‘Outlander’ Recap: ‘Turning Points’

8/12/2023

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser in Episode 708 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Turning Points’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 708 of ‘Outlander’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. Also, this piece was written during the 2023 WGA and SAG-AFTRA strikes. Without the labor of the writers and actors currently on strike, the series being covered here wouldn’t exist.

It is definitely safe to say that fans of the hit STARZ series, Outlander, have been in a bit of a worried state for the past couple of weeks. After all, the show went hard into the spoils of war, and pondered upon its cost, courtesy of a vivid and brutal recreation of the First Battle of Saratoga. Wherein young William Ransom faced the horrors of death and where Jamie Fraser was left… in a compromised position. Which in turn left everyone wondering if he was going to be okay or if the show was going to do something quite bold and really show us what war can cost us, and well… that prompted everyone to tune in with nerves at their highest, as we waited with bated breath to learn of Jamie’s fate and if the show was going to offer up different lessons about war.

Thankfully, ‘Turning Points’, wasted little time in informing us that yes, Jamie was indeed going to be okay. For Claire made her way to the Saratoga battlefield as promised and rescued her ailing but living husband from scavengers and looters and quickly did her best to nurse him and others back to health. Which in turn allowed for the show to ponder upon different spoils of war. Such as the sheer ugliness of it, since the death toll and causalities in general was a lot to bear, alongside exploring the terror that people experience when the people they care about the most march toward it. Since Claire deeply thought about what her life could have been had her husband been lost at that battle, and well… that prompted more unique explorations regarding the spoils of war.

After all, there were two battles of Saratoga, with the second one providing the American side with a favorable end, and of course… Jamie was asked to fight that battle as well… which brought about… quite the conundrum for him. For it was made clear that General Fraser was going to be fighting for the British side at this rematch. Which would force Jamie to fight family in the heat of the moment. Not to mention, he and Claire were faced with a fascinating surprise. For Major General Benedict Arnold was part of this battle as well, and the old concern of how to handle history was before Claire and Jamie, who were quite worried about potentially overstepping their bounds and changing the course of the war. So, they treaded lightly around the Major General and when the big day came… Jamie did his best to be a good solider but also be a good family man.

John Bell, Sam Heughan, and Caitríona Balfe as Young Ian, Jamie Fraser, and Claire Frasier in Episode 708 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Turning Points’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Because to complicate matters further, his son was at the Second Battle of Saratoga as well, and he had to decide exactly how to fight this battle without being the one to cause harm to his family. Which was no easy task. Since he was the finest rifleman on the field of battle, so he instead… opted to fire a warning shot at dear William to spook him away from the fight, properly, and he let one of his fellow soldiers take the shot at General Fraser. Keeping his conscience clear and allowing for him to wreak havoc elsewhere so American forces could earn a grand victory, which they most certainly did. And thankfully, that victory and humility, allowed for the seeds to be sown for Arnold to betray his rank and country as history required him to. All of which kept history on track and allowed for a powerful moment to take place in the Fraser family.

For Jamie’s cousin was indeed dying, and with the battle over and honor in place, British forces asked Jamie to be at his cousin’s side, and he certainly did that, and paid his respects as his cousin expired. And that brought forth several surprises. Such as a moment of kindness and respect between father and son, and a request for Jamie to escort his cousin’s body home. For his final wishes were to be buried in his native Scotland and Jamie was happy to oblige. For it put he and Claire back on track and they eventually made their way there, closing out this season with quite the powerful lesson regarding the Revolutionary War. In that… we don’t think or talk enough about the fact that it was quite costly from an emotional standpoint. For others undoubtedly experienced what Jamie did, where brother fought against brother under different flags, and struggled emotionally and mentally with that reality. But that was the sacrifice that some were willing to make… to bring forth the birth of the United States of America.

But that lesson aside, it would seem we are indeed done with this part of the story and the time has come to focus on the Fraser family’s return to Scotland, alongside that unpleasant surprise involving Bug and of course… Roger and Buck’s quest to find Jem awaits us as well. Who we learned here was swiped away for a chance at the gold. But while we wait to see all that be resolved and explored in 2024, when the show returns to the airwaves, we can celebrate one magnificent and powerful tale. One that really did put our nerves at ease over a character we love deeply, while offering up another fascinating history lesson, complete with another important figure in the mix… before giving us… some powerful lessons. About how war can wreak havoc on the souls of those who love the ones who fight, and how it can in fact… tear families apart in the name of what one side hopes… is something greater. Until next time.

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