Master Raymond has made a return in Outlander season 7’s finale, and it’s even harder now to determine whether this character is technically good or bad. The mysterious apothecary met Claire back in Outlander season 2, which was also when La Dame Blanche gave birth to her stillborn daughter, Faith. Outlander season 7 has drawn attention to both these facts with the reveal that Faith might have lived and Master Raymond may have had something to do with it. There is still a great deal to learn as the romantacy series heads into its final season, and this will hopefully shed some light on Raymond’s character as well.
In the final episode of Outlander season 7, Claire had a dream about Master Raymond. The strange man appeared by her bedside and apologized to her. When Claire asked why he was sorry, Master Raymond said she would soon know. After Claire woke up, Jamie said she had had no visitor, but Master Raymond’s mysterious words and the vision of the blue wings stuck with her. It was precisely this that led Claire to the revelation that Faith lived. Whether she is correct or not, Master Raymond’s general intentions are up for analysis in Outlander season 8.
Master Raymond Has Done A Lot Of Good For Claire In Outlander
Master Raymond Saved Claire’s Life In Multiple Ways
Claire considers Master Raymond a friend in Outlander and is pleased to see him by her bedside so many years after she last spoke with him. For much of Master Raymond’s time on screen in Outlander season 2, he did nothing to indicate that Claire’s belief in their friendship wasn’t correct. While there was a moment when Claire realized that the poison Comte St. Germain used against her came from Master Raymond, the apothecary made sufficient attempts to protect her immediately after. He gave Claire the necklace to detect poison and even spread a rumor to keep assailants away from her.
Master Raymond was partially responsible for the rumor that Claire was La Dame Blanche in Outlander season 2. This popular belief around Paris saved Claire’s life on a couple of occasions—people’s fear of her saved Claire from rape, and the King’s own superstitions allowed her to get Jamie freed from jail. Then, there is the most convincing bit of proof in Outlander season 2 that Master Raymond is on Claire’s side. After his Madonna’s miscarriage, Master Raymond risked a great deal to sneak into the L’Hôpital des Anges and save her life with his blue light magic. Surely, that makes him good—right?
Master Raymond’s Overarching Intentions Are Not Yet Clear
This Mysterious Character Has A Larger Plan
While Outlander season 2 seemed to confirm that Master Raymond was good, his return in season 7 raises more question marks. If the man truly did come to Claire in a dream to apologize, this surely has something to do with her baby Faith. It’s implied that Master Raymond brought Faith back to life using his magical healing ability but then chose to keep the child away from her mother. This is pretty horrible, especially considering Claire believes they are friends. Master Raymond’s apology hints that he feels terrible for what he did, but then why do it to begin with?
If Master Raymond saved Faith Fraser but didn’t return her to her family, he must have had a reason. The French apothecary is actually a prehistoric time traveler, originating from around the year 500 BC. It’s implied that he is the ancestor of other healing time travelers, such as Geillis and Claire. Master Raymond hops through time and space, guiding his descendants through different events—pulling strings to achieve some mysterious, unseen goal. Claire and Faith seem to have something to do with this. However, it’s still unclear if Master Raymond’s greater plan is rooted in good or evil.
Outlander Season 7’s Faith Twist Implies That Master Raymond Is Morally Ambiguous
He May Not Be Entirely Good Or Bad
Master Raymond apologizing to Claire in Outlander season 7 implies that he believes he did a bad thing for a good reason. Whatever his end goal is, the mysterious time traveler seems to think that it is worth putting people through turmoil to achieve. This sort of “the end justifies the means” doesn’t often bode well for a character’s morality. It’s difficult to judge whether causing intentional pain against a person or people is worth a more beneficial outcome—but the general consensus tends to be that it doesn’t. Still, Master Raymond’s other actions throughout Outlander seem to tip the scales.
It seems that Master Raymond sits on a moral middle ground in Outlander, but whether that’s true will depend entirely on any answers he may provide in season 8.
It seems that Master Raymond sits on a moral middle ground in Outlander, but whether that’s true will depend entirely on any answers he may provide in season 8. It’s possible that this ancient time traveler is similar to Geillis Duncan. Geillis wants only to put a Scot on the English throne, and that goal isn’t inherently bad. She even saved Claire’s
life over her own, causing the latter woman to count the former as a friend. Unfortunately, Geillis’ corrupt means didn’t justify the ends. Perhaps Master Raymond has similar goals or would do worse things to achieve them.
Outlander Season 8 Can Pull The Curtain Back On Master Raymond’s Full Story & Plans
The Final Season May Be Master Raymond’s Time To Shine
It’s perfectly possible that Outlander season 7 will be the last that audiences hear from Master Raymond. His appearance in Claire’s dream may have been a one-off, and answers regarding his involvement in Faith’s survival will depend entirely on Claire’s own intuition. The TV show could end without ever fully fleshing out who this character is, where he came from, or why he pulls the strings he pulls. However, this would be rather frustrating. It seems that Master Raymond’s story would contain the answers to all the significant mysteries Outlander season 8 has to solve.
To fully understand Master Raymond’s intentions, it’s important first to see where the character comes from. This would be when his journey first started and the root of his foundational motivation. Outlander season 8 could explore Master Raymond’s history through flashbacks, which could be fascinating considering his prehistoric origin. From there, the romantacy series’ final episodes could jump with the character through time and space, allowing them to see Master Raymond’s actions firsthand. Perhaps, then, his decision to save Faith Fraser will actually make sense.