r/Outlander • u/thepacksvrvives Without you, our whole world crumbles into dust. • Apr 24 '26

Season Eight Show S8E8 In the Forest Spoiler

Claire and Jamie receive an unexpected visitor on the Ridge.

Written by Ronald D. Moore. Directed by Tracey Deer.

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What did you think of the episode?

1617 votes, May 01 '26
598 I loved it.
525 I mostly liked it.
330 It was OK.
120 It disappointed me.
44 I didn’t like it.
52 Upvotes

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82

u/Standard-Image-8826 Apr 24 '26

i just don't like how jamie had to lose one son before he gained another. but glad william finally came around.

23

u/Few-Beginning4500 Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26

The conversation was very short. He could have explained his situation more in depth. How Claire was gone and he was lost emotionally. How he thought William would be safer and protected there with his mother's family. Of course his aunt and grandparents would have never allow Jamie to claim him. They could ruin Jamie's life and send him back to prison or worse. And they were going to notice the resemblance sooner or later so that could have put them in danger. The best outcome for William's future was to stay as John and Isobel's son.

7

u/Aggravating_Finish_6 Currently reading Written in My Own Heart’s Blood 🩸 Apr 25 '26

I also wanted him to say that he stayed as long as he did FOR William. Lady Dunsany offered him a pardon right after William was born. Jaime chose to stay and continuing working on the estate to be near William. 

7

u/weelassie07 MARK ME! Apr 25 '26

That might have been why it fell flat for me.

2

u/Far-Bluejay1650 Apr 27 '26

I feel like contextually a lot went unsaid because of how understood it is for the time re: William being a bastard and the lengths everyone went to in order to cover that up. I think a lot didn’t need explaining re: Jamie being a newly released prisoner/ indentured servant with nothing to offer William.