Outlander Review: Monsters and Heroes (Season 5 Episode 9)

It’s a good day for dyeing — and dying!

Outlander Season 5 Episode 9, “Monsters and Heroes,” proves that life on Fraser’s Ridge is anything but dull as Jamie’s misstep during a routine hunting trip nearly costs him his life.

It’s an all hands on deck situation as buffalos, babies, and venomous snakes rip our beloved Frasers from their domestic routines in a mad dash to save their family’s most stubborn Scotsman.

If you are looking for a quiet day on the ridge, sorry this ain’t it.

Only Outlander, amid a crisis, could find time to develop a proper bromance.

It’s no secret Roger and Jamie haven’t had the greatest of introductions to each other. Their relationship is one of circumstance and marriage. All of this is the perfect foundation to develop an epic bromance.

The episode starts this relationship off right with an awkward encounter as Jamie interrupts Roger and Brianna’s morning glory to see if his daughter can come hunting. Reluctantly, Roger volunteers in her place, not realizing this hunting trip will involve a lot more murder packs and venomous snakes then actual hunting.

The topic of Stephen Bonnet is one the men take very different stances on but as Roger is forced to step up and save Jamie’s life, the looming villain ends up bringing them closer. Their new bond is one this episode forges in fire and pushes to its limits in all the ways that come to count.

This is a relationship Outlander will be reaping the benefits from for the rest of the season, it seems.

“Monsters and Heroes,” gives us some of the show’s most swoon-worthy Claire and Jamie content, but at a price.

As Outlander has shown this season, Heughan and Balfe do some of their best work when their character’s lives are in peril. It may take Jamie nearly dying for us to get some quality one on one time with the couple, but it is time well spent.

The usual bite of their relationship is still present with Claire scolding her husband at his bedside.

However, that back and forth banter quickly dissipates and Jamie makes the clever observation that Claire’s lack of scolding can only mean things are getting worse for him.

It’s a small but powerful moment that acknowledges the connection these two have and allows Claire’s emotions to overtake her strong doctor facade.

Their burning love for each other only gets hotter as Jamie’s condition worsens. Their desperation and agony are felt in every frame as Claire watches her world fade away.

It all comes to a steamy climax with Claire administering a questionable form of resuscitation to bring Jamie back. I mean whatever it takes, right?

Even on Jamie’s death bed, these two manage to keep our emotions running high and our blood pumping.

Aside from Jamie dying there is some incredibly strong dialogue that takes place. This is something Outlander needs to keep the calmer moments from being lost in the chaos of it all, but these talks don’t feel like a necessity — they feel natural and in some cases, long overdue.

Jamie’s ideology regarding losing his leg, as well as his honor, gives Ian and Fergus a chance to voice their thoughts over the matter in two particularly great monologues.

Ian brings an admirable heat as he chews out his uncle for being so insulting, while Fergus in that sweet voice we never get to hear, admits he may have teased Jamie about being a man of leisure one too many times. Ian and Fergus nail the material they are given and their potential has us begging for more — so much more.

Marsali is determined to carve her mark on this episode alongside her husband. She starts strong by referring to Claire as her Ma (something Laoghaire will surely be turning in her grave over), and then in a real power move, she delivers her own baby in the woods when Claire cannot make it in time.

Marsali is becoming quite the Fraser badass!

Claire and Brianna share a particularly great discussion about discovering new career prospects in a time where women had no such thing — and in true Outlander fashion, the conversation ends up becoming crucial to the story later on.

Brianna’s engineering brilliance aside, the moment she shares with her mother dyeing clothes is quite nice. It’s fascinating to listen to Claire talk about her calling as a doctor and it’s even more fascinating to see these two women have such a progressive discussion while dyeing fabrics in 18th-century attire.

It’s a simple interaction but a necessary one if Brianna is going to find a permanent place in this new world. On the other hand, it could be a conversation that comes back to haunt us later on.

With Outlander you never really know, do you?

Despite the sombre circumstances that propel this episode forward, “Monsters and Heroes,” is a rollercoaster of emotions that you don’t quite want to end.

This episode does have some missteps of its own to reconcile with. Tasked with bringing a key event from the source material to life, Outlander does face some pacing issues as the series attempts to pack Jamie’s dance with death into a single episode arc. And there’s that unfortunate mishap with Bree, the buffalo, and a not so subtle cutaway.

Regardless, the scope and superb acting this episode displays is not something to take for granted; nor is the realization that the women of Fraser’s Ridge are killing it right now!

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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