Outlander season 7 has finally come to an end and “A Hundred Thousand Angels” doesn’t disappoint in terms of drama or shocking reveals. The major action of the season was heavily featured in Outlander season 7, episode 15, leaving episode 16 to pick up the pieces and set the characters on their journeys for season 8. After numerous cliffhangers, the wait for the final season will be agonizing, but, luckily, no lives hang in the balance, as “A Hundred Thousand Angels” was full of touching reunions and heartbreaking goodbyes.
Waiting an extra week between the penultimate and final episodes of season 7 was especially cruel, as we had to hold our breath to see if Claire would survive. Fortunately, since Outlander season 8 has already finished shooting, it wasn’t hard to guess that she would be saved and ready to reaffirm her love for Jamie. The fact that he willingly puts aside his duty to the cause of the rebels and takes his rightful place beside Claire is the confirmation and reassurance we need that their bond is stronger than ever going into the final season.
Outlander Is Setting Itself Up For A Final Season That Brings Its Characters Together
The Stage Has Been Set For Everyone To Reunite In Season 8
Not only were loved ones reunited, but long-forgotten familiar faces also crop up throughout the episode. Seeing Master Raymond came as quite a shock after all these years, but by the end of the episode, his appearance starts to make sense. While there are several propulsive throughlines in “A Hundred Thousand Angels,” each family unit slowly comes together, with every couple and their children having tough decisions to make. Jamie and Claire seem ready to settle down back in North Carolina, but it remains to be seen who will follow and how the war will fit into these choices.
After most of the drama from “Written in My Own Heart’s Blood” is resolved, the main source of tension here is Jane’s fate. She was imprisoned by the Redcoats while William was captured and he feels responsible. Of course, it doesn’t take long for William to take matters into his own hands, and this ultimately means he and Lord John are parting ways. When Lord John fails to step up and work outside the corrupt rule of the British, William starts to reflect on what kind of man he wants to be.
Personal sacrifices and goodbyes are at the forefront of the episode, and many characters, including William, face unimaginable loss.
I’m glad that William and Jamie are going out on a reasonably positive note, even if William isn’t fully ready to accept Jamie into his life yet. However, the events of the season 7 finale indicate he’s starting to see Jamie’s value and appreciate his courage as a man, if not yet as a father. Overall, William has had one of the most heartbreaking arcs of Outlander season 7, and it’s not surprising he isn’t ready to let his guard down and accept his destiny as a Fraser.
Though he’s still a British soldier, the conflict of the Revolutionary War fades to the background of the episode. Personal sacrifices and goodbyes are at the forefront of the episode, and many characters, including William, face unimaginable loss. William’s fate in season 8 is the most uncertain, as he doesn’t have a concrete love interest or family to seek solace with. If the rest of the extended Fraser clan can come together after all this time, then William must do the same.
The Shocking Conclusion Of Outlander Season 7 Changes Everything
If Claire Is Right About Her Final Prediction, Her & Jamie’s Lives Will Be Permanently Altered
One of the most promising setups for season 8 is the possibility that Jamie and Claire will finally be able to raise a child together. Their first daughter didn’t survive her birth, and Claire had to raise Brianna away from Jamie for most of her life. Simultaneously, William had no idea that Jamie was his father. Throughout the seasons, they didn’t have the best luck keeping their family together. Bringing Frances into their lives would be a fresh start. Her potential familial connection to them, which Claire assumes from Frances’ mother being named Faith, would bring them very close together.
Outlander is at its best when all the characters come together and share their journeys and emotions, and hopefully, this trend of keeping families and loved ones together will continue into season 8. I’m sad to say goodbye to the series for the time being, though, as this season finale brings us closer to the unavoidable series finale in the coming year or so. However, this season impressed me and makes me hopeful that Outlander season 8 will be able to take its time and give Jamie and Claire the emotional sendoff they deserve.