‘Outlander’ Recap: ‘Where the Waters Meet’

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire Fraser and Jamie Fraser in Episode 706 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Where the Waters Meet’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 706 of ‘Outlander’. To revisit the previous episode, click here. It also contains discussions regarding suicide, which may be triggering to some individuals. 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.
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One unfortunate truth about fiction, is that it tends to romanticize war. Either by providing us with a journey that makes war seem as noble as can be, complete with rallying cries and powerful imagery designed to really get the audience behind the cause of the soldiers in the story. Or they work to showcase beauty during combat, through a love story or through other means. To create duality within the tale and truly make it seem as though we can find something worthwhile when war rages on. But what makes that so problematic is that… there isn’t anything romantic or pretty about war. It’s hell, people die, atrocities are conducted, and people suffer and suffer greatly. To the point where worldviews are changed and people too.
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Which is why it is always refreshing to find that rare story that doesn’t celebrate such matters. So that we are reminded of its awfulness and our need to find a better way and it just so happens, that Outlander is going to be a story that explores war in an honest light, as evidenced by this week’s episode. Since it showed us some ugly aspects to war, while also throwing a little palate cleanser in for good measure. Since ‘Where the Waters Meet’ featured an uplifting journey for Roger MacKenzie. Since he had the chance to finally do more with his day than just scribble notes about his journeys and ponder upon his future. He was able to teach a Gaelic course at the school and share the wonder of his heritage and impart its wisdom and wonder upon others, and it was very sweet to see Roger find fulfillment in this manner and even confront his wife’s tormentor, who may or may not be up to something… and discover that the mysterious figure near his home, is another traveler. 

But that aside, make no mistake about it… this was a story that showcased the horrors of war, and it accomplished that feat, but putting Claire in serious trouble. For shortly after the boats returned to land and the refugees prepared to move out, trouble befell them in the way of British soldiers that were working to impersonate Indigenous Americans to scare anyone that came near them. To send rebels running and perhaps capture a few along the way and well… those scare tactics worked. For the poor soul that was filled with PTSD regarding the attack she endured, could take no more pressure, and opted out of this life, in front of Claire no less. Who sadly, was taken by the British who heard that gunshot, and returned to Fort Ticonderoga to endure the horrors of war, again, and share them with the audience.

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John Bell and Sam Heughan as Young Ian and Jamie Fraser in Episode 706 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Where the Waters Meet’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

For we were privy to how prisoners of war are far too often seen as afterthoughts and bargaining chips. Since everyone the British captured, received no water or care, and even the kind soul that was Walter Woodcock suffered here. For while he was gently moved to his new prison site, being shuffled out of bed was jarring to his recovering body and created blood clots in his lungs. Which in turn, eventually brought forth his death. Not to mention, Claire was reminded of the fact that sides and flags can create inadvertent divisions amongst family. Since William Ransom finally made his way to Ticonderoga and returned to uniform and duty, and well… his loyalty to the British army was jarring to say the least. Especially when… the rescue plan that Jamie and Young Ian put together… came to fruition. For Young Ian’s plan was to sneak into the fort and blend in and that part of the plan worked but became problematic when William saw him. 
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All of which spoke to the divisions now created in this war and the uncomfortable nature of it, only grew from there. Since Jamie created a fiery distraction to get Claire and Ian out… and that led to a tense moment where duty and honor were taken to task between Ian and Ransom. The latter of which, eventually did the right thing, but even then… it should never have been a question. But war changed that, and it also left Claire in a tough place mentally. Because she was forced to leave everyone else behind, and she had gone to great lengths to get them care and get them food and water and without her advocacy, who knew what might become of them. But that is war. Filled with hard choices such as this, and where people are left behind and what’s incredible… is that there is a chance, that this powerful story was nothing more than its own opening salvo of things to come.

For we came to learn at the end of this story, that Jamie re-upped with the United States Army. Simply because they needed his rifleman skills and we also learned that he would be heading to Saratoga, a place that played a huge part in the Revolutionary War. Ergo, there is a good chance, this story is about to dive deeper into the horrors of war. For while we see that battle and so many others as formative and critical to the birth of America… in that moment, it was bloody and violent combat, between those who wanted freedom and those who wanted the status quo, and clearly… this series wants nothing more… than to explore just that. Which will make for some powerful moments in the weeks ahead, as this series gives us a unique history lesson that few stories do, and it will be interesting to see what kind of raw and visceral lesson will be presented to us. Until next time.

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