Outlander Review: The World Turned Upside Down (Season 6 Episode 6)

Outlander Season 6 Episode 6, “The World Turned Upside Down,” is a grand soap opera of chaos.

It packs a powerful punch, indulging in the conflict the season has held back and carefully interconnecting two critical events from the book.

Above all, this installment channels a level of insanity so fast-paced and unhinged that you cannot help but appreciate how it takes your breath away.

The first act kicks off the chaos with a heart-pounding epidemic, and the hits keep coming from there.

The subject matter of the flux strikes deeper than it should, given our current situation, and Outlander takes care to play to the haunting elements of this silent killer with leading dialogue. There’s an elegance to the strife.

The build-up to Claire’s collapse is deceptive and slow, whereas her fever fills the lulls with jarring imagery and unsettling interactions between Jamie and Malva.

However, Malva and Mrs. Bug cutting Claire’s hair instills that first spark of anger in the audience, forcing us to invest early on.

There is nothing scarier than Claire down for the count, so messing with her hair feels like hitting us while we’re down. Thankfully, she’s rocking a cute bob and back to saving lives in no time.

But as we quickly learn, this is the hour the Christies have patiently waited to seize.

Before the horrors commence, we are treated to another fascinating Tom and Claire scene. This will undoubtedly be a valuable connection moving forward, and it’s pleasing to see Outlander nourish their strange yet sincere conversations. There’s a chemistry there that is hardly romantic, but it is poignant.

The intrigue surrounding the suggestion that Claire and Tom are not ill from the same strain as everyone else is left open-ended, building onto the layers of mystery afoot.

Fortunately, these threads must take a back seat to Malva’s big moment.

Thankfully the chaos of her baby bombshell does not reflect poorly on the episode’s flow. Instead, it does a commendable job of tying off the first act’s loose ends before throwing more at us, keeping our heart-rate elevated but the structure tight.

Oh, Malva. I had my issues with you. But there’s no denying that your short reign as an antagonist has certainly been mighty.

Much of this season has alluded to Malva’s pregnancy, so the nature of her reveal is not exactly a shocker. Still, the girl gets points for pulling the trigger on this elaborate soap opera stunt anyways.

It’s sickening to watch her double down on her lies, but it’s even more infuriating to see the faintest hint of enjoyment as she tarnishes the Fraser name. It’s helpful for me to remember that if I’m this angry at a character, they’re doing something right.

There is a power struggle here that one can empathize with as Malva shrinks at her brother’s voice. She enjoys pulling the strings but rarely has enough control, so she resorts to changing character on a dime.

It’s amusing to see Malva lean into her mad reign in such volatile and unexpected ways as she torments Claire with death threats and hurtful comments about the woman’s appearance.

Malva knows how to cut deep with her words. Alas, the knife cut deeper.

The reveal that Malva has been brutally murdered in the garden is killer as the main antagonist is brought to a gruesome and abrupt end, leaving a much more intriguing mystery in her wake. It’s an exciting, albeit violent, way to pivot for the finale.

That said, I am disappointed with how little we have seen of the Christies leading up to this episode. This installment is well-paced, but it wavers when you focus on Allan and the lack of explanation for his volatile ways.

I couldn’t even pick this man out of a line-up, and that’s where the Christies fall short. Regardless of their roles in the coming episodes, this family has often been bystanders in this loaded season.

By putting the pressure entirely on Malva Christie to set up the sinister family dynamics, Outlander mistakes a lack of development for worthy plot twists. The Christies can shock us, but we don’t know enough about them to be fooled.

If this season is setting up for Malva’s brother to be just wicked, it is going to fall short.

In the end, the chaos does not hold a candle to Claire and Jamie’s fiery passion.

These two have been to hell and back for eachother, and that strength is apparent in every word of their dueling monologues. The power in Claire’s tone as she reminds her husband of all he has to lose if he were ever to be so foolish is core shaking.

Jamie’s confession that he strayed from Claire once and only once is evenly matched, with Heughan and Balfe dancing around one another in a way we do not often witness. Their unshakable bond is questioned so rarely, and both actors see that they tread this new ground with stellar performances.

This is especially true for Caitriona Balfe, who pushes through wave after wave of emotionally taxing performances with commendable ease. The weight of this demanding episode lays on her shoulders, and she holds it masterfully.

The final scene is the cherry on top as Claire reacts to Malva’s death with horror before diving into a physically-challenging rescue mission.

“The World Turned Upside Down” is Outlander‘s most ambitious episode this season as it locks down a tight sequence of events that bleed into each other naturally.

The episode takes us on an emotional rollercoaster of events, allowing viewers enough time to soak in the performances before diving into a new conflict. And none of the friction seems entirely too out of place, with proper setup and dialogue to guide it.

It’s important to note with good pacing this season, the episode would not have to juggle so much material in one sitting. The Christies could have played a more significant role in their demise to drive home the emotional impact of Malva’s death.

Nonetheless, the sharp teeth of this wicked installment more than compensates. No episode should have to take on this much plot in one sitting, but no show pulls it off like Outlander.

—

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

Critic Rating:

User Rating:

 

Outlander airs Sundays at 10/9c on Starz.

 Follow us on Twitter and on Instagram!

Want more from Tell-Tale TV? Subscribe to our newsletter here!

Ghosts’ Final Two Episodes Scare Up Proms, Viking Curses, and More Spooky Surprises