Season 6 of Outlander saw a brief return of Season 2's most pivotal character - the one and only Bonnie Prince Charlie. Viewers were introduced to Flora McDonald courtesy of a flashback scene that revisited the failed Jacobite leader in his flight from Scotland.
Andrew Gower gave a phenomenal portrayal of Prince Charles Edward Stewart. Gower's Charles was zealous, reckless, hedonistic, and oddly sympathetic. Watching Jamie and the prince form a friendship was sheer merriment. It's almost a shame that Jamie was initially compelled to work against the cause.
Not In Scotland Anymore - 8.2
This second episode of Season 2 shows the Frasers getting more familiar with the French royal court. Claire makes a splash in that grand red dress. Jamie's attempts to gain an audience with the Jacobite leaders prove successful, and he meets Prince Charles Stuart.
Fans are able to get read on Charles' leadership qualities fairly quickly here and can agree with Jamie's assertion that one can't even trust the man with a vegetable patch. Claire's dress is breathtaking, and the royal court is full of both amusement and intrigue.
Useful Occupations And Deceptions - 8.2
In this episode, Claire grows bored with the fun of partaking in French noble society and seeks out more useful applications for her time. This irks Jamie since he is forcing himself to be deceptive to carry out his plan with Claire to stop the Jacobite rebellion before it even starts to prevent Culloden.
It's a somber fleshing out of the realities of life in this period with Claire going to the charity hospital. Viewers are reminded that life in is not all wigs and fun. There's illness and neglect too. It's hard to watch Jamie struggle with the duplicity he is engaged in with Charles as well.
La Dame Blanche - 8.4
Moving into the fourth episode of the second season puts Claire in danger twice: being attacked on the street at night and being poisoned by the Comte St. Germain. The poisoning happened as Claire was hanging nearby as Jamie and Duvernay discussed Charles' fundraising plans over a game of chess.
It's a delicious though sad twist to see Louise, one of the best characters this season, get caught up in the web that Jamie and Claire have woven (though it's not as sad as the attack on Mary and Claire). One also can't help one's amusement with Sandrinham hamming it up at the dinner too.
Untimely Resurrection - 8.5
Black Jack Randall makes an appearance at the royal court at a garden event in this episode. While this serves to be a stressful distraction from the Fraser's designs on the prince's plans, it's deeply satisfying to see the king insult Balck Jack Randall simply because he wants to and he can do whatever he wants because he's the king.
The series dives deeper down the shock and intrigue well in this episode. Caitriona Balfe makes the fans feel the gut punch it is to see Randall again. It's heart-wrenching to watch Jamie and Claire clash over how to handle the duel amid the pressure of the wine deal orchestrated by St. Germain and Charles.
Best Laid Schemes... - 8.6
A lot happens in this episode. The efforts to stop the wine deal come to a head, Jamie goes back on his promise to wait a year and duels with Randall, and Claire miscarries the baby as a result of the duel.
There is so much emotional devastation packed into this episode given all of these events. There's poor Fergus' frightening encounter with Randall to consider, too. The revolutionary schemes take a backseat here despite how delicate they are. It's certainly not a happy episode, but it remains one of the most memorable.
The Hail Mary - 8.7
With the Jacobite Rebellion underway, Claire helps alleviate the suffering of Colum, who's come to camp to discuss the clan's future with Jamie because he's dying. Claire also helps Alex Randall, who's also dying, and gets Jack to agree to marry Mary (in a fan rejected match) who's pregnant with Alex's child, ensuring Frank's family line.
The writers succeeded in delivering a most gloomy set of affairs in this episode. No one would've guessed that Claire would have to suck up her justifiable hard heart against Black Jack to guide the deathbed matching making of Jack and Mary. It makes the matters of Colum's death almost pale in comparison as well as dealing with a daft Charles.
Prestonpans - 8.8
In this Season 2 episode, Claire faces PTSD from World War 2 as the brutal realities of war become overwhelming for her. Angus dies after a blast injury wound up being more serious than first thought. Jamie enlists his Uncle Dougal to assist in some of the reconnaissance to gauge whether or not the Jacobites should attack now or later.
Once again, Charles shows just how fickle he is, going from wishing the army was full of Dougals to condemning him. Viewers get the hint here that perhaps restoring a Stuart king might see Scottish concerns not being fully respected as one would hope. One gets a real feel for war in this episode too.
The Battle ed - 8.8
Kicking off the third season, the dreaded battle of Culloden Moor is at hand. The pregnant Claire has already been sent back through the stones and is adjusting to life in Boston with Frank, who's more unlikeable in the books. Jamie faces Black Jack Randall in the battle. Black Jack dies, yet Jamie barely survives.
The Battle of Culloden is magnificently handled. There's a sweeping sense of the battle, and the viewer can almost feel the air as it surrounds the clash of armies. That final showdown between Jamie and Black Jack is perfect. Claire's struggle in the future is far from ideal, and fans feel for her.
Vengeance Is Mine - 8.9
Claire is trapped in the Duke of Sandringham's Belmont lodgings. The duke threatens her, but Mary Hawkins is also there. They plan to escape, though are caught up by the duke. Jamie and Murtagh arrive in time to save the women. Murtagh lays Mary's vengeance at her feet after killing her attacker from , who the duke employed.
Jamie wasn't the only one frustrated with the lack of zeal by the war generals to follow Charles' desire to press toward London; so much for rewriting history. Sandringham imprisoning Claire seemed like too much extra strife, but it provided a way to tie up loose ends, especially for Murtagh and Mary. Plus it was great to see Munro again.
Dragonfly In Amber - 9.5
The epic Season 2 finale is split between the future and the past. In the future, there's the funeral for Reverend Wakefield. Claire visits the ghosts of the distant past, and Roger and Brianna learn about Jamie Fraser. In the past, Jamie knows Claire is pregnant and makes Claire go back through the stones since the battle is now unavoidable.
Charles' foolish "mark me!" is a final nail in the coffin. There's no turning back from devastation. The separation at the Stones slices to the core, and is elegantly juxtaposed against the emotions Claire faces in the future as she and Scotland sink into each other again, as is the tumultuous revelation for Brianna about Jamie and time travel.