Season 5 - Outlander

Season 5 (2020)

Jamie and Claire fight to retain their home at the Ridge as the American Revolutionary War looms on the horizon. Brianna and Roger get married in a big ceremony at Fraser's Ridge. During the reception, Governor Tryon further pushes Jamie to hunt down his uncle Murtagh, forcing Jamie to gather up a militia and counteract the Regulators. He struggles to balance keeping his uncle safe and fulfilling his duties to the British, especially under the eye of Lieutenant Knox, who is determined to find and kill Murtagh. Despite Murtagh's pleas for Jocasta to return his love for her, she moves forward with her fourth marriage, choosing the safety and security of her plantation's future over his idealism. Jamie's loyalties are pushed to the breaking point at the Battle of Alamance, when Roger's attempt to warn Murtagh fails and he is shot dead. Roger is captured and hanged by the British, but survives and is left traumatized by the experience. I knew he wasn't dead because I saw him put his hand up under the hood.  Jamie is left devastated over Murtagh's death in the months following the Battle.

Meanwhile, Roger and Bree's relationship is put to the test as signs of Steven Bonnet reappear, forcing Brianna to take matters into her own hands when she is captured by Bonnet. After several failed attempts he is killed at Brianna's hands.  I was shocked to learn the the actor who plays Bonnet also played Jimmy in Downton Abbey.  I didn't recognize him.  Eventually, she and Roger decide to go back through the stones as it will be much safer for their son. That doesn't work out which was a big surprise.  Young Ian returns from his time with the Mohawk, learning the truth about Claire, Brianna, and Roger's origins when he confronts them with information passed to him by the Mohawk. 

As Claire settles on Fraser's Ridge, she continues to subvert conventional medical practices by producing penicillin and covertly providing medical advice under a pseudonym. She finds that her subversive advice backfires. Men resent her advice to their wives and in the final episode, Claire is abducted and gang raped by Lionel Brown and his men.  She is subsequently rescued by Jamie, Roger and the earlier militia. They kill Lionel and all his men. Though Jamie returns Lionel's body to his brother and mayor of Brownsville, Richard Brown subtly threatens Fraser's Ridge and Jamie's family. The season ends with Claire and Jamie looking out from the porch, determined to savor the peace before the trouble ahead.  The Frasers must come together, navigating the many perils that they foresee – and those they can't.