Outlander season 7’s episode 13, “Hello, Goodbye,” packs on the nostalgia from the earliest seasons of the show and continues the trend of father-son relationships driving the plot forward. After Outlander season 7, episode 12, there are plenty of questions still left about the fate of Lord John and William after being estranged from Jamie in the wake of his presumed death and reappearance. However, “Hello, Goodbye” provides some touching parallels throughout the episode. As families are reunited, they’re simultaneously torn apart elsewhere, and lovers old and new learn from each other.
Roger and Bree return as their search for Jemmy ramps up in the wake of Rob Cameron’s reveal that Jem hasn’t gone back to the past. This was a ruse set up so he could blackmail Bree and their family. The structure of bouncing between the two major storylines has worked pretty well so far. Still, the breaks in the tension do make it a little difficult to remember where Roger and Buck are and that they’re chasing Roger’s long-lost father as much as they are searching for Jem.
Love Is In The Air In Outlander’s “Hello, Goodbye”
Whether That Be Romantic, Familial, Or Love For One’s Country
It’s been clear since the premiere of part 2 that Bree and Roger’s storyline is the weaker arc of the season, as little can compare to the drama of the Revolutionary War. Though it’s easy to be concerned for Jemmy and wonder where the evil Rob could’ve taken him, it’s obvious he’s never going to be in any real danger. While Sophie Skelton’s acting always leaves something to be desired, she holds her own in some intense moments, even if this takes away from the amount of scenes with Claire and Jamie.
Unfortunately, I’m never going to care as much about Bree and Roger as I do about Claire and Jamie, and “Hello, Goodbye” touches upon the couple that is a better successor. The parallels between Jamie and Claire and Ian and Rachel are one of the major themes in the episode, as it’s easy for us, Claire, and Jamie to see how the young lovers are also overcoming obstacles to be together because of true love. While the Roger-Bree arc is important for the overall plot, I’m glad it’s only been explored in every other episode.
Both Claire and Rachel have great moments of asserting their agency and not letting the men in their lives think they’re controlling their destinies.
Lord John’s fate remains uncertain and William is nowhere to be seen in the episode, but that doesn’t mean he’s not up to something behind the scenes. With every passing episode, I become more sure that the next time Jamie meets John and William it will be on the battlefield. William’s over-the-top reaction to finding out his parentage was indeed a little much, but this opens the door for a satisfying reconciliation. However, the road to get there is sure to be paved with drama.
A lot of talk of sacrifice and tough decisions are thrown around in “Hello, Goodbye,” but both Claire and Rachel have great moments of asserting their agency and not letting the men in their lives think they’re controlling their destinies. While it’s true that both women have been trailing after men who run into the heat of battle, they have their reasons for caring about the war effort and make it clear they haven’t done anything they didn’t want to do. In the future, Bree’s hand is forced, but she won’t let herself be pushed around either.
Outlander Season 7, Episode 13 Teases Future Battles In The Revolutionary War
Jamie’s Future As A Captain Is Sure To Put Him In Harm’s Way
The Revolutionary War’s progression is put on pause as Jamie and young Ian wrap up their personal commitments and prepare to rejoin the Patriots. Now that Jamie has been appointed as captain, it’s likely Outlander will continue featuring George Washington, and Jamie will be part of major battlefield decisions. Seeing a return to form for Outlander would include Jamie leading troops and Claire patching people up as a skilled battlefield doctor. This is just what season 7, part 2 needs to maintain equal amounts of nostalgia and action.
One of the biggest Outlander questions hovering over the last two seasons is whether Jamie will make it through to the end or if he’ll die through some heroic action, like sacrificing himself in another war. However, the tease of his dying on the ship and Claire’s intense grief make me think Jamie is safe, at least for the rest of Outlander season 7. But if this episode is any indication, none of the characters would hesitate to sacrifice a lot for the people they love.