The hit STARZ seriesOutlanderreturns tonight for season 7, part 2, following leads Claire (Caitríona Balfe) and Jamie Fraser (Sam Heughan) as they return to Scotland on official business and tie up familial loose ends from previous seasons. Though author Diana Gabaldon still has another novel to go in her beloved story, the show will beclosing out after season 8, which means the remaining episodes of season 7 are vitally important for setting the final act’s stage. Though Claire and Jamie are the driving force, many supporting characters have brought new lifeblood to the narrative over the years and are equally deserving of satisfying conclusions.
One such character is Young Ian Murray (John Bell), Jamie’s nephew who was the impetus for the couple’s departure from Scotland back in season 3.Outlanderseason 7, part 2 finds himfinally returning home to see his parents, though he has left his heart back in America to some extent. Said heart belongs to Rachel Hunter (Izzy Meikle-Small), the young Quaker woman to whom he confessed his love — albeit in Mohawk. Their romance is sure to face trials inOutlander’s final seasons, not only due to the perils of the Revolution and her pacifist faith but also the feelings Jamie’s illegitimate son William harbors for her.
Outlander Season 7, Part 2 Review: The Drama Pays Tribute To Its Past While Looking Forward To Its Future
With action, intrigue, and a propulsive pace, Outlander season 7, part 2, is gearing up to say farewell to viewers but intends to go out with a bang.
ScreenRantinterviewed Bell and Meikle-Small aboutwhatOutlanderseason 7, part 2 has in storefor Young Ian and Rachel. The duo discussed how distance affects their burgeoning romance, as well as other factors such as Rachel’s Quaker faith and William’s unrequited feelings for her. Bell also shared how emotionally charged Young Ian’s reunion with his parents was on set.
Young Ian Is A Changed Man In Outlander Season 7, Episode 2
“Here he is completely transformed — not just physically, but emotionally as well.”
Screen Rant: Season 7, part 1 saw Ian confess his love in another language and then leave Rachel with his dog as he traveled across the world. How is Rachel feeling about that partial abandonment? Is she ready and willing to take him back with open arms or is she still working through things?
Izzy Meikle-Small: I think she really hopes that he does love her because, obviously, he said it in Mohawk. She doesn’t know that he said that to her, so I think she knows that she loves him but hasn’t really had any confirmation that he loves her back.
When people travel across the world to go back to Scotland, there’s no real guarantee that they will come back. I think that holding onto Rolo is kind of the one hope she has that he will come back to her, so she’s clinging onto the hope of it for dear life. But nothing is really certain, especially in those times. I think she’s holding out hope, but she’s definitely not sure he’s coming back.
Screen Rant: John, you get some touching moments with your parents talking about Rachel in Scotland. What’s it like to reestablish him in that setting with the Murray family, and also to take what his parents give him back to Rachel, emotionally speaking?
John Bell: Yeah, that whole experience of going back to Scotland was so special for us. We left because of Young Ian, when he was kidnapped back in season 3, and here he is completely transformed — not just physically, but emotionally as well. So, that emotional reunion with his parents was something that I had been looking forward to for a long time.
Steven Cree and Kristen Atherton, who played my parents in the show, are fabulous. It was wonderful to get to really dig into some quite emotional scenes with them and explore what that is like. The son that they, for all intents and purposes, lost is coming back as a completely different person. [They were] quite emotional days, but Steven Cree being Steven Cree made it very funny to be around as well.
Outlander’s Newest Love Triangle Isn’t Going Anywhere – Even If It’s Only In William’s Mind
Screen Rant: In the first half, there were hints of a love triangle with William, but alas, it seems he’s quite irrelevant in the face of your bond. How would you say that you each interact with him moving forward? What is that dynamic like?
John Bell: The relationship with William evolves a lot from when we first met him. Young Ian obviously meets William on the brink of death back in season 7 [part 1] and has this secret over him. He kind of knows who he is; he just sees it. I don’t know how, but he sees it. He sees the Fraser in him.
And then with the addition of Rachel into this dynamic, there’s then suddenly this kind of competition that starts to happen between them. So, I would say that the love triangle still remains relevant.
Izzy Meikle-Small: Definitely, yeah. I think that William doesn’t realize that Rachel has maybe slightly friend-zoned him. I think he’s ever hopeful with Young Ian being away that he can slip into her affections, but she’s not really having it. But he, in his naivety remains hopeful.
I think the love triangle is kind of one-sided. In William’s head, it’s a love triangle, but in Ian and Rachel’s head, they’re like, “Oh, you are here too.”
John Bell: I may have been calling him sloppy seconds at one point.
Screen Rant: Izzy, Rachel’s been wrestling with her place in the Quaker community for various reasons, both her involvement in the war and now her feelings for Young Ian. Can you talk about whether that will still be a concern for her moving forward as she grows closer to him?
Izzy Meikle-Small: Yeah, absolutely. I think that Rachel is constantly grappling with her faith and how that fits into this violent world that she’s in. And I think that we initially see that with her going to war, but then her falling in love with a warrior too. He’s a violent man, and he can do some damage on the battlefield. I think that’s a really tricky thing for her to come to terms with, and then together get over that problem because they want to try and compromise for each other.
But it’s a very hard thing to compromise when somebody is a pacifist and somebody is a warrior. I think that we see a really lovely moment between the two of them where there’s a lot of acceptance that goes on within their relationship, and I think that that’s a really beautiful thing, not having to change for someone that you love, but accepting them for who they are.
Screen Rant: Obviously, you guys can’t just tell me how the season ends, but are there any arcs for your character or moments overall that you’re most excited for fans to see?
John Bell: For me, I am so excited for the fans to see our relationship continue to grow. I’ve loved working with Izzy; she has been my rock throughout this season and season 8 as well. It is a pleasure to portray our love on screen together, so I’m excited for fans to just see that chemistry continue between us.
We have a lot of fun together, and I think that comes across on screen. This is a show full of amazing love stories, so it feels really special to add our little chapter amongst greats.
Izzy Meikle-Small: I couldn’t have said it better myself. To be one of the love stories is so fun. And like John said, we love working with each other, and we have such a blast on and off screen that I think the chemistry really shows. I think that there are some very fun moments for our little relationship that are coming soon, and I’m excited for people to see them.
More About Outlander Season 7, Part 2
Coming off the first half of Outlander Season 7, we find Claire, Jamie and Young Ian leaving the colonies and arriving in their beloved homeland: Scotland. The perils of the Revolutionary War force them to choose between standing by those they love and fighting for the land they have made their new home. Meanwhile, Roger and Brianna face new enemies across time, and must battle the forces that threaten to pull their family apart. As loyalties change and painful secrets come to light, Jamie and Claire’s marriage is tested like never before. With their love binding them over oceans and centuries, can the MacKenzies and Frasers find their way back to each other?
Check out our otherOutlanderseason 7, part 2 interviews here:
Outlanderseason 7, part 2 premieres November 22 at 8pm ET on STARZ.
Outlander
Cast
Outlander follows Claire Randall, a married nurse from 1945, who is transported back to 1743 Scotland. Amidst political intrigue and danger, she navigates life in the past and becomes torn between loyalty to her husband and the love for a dashing young warrior.
