Outlander Season 7 Episode 12, “Carnal Knowledge,” sees William have his terrible, horrible, no good, very bad day, while Jamie also wreaks havoc as only a Fraser can. If you ever doubted these two were father and son, doubt no longer. Charles Vandervaart is the episodic standout for me, delivering a performance that’s equal parts vulnerable and brutal.
More truth bombshells drop in this outing as Jamie learns about Claire and John’s grief sex. I feel like we spent too long on this narrative beat at the end for my liking, but at least it’s out of the way. Jamie and Claire have been through too much for this to derail them.
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Outlander, “Carnal Knowledge”
We open with Jamie (Sam Heughan) and John (David Berry) escaping Philadelphia. If you recall, Jamie pretended to take John hostage so he could escape the Redcoats on his tail. He tells John that he was stopped before entering the city. He had the proper paperwork, but he still got targeted. Jamie suggests they snag some horses and hightail it out of there.
Once they’re safely in the woods, John discloses the truth: He has “carnal knowledge” of Jamie’s wife. Initially, Jamie is incredulous. He doesn’t believe that John and Claire had sex. However, John provides context, explaining that he and Claire were overcome with grief. They weren’t having sex with each other; they were f*cking Jamie. At that, Jamie punches John in the face.
The Truth
Meanwhile, William (Vandervaart) chats with Claire (Caitríona Balfe) about Jamie being his biological father. He asks her questions regarding his parentage. Did Jamie rape his mother? Did he love her? How did the timing of it all work out with William’s mother marrying his father so soon afterward? Unsatisfied with Claire’s answers and equally furious that everyone knew the truth but him, William storms out. But not before breaking everything imaginable in the house along the way.
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Next, Jamie beats the snot out of John. It ain’t pretty. John pleads with Jamie to kill him. A group of men on horses interrupts them, spearheaded by Corporal Jethro Woodbine (Ben Freeman). Jamie introduces himself as a colonel and explains that John is his prisoner. One of Jethro’s men recognizes John as a Redcoat despite John’s insistence that his commission is no longer active.
Jamie claims he wants to question John, but Jethro demands more context. Why does Jamie wish to interrogate Lord John? Jamie reveals it’s a personal matter. Then, Jethro pivots, wondering aloud if Jamie is who he says he is. Like John, Jamie’s also not in uniform. Jethro declares he and his crew will take John to their camp and question him themselves. Before Jethro carts off John, the latter cries out to Jamie that he’s not sorry.
Remember Paoli
After riding for some time, Jethro and his gang stop for a spell in the woods. They help John off his horse. Jethro orders one of his men to search John’s person for documentation — proof that he’s Lord John Grey. At this point, John’s left eye is immensely swollen and purple from Jamie’s fist. Jethro explains that, firstly, they want to know if John is related to General Charles Grey. John replies that he’s “a cousin of some sort.”
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Then, Jethro’s man finds an official document stating that John has been recommissioned into His Majesty’s army. Of course, Jethro assumes John was lying before. John defends himself, revealing that he just received that letter that morning and hadn’t read it yet. The crew assumes that John’s not only a soldier but a spy, which explains his civilian dress. One of the men proposes they hang him there.
Jethro believes they should take John back to camp. Since John is kin to Charles Grey, Colonel Smith will want to hang him for all to see. “Remember Paoli,” Jethro chants, along with his men. Naturally, John doesn’t know what that is. Meanwhile, John’s adoptive son encounters a sex worker, Arabella (Silvia Presente). Arabella invites him inside the brothel where she works.
Crossed Wires
While inside her room, Arabella encourages William to remove his coat. She then heads out to fetch them drinks. William promptly casts off his pants, too, standing naked from the waist down. He’s still fuming about Jamie being his birth father. Arabella returns with the wine. When she notices he’s discarded his bottoms, she laughs.
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After putting his breeches back on, William whirls around, knocking the wine glass out of Arabella’s hand. She launches the decanter at him in anger. Then, she calls for help, thinking he plans to assault her. William places a hand over Arabella’s mouth and urges her to keep quiet. She bites said hand, ordering him to get out. Well, that escalated quickly.
Later, Jamie asks to speak with Colonel Morgan (Barry O’Connor). Morgan introduces Jamie to none other than General George Washington (Gary Fannin). Washington is quite impressed with Jamie, notably after the latter presents him with correspondence from their French allies.
A Promotion
Washington asks Jamie to sit with him for a bit. We learn that Clinton is preparing to withdraw from Philadelphia. In fact, an evacuation is already happening. Washington offers Jamie command of a battalion. Jamie is now a brigadier general. Homeboy punches John in the morning for sleeping with his wife; Washington promotes him in the afternoon. The universe giveth, and the universe taketh away.
Then, Ian (John Bell) and Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small) run into William as the latter assists with the evacuation from Philadelphia. Ian and Rachel are returning from Valley Forge after meeting some Quakers there to get approval for their marriage and a location for said marriage. Unfortunately, as Ian states, they weren’t amenable.
William looks taken aback by this. Rachel explains that she and Ian are betrothed. He wishes them every happiness before turning around to leave. Ian tries to stop him, presumably to invite him to the ceremony. However, in a knee-jerk reaction, William whirls around and punches Ian. William apologizes vehemently before letting the cat out of the bag: He knows. He calls Ian “cousin.” Eventually, Rachel admits it makes sense. After all, she sees a resemblance.
Ian’s Arrest
Ian reveals that anyone should be proud to have Jamie Fraser as their father. However, William’s fury makes him blurt out the wrong thing, prompting a quick punch from Ian—probably as payback for William striking first. William orders Ian’s arrest on the charge of striking an officer. The other Redcoats seize Ian. Rachel confronts William. He knows full well he assaulted Ian first. Rachel slaps William, betraying her Quaker principles. Before they part ways, William kisses Rachel. Dude is throwing all caution to the wind here.
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Elsewhere, Mrs. Figg (Sutara Gayle) and Claire chat about William’s hot-headedness, which he definitely inherited from the Fraser side of the family. Mrs. Figg fears she won’t be able to replace the items William broke in his ire. Not only that, but the Redcoat Figg just spoke to has requested John to report to General Clinton at once. However, John is MIA. Figg explains that John has been recalled to duty.
Speaking of Ole Johnny Boy, he, Jethro and their merry band of rebels arrive at the camp. John meets Colonel Smith (Anthony Howell). Smith hands John a drink, revealing he doesn’t plan to pester the latter with questions. John mentions Smith’s former allegiance as captain in the Royal East Kent Regiment. Since he’s now on the side of the rebels, does this make him a turncoat?
Worth More Alive
Smith pivots, claiming John might be more interested in what the former plans to do with him. Jethro wants to see John hang on the charges of being a spy and a relative of Charles Grey. Smith explains what transpired during the Paoli Massacre and how Grey led a surprise assault on Brigadier General Wayne’s camp. Grey’s troops killed 100 rebel men in their beds in cold blood.
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John insists he’s not a spy. He adds that his encounter with Jamie was of a “personal nature.” No treason here, folks. Smith claims that Wayne will want to hang John. John counters that his death will mean nothing, but if they let him live, he could be useful. He knows people in high places. Additionally, his brother holds sway in Parliament. Smith vows to send word to Washington on John’s behalf.
Meanwhile, Jamie sees Ian surrounded by Redcoats, with Rachel trailing behind them on a horse. Naturally, Ian and Rachel are bewildered (but thrilled) to see Jamie alive. Jamie asks Rachel why Ian is under arrest. She refers him to William. Jamie orders William to tell the Redcoats to set Ian free. If William refuses, Jamie will head to the camp, tell the captain who William is and explain the reason for the fight. William vows to follow Jamie’s orders, but not before condemning his papa to the fiery pits of Hell.
Philadelphia Nights
Then, Denzell (Joey Phillips), who’s the camp physician, tends to John’s injuries. He claims it’ll take John’s swollen eye a week to a month to heal. In the meantime, he’ll need to wear an eye patch (like a cool pirate). Denzell admits that John’s wife, Claire, knows more about certain medical facets than he does. John clarifies that Claire is no longer his wife because Jamie is alive. In fact, he’s the one who gave John the shiner.
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After freeing Ian, William heads back to Philadelphia that night. He and his fellow soldiers party it up. They visit the brothel. William pays to have Arabella for the night, butting out Captain Harkness (Adam Jackson-Smith), who claims he initially staked claim over her. In her room, William apologizes profusely for his behavior earlier. He wishes to give Arabella a night of good sleep. He reveals she can sleep the whole night if she wishes.
Before she changes into a nightgown, William asks Arabella about her real name. She reveals it’s Jane. Then, she urges him to join her in bed. William promises there’ll be no funny business. However, Arabella mounts William, and they have sex. Afterward, William, with tears in his eyes, asks Arabella why she made him break his promise. Since he’s a bastard, all he has now is his word. Arabella embraces him, revealing that, as a sex worker, she, too, has a code of conduct.
Someone Will Hang
Later, Denzell gives John some stew. We see John sporting an eye patch over his swollen eye. Denzell also surreptitiously passes a shiv so John can remove his restraints. Why? Because Smith plans to hang John anyway, despite what he previously stated. According to Smith, John is worth more dead than alive. Denzell proposes they smuggle John in the back of his wagon the following morning when Denzell must fetch supplies.
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However, John doesn’t want to implicate Denzell or put him in harm’s way. Denzell advises John on the best escape route should the latter go it alone. Elsewhere, Claire and Jamie reunite. Jamie doesn’t look too happy to be with his Sassenach. He asks Claire for her account of her night with John. And he wants details.
Claire confirms John’s side of things, insisting that they weren’t attracted to each other. They were drunk and grief-stricken, pretending they were having sex with Jamie. Claire describes the night prior to the act — that she downed a ton of brandy and was contemplating suicide. John barged in and reassured her that she wouldn’t have to grieve alone.
Making Up and Getting Out
Slowly, and after some arguing on both sides, Jamie understands Claire and John’s pain. He recounts how he felt after Geneva died and William was born. John “bandaged” Jamie with his “friendship.” Jamie also reassures Claire that John is alive (albeit captured). The two proceed to have hot makeup sex.
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While Jamie and Claire get it on, John uses the shiv to remove his restraints. Smith slumbers in the corner. As the Frasers climax, John successfully frees himself. Unfortunately, Smith and the others in the camp are aware of his escape. They pursue John through the woods.
We hear a gunshot rent the air.
Outlander streams new episodes on Fridays at midnight EST on the STARZ app and at 8 pm on STARZ.
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