Outlander – Season 7 Episode 13 “Hello, Goodbye” Recap & Review

Episode 13

Outlander Season 7 Episode 13 begins in 1739 with Roger and Buck ending up at the place where the dam would later be built. They recall the time portal in the tunnel that Bree had found. In the 18th century, with no dam, it is very likely a stone circle like Craigh na Dun. Roger believes his father must have time-traveled from there and they head towards it.

In the 1980s, Bree is holding Rob captive in the priest hole. But he is not worried as he claims she will never find Jem if she kills him. Rob has cut the phone lines and she is forced to drive to the police station with Mandy. As for Jem, he is locked in the same dam tunnel where Rob had pulled a prank on Bree.

In 1778, Ian and Rachel are planning to hold their wedding. Ian is nervous while Rachel is worried about him going to war. Denzell makes it but he is the only Quaker attending the wedding. He tells Jamie how John is so wounded that he needs to wear an eyepatch. He also tells him about Smith’s plan to execute him and John’s escape. All of this troubles Jamie but he is glad John escaped.

The wedding begins and it is a Quaker one. It is sweet yet amusing as Claire is surprised by how quiet and long it is. Denzell almost causes a scene as he regrets making Rachel an outcast because of him and the violence they are partaking in. But he is glad she has found Ian and the wedding takes place.

In the 1980s, Jem remembers Brianna’s adventure in the tunnel. It seems that he has a photographic memory as he follows the right path and reaches the time portal. So do Roger and Buck as they call out for Jerry. Jem hears Roger and calls out to him. At the 1739 portal, Roger finds a boy and goes after him.

In 1980, Mandy can suddenly feel Jem and Brianna follows her instructions. Someone jumps in front of their car and they see it is Jem! He passed through the portal but like Bree, he didn’t time travel but just exited the tunnel (probably since they didn’t have gemstones). 

Back in 1739, Roger sees that it is a local boy who has Jerry’s helmet. The boy concurs that a strange man gave it to him. However, Jerry also stole a lamb from a farmer who is hunting for him. The boy claims Jerry ran into the woods and Roger and Buck go after him.

In 1778, Ian and Rachel have their wedding night. He tries to be gentle but she acts bold and is excited. He is pleasantly surprised but indulges her. As for Jamie, he can’t sleep as he worries for John and William. Claire knows William will understand why they kept his identity a secret because he is just like Jamie.

Nearby, John is caught by American soldiers led by Reverend Woodsworth. He claims that he is a rebel, Bertram Armstrong who was captured by the British. He is yet to join a company and Woodsworth gladly helps him. 

In 1980, Jem feels guilty that Roger is in the past because of him but Bree promises to get him back. However, Rob has escaped and the cops think that he and Brianna were having an affair and got into a fight. She is upset as they insist on talking to Roger.

As for Roger, he confides that he is scared to meet his father as he doesn’t remember him. Buck shares that he himself doesn’t know his real parents. Before Roger can say much, they find Jerry. He is wary but trusts them as Roger tells him about the 1940s.

Jerry seems to be a humanist and a family man as he worries for his baby boy and his mission. He explains that his plane crashed near the stones and when he leaned against one to sleep, he time-travelled. Their meeting is cut short as the farmer and his men find them.

Buck and Roger lead Jerry to the stones and give him the gem they bought from the peddler. Roger is emotional and tells Jerry that they won because of people like him. Just as Jerry leaves, Roger says he loves him. He suddenly recalls his time with his father as a young boy.

Meanwhile, Ian feels guilty like Denzell as Rachel is on a path of violence because of him. However, she understands war and promises to be by his side no matter what. Jamie too apologises to Claire for dragging her into another war. She doesn’t mind as long as they are together.

In the 1980s, Bree drops the kids at Fiona’s. Since the cops are no help, she will deal with Rob on her own. She also knows Roger won’t realise Jem isn’t in the past and he will not return without him. This is why she needs to go to him. 

At the end of Outlander Season 7 Episode 13, Roger tells Buck about the flash of memory. He doesn’t know if it is old or new and he feels sad that his past hasn’t changed. This likely means that Jerry wasn’t with Roger for the remainder of his life. Buck tells him not to trust memories and that he did the best he could.

Roger suddenly has an epiphany – he believed Jem must be thinking of him when he was kidnapped. This made Roger think of his own father when he touched the stones. This is why they ended up in Jerry’s timeline which means Jem isn’t in 1739.

The Episode Review

Outlander Season 7 Episode 13 can be considered the midpoint of 7B and almost works like a respite before the action takes off for the final episodes. But we have been seeing this strain since 7B began with a lot happening yet it is quite slow. It takes forever to get Jem back but Jamie is dead only for one episode.

William is having a prolonged crisis with his loss of love and identity while John escapes Smith in the blink of an eye. While this keeps viewers on their toes, it also is frustrating as the show focuses too much on certain plotlines while not enough on others. 

But hey, at least now we can look forward to Jamie clashing with William on the battlefield, John trying to make it out of the American army and Bree trying to get back Roger before they end up missing each other. That last bit is going to make us tear our hair out if Brianna goes back to the 18th century right when Roger travels to the 1980s.