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Warning! Spoilers for Outlander season 7, episode 16 ahead!
Outlander season 7 has finally come to a close, and the finale's twist ending certainly packed a punch. The fantasy TV series will conclude with season 8, so Claire and Jamie's story is beginning to work toward its definitive end. Outlander season 7, episode 16, "A Hundred Thousand Angels," was a significant step in this process. It opened up with the reveal that Claire had survived her gunshot wound from the Battle of Monmouth and that her recovery was going smoothly. With this out of the way, Jamie and Claire decided it was time to return home to Fraser's Ridge in North Carolina.
Of course, the happy conclusion to Claire's Outlander season 7 injury doesn't mean that all of her and Jamie's troubles are over. William turns up at the church where Claire was recovering in episode 16 to request that Jamie help him break Jane Pocock out of prison. As all this is happening, the Outlander season 7 finale periodically jumps to Brianna and Roger in 1739, where they visit with old relatives and decide what will be next for them. Of course, Lord John and Young Ian had some time at center stage as well—but nothing quite compares to Claire's revelation about her daughter Faith.
Outlander Season 7 Finale's Faith Twist Explained
Claire Believes Her Daughter Faith Lived
The final scene of Outlander season 7 saw Claire discover little Fanny singing a song in the Continental church. This isn't just any song—it's a number called "I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside," which was written in 1907 and first recorded by Mark Sheridan in 1909. Fanny couldn't possibly know this song in 1779 unless she was somehow connected to a time traveler. After realizing what Fanny was singing, Claire had a flashback to singing "I Do Like to Be Beside the Seaside" to her stillborn daughter, Faith, decades prior. This leads Claire to turn to Jamie and announce that their child may have lived.
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Claire has come to the tentative conclusion in Outlander season 7's finale that Jane and Fanny's mother was her and Jamie's daughter, Faith. She realized when looking at the woman's locket that they shared the same name, and Jane's red hair seemed to be another indicator that this was possible. However, it was Claire's vision of Master Raymond that really put Faith on her mind. Master Raymond had healed Claire following her traumatic birth in France, and by her bedside in the church, he apologized for something she would soon discover. If this was more than a vision, something miraculous is happening here.
How Faith Could Have Survived (& What Master Raymond Has To Do With It)
Faith Was Stillborn In Outlander Season 2, Episode 7
The reveal that Faith might have survived after she was stillborn in Outlander season 2 is a significant twist. There had never been any question that the baby was lost, especially since Claire held Faith's body for several hours following the birth. Mother Hildegarde was kind enough to name, baptize, and properly bury the baby even though she had been born deceased. It seems that Faith's survival is entirely impossible. However, Master Raymond is the piece of this puzzle that turns the entire story on its head.
The Outlander books reveal that Master Raymond is a time traveler—likely an ancestor to Claire.
Back in Outlander season 2, episode 7, "Faith," Master Raymond snuck into the hospital and healed Claire, who was near death resulting from infection. The man ran his hands along her body, and as he did, Claire said she could feel the infection leaving. After she was healed, Master Raymond mentioned that Claire had a blue aura, like his own, which signified healing. Claire saw this blue aura surrounding the bird in her vision, and Raymond said the wings would carry away her pain. None of this was explained in Outlander season 2, but Master Raymond promised he would see Claire again.
The implication here is that Master Raymond's blue healing powers—which Claire also unknowingly possesses—were used to bring Faith back to life.
Outlander season 7's finale has delivered on this promise. Raymond returned to Claire's bedside in her vision, and the image of the blue bird's wings came with him. The implication here is that Master Raymond's blue healing powers—which Claire also unknowingly possesses—were used to bring Faith back to life. However, rather than returning the baby to Claire, Master Raymond set the child on some other journey. He seems to be apologizing for this in Outlander season 7's finale. Still, there are too many questions left unanswered.
Jane Pocock's Death In Outlander Season 7, Episode 16 Explained
William Was Too Late To Save Jane
The catalyst for Claire's suspicion about Faith's survival in Outlander season 7, episode 16, was Jane Pocock's death. This girl was a prostitute from Philadelphia with whom William had developed a connection. Previously in season 7, Jane murdered a man named Captain Harkness to stop him from molesting her sister, Fanny. This resulted in her arrest, but William promised Fanny that he would save her from being hanged. Unfortunately, by the time William had recruited Jamie to help break into the meeting hall, Jane was dead from suicide.
Following Jane's death, Claire and Jamie agreed to take in Fanny and bring her back to Fraser's Ridge. This ultimately led Claire to believe that Jane and Fanny's mother had been her daughter Faith. If this is true, it would mean Jamie and Claire are taking in their granddaughter. Of course, it would also mean that when William slept with Jane, he had been sleeping with his niece. This revelation certainly wouldn't improve his relationship with Jamie.
Jamie & William Finally Make A Connection In Outlander Season 7's Finale
Jamie & William Took A Small Step Forward
Another development of Outlander season 7's ending involved Jamie and William's relationship. After the former helped his son in his attempt to rescue Jane, they had a conversation about the circumstances of William's birth. Jamie explained that he hadn't raped his mother but confessed that he had not loved her. He went on to say that the woman had been fierce and brave and that he would never forget that it was he who had, in a way, caused her death. Still, Jamie said he did not regret any of it, implying that he wouldn't wish William not to be born.
Jamie caressed William's face as he said this, and the boy had a flashback to the moment he said goodbye to "Mac" when he was a child. It was a sweet moment, marking the sliver of a connection between them. It was short-lived, however. William promptly said he would never call Jamie his father and marched away. Still, it can be hoped that this small connection will grow in Outlander season 8.
Brianna & Roger Reunite & Make A Plan In Outlander Season 7's Finale
Brianna Got To Meet Her Grandfather
Brianna and Roger's reunion was one of the more touching moments of the Outlander season 7 finale. They finally managed to end up in the same place in time and even had an extended visit with Brian Fraser after things had settled down. Brian was shocked by how much Brianna resembled his late wife, Ellen. Of course, he had no idea that Roger's newly arrived wife was his own granddaughter. Overall, this was simply a fun exchange. With all this out of the way, Roger and Brianna are ready to find out "when" they belong.
Rachel Tells Ian They Are Having A Baby (But Rollo Passes Away)
Ian's Family Is Changing
Ian and Rachel shared some good news in Outlander season 7's ending. The pair married earlier in this installment, and episode 16 saw them plan for their future together. It's ultimately decided that they will return with Jamie and Claire to Fraser's Ridge in North Carolina. This is followed up by Rachel telling Ian that she is pregnant—a joyous moment for them both. This gives audiences something to look forward to in Outlander season 8.
Unfortunately, Ian and Rachel could not return to the Ridge with their whole family. The morning after Rachel shared her exciting news, Ian awoke to find that his dog Rollo had passed away. Rollo had been growing old, and Ian had noted earlier in season 7 that he may not have longer to live. Still, given the dog's importance to Ian and his prevalence in the boy's story in America, it was a sad moment to see.
Lord John & Jamie Have Put An End To Their Conflict (Mostly)
Things Are Tense, But There Is Progress
Custom image by Nick Bythrow
Outlander season 7, episode 16 also came with a tentative resolution to this installment's greatest conflict. Jamie has been mad at Lord John for several episodes now, ever since the latter man admitted that he had "carnal knowledge" of Claire. Jamie nearly killed his friend as a result, but he had put the situation aside for Claire and Williams' sake. It's evident in the season 7 finale that Jamie is still mad at Lord John, and their friendship has not resumed. However, his allowing Lord John to say goodbye to Claire demonstrated the steps he was taking to move past it.
How The Outlander Season 7 Finale Sets Up Season 8
Outlander Has One More Season Left
Outlander is in a fantastic place to continue on to its final season. Master Raymond promised way back in season 2 that he and Claire would see each other again, and it seemed as if this would go unanswered. The finale of season 7 brought this character back and, in doing so, established a fantastic mystery that should carry the next season forward. If Faith truly did somehow come back to life, then the magic of Outlander would have been taken to the next level. Then, there is the big question of why Master Raymond would do all this to begin with. What is the greater plan?
If Faith truly did somehow come back to life, then the magic of Outlander would have been taken to the next level.
Beyond this big mystery, there are a lot of great moments to look forward to in Outlander season 8. The return to Fraser's Ridge is undoubtedly exciting, as is the prospect of Brianna and Roger traveling to 1779 to be reunited with Jamie and Claire. This could lead to other unanswered questions of Outlander finally being resolved, such as what the Fraser Prophecy will mean or why Jamie's ghost was seen in Outlander season 1. There's not a lot of time to wrap up all these stories, so the coming episodes should undoubtedly be worth the watch.
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
Release Date August 9, 2014
Main Genre Sci-Fi
Character(s) Claire Randall Fraser , Jamie Fraser , Brianna Randall , Roger Wakefield , Ian Fraser Murray , Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser , Frank Randall / Jonathan Black Jack Randall , Fergus Claudel Fraser , Lizzie Wemyss , Marsali MacKimmie Fraser , Rupert MacKenzie , Dougal MacKenzie , Josiah / Keziah Beardsley , William Ransom , Angus Mhor , Lord John Grey , Mrs. Bug
Seasons 7
Story By Ronald D. Moore
Writers Ronald D. Moore , Matthew B. Roberts
Directors Metin Hüseyin , Jamie Payne
Showrunner Matthew B. Roberts
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English (US) ·