Outlander Season 7 Returns with Fraser-Centric Storytelling
The highly anticipated seventh season of Outlander will premiere exclusively on Starz on June 16. Fans of Jamie (Sam Heughan) and Claire Fraser’s (Caitríona Balfe) epic, time-traveling romance can breathe easy knowing that the new season will feature a strong focus on the Frasers and their adventures. The series will strike a balance between tense, life-threatening moments and charming, domestic scenes that showcase the couple’s enduring love.
Set against the backdrop of the Revolutionary War in 1776, the latest season promises a return to the across-time storytelling that was a hallmark of the show’s early seasons. The first four episodes, made available for review, tie up loose ends from the previous season, introduce new characters, and lay the groundwork for more time travel.
Claire’s Arrest and Its Consequences
The season premiere, “A Life Well Lost,” wastes no time picking up where the previous season left off. Claire is arrested by the British Crown for witchcraft and the murder of her former medicinal mentee. With “witch” being a familiar accusation in her time-traveling existence, Claire spends most of the episode dealing with her predicament in custody, while Jamie and Young Ian (John Bell) search for allies – even reformed enemy Tom Christie (Mark Lewis Jones). The episode is packed with action, familial revelations, and humor.
Strong Support Work and Powerhouse Acting
Despite the actors having played their roles for ten years, Heughan and Balfe are still powerhouse supporting pillars of the series. They show incredible chemistry and a strong bond, showcasing their characters navigating bevy of personal and historical dramas without eliciting any audience eyerolls. Heughan, in particular, brings a particular subtlety and perfectly-modulated humor to the story’s more “crazy plot twists.”
Meanwhile, the supporting cast also brings strong work to the table, especially Mark Lewis Jones. Viewers see a different side of the Tom Christie character, and he and Balfe share surprising dynamic encounters. Young Ian’s (John Bell) more significant presence and interwoven storylines with Jamie’s grown son William Ransom (Charles Vandervaart) add depth to the series.
While the chemistry between Heughan and Balfe hasn’t waned over the years, the same can’t be said for Skelton and Rankin’s characters. Regardless, their performances still deliver fine work in their moments with Heughan and Balfe.
Visually Stunning
The show retains its place as one of the most beautiful shows on television. The meticulously detailed yet natural settings and breathtaking costumes immerse viewers in Fraser’s Ridge in 1776, transporting them into a past that feels incredibly accurate. Music fans will appreciate Sinéad O’Connor’s stirring rendition of “The Skye Boat Song” that brandishes goosebumps at every episode opening.
Graphic Violence Warning
Viewers who are squeamish about blood and authentic graphic violence of the times should be aware that the show continues to showcase wounds, killings, and surgeries with shocking detail, as creator Diana Gabaldon does in her books.