‘Outlander’ Recap: ‘Written in My Own Heart’s Blood’

1/4/2025

Written by John Edward Betancourt

Caitríona Balfe as Claire Fraser in Episode 715 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Written in My Heart’s Own Blood’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

Caution: This article contains spoilers for Episode 715 of ‘Outlander’. To revisit the previous episode, click here.

If there is one absolute truth that the hit STARZ series, Outlander, has flirted with in its seventh season, it would be that war is utter hell. For war costs lives, war destroys so much and while at this point in human history it is indeed a necessity, it is something that even those who march to war and take part in it… lament and fear. Because they know what will happen when weapons fire and flags are waved, and thankfully we’ve been spared some real emotional pain regarding that since the show has but dipped its toes into the ugliest parts of the Revolutionary War. But alas, a return to the field of combat… allowed for the show to lean into such matters in a harrowing manner during this week’s tale.

But before we dive into that, it’s best we take a moment and reflect upon some of the lighter moments present in ‘Written in My Own Heart’s Blood’. After all, Roger and Buck had a little downtime in the past at last. Wherein Roger worked to communicate with his love in 1980 and where he and Buck… finally had an honest talk about the timeline and things to come. Plus, Brianna got that message and that prompted her to try and find her beloved, with mixed results, since children work on impulse over anything else and of course… Young Ian and Lord John Grey were able to save William from the hideous fate that awaited him. For they were able to infiltrate that camp and turn him loose. Granted there was some bloodshed, but that was to be expected. For those men had their orders and were eager to follow through on them.

But William did return to his camp, and of course, had much to ponder upon after being saved, and sadly, he received some poor news upon his return. In that June was not able to escape the consequences of her actions and was taken back to town, under arrest. Leaving William at a bit of a crossroads as to what to do about this newfound problem that arose from him leaving, really. But that problem, paled in comparison to the hardships that Jamie and Claire endured in this tale. Because they arrived on the battlefield and were making preparations for war and that… weighed heavy on the new Brigadier General and the brigade’s brilliant doctor. Simply because he was reflecting on his own past experience in combat and just combat in general, and the good doctor pondered upon the horrors she had seen from war in her travels, and that led to some tender and powerful moments between he and Claire before things became supremely heavy in this story.

Caitríona Balfe and Sam Heughan as Claire Fraser and Jamie Fraser in Episode 715 of ‘Outlander’ – ‘Written in My Heart’s Own Blood’. (Photo Courtesy of STARZ.)

For it turned out that Jamie was to take part of the Battle of Monmouth. A brutal campaign that more or less ended in a stalemate, but did showcase the resilience of the Continental Army and helped to further solidify the legend of General George Washington, and well… this made for a harrowing sequence for certain. One that saw Jamie lost into the thick of combat while Claire worked to save lives alongside an outright incompetent doctor who was more interested in sounding intelligent over actually healing people. But eventually the battle in that area wrapped up, and the aftermath of that intense segment of battle led to an outright shocking moment. For while Claire was outside, being the kindhearted healing soul that she has always been, the spoils of war came to find her.

Because shortly after Jamie returned with his tired and depleted forces, a British garrison passed through at the same time, and made trouble and weapons fire was exchanged at close range, and sadly… a stray bullet struck Claire. Square in the abdomen no less and that… brought about rightful panic and worry. For that idiot doctor basically refused to help her, forcing Jamie to resign his post and to send word to Rachel and Denzel, so they could return and help her as quick as can be. Which led to a devastating few moments, wherein Claire suffered deeply and pondered upon the nature of her wound to stay out of shock and where Jamie tried to reconcile the helpless nature of the moment, and well, we simply don’t know what her fate will be beyond this point. Because while Rachel and Denzel arrived as quickly as they could, damage was indeed done, and furious work will have to take place to save Claire, in a dark age of medical science.

All of which made, for an intense and devastating tale. One that saw these two lovers struggle with their emotions badly. Since Claire truly oozed concern for Jamie and vice versa and in the end, we do indeed know of the spoils of war once again and why it is hell and why it is so costly. The only question that remains is whether or not Claire can recover from her wounds and live a life with her beloved or if real tragedy awaits and well… all we can do is wait and see and celebrate another brave episode from season seven of this brilliant series. For it’s been big swing after big swing this season, and this has been the biggest of all, right before the season finale no doubt and that is going to make the two week wait for the season seven finale, outright brutal. Since we simply must know if this love affair for the ages will continue or if said finale will set the stage for a final season that will go to vastly different places. Until next time.

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