Outlander Season 8 Episode 6 Review: Blessed Are the Merciful
Outlander Season 8 Episode 6, “Blessed Are the Merciful,” champions the women keeping this war from descending into complete chaos.
From the mothers treated as collateral damage in the Fraser’s Ridge standoff to the wives acting as their husbands’ counsel, Outlander lends a rare look into how these overlooked voices shape men’s actions behind the scenes.
It’s a pensive breather after the gunshots and cries have finally silenced themselves.
The aftermath of Cunningham and Jamie’s standoff has left Fraser’s Ridge in an interesting moral predicament.
Jamie struggles throughout the episode to decide on a proper punishment for the men who swore their allegiance to the crown. His need to lean on Claire as his moral compass in these moments becomes the central focus of this episode.
It’s a fascinating look into how well these two work as a couple. Claire pulls Jamie back when necessary, and Jamie stands up for Claire when she cannot break her oath.
The dilemma of what to do with the wives who weren’t involved in Cunningham’s ploy is an important turning point for Claire as one of the few women in a position of power.
She has spent years carving out a place in this time where she can practice medicine and live life with little scrutiny.
The installment showcases that when she asks Jamie to spare the women whose husbands treated them as inconveniences in their war. She pushes for him to consider the wives who do not get any say in what their husbands do, yet are punished nonetheless.
Claire is doing what she can for these women; what she could not demand for herself when she first came through the stones.
And she has helped mold Jamie into a husband who is not only willing to hear women out but also give them the tools to be the leaders they already are in the privacy of their homes.
Outlander teases how the time travelers are an inevitable part of the history they disrupt. So, as Jamie grants the women of Fraser’s Ridge property and head of household privileges, it feels like this was the intended legacy for Claire.
We see Rachel and Catharine Brant (Ahdohwahgeson) lead their husbands down a similar path to peace and healing.
Despite it being Ian who has to make the trek to find his ex-wife and child, Catharine continuously reframes the storyline from Rachel’s perspective. And giving Izzy Meikle-Small’s charismatic and pure-of-heart Quaker a larger role to play is never a bad idea.
By establishing that women like Claire exist throughout this war, commanding from their husbands’ side, Outlander delivers a very cohesive vision for this episode.
It pays off as the episode rewards Ian and the audience with a reunion that keeps on giving. From Ian and his son reuniting to the gift of Rolo’s grandchild, this reunion is sweet enough to leave us on cloud nine.
The choice to end with Claire and Elspeth embracing as friends is the cherry on top of this female-focused outing.
Navigating the downfall of Cunningham and his decision to kill Jamie is far more interesting through the eyes of the women left to heal his wounds.
The message that war is a vicious cycle across all sides and the only way to find peace is to cling to our humanity is established in Rachel and Catharine’s meeting. Still, it is brought to fruition with Claire and Elspeth’s final day together.
By separating their relationship from any external conflict, Claire was able to make meaningful connections with a woman who had nothing in common and every chance to betray her. Focusing on the flowers among the weeds of these dynamics is such a fresh new take for the war-riddled Outlander world.
It’s a sentimental end to what is an excellent hour of storytelling. One that highlights the strengths of the women in this ensemble as well as their complex dynamics with their male counterparts.
What did you think of this episode of Outlander? Share your thoughts in the comments below, and don’t forget to leave your own rating!
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Outlander airs Fridays at 8/7c 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