Recap of Outlander
Season 4, Episode 8
Wilmington
In Wilmington, Roger continues to search for Brianna while Brianna and Lizzie attempt to locate Brianna's parents. Meanwhile Jamie and Claire attend a play as guest of Governor Tryon and learn of an unsettling plan to catch the leader of the Regulators. Jamie must devise away to interrupt the plan without drawing suspicion to himself.
Tropes
- Abuse Mistake: Lizzie sees Brianna and Roger fighting. She witnesses Roger forcefully grab Brianna, Brianna forcefully shove Roger, and Roger take Brianna away. Lizzie only visually sees what happens and does not hear the actual conversation.
- At the Opera Tonight: Claire and Jamie are invited to attend a play with Governor Tryon. Before the play begins, Jamie learns Tryon plans to arrest the Regulators, including Murtagh. In the middle of the performance, Claire operates on Mr. Fanning, who suffers from a hernia.
- Audience Participation: The audience at the play is very vocal, discussing the play amongst themselves, and even jeering directly at the actors mid-performance.
- Been There, Shaped History: George Washington was a loyal soldier to the Crown. Then, he left a play early after Jamie jabbed a man in the hernia, causing the man to need emergency surgery, disrupting the play to create a distraction so Jamie could slip out and warn Murtagh of the Governor's plan. No one saw Jamie leave, but they did see Washington leave, causing them to question if he was truly as loyal to the Crown as they'd thought.
- Big Damn Reunion: Roger and Brianna reunite in a tavern in Wilmington.
- Bystander Syndrome: The tavern is full of people who could have helped Brianna but did not either because they were too afraid of Bonnet or because they believed Brianna was asking for it.
- The Cake Is a Lie: In an attempt to calm Fanning during his surgery, Tryon tells Fanning he'll dip into the treasury and build him a grand house. After the surgery, Tryon tells Claire he hopes Fanning won't remember what he said.
- Chekhov's Gun: Roger uses the drawing from the Scottish Highlander Festival to search for Brianna in Colonial North Carolina.
- Corrupt Politician: Governor Tryon is using taxes to fund his elaborate palace.
- Deliberate Injury Gambit: Jamie intentionally injures Mr. Fanning, knowing that Claire can probably save the man and that the resulting chaos will allow him to slip a message to Murtagh undetected.
- Fangirl: Claire does a double take when she realizes the man across the room is the George Washington. She asks to be introduced and can't stop herself from finishing one of his stories. When they part, she gushes to Jamie about how important Washington will be to the founding of America.
- The Highwayman: The Regulators are planning to relieve the treasury of its collections on the road into Wilmington.
- I Didn't Tell You Because You'd Be Unhappy: Roger hides the knowledge of Claire and Jamie's deaths but accidentally reveals it to Brianna after they consummate their relationship. Brianna already knew about the fire but wanted to know why Roger didn't tell her when he first found out. As a result, the two fight, and Roger leaves.
- If Only You Knew: Governor Tryon is disgusted that the Regulators are trying to rally the people against his use of public tax revenue for his own personal palace. He believes that arresting and publicly hanging a few rebels will quell the sentiment. Historically, behavior like this is exactly what leads to the American Revolution.
- In the Past, Everyone Will Be Famous: The Frasers meet George and Martha Washington at the theater.
- Is There a Doctor in the House?: Invoked by Governor Tryon as he tries to find a surgeon who can treat Mr. Fanning.
- Kiss-Kiss-Slap: After Brianna and Roger's handfast ceremony and consummation, the two argue, and Roger leaves.
- Loose Lips: Roger lets it slip that he knew about the smudge on the newspaper date. Brianna was angry he knew about Claire and Jamie's deaths and did not tell her.
- The Mole: One of Tryon's men infiltrated the Regulators so Tryon can arrest them, especially Murtagh.
- My Own Private "I Do": Roger and Brianna participate in a handfasting ceremony (an old Scottish custom in which a couple gets temporarily married outside formal proceedings).
- Poor Communication Kills: Roger unknowingly runs into Fergus. He shows him a picture of Brianna, who Fergus has never met. But if Roger had asked Fergus about Jamie or Claire Fraser, who he knows Brianna is looking for, he would've been taken to them and gained a significant amount of aid in his search. Possibly neither Brianna nor Roger would have suffered the traumas that happen later in the episode or as a result of it.
- Rape as Drama: Stephen Bonnet rapes Brianna as payment for Claire's ring.
- Rape Discretion Shot: Brianna's rape is portrayed primarily by filming the reaction of Bonnet's men who are sitting outside of the room where they can hear her yelling for help and struggling to escape but do nothing to aid her.
- Shout-Out: Governor Tryon quotes the famous "All the World's a Stage" from William Shakespeare's As You Like It.
- Slap-Slap-Kiss: Brianna and Roger argue in public about why Brianna did not tell him she was going through the stones. Afterward, she tells him she loves him, and the two kiss.
- Sneaky Departure: Jamie sneaks out of the play to warn Murtagh of Tryon's plan of arresting him and the Regulators. Through Jamie, Fergus was able to get to Murtagh before the Redcoats arrest anyone. Claire distracts Tryon during the surgery, so he does not notice Jamie's absence.
- Their First Time: It's Brianna's first time ever having sex and Roger's first time with her.
- Unknown Relative: While Tryon is gloating of his plan to capture and kill Murtagh Fitzgibbons, he has no idea, Jamie is Murtagh's godson and kinsman.
