Outlander Review: Famous Last Words (Season 5 Episode 8)

Outlander Season 5 Episode 8, “Famous Last Words,” tackles the aftermath of tragedy through new lenses of storytelling.

In mourning, the episode clings to the dark veil of sorrow that lingers from the incredibly devastating events of “The Ballad of Roger Mac” and uses its success to test the waters before diving into the last of this season.

From Roger’s rise from the dead to Graham McTavish’s name reappearing in the open sequence to Ian’s sombre return, Outlander is looking to shake the very foundation Fraser’s Ridge stands on.

It may be hard to believe with how quietly this latest installment trudges, but this episode takes some big swings in terms of formatting.

It’s very unusual to see shows set strictly in a historical setting shake up the aesthetic with a black and white silent film — but that is exactly what Outlander does to accurately depict the long-term effects of Roger’s PTSD (or shellshock as Claire refers to it). It is a choice and a bold one at that.

However, I’m not entirely sure it’s one that pays off.

The choice to show this episode’s most horrifying images of Roger’s hanging with subtitle cards instead of verbal dialogue is, from an artistic standpoint, a brilliant way of depicting trauma in a format that is specific to his situation.

One could also argue that the choice in formatting is jarring and desensitizing as the short films stall the momentum of these emotional inner struggles. Outlander‘s storytelling could have benefitted more from an artistic choice in its wheelhouse — similar to the silent episode Mr. Robot orchestrated in its final season.

Outlander is smart in letting this episode be one entirely of mourning.

After the devastating loses the Frasers faced, it is expected that these characters would struggle with their new reality. Jamie has lost a parent, Brianna lost a part of her husband, Roger lost his gift, and Claire lost a friend.

These are loses that shape the story going forward and the series does a great job of demonstrating the potential that story has to shine, even in the face of grief.

This episode does an excellent job of introducing new elements to Fraser’s Ridge to keep the subject matter interesting even when it feels like everything has been standing still a little too long. Between the grim faces and looming omens, are brilliant uses of character and dialogue to tell a better story — an important story.

The reintroduction of Ian is not only great if you’re a fan (and how could you not be?) but it is also great timing on Outlander’s part.

Ian is in a bad place for reasons he’s yet to fully disclose and that makes him the perfect addition to this gloomy installment. To bring him back several episodes later would only dredge up all the emotions this episode brings to the surface. This is a strong episode but it is not one I would like to revisit before the end of this season.

Ian’s struggle with his mental health beautifully mirrors Roger’s silent torment. Seeing these two men fight to regain some control over their situation helps frame the themes of this episode in dim but hopeful lighting.

The use of Jocasta’s moment of mourning as an outlet for Jamie to express some of his own pain over losing Murtagh is admirable as well. One only wishes we could see even more struggle from Jamie going forward as he comes to terms with this loss.

His moment of silence with Ian demonstrates the kind of tenderness we need to see from Jamie as he continues to mourn.

On an episode dedicated to letting its male characters shine, one woman manages to steal the spotlight.

It may be Roger’s silent anguish and pain we find ourselves wallowing in for most of the hour, but it is Brianna who ultimately saves the story from falling too far into its own despair.

The way she slowly amps up her frustration with Roger’s refusal to speak and allows it all come to an explosive head is rather exhilarating to watch. She plays the part of the scared wife with intensity and desperation that allows viewers to understand her frustrations, while still validating Roger’s lack of engagement.

She is the fire this episode desperately needs. Her monologue begging Roger not to make her a widow is the strongest performance we’ve yet to see from Skelton, and at a time where we desperately needed someone to snap the story out of its fog.

Outlander has a difficult task ahead as it attempts to continue validating the individual traumas Jamie, Roger, and Ian are facing, without dragging the story too far into the depths of their despair.

As “Famous Last Words” so beautifully demonstrated, despair can be the driving force behind a storyline’s success, but it can also be more deafening to a story than silence.

What did you think of this episode of Outlander? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

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Outlander airs Sundays at 9/8c on Starz.

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