Perhaps the creepiest Outlander episode ever, "Free Will" has the atmosphere and mood of a classic horror movie, at times reminding me of the visceral intensity of "The Texas Chainsaw Massacre". While the story itself drifts away from the plot of this season, "Free Will" manages to be visually stunning and handsomely paced, creating an aura of creepiness that has been seldom seen in the show. It will be interesting to see the implications of Claire and Jamie's decision of keeping a baby that's not theirs and being a black baby, in a time when racial differences were the most notorious.
"Free Will" is at this point the best episode of the new season. Let's hope the show can keep up this level of quality throughout the entire season!
33 Reviews
True to the book!
Mellbo1231 March 2020
Season 5 going from strength to strength
tenealesharman5 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This season just keeps getting better and better. While this episode perhaps doesn't seem relevant to the overall story, it gives us time to focus on Claire and Jamie (which is what outlander is) and who knows, maybe Fanny will pop up somewhere down the track.
Last season bored me a little but I am absolutely loving what I've seen of season 5 thus far.
For those of us who haven't read the books
dragonslayerh1 March 2020
Fantastic episode. I find myself committed to all of the characters, whether I like them or not. Jamie and Claire do not disappoint in this episode. We get to see the Jamie and Claire we fell in love with at the very beginning while they try to deal with the good, the bad, and the ugly situations that arise. Roger is really starting to see what it's like on this side of history. I loved the set locations. Slàinte mhath!
Getting better and better
lluca-4774819 August 2020
Excellent acting performance, marvelous sample of Claire-Jamie working together. Well written dialogues (all season 5 keeps on adding into the character building and deeply meaningful dialogues that started in Season 4). The show becomes more and more artistic, in all honesty detrimental for viewers who prefer the commercial crazy adventurous action in Season 1-2-3. Too subtle for viewers who cannot see beyond the screen.
Quietly compelling
monimm187 May 2021
Warning: Spoilers
Am I in the minority in this? I find episode 503 - Free Will - to be one of my favorite of Season 5. To me, it's one of the most lyrical ones in the show. What it lacks in action it gains richly in symbols and layers of meanings in so many images and dialogues. It moved me, from the moment of Jamie's eager return at home in the night and his thanking god "for the sight of you, Sassenach", to the last breathtaking scene of millions of birds darkening the skies.
I loved how this episode analized the concept of choice, or free will, of when we truly have it and when we don't and how we handle all that.
So, a few thoughts on all that: Jamie is aware of the fact that whatever his plans and choices may be, it is also in the hands of fate, or god. Hence his "Deo gratias" when he makes it home to Claire. Later in the show, when Claire asks "what kind of world is this to bring a child into?" his answer is that of a man who has no options: "the only world". Claire's response seems that of someone who can choose: "no it's not". And yet, for her it's also the only world - her freedom of choosing is an illusion, because her choice was already made and it was final - she would never leave Jamie, which makes his world the only one for her as well. But not for Brianna, Roger and little Jemmy, as she points out.
Many people in this episode have no free will or only the illusion of it. The twins Josiah and Keziah, Fanny Beardsley, and, in a way, the men bound by the oath sworn to Jamie, and even Jamie himself, as he is being drawn into the conflict with the Regulators (and Murtagh) he cannot escape.
I particulatly appreciated the character of Fanny Beardsley, the ill-fated wife of a cruel and violent man. By the end, she finds some freedom, but she pays for it with her motherhood, as she leaves her baby girl behind, knowing that she had no options to protect or provide for her.
I found the part of Claire and Jamie at the house of Aaron Beardsley captivating. It's the darkest, saddest part, but it provided so much food for thought, and watching Claire and Jamie interacting as a couple and working things out together was a bit of a treat.
Of all the people in this show, the least deserving, Aaron Beardsley, is provided with free will. True to his character, Jamie takes it upon himself to offer Beardsley the choice to end his ordeal. Beardsley takes him on his offer, but in defiance, refuses to ask god's forgiveness.
The last scene in the episode was beautiful and a bit poignant and evocative, even ominous. The images of the passenger pigeons darkening the skies, while Jamie wonders if his father, who also died of a stroke, had the terrible slow ending that Aaron Beardsly had, and Claire promises him "I'll do what needs to be done" if he ends up having the same fate, wow... Quite compelling, and a reminder for us of his and Claire's inescapable mortality, perhaps? Later, when I found out that the show creators knew that the passenger pigeons depicted used to live by the billions in those times, but are now extinct, I found that last scene to be even more poignant.
I loved how this episode analized the concept of choice, or free will, of when we truly have it and when we don't and how we handle all that.
So, a few thoughts on all that: Jamie is aware of the fact that whatever his plans and choices may be, it is also in the hands of fate, or god. Hence his "Deo gratias" when he makes it home to Claire. Later in the show, when Claire asks "what kind of world is this to bring a child into?" his answer is that of a man who has no options: "the only world". Claire's response seems that of someone who can choose: "no it's not". And yet, for her it's also the only world - her freedom of choosing is an illusion, because her choice was already made and it was final - she would never leave Jamie, which makes his world the only one for her as well. But not for Brianna, Roger and little Jemmy, as she points out.
Many people in this episode have no free will or only the illusion of it. The twins Josiah and Keziah, Fanny Beardsley, and, in a way, the men bound by the oath sworn to Jamie, and even Jamie himself, as he is being drawn into the conflict with the Regulators (and Murtagh) he cannot escape.
I particulatly appreciated the character of Fanny Beardsley, the ill-fated wife of a cruel and violent man. By the end, she finds some freedom, but she pays for it with her motherhood, as she leaves her baby girl behind, knowing that she had no options to protect or provide for her.
I found the part of Claire and Jamie at the house of Aaron Beardsley captivating. It's the darkest, saddest part, but it provided so much food for thought, and watching Claire and Jamie interacting as a couple and working things out together was a bit of a treat.
Of all the people in this show, the least deserving, Aaron Beardsley, is provided with free will. True to his character, Jamie takes it upon himself to offer Beardsley the choice to end his ordeal. Beardsley takes him on his offer, but in defiance, refuses to ask god's forgiveness.
The last scene in the episode was beautiful and a bit poignant and evocative, even ominous. The images of the passenger pigeons darkening the skies, while Jamie wonders if his father, who also died of a stroke, had the terrible slow ending that Aaron Beardsly had, and Claire promises him "I'll do what needs to be done" if he ends up having the same fate, wow... Quite compelling, and a reminder for us of his and Claire's inescapable mortality, perhaps? Later, when I found out that the show creators knew that the passenger pigeons depicted used to live by the billions in those times, but are now extinct, I found that last scene to be even more poignant.
Getting better and better.
laddonia762 March 2020
Amazing episode. The set designers on this show are true artisans. You could almost smell the filth of the Beardsley cabin. Acting was, once again, superb. How they manage to continue the excellence of Outlander week after week is beyond comprehension. This episode is exceptional, even by their usual standards.
Absolutely Amazing!
marlainadrummond1 March 2020
This episode was spot on portraying the book content! And Sam Heughan NEVER disappoints! He has brought his A Game and then some for Season 5. Jamie Fraser is jumping off my television screen this season with a whole new mojo.
Outstanding!
oguerra-199961 March 2020
Bad episode and Claire was not believable.
Kim_Wench3 March 2020
Warning: Spoilers
This was an out of place and unnecessarily graphic episode. Some say, "That's what life was like back then." Well, life is still like that today, so that argument doesn't hold water. Plus, the moral dilemma that Claire faced was not believable.
Back in Season 2, Claire gave Colum MacKenzie poison so he could end his suffering and die. Also, she convinced Jamie that they should poison and kill Prince Charlie. In Season 4, Claire gave poison to and killed a young slave (without asking him first) because he was going to be hanged. Therefore, it doesn't make sense that she wanted to put Beardsley through an amputation and then search for someone to care for him when he was totally paralyzed, couldn't feed himself, couldn't speak, and would never improve - all while they had a more important matter to attend to - a possible war with the Regulators and deaths of their tenants.
Being the experienced surgeon that Claire is and having assisted with euthanasia in the past, ending Beardsley's life was a no brainer, but much time was spent - and wasted - on trying to decide what to do.
Back in Season 2, Claire gave Colum MacKenzie poison so he could end his suffering and die. Also, she convinced Jamie that they should poison and kill Prince Charlie. In Season 4, Claire gave poison to and killed a young slave (without asking him first) because he was going to be hanged. Therefore, it doesn't make sense that she wanted to put Beardsley through an amputation and then search for someone to care for him when he was totally paralyzed, couldn't feed himself, couldn't speak, and would never improve - all while they had a more important matter to attend to - a possible war with the Regulators and deaths of their tenants.
Being the experienced surgeon that Claire is and having assisted with euthanasia in the past, ending Beardsley's life was a no brainer, but much time was spent - and wasted - on trying to decide what to do.
Outstanding Adaptation
tepperson-684892 March 2020
This season is proving to be as good and absorbing as season one. This episode does an excellent job of adapting the creepiest chapters of any of the books, remaining true to the story and keeping the key features intact. So pleased to see Jamie's faith coming to the forefront. It's such an important part of the character and has been downplayed in prior seasons. When the writers keep close the the book, the dialogue sings and the action just sucks you right in. And the production value of the cabin is perfection. Bravo!
Revolting
sja-awesome3 February 2024
One of the most bizarre disgusting unpleasant creepy and badly written episodes of any show I've ever watched. It started out recently normal and then dive down into this extremely horrific brutal dark disgusting and revolting horror story for no reason whatsoever besides shock value. Outlander is no one for its intense scenes but it always hits some sort of plot to move the forward the story to invoke emotional reaction until realistic stories of the characters. This is one of these episodes that just doesn't make you feel good watching it not because it's hard to watch and it's emotional human and relatable but because it's so repulsive I'm necessarily discussing and ridiculous. You can really see when a show has writers that are extremely bad and when they can't understand emotion versus rock value and what should be put on television in which never be talked about or told. I skipped a lot of it This isn't entertainment.
Horror
mwalien2 March 2020
The epsiode felt like a horror movie which was something different for Outlander. The darkness and the grittines is just getting better. I really liked this episode because it felt different and the acting was spot on from everybody. This was mostly a Jamie and Claire epsiode which I like as they are the protagonists of this story.
Free Will
christina_merrick1 March 2020
A Meaningful Side-Quest
jmansmannstjohnslrev29 March 2021
Warning: Spoilers
I have to start by saying that I was never a big fan of the Fanny Beardsley side quest, certainly not in the book, as was indicative of the kind of strange meandering and plodding story that I did not find compelling in the Fiery Cross. But I think the tv series did the story justice because even though this episode is distraction of sorts from the coming war with the regulators, it is on message with over-arching theme of family that Season 5 builds upon with each episode.
You can really see in Season 5 how the contours of the story have changed since the beginning. In the first four seasons, and in the early books as well, Outlander is a pure romance, a story of relationships, largely Claire and Jaime, but also Marsali and Fergus and Brianna and Roger. It's those relationships that are the focus of the story, the relationships from spouse to spouse. Season 5 really starts to turn the focus towards family. Free Will is as much a story about family as it is about Jaime and Claire's relationship. The characters begin to contemplate loss and sacrifice in the context of a family unit. It becomes clearer as Season 5 goes on that the story has significantly changed. It's not just a story about Claire and Jaime anymore, it's a story about their entire family. Their decisions and tribulations aren't just confined to their own desires, but the needs of their family and the people counting on them in a way that has up to now been largely a periphery matter.
Free Will stands on its own as a kind horrifying side-quest, a heart of darkness sort of adventure that explores the worst in humanity. Yet it also works as part of the continuing story and fits with the overall challenges the Frasers are facing in trying to keep their family together and safe. After Season 4, it is nice to the show go back to its roots and center its story on a theme like this.
You can really see in Season 5 how the contours of the story have changed since the beginning. In the first four seasons, and in the early books as well, Outlander is a pure romance, a story of relationships, largely Claire and Jaime, but also Marsali and Fergus and Brianna and Roger. It's those relationships that are the focus of the story, the relationships from spouse to spouse. Season 5 really starts to turn the focus towards family. Free Will is as much a story about family as it is about Jaime and Claire's relationship. The characters begin to contemplate loss and sacrifice in the context of a family unit. It becomes clearer as Season 5 goes on that the story has significantly changed. It's not just a story about Claire and Jaime anymore, it's a story about their entire family. Their decisions and tribulations aren't just confined to their own desires, but the needs of their family and the people counting on them in a way that has up to now been largely a periphery matter.
Free Will stands on its own as a kind horrifying side-quest, a heart of darkness sort of adventure that explores the worst in humanity. Yet it also works as part of the continuing story and fits with the overall challenges the Frasers are facing in trying to keep their family together and safe. After Season 4, it is nice to the show go back to its roots and center its story on a theme like this.
Amazing performance by indentured servant twins!! True to the book!!
kimkimtim1 March 2020
My heart broke for the twins. What exquisite performances by actors of such a young age. The boy without pants especially. His portrayal of a deaf person was the best I have ever witnessed in my life. He seemed really sweet also because he would rather go around pantless than disturb baby kittens. He's like the son I always wanted. I'd give Free Will 20 stars if I could.
Outlander PERFECTION!
schmidtcarole5 March 2020
Can't say enough good things about this episode. Production A+, Acting A+ Directing A+. Straight A's across the board. Please Give Outlander all the awards this year. They deserve it. Taking risk and it is WORKING! Sam Heughan especially deserves Award after Award.
Jamie Fraser's mojo literally jumped off my TV screen. Getting better and better.
Ali_Cali2 March 2020
Kudos to the director and writers! How do they manage such levels of excellence? This is an exceptional episode filled to the brim with engaging, fascinating dialog and superb acting.
Did you see Claire's face when she smelled the filth in the Beardsley cabin? Catriona Balfe's ability to use facial expressions to show disgust is masterful. The wrinkling of her nose and squinting of her eyes inspires awe.
Sam brought his A game and his mojo to a whole new level. Did you see the way he decisively knocked on the door of the Beardsley cabin? Without uttering a word it was clear that he was saying, "Open the door." It doesn't get any better than that!
Did you see Claire's face when she smelled the filth in the Beardsley cabin? Catriona Balfe's ability to use facial expressions to show disgust is masterful. The wrinkling of her nose and squinting of her eyes inspires awe.
Sam brought his A game and his mojo to a whole new level. Did you see the way he decisively knocked on the door of the Beardsley cabin? Without uttering a word it was clear that he was saying, "Open the door." It doesn't get any better than that!
Captain Roger made 'Free Will' shine. The best episode ever!
FrankensteinBarbie1 March 2020
Roger is becoming a great captain. He looks fab in uniform and clearly takes pride in his appearance. You can tell cuz his boots are so polished and I luv him for it. Plus he stands up straight now. I hated his hunchback in other seasons. I could watch his scenes over and over again.
The most boring Outlander episode to date. Seriously.
Xen_K1 March 2020
The entire episode was about uninteresting characters for whom I doubt anyone cares. At times it felt like a horror movie. To me there was no point to this episode. It could have omitted it from the season and no one would have noticed.
I want goats in my house!
BerryBallerina2 March 2020
Love it!! I watched Free Willy five times already. Can't get enough. So raw and emotional. It showed all stages of life from death to birth, to cruelty to love and such. What I found most amazing was the house trained goats. I had no idea you could teach them head butt a door when they had to do their business outside. That boy goat sure had to go bad lol. I was thinking about getting a dog but now I want a goat. Baby goats are super cute. Outlander teaches alot about life and death and such. Alot about hunting and caring for livestock, pets and such.
Horrible episode
monica_bellucci20045 April 2020
Warning: Spoilers
I don't know what's happening, but season 5 is getting worse and worse and worse. This episode was a waste of my time, characters are lost, no good story line, no good acting, no good nothing, not even Jamie and Claire save it. The series should have stopped in the 3rd season and they should be back in Scotland. It totally lost its essence with the Scottish spirit.
Might be interesting if you read the book. Maybe.
R-Jahnke2 March 2020
I didn't read the book so this episode was a waste of an hour. To me it was a pointless plotline. I kept waiting for something interesting to happen and got bored with the gore and the husband's tortured face and body. Maybe they wanted to try something new, but much of it was unwatchable.
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