Welcome back to the season five ONC Administrators’ Choice Awards! It’s difficult to believe that season give is now behind us! As we’ve been doing all season, some of the ONC administrators and myself will be voting on our “Bests/Mosts/Leasts” from the latest Outlander episode. We enjoyed this fun way to briefly recap each episode, and hope you have enjoyed it as well! This week’s voting contributors are Dawn Woo, Mitzie Munroe, Nancy Roach, Stephanie Bryant, and Susan Jackson. So, without further ado, the winners for the Outlander season five finale, “Never My Love.”
Dawn: The iconic line from Jamie to Claire – “When the day shall come that we do part, if my last words are not ‘I love you’…you’ll ken it’s that I dinna have time.”
Nancy: I agree with Dawn.
Stephanie: Agree with everyone but add “Kill them all” as a close 2nd.
Mitzie: Agree with my ladies, by far, it’s when we finally got to hear Jamie utter those iconic words of “When the day shall come, that we do part… if my last words are not ‘I love you’ — ye ken it was because I didna have time”. Such a swoon worthy moment.
Susan: I have two–Jamie’s “…because I didna have time,” and when Claire answered Jamie with the single word, “Safe,” at the end.
Dawn: This was such a ‘visual episode’ and so many great moments that made this episode what it was. I can’t choose just one great moment…it was Roger telling Jamie that he’d stand by his side; the image of Ian shaving his head and putting on the war paint (wasn’t he just stunning?); it was Jamie reaffirming her, ‘there’s just the two of us..you needn’t be cared”; Marsali telling Brown that he’d hurt HER family…..It’s all the moments that show the bonds, faithfulness, and loyalty of family.
Nancy: I loved the moment when Jamie and Claire are intertwined in the nude. Jamie seems to be cradling Claire as she tells him she feels safe. I understand from the script that they edited out a lot of the scene. I would love to see that additional footage.
Stephanie: All of the above, the whole episode actually!! The finale needed to be longer. Did love the show “kept on giving” after it was over,trying to figure out the all Easter Eggs.
Mitzie: I’m with Nancy. Seeing Claire and Jamie nakedly embraced in the end. It was very tastefully done and embodies such a beautiful moment that they were able to share with each after such a traumatic event.
Susan: I wanted to shout when Marsali jabbed that needle into Lionel Brown’s neck–loved it!
Dawn: Hands down….Caitriona Balfe
Nancy: This was Cait’s episode. She deserves an Emmy for her performance.
Stephanie: I can’t disagree. Cait nailed it! She portrayed Claire in this episode equal parts strong and vulnerable. An Emmy is definitely in her future!
Mitzie: Cait better be penning her acceptance speech because this episode just earned her some serious accolades! Amazing job Caitriona!!!!
Susan: Caitriona was phenomenal in this episode–she deserves awards regardless, but if there was any doubt, there is none now.
Dawn: I think the most surprising moment was the choice for Marsali to be the one to kill Lionel Brown. When she held up that syringe, I was rooting for her to stick it in his neck.
Nancy: The most surprising moment for me was the ‘60’s montage. It was totally unexpected.
Stephanie: Bree/Roger time travel to nowhere was not a big surprise but highly anticipated, as we didn’t know definitely where they turned up. Hoping Roger would be there to help save Claire.
Mitzie: Dawn and I are on the same page with this one. Marsali taking it upon herself to rid themselves of Lionel, with a syringe of water hemlock, into the neck! DANG GIRL! She has just proven without a shadow of a doubt that she will stop at nothing to protect her family and it solidifies how she feels about Claire being very precious to her.
Susan: I’m with Nancy here–when I saw the record player, my first thought was that Bree and Roger really were sent ahead in time, but to the late 60’s/early 70’s. When I realized it was Claire and Jamie’s home, I was blown away.
Dawn: I really liked all of the ‘Easter Eggs’ in this episode….all of the lines and objects used. It was well thought out. I think it goes to show how deep and caring the writers are for DG’s material.
Nancy: I thought the effort the producers and actors made to display the rape scene with sensitivity was great. Reading many positive online comments from actual rape survivors, I think they really achieved their goal.
Stephanie: Marsali killing Lionel Brown. I mean she isn’t even from the future like Claire, where a woman could take a more assertive position to make her own decision, yet she had the courage to kill the old coot! Marsali’s a hero!
Mitzie: I really liked how Claire’s disassociation world was created. So much symbolism that I felt connected to a lot of the major moments from past seasons to the present but was still fully connected to Claire’s current situation. It was a very unique and creative idea and I really liked how it played out.
Susan: Lionel Brown getting his just desserts.
Dawn: I think the whole altered and premature storyline of Roger, Brianna, and Jemmy going back through the stones was just unnecessary. I just felt like it was obvious that they didn’t go anywhere.
Nancy: Like Dawn I found the failed attempt of the MacKenzies to go through the stones irritating. What a waste of time and gemstones!
I hate to admit when I first saw a stiff, creepy, manikin-like Claire in a red dress, staring at the abstract painting of the big house, I wanted to shout at the producers. But after reading posts and comments, listening to the after show producer discussion, and watching it a second time, I changed my mind. I saw that much research was done on the subject of rape to create a sensitive picture of this difficult subject matter. Then I had a good time going back to the scene and hunting for Easter eggs.
Stephanie: I was disappointed that they saved Lionel Brown to bring back in order to try to get information from him. I thought immediately “what information are you talking about Roger”? Then Jamie agreeing, after knowing what transpired. The “kill them all” should’ve included him too. Marsali killing him did make up for it though.
Mitzie: That this was the last episode of the season! BOO!!!! HISS!!!! GRRRR!!!!!
Susan: I feel like the whole Bree/Roger/Jemmy and “going home” was a waste of time that could’ve been devoted to something else.
Well, there you have it–our last ONC Admins Choice Awards for season five of Outlander! *insert Droughtlander tears* So, now that we’ve voted, it’s your turn! Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments who or what gets your votes for the finale episode!
