‘Outlander’ Recap: ‘Death Not Be Proud’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Sam Heughan and Caitríona Balfe as Jamie Fraser and Claire Fraser in Episode 703 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Death Not Be Proud’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 703 of ‘Outlander’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.
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One particular lesson that surprises us as we move through life, is that tragedy can in fact… offer us a lot of positives… and it makes sense as to why that stuns us. After all, tragedy is just that… tragedy. A worst-case scenario that beats us down and leaves us in a tough and difficult place, from where at times, it seems there is no hope for salvation. So how on earth can we find anything worthwhile in such dire moments? Well, there are upsides when we take a moment to look at our tragedy objectively and learn the lessons that tragedy sometimes sends our way, and for proof… then look no further than the next episode of Outlander on STARZ. For ‘Death Not Be Proud’ was a story filled with tragedy, the kind that provided more comfort than one might expect.
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A feat that this story accomplished by first… transporting us to the future, to inform us that Brianna and Roger were doing just fine after all. They’d acclimated to their new time to the best of their abilities and were doing their best to find the positive in all things in this new chapter in their lives. And they found great comfort and positives in knowing, that the past had been altered after all. For letters from the past, informed them that while the fire at Fraser Ridge still broke out, only Wendigo and his thugs perished within it. Meaning that yes, Claire and Jamie were fine after all, and well… once we returned to the past through those very letters, did we come to learn other positives that came out of the nasty fire. Some of which, were disguised through harrowing times and a touch of additional tragedy.

Simply because Jamie came to learn a sorrowful truth about the Bugs, and what they had done beneath the noses of Jamie and Claire and all who were close to the Frasers. In that, they were preparing their own little nest egg for the future through stolen gold and to make matters worse, it was buried beneath the old house and during an attempt by Mrs. Bug to unearth it, confusion and tension led to her end at Ian’s quick hands. Which brought forth… a learning experience for Ian. One where he deeply questioned his abilities with a bow and arrow and where he found himself wondering if his path should be different. Which while melancholy and haunting, is indeed a positive, since it may put Ian on a vastly different path than we’ve seen him upon thus far. 

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John Bell and Caitríona Balfe as Young Ian and Claire Fraser in Episode 703 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Death Not Be Proud’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Yet while that might be more of a bittersweet positive, the firmer ones came about via Jamie and Claire. Who despite losing everything… found strength in what came next. In that… they came to realize, they still had one another, they still had their love. So… they refocused their energies upon one another in the days that followed and continued to discover the wonder of love. Of their bond, and how important it was to each of them, and how lucky they were to have it. Because houses can be rebuilt, and things can be replenished, but the love of our one and only is a true treasure that can never be found or replicated again. So, it is best we hold to it and celebrate when we have it, and one might say this couple is even stronger after this trial, and that is quite the positive. 
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Not to mention, this tough moment was a great opportunity for everyone to just take inventory of their lives and ponder upon their current situation and if anything needed to be accomplished during this perfect moment of freedom, and Jamie found a lot to do because of that. Since he took a few moments to melt down a little of that gold and hide it well in the event Bree and Roger might need a financial assist in the future. Not to mention, this was a chance to fulfill old promises. For with his life in a reset moment, he could easily return to Scotland with his wife and Ian in tow and finally return Ian to his mother as promised, and even avoid the spoils of war. So… everyone bid farewell to the Fraser Ridge for the moment, to return to the land that brought them together in the first place. 

In fact, that some of that land, may soon be back in family hands. Since Bree and Roger did visit Lallybroch to reminisce, only to learn that it is up for sale and they could have the money easily with a quick check on that gold, and well… this all sets the stage for more happiness and that’s not a bad thing. Since there have been many a hardship on these folks over the past few seasons, and they’ve earned a chance to reconnect with one another and find some semblance of peace and joy. And the catalyst for that came courtesy of tragedy and a desire to find something worthwhile within it. Which made this, a mostly uplifting tale, one that really did remind all of us… to look for the benefits when dark times strike, to get through them faster and to give us focus, and now that we’ve learned this valuable lesson, it is on to happier days. Until next time.

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