’s first: the trial of Geillis and Claire… Thanks in part to Laoghaire and with no thanks from Colum MacKenzie. Dagnabbit! What is with this town? Why are they all, you know, about as informed as you would expect people from the 1700s to be?! Why aren’t they more modern and therefore able to comprehend complex topics like time travel and medical science? Poor Claire has spent all this time treating, enlightening, assisting, and generally caring about people — regardless of who they are or from whence they came — only to have it all (literally all of it) bite her in the ass. Sigh.

Of course, the biggest surprise moment came when Geillis revealed herself to be a time-traveler. It took them long enough to admit to one another — they spent two nights in the thieves’ hole with nary a mention of the future outside of Claire’s out-of-time Nathaniel Hale quote. But their cautious curiosity of one another made sense once Geillis unveiled the vaccination scar on her arm, screaming 1968, and showing Claire definitively that she was not the only time traveler to come through those rocks to this time period. TWIST! I mean, it’s not really all that surprising — if Claire could do it, why not someone else? — but to only have it confirmed in the seconds before Geillis was doomed to be burned at the stake sure does make us feel equal parts antsy and salty about the whole scenario. After all this time! To be deprived of their commonality conversation feels tragic in a lot of ways for both women.

The Truth

Of course it all came out in the end — just to Jamie and not Geillis. Claire, after weeks and months of evading her true story, finally laid it all out on the line for Jamie to decide whether it is truth or fiction. And we mean all of it — which is pretty ballsy of her, considering this is a man from the 1740s who has pretty much zero understanding of almost anything she’s experienced in her life. But guess what? Twist of all twists– he listened. Like, enthusiastically and genuinely, even when he didn’t understand what the heck she was talking about. Because how well would you expect a Scottish lad from the 1740s to take the news that his wife was a time-traveling already-married nurse from the 1940s? If you answered “a heck of a lot less well than this!” you’re on our team. In my mind, any other man would return her to the church at that moment and say, “Just kidding she’s totally a witch and also maybe insane have your way with her!” before watching her burn up in flames.

So, y’know, Jamie’s a real stand-up guy, is what I’m saying.

The Choice

And not just in the “trying to understand things which are historically out of his league” sense. After Claire explains everything, Jamie being the fine, upstanding gentleman he is, returns her to Craigh na Dun in order to reunite her with her 1940s husband. Because of course he does! He only wants her to be happy and he understands that, regardless of his love for her, that she has two lives she must choose between, and there’s nothing he can do or say to change the fact that her decision is hers alone. All he does is vow to protect her from any impeding forces, while she decides what to do. WHATTA GUY, SUCH GENTLEMANLY BEHAVIORS.

It wasn’t the easiest choice for Claire, but ultimately after some hours of thought, her choice was clear: Jamie was the only fella for her. At least right now. Be it their love, Frank’s physical similarities to Black Jack Randall, or something else entirely – in that moment her gut decision is really the only thing that can steer her. Because how else do you decide between two halves of yourself? I wouldn’t want to have to make that choice (although I’d totally try to have my cake and eat it, too, traversing time over and over again but I’m also incredibly indecisive).

Other Things to Note:

– Colum! Why did you do this? (Like, he definitely set this whole thing up or at least has such strong feelings against Dougal that he doesn’t even care if innocent women perish, right?)
– LAOGHAIRE! YOU ARE THE WORST!
– I don’t want Geillis to die! Do we think Geillis will really die? (Don’t spoil it for the rest of us, book readers. We love the unknown!)
– How in the world is Dougal going to react to this?
– THAT PRIEST IS THE DEVIL! Whatta jerk!
– Basically everyone is the worst and we wish they would just hurry up and get enlightened already. I MEAN JEEZ.

What did you think of “The Devil’s Mark”? Let us hear it in the comments.