ThisOutlanderSeason 2 finale review contains spoilers.

Sometimes, its a romantic fantasy.

Sometimes, its a historic war drama.

Sometimes, its a relatively straight time travel drama.

In those most glorious episodes, it is all three.

Dragonfly in Amber was one such episode.

It all came together in tonights season 2 finale.

Brianna (Fraser) Randall is all grown up.

Brianna is kind of a brat but in a believable sort of way.

This is to be expected for a character who is not the audience surrogate.

Weve been through so much with Claire; we are still inside her head.

The Battle of Culloden is fresh in our minds because it is literally being intercut with Briannas Scottish adventure.

To Brianna, this is just a game.

She is still a child.

To Claire, this is life and death and love and heartbreak.

This is personal, intractable history (even if Bonnie Prince Charles is taller).

But this isnt the TVs pilot and Brianna isnt our heroine (yet).

Its another way of saying: I cant wait to see her character grow up from this point.

Smashing the Bechdel Test.

Its also in other narrative dynamics: such as which characters get to play main roles.

Outlandergets touted a lot as a feminist show and, in some ways, it is.

Most notably, it has a complex, flawed, far-from-stock-character female protagonist.

It also has love scenes shot from the female perspective.

However, one feminist boxOutlanderoften doesnt tick is relationships between women.

When we first reencounter her, Brianna stumbles upon her nationalist rally at a local college.

That feeling provesOutlanderis doing something right.

How do you say goodbye to the person who means the most to you?

Roger asks Claire, pleading for guidance in the early, terrible days of his fathers not-aliveness.

The person who is gone is gone whether you figure out how to say goodbye or not.

Ultimately, of course, Claire doesnt end up having to say goodbye at all.

No king, no Jacobite rebellion.

Ill miss your battle cries the most.

It doesnt matter, really.

Thats not what this story is about.

Its about Claire and her love for Jamie and the tough decisions she has been forced to make.

Ultimately, Jamie convinces her to go back through the stones for the sake of their unborn child.

Jamie and Claires goodbye scene is perfectly heartbreaking.

These two are giving Romeo and Juliet a run for their money when it comes to starcrossed lovers.

Instead, we must wait until season 3 to see any more time traveling adventures.

Ultimately, however, I am left with the all-too-rare construction ofOutlanders time travel.

She isnt special in any Chosen One way.

She cannot stop the ones she loves from dying.

And she is lucky enough to have a chance to reclaim that love.

Bring on season 3.

Memorable Quotes

Have you been?

Didnt much care for the place.

Claire, on Fort William

Im a history student.

I like watching history be made.

Brianna

Theyve taken a fool, turned him into a hero.

Claire, on Prince Charles Stuart

Goodbye, Jamie Fraser, my love.

Rest easy, soldier.

I said I wont have you dying for nothing.

Ill be dying with you.

Jamie and Murtagh being best friends.

Are you a Fraser?

Yes, I am.

Rating:

5 out of 5