Trigger Warning: While the content of episode 4 did not hold the same tone as episode 3, there was some potentially triggering or upsetting content like miscarriage and stillbirth that I will discuss below.
Let’s dive in.
From Young Ian to Okwaho’rohtsi’ah (Wolf’s Brother)
Ian has had a long journey from the time we met him as a young teenager in season 3 to Outlander season 6 episode 4. When I saw Ian’s hair get cut, I got so excited because I realized we were finally going to learn what the heck happened to him in the time he spent with the Mohawk and why he was back. After the ceremony, the Mohawk chief, Tehwahsehkwe officially declared that Ian had been adopted into their tribe.
Delivering the Guns
Brianna’s Warning
Before Jamie and Ian set off to deliver the guns to the Cherokee tribe, Brianna takes a moment to warn him of what’s to come with the Trail of Tears. This awful piece of American history kept Jamie’s attention as he further pondered what he would tell the Cherokee as an agent, but also as a friend.
Things Quickly Go Downhill
There was a lot of excitement when Jamie and Ian arrived with the guns. Jamie even met a fellow Scotsman, Scotchee Cameron, but his offer of Tennessee land sold by the Cherokee tribe quickly ade Jamie uncomfortable given recent revelations from Briana. Tension further loomed when Ian noticed that members of the Mohawk tribe were present. After a quick, grim greeting with Kaheroton, Ian finally begins to share his story with Jamie.
Wahionhaweh
Given the opening scene, from Outlander season 6 episode 4, where Ian smiled up at her, Ian met Wahionhaweh pretty early on in his time with the Mohawk tribe. They began a relationship and she gave him a wolf’s head carving while he gave her the nickname Emily because he was still learning how to speak her language.
Soon, Kaheroton explains to Ian that he is not the one who would choose Wahionhaweh. She would be the one to choose him.
Quickly after, we saw her gift an armband to Ian to remind him of the day they became one.
Trouble is Looming
Eventually, Wahionhaweh got pregnant. Ian is excited to have a child with her, but as usual, nothing comes easily for the characters of Outlander. One night, Wahionhaweh woke up in pain, and Ian pulled her covers off to reveal that she was bleeding. He called for other members of the tribe to come help her and they rushed her away.
Ian wanted to be with her, but Kaheroton held him back and encouraged him to go deeper into the woods to pray. In the morning, he found out that Wahionhaweh was going to be okay, but their baby girl did not survive. Later on, the expected another baby, but soon after smiling up at Ian, Wahionhaweh noticed her blood pouring into the stream of water she sat beside.
Ian tells that months later, he was asked to leave by one of the tribe members. When he went to ask Wahionhaweh if this was really what she wanted he faced the ultimate betrayal when he finds out that she has chosen Kaheroton over him, and Kaheroton accepted. This is what sent him back to Fraser’s ridge.
The Confrontation
Ian later talked with one of the men from the Mohawk tribe and asked about Wahionhaweh. He learned that she and Kaheroton had a son. This pushed Ian over the edge and as soon as Kaheroton was in sight, Ian rushed to him putting a knife to his throat. This quickly evolved into a fight with Jamie pulling Ian back and Scotchee pulling Kaheroton back with a knife to his throat. Once released, Kaheroton turned around to strike at Scotchee, but Scotchee pulled a gun challenging him to a duel.
Lost Faces
After this whole ordeal, Ian told Jamie about Kaheroton and Wahionhaweh having a son together. He grieved with Jamie over the loss of his daughter and the fact that he never got to see his face. At that point, things started sounding similar to Jamie in season 2. Like Ian, he had not been able to see Faith’s face and it was lost to him. They shared a sweet moment together as they knelt down and prayed for Faith to find Ian’s daughter in heaven.
The Duel
An Exchange Ahead of the Duel
After their prayer, Ian takes Jamie’s pistol and offers it to Kaheroton for the duel. After a moment, Kaheroton calls Ian to him and offers Ian his own armband from Wahiohaweh and asks that if he dies in the duel, Ian will go back to Wahiohaweh and take care of her and Kaheroton’s son.
Chief Bird’s Warning from the Future
While Scotchee and Kaheroton took time to prepare for their duel, Jamie had a discussion with Chief Bird, of the Cherokee, about the trail of tears that would happen in the future, stating that his wife and daughter have dreams of things that are to come (nice save, Jamie). He warns him of a man named Winfield Scott. Chief Bird listens and seems to take these things to heart as Jamie encourages him, even with this delivery of guns, to fight not for the crown, but for his tribe – whatever that may mean when the time comes. By this fourth episode of Outlander season 6, we should know that an attempt to change history has not been successful on a massive scale, but maybe we will see how Jamie’s warning affects the future later on in the series.
The Cheat and the Save
The time for the duel came. Scotchee and Kaheroton stood back to back as Jamie instructed them to take their places. As he began counting, Ian noticed Scotchee turn early. In a quick move he flung Kaheroton’s weapon at Scotchee and knocked the gun out of his hand which drew everyone’s attention to what just happened. Jamie told Kaheroton permission to take his shot, but instead of shooting Scotchee, he shot the pistol into the air.
Closure for Ian
After the duel, Ian returns the arm band to Kaheroton. He will always be a Mowhawk, but will also always have his Scottish roots and family. After the events that transpired in this episode, Ian got some semblance of closure, though still heartbreaking, and finally let Weihonhaweh go through the release of his wolf amulet into the river.
Back at the Ridge
Outlander Season 6 Episode 4 continued Claire’s dabbling into the use of ether which she taught Malva to use in this episode. They chose Josiah and Lizzie as test subjects to undergo it’s use and Malva learned how to keep patients under during a procedure. That sounds kind of terrifying for her to know if you ask me, but we’ll see where this new found knowledge takes us.
After this experiment, Malva and Claire discussed her notetaking for procedures. Malva did not understand why she did that and Claire explained it was helpful for reference, especially for apprentices such as her.
Lizzie and the Twins
We saw Lizzie try to impress Josiah by volunteering to be the first to undergo Claire and Malva’s test, but later in the episode we saw her share a sweet moment with Kezzie. I don’t know where this is going, but hopefully we will find out more in the episodes to come.
Jamie’s Return
Jamie had a lot on his mind when he returned to the ridge. As he gave Claire a short summary of what happened while he was gone, Jamie explained that while Ian can be Mohawk and Scottish, he cannot be two things at once. He declared that he would resign as Indian Agent and implied that he would start to take his post, on the other side, in the revolution to come.
A Peeping Tom’s Daughter
Claire listens to him, but soon brings up what happened last time he returned from his visit with the Cherokee. Though more tired, he is still eager to indulge her, but as the camera fades, we see Malva snuck into the barn behind Claire and is watching her and Jamie… Creepy!
Looking Ahead of Outlander Season 6 Episode 4
It seems that a theme of this season is having to choose. In fact, this whole series is full of big choices. Multiple times throughout the series, Claire had to make a choice between Jamie and Frank. Jamie is having to stop living this double live between the crown and the rebels. Roger and Brianna have to decide whether to stay or go. Fergus had to choose to get himself in a healthier place. Lizzie will likely have to make a decision regarding Josiah and Kezzie. Even though Ian is living this double life, he still had to choose to let Kaheroton leave and to let Wahionhaweh go.
Halfway through this season, Ian’s story is resolving, but there are several stories in the background that are likely lining up to something big. In the episodes to come I expect we will hear more of Lizzie’s relationship with the boys, what in the world Malva is up to, and ultimately the Fraser’s role in the American revolution.