Outlander Review: The Deep Heart’s Core (Season 4 Episode 10)
Outlander Season 4 Episode 10, “The Deep Heart’s Core,” is a strong addition to an already excellent season.
The final storylines begin to solidify as we inch closer and closer to the end of Season 4 — and it is looking like Brianna and Roger will be front and center for the grand finale as they come to terms with traveling through time. Which means plenty more drama is coming our way.
In many ways “The Deep Heart’s Core” feels like the pregame warm-up and that’s okay because even in moments that exist to set up for the next episode the characters aren’t afraid of showing that confrontation and ugliness that goes hand in hand with family.
At the best of times, this episode shines in the dysfunctionality of its core family.
There is something beautiful and comforting about seeing family members who have been through unspeakable horrors have an unflinching conversation about sexual assault.
The scene in the woods between Jamie and Brianna is one of the best this season as it offers reassurance to anyone who is questioning if they could have done more as a victim of rape.
The scene also offers an unpredictability that is quite clever in its execution as you wonder where exactly Jamie is going with his aggressive accusations and then sigh in awe when the scene comes to an end with a simple message: no victim of sexual assault should ever feel it was their fault they were raped.
As much as I would love to see Jamie and Brianna start of their relationship talking about cute moments from her childhood or Jamie about how much he loves her mother, these blunt scenes make for far more important and entertaining television.
I appreciate Outlander giving us several wholesome moments together with Brianna and Jamie before letting crap hit the fan.
The dinner scene between Brianna and her family is small and insignificant in the grand scheme of this episode but it’s so nice to see them come together for something as simple as a family dinner.
Even the scenes with Ian and Brianna are worth mentioning simply because of their hilarity and ability to highlight the fact that in 18th-century being cousins doesn’t mean dating is off the table. It’s odd little tidbits like this that make the historical aspect of this show just as important as the sci-fi aspect.
Young Ian continues to be such a wonderful addition to the cast in this new world with his unwavering swagger and adorable smile. Hopefully, Outlander finds a way to keep him incorporated in the story when the conflict with the Native Americans and the British are pushed to the forefront.
It’s always good to be wary of confrontation as the introduction of too much can do serious damage to even the best of shows. Thankfully, Outlander manages to throw in just enough confrontation over Roger’s wrongful punishment for her rape to give the fight scene between Brianna, Ian, and Jamie enough authenticity without feeling exasperating.
There is quite a lot of unwarranted slapping and yelling going on but it all even outs with Brianna’s brilliantly timed line to Jamie, “You do not get to be more angry than me”.
It’s unfortunate to see the blissful family reunion come to end so quickly but this misunderstanding allows everyone at the table to give the kind of emotionally charged performance brimming with intensity and legitimacy that makes you want more slapping and yelling.
Claire and Jamie, who quietly take each other aside after the fight to scold one another once more, are especially great as they learn being co-parents to a pregnant time traveler is going to be a lot harder than they had expected.
One thing is certain. Brianna has never been as compelling a character as she is when she slaps Jamie across the face.
Outlander starts to make sense of some loose ends from earlier in the season with the reintroduction of Aunt Jocasta, who thankfully has a purpose in this season after all. It’s exciting to explore her plantation from a different perspective now that the slavery issue has already been dealt with in great detail.
It looks like Murtagh could be a potential suitor for Jocasta in future seasons which I am absolutely here for if it means the man gets to do more than just be alive. He is much more than just a pretty face after all.
Murtagh’s regulator uprising hasn’t been more than a whisper this season and is once again completely left out of an episode.
Even if it is another season before we see this storyline come to a head it would be smart to have weaved more of Murtagh’s recent engagements into the current storyline rather than having him act as another body at the dinner table until he is needed.
This episode doesn’t do a great job of explaining what exactly has happened to Roger with its small but unnecessary time jump.
The explanation that is supposed to help viewers separate the difference between the tribe of Native Americans we have dealt with for most of the season and the Mohawk people is brief and hardly extensive enough to fully grasp the situation Roger has found himself in.
If the Native Americans are going to continue to be a central focus of the story a more in-depth look at their beliefs, customs, and ways of living would be appreciated.
Even a short scene showing the Native Americans doing their own version of the dance Claire witnesses at the stones in Scotland would be great to see now that we know the stones exist in many different forms and mythologies.
“The Deep Heart’s Core” serves as a tipping point for the season and a good one at that.
It’s never great to see family fight but when the fight is this entertaining one can’t help but grab some popcorn and hope the rest of Season 4 finishes with the same enthusiasm.
While not everything in this episode works, the discussions that take place about sexual assault and the stone’s mythology/rules are informative and fascinating in their executions.
And if there is one thing Outlander knows how to do it’s how to end an episode on a high note.
Roger reaching out to touch the stones and hearing a misplaced sound amongst the normal buzzing is the perfect eerie and ambiguous cliffhanger to keep us wishing this season was available to binge in one sitting.
What did you think of this episode of Outlander? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
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Outlander airs Sundays at 8 E/P on STARZ.
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Alicia Gilstorf
Alicia is a Rotten Tomatoes Certified Critic and a Critics Choice Association member. She credits her passion for TV to workplace sitcoms, paranormal dramedies, and coming-of-age stories. In her free time, Alicia loves to curl up with a good book and lose herself in a cozy game. Keep a lookout for her coverage of Ghosts. You can also find her work on Eulalie Magazine and Cool Girl Critiques. Follow Alicia on social media: @aliciagilstorf