OUTLANDER Recap: (S07E07) A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers

Melody McCune

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Jamie and Claire embrace while standing in a tent in the Continental Army base in Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers."

DISCLAIMER: This recap of Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers,” contains spoilers. Proceed at your peril. 

Welcome back, time travelers! It’s the penultimate episode of Season 7, part one, and fecal matter has hit the fan. “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers” thrusts Claire and Jamie into the background for most of it, which would usually bother me, but Brianna and Roger’s storyline is pretty damn interesting. Plus, that Jamie cliffhanger makes up for the lack of Claire/Jamie. Oof. It’s gonna be tough waiting two weeks to see how that’s resolved. 

I’m also enjoying William’s story, and I love how both father and son went to war simultaneously. Did they fight in the same battle? I sure hope not. 

“A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers” is a step up from last week’s outing, with the narrative pace maintaining a good clip throughout. We get a nice mixture of drama, action and a smattering of sexiness. That’s an Outlander recipe for success. 

Ready to delve into “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers”? Let’s get to it. 

RELATED: Check out our recap for Outlander Season 7 Episode 6, “Where the Waters Meet” 

We open with Claire (Caitríona Balfe) writing a letter to Brianna while on the Continental Army base. It’s 1777. Claire reveals Jamie is fighting in Colonel Daniel Morgan’s sniper crew, and soon they’re shipping out to battle. She also informs her daughter about meeting William. The scene shifts to Bree (Sophie Skelton) in Lallybroch reading that very letter. It’s 1980. Suddenly, Roger (Richard Rankin) calls out for her. She runs to meet him, finding none other than Buck MacKenzie (Diarmaid Murtagh). He explains how he traveled through the stones two hundred years into the future. 

If you recall, in the 1700s, Buck “caught” Roger hugging his wife, Morag. Buck assumed Roger was trying to hit on Morag. So, he beat Roger to a pulp and strung him up with a noose. Obviously, ole Rog escaped. 

Brianna and Roger stand in their home while looking attentive in Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers."
OUTLANDER Season 7 Episode 7, “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers.” Photo courtesy of STARZ Media.

Meanwhile, in 1777 on the British Army base, William (Charles Vandervaart), his buddy Hammond (Henry Ashton) and his boss Captain Richardson (Ben Lambert) attend a meeting with Brigadier General Simon Fraser (Angus Macfadyen). If you’re a TURN: Washington’s Spies fan (like me), you’ll remember Macfadyen as Robert Rogers. He has a unique vocal cadence. Simon Fraser reveals the army’s next moves in the war. After receiving an important letter, Fraser dismisses the unimportant folks. Richardson pulls William aside and discloses he will be dispatching more correspondence. He’s a glorified mail carrier. Yay!

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Next, Bree and Roger feed Buck PB&J sandwiches, which he thinks is the best thing since sliced bread (which he wasn’t there for). Roger reveals that Morag is his great-great-great (probably more greats) grandma, making Buck his grandpa. How does it feel to pummel your grandson while thinking he was trying to hook up with his grandma, Buck? This ain’t that kind of show. Naturally, Bree and Rog are hesitant to accept Buck with open arms. 

Then, Rob Cameron (Chris Fulton) appears unexpectedly. Roger remembers inviting Rob to dinner, but he had hoped the latter would call before showing up. He and Bree ask Buck to stay in the basement while they chat with Rob. Rob brings a bottle of red. He asks to see Roger’s father’s journals and hymnals, to which Rog obliges. Jemmy and Mandy also arrive home since school is out. Jemmy brags about his pin, which says “The Tufty Club.” 

William wears his British Army uniform while marching through a military base in Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers."
OUTLANDER Season 7 Episode 7, “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers.” Photo courtesy of STARZ Media.

Later, everyone has a lovely dinner together. Rob reveals he also has a son. He invites Jemmy to the movies with him and his son. They could follow it up with a sleepover, too. Give Bree and Roger a wee break. 

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Meanwhile, in 1777, Jamie (Sam Heughan) gives Claire a book he found in a ditch. She seemingly struggles to read the text. Jamie believes Claire needs spectacles. Hey, sometimes it happens when you hit a certain age. Claire brushes him off, refusing to accept the inevitable. This is a cute lil couple moment between Claire and Jamie. We haven’t had a lot of those recently. The conversation turns to Jamie’s deployment. Claire knows Jamie will return to her — he always does. 

William sees Simon Fraser and asks his superior for a favor. He doesn’t want to deliver mail; he wants to be on the front lines. William requests that he stay and fight. That’s how you do it. Go higher on the chain so your boss’s boss can override your boss. 

Roger stands outside at night next to a red car in Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers."
OUTLANDER Season 7 Episode 7, “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers.” Photo courtesy of STARZ Media.

In 1980, Rob tells Bree and Roger a sob story about not having sole custody of his son. Something’s not right with this dude. He’s dangerous with a capital “D.” After he departs, Rog and Bree find Buck sitting with Jemmy and Mandy in front of the telly. They’re all bonding. Roger believes Buck misses his children. Buck reveals he apologized to Mandy and Jemmy for scaring them while squatting on the property. Outside, Bree reluctantly agrees to take Buck to work with her. Then, the following day, Roger will drive Buck to the stones so he can go home. 

RELATED: Catch up on the romance and scandal with our Bridgerton recaps!

Buck admires the scenery while at Bree’s job. He notes how it looks the same, except all the people are gone. His family — Morag and his kids — are gone. Bree introduces Buck to Rob. Buck notes the icky vibes emanating from Rob. He has a bad feeling about that fella. Bree brushes off Buck’s concerns, claiming everyone’s more friendly in the 20th century. Later, Roger returns home from class while wearing his kilt. Admittedly, he looks good here. Love a man in a kilt. Maybe it’s my mostly Scottish ancestry. 
 
He finds Buck inside the house, marveling at Jemmy’s toy plane. Buck is the most impressed by the airplanes. Roger says he might be able to convince Jemmy to part with it so Buck can take it home. Buck voices his fears regarding Rob and the latter’s intentions. He believes Rob is getting too sweet on Bree. Of course, having been on the receiving end of Buck’s ill-placed suspicions, Roger tries to reassure his grandpa that it’s nothing. It ain’t no thang. On another note, Roger tells Buck that he saw in his family tree when the latter dies. Apparently, it’s in 1778, the year Buck time traveled to 1980. Uh-oh. 
 
Roger kisses Brianna, who's leaning against the wall in their trailer, in Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers."
OUTLANDER Season 7 Episode 7, “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers.” Photo courtesy of STARZ Media.
 
Next, Bree and Roger get a sexy scene! Naturally, Phil Collins’ “In the Air Tonight” elevates the sexiness. Although, I think the angle this was filmed for most of the scene is … awkward. I actually think the brief foreplay is hotter. Oof. Roger in that kilt. 
 
 
Now, we’re back in 1777. Ian (John Bell) and the Mohawks capture a British deserter. Jamie informs Claire that they’re leaving now, with Colonel Morgan leading the charge. They share a farewell smooch before parting. William and Hammond march into their first battle. Unfortunately, Hammond is the casualty that kicks off said battle. William is gobsmacked. However, his grief fuels his rage as he goes on a killing spree during the fight. 
 
Roger gets up during the night and ventures into his office. He hears Mandy scream, prompting him to run to her room. Bree embraces their daughter. She reveals Jemmy’s not here. Her parents gently remind her that Jemmy is at a friend’s house. Mandy elaborates, claiming she can’t “feel” Jemmy in her head. They share a special connection, after all. This pushes Bree to call Rob’s ex-wife. She tells Bree that Jemmy isn’t with her son. She even checked Rob’s house across the street. Jemmy’s not there, either. Uh-oh. 
 
Rob and Roger stand outside at night in front of a red car in Outlander Season 7 Episode 7, "A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers."
OUTLANDER Season 7 Episode 7, “A Practical Guide for Time-Travelers.” Photo courtesy of STARZ Media.
 
Roger and Buck hop into the former’s car, making a beeline for the stones. Roger explains he accidentally left his time-travel journal among his papers for his class. Rob read it. Rog tried to explain it away as research/inspiration for a sci-fi novel he’s writing; however, Rob knows Roger lied. When they arrive at the stones, all they find is Jemmy’s scarf with his Tufty Club pin. Oh, that’s not good. 
 
 
In 1777, William wanders among the bodies post-battle. He’s having his soldiers dig mass graves for those they lost. One of them complains about digging, claiming the hole is deep enough. William orders them to dig deeper. He doesn’t want anyone robbing these graves. He hops in the hole and picks up a shovel, hellbent on doing it himself. 
 
Back at the British base, we learn the British won that fight. They all celebrate. Meanwhile, we see a battlefield littered with bodies, an amalgam of Continental Army and British soldiers. The last soldier we see? None other than Jamie. Listen, y’all; he’s not dead — he’s just sleeping. That’s it. That’s it. 
 
 
Do you think Jamie is really dead? Did Rob actually take Jemmy through the stones? Where did they go? Will Buck die in 1778, or will he remain in 1980? Only time (and more episodes) will tell. 
 
Outlander streams the Season 7 part one finale at midnight on Friday, August 11, on the STARZ app, with a linear debut at 8 pm on STARZ in the US and Canada. 

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Melody McCune
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