Outlander Season 7 Episode 5 Review: Singapore

Outlander Season 7 Episode 5, “Singapore,” draws from elements of earlier seasons to present a nostalgic Scottish romp and an all too familiar war effort.

We also return to the heart of this premise as Brianna’s new job takes her into the highlands and down a path brimming with mystery and misogyny.

If this is the calm before the storm for Outlander, who needs the storm?

Exploring Lallybroch

Sending Brianna and Roger back to their time was a necessary evil, and you have to admire how little it has shaken the dynamics of this show.

That settling of the foundation has much to do with Lallybroch’s whimsical sets coming back into the picture. In many ways, it feels like no time has passed between Season 1 and Season 7 as Brianna and Roger find themselves walking in the footsteps of Claire and Jamie.

Slipping back into life at this mystical Scottish mansion comes with pleasant plot baggage we get to unpack slowly and methodically.

The family’s separation has cracked open the time travel mythology in spectacular ways. Outlander will never be flashy about its magic, so the mystery building around the buzzing Brianna hears in the tunnels, and hints at an unwelcome visitor, is thrilling.

The eerie mist closing around Lallybroch is unsettling. It creates a sense of unease that something ominous is coming for the Frasers.

Women at Work

Brianna is crucial to this episode’s success, and the writing sets her up beautifully for the win.

Removing Roger from most of the episode’s conflict allows the episode to explore her workplace experiences in a vacuum. As a result, Outlander draws a powerful distinction here that it has been orchestrating for years with Brianna and Claire’s separate journeys.

Even with two hundred years between them, society still views women as lesser beings.

Brianna lives in a house with electricity, and no one settles grudges with duels. Still, just as Claire cannot be taken seriously as a doctor, Brianna has to jump through similar hoops to be an engineer.

Sophie Skelton’s fierce performance is reminiscent of the early bravado Claire tapped into as she fought to be heard. Add in Bree’s poignant realization that her parents could be in the family graveyard, and the ghosts that haunt this episode leave an admirable impression.

Outlander is doing a wonderful job connecting Brianna and Claire, despite the two women dealing with contrasting conflicts at different times.

The choice to have Brianna attempt to be taken seriously in a male-dominated field while Claire’s struggles as a female physician resurface is excellent. It subtly links the two women’s struggles at key career points while driving their separate journeys forward.

I also love that we are finally reaching a turning point in that narrative for Claire.

With women of his time silenced, Jamie has become Claire’s voice. However, this episode sees even his presence dismissed, so it is a perfect time to introduce Claire to Denny.

From a story standpoint, he is the greatest gift the plot tool gods could give us because he is a doctor willing to listen to reason — and a doctor ready to listen to Claire. That combo allows her to have a bigger role in this war and move past the more repetitive misogyny.

His Name is Ian

We cannot breeze past this lovely installment without talking about its beating heart.

Ian’s reunion with Emily and the Mohawk is the powder keg of pent-up emotion you hope to see for the character. John Bell’s Ian is often used for lighter comic relief, but like Jamie, when he is given these more emotional confrontations, he shines just as bright.

The dialogue during this reunion cleverly insinuates what’s coming, and by the time the little boy with red hair runs into the frame, the tension is palpable.

The boy’s confession that he is of Ian’s spirit cracks open the emotion so effortlessly. To follow that reveal with Emily giving Ian the honor of naming his son “Ian James,” means giving Bell time to soak in everything his character feels and come away stronger.

A war might send this show into a chaotic tailspin, but at least Ian got his closure.

Cannon Fodder

“Singapore” is a well-crafted powderkeg of intrigue and heartfelt monologues.

This season is refreshingly wholesome, with Outlander doing away with most of the intensity (and sexual assault) from the Fraser’s Ridge era. These women continue to have stories that center less on their tragedies and more on their strength and individuality.

The road trip experience with William, Rachel, and Denny doesn’t entirely fit into this thoughtful outing, and beyond its purpose to demonstrate William’s kindness towards the Quakers and Denny’s debt to him; it doesn’t serve the episode particularly well.

The heart of these relationships and the likability of this expanding ensemble is propelling Outlander to new heights of excellence this season.

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“Sinapore” is written by Taylor Mallory.

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

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Outlander airs Fridays at 8/9c on Starz.

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