Outlander season 7 open hit me like a ROCK. Be it a quartz one, the one that is known for transparency and clarity. I am always pleased to see the Outlander writers weaving themes throughout an episode. This one was loud in many regards, but we also had the subtle whispers but the golden vein through it all was …sacrifice.

Sorry, I saw that GIF and I had to use it. Just laugh, get it out.

There is a quote, “Sacrifice is greater than Love”. The passage suggests that the act of sacrifice holds more significance or value than love. I would argue that one cannot and likely not sacrifice anything if it were not FOR love. It is either love of someone else or love of self. I don’t mean the societal bullshit of loving yourself being selfish. I mean, when we truly love ourselves, something modern society may say, but when we do, the resentment and backlash are strong. When we love ourselves, we do so wholly and freely. We accept ourselves for who we are, where and who we came from and understand that our perceived flaws are what make us human, not make us unlovable or bad. When we truly love ourselves, we show ourselves compassion, empathy and kindness. When we make it to that place, and for many, that journey is long, gut-wrenching and exhausting, yet, when we make it there, it enlightens us to the truth. Our love of self allows us a depth beyond measure to love and have compassion for others. More than we thought we did before. That is to say, we know that each one of us started with thoughts, core beliefs and even falsehoods bestowed upon us earlier than we can physically or logically recall, and if we are not afforded the same advantages or opportunities, we may never see beyond the things instilled in us so early on.

Those who love themselves don’t judge others for perceived flaws or what our society calls failure. This is a love without excessive ego but with a true understanding of what ego is, which is consciously healthy and humble. Knowing we are not *all-knowing* and every day can learn and grow comes from having done such growing.

Very few individuals in this world have not experienced some type of trauma – this is especially true for our imaginary friends in the world of Outlander. The poor buggers can’t catch a break to catch their breath. We, in 2023, are lucky. There is now the thing called neuroscience, so we know how trauma truly affects our minds and bodies and how to heal with the right tools. The tools for our Outlander crew are a bit rusty and decrepit, but damn, it makes for good TV!

The first sacrifice we see being made in the episode is straight off. The Fraser’s sacrificing their peace of mind to their fear. The opening with Claire on the gallows, looking up to see Richard “DICK” Brown, shows us that her terror is leading her thoughts. Jamie, having lost Claire again, is on the hunt, fiercely focused on nothing else but locating that woman. Which means he and Ian both are sacrificing their own safety and the wellbeing of those who count on them. Sidenote: Brianna really should invent a location device to hook her Mom up with.

Next, Claire sacrifices what little coin she has for some booze. SHOCKER! It’s always worth it when you are in a dank jail cell. Claire really shouldn’t go too long without… withdrawal can be a nightmare! We do our best to cope.

Roger nearly sacrifices his wife’s good will toward him by wanting to help Wendigo. This is a fantastic example of two people who have solid, understandable and both equally correct standing on a subject. It’s this foolish idea that only one person can be right in a situation and one always has to lose. That simply isn’t the way life is, though so many of us refuse to understand that another person’s perspective may be just a valid and strong. The true deciding factor, I believe is Roger understanding that the cost to Brianna was too great. Though they both held trauma that was shaping their opinions on this subject, it seemed that Roger knew that he still could do something, without taking the chance that it might be the wrong thing. Prayer, over setting the man free. Knowing that Brianna would experience another trauma if she were to know this man that did nothing while her mother was brutally raped, repeatedly went free. Of course, Brianna connected to that as she too suffered a sexual assault while bystanders did nothing. To know Roger, let that man go, regardless of his intent, strikes a part of her that hasn’t yet healed. It would be like having an old scare torn open.

For those who are book readers know, in Outlander land – no good deed goes unpunished.

We would be remiss if we did not look at the sacrifice of Tom Christie. This show has taken this man…made us hate him, kinda like him, hate him again and then…recognize his damage, and have empathy for him. I truly believe this was more about Mark Lewis-Jones‘ portrayal of this character than the writing…though one can’t really be had without the other. Mark Lewis-Jones, elevated that character., providing a dimension to him that I was unwilling to grant him while I read the books. I believe this represents us how our subconscious can form little walls in our inner world, we accept only what feels safe to us and reject the rest. Mark Lewis-Jones extended the character of Tom Christie by providing us with *his* inner world. It shows the power of connection and if we are willing to be open to others personal, deepest insecurities. Allowing us to know we are all fighting an internal battle of what we were unable to control in our development to the now, where we do have the control.

The level of grace and dignity he showed, due to his love for this woman that he could never have, was equal to Jamie’s. The difference, I believe, is Jamie knows he deserves Claire; they are one and the same…connected. He is acutely aware that he has earned her love in return. Where in the eyes of Tom, he is getting a grip on that piousness after meeting and falling in love with Claire. It seems he has began to understand, in bits, that is likely what has created him ending up alone. I feel like Tom wants this act to be his absolution, along with, of course, being sure Claire lives. Sacrificing one’s life for another is by far the ultimate sacrifice. Those who make it miss one important detail, though. The person we sacrifice ourselves for will need to live with that weight. Knowing they are the reason someone chose death rather than the knowledge of spending a life without them.

There was a life sacrificed, as far as we know, at the end of this episode. Bad, bad Richard Brown, baddest dude in the whole damn town… If you didn’t go back and sing that, our brains are very different. be grateful, this one is full of chaos not everyone can handle.

Back to ole Dicky boy…who seemingly was sacrificed for the greater good of humanity. That is a very basic representation, however. Jamie, noted by the dude who shat his pantaloons when he was told, “Yeah, not worried about your men, bruv…my nephew…the guy who is super pissed at you along with his Cherokee friends are tying up those loose ends.”, is indeed a good man.

Another ridiculous social narrative that to be a good person you must only do good things is ludicrous. Especially if that good thing is for a horrible human with no redeeming qualities. That is not to say I think we should go around killing people who are assholes and filled with hate, though we really need to stop tolerating them. Turning the other cheek and being the bigger person, what the hell is that? We already are the bigger person when someone else is a hate filled, rage charged fool. When they refuse to meet us where we are, if we don’t want them to believe silence in consent, in context, then we meet them where they are, with the language they understand. Their language is usually loud and only ends when they succumb.

The issue with people who mistreat others, harm them or instigate harm to be done believe our silence is not only consent, it’s encouragement. “Go ahead. Spread your vileness all over me, then my home – then work – then town – then country- then continent – then…globe.” It’s permission. They need to be denied. Denied a space and a platform. We do that not only by ignoring the individual but by actively speaking up against their unacceptable behaviour until they stop and or apologise for doing it. It will then be up to us to allow them back into our lives with forgiveness or choose our own path in life, with the lesson and the memories in store.

Jamie seems to have chosen the sacrifice of Dick’s life over the hundreds or thousands he has and will harm. Of course, Jamie didn’t have the benefit of suggesting to Dick he was a narcissistic sociopath that needs intense cognitive and developmental therapy. In the 1700s, the thing was…kill ém! We, as humanity, have come a long way. Unfortunately, society takes far longer to catch up and get on board.

The road that Dick paved with manipulation, deceit and a false sense of revenge… has appeared to be ended. Jamie believes he can live with this particular sacrifice as it most certainly did save his family and who knows how many other families from a danger that was unpredictable and had a false sense of calm about him. These are the most incipit threats as they bide their time and pounce when the most damage can be incurred. Society would do well to pay more attention to how/when, and why evil starts, and where it came from and rather than eradicate the behaviours after they have started. Changing the course before it begins. That is when LOVE, SUPPORT and UNDERSTANDING come into the picture again. Rather than have us create humans filled with shame, hatred and vitriol – we create them to be confident and kind. The results would be revolutionary.

We, fans, will always watch Outlander with one eye firmly fixed on ourselves.

It is not a conscious behaviour unless we analyse our reactions to the events and characters. I, personally, have gone through a sizable and transformative shift in my life since watching Season 6. I only participate in open and positive dialogue concerning the show. That isn’t copium; that is a choice to not allow something I view for enjoyable entertainment (created by my fellow humans with complex inner lives) to become something that I resent or bring me any level of annoyance. In my circle, that only serves to bring me unwarranted stress. I will however, speak my boundaries and call out those hurting others simply for their *right to an opinion*. As a dear friend pointed out to me years ago, we can say what we mean without being mean. I wish that was a lesson I took to heart earlier in my life.

I have been away from the fandom for a beat… only participating with the local @ABOotlanders group, hyperPT on IG and the blogs/and the SIssues Outlander podcast .(featuring my sister and I. Currently we have seasons 1-5 and will be producing 6-7 soonish. All the other stuff I put aside for my own well-being. There is only one of me; after all, I have recently learned I need to take care of her first, or she runs out of gas/gets lost or lays on the side of a road in the foetal position. And those things suck, so I care for myself. I can’t express how that makes it easier to be there for those we love and the things we love.

What kind of trip will episode 2 take us on? Follow me to get notified when I write about it.

Sherry – that ABOotlander/beaver person.