Outlander recap: Brianna struggles with the aftermath of rape in episode 9

Brianna struggles with the aftermath of the Stephen Bonnet rape in season 4, episode 9.

Last week, the hit STARZ show Outlander shocked fans when Brianna and Roger reunite in North Carolina and agree to marry. With no priest at the ready Roger suggest a handfast, a Highland tradition, and they are finally joined both body and soul. Unfortunately, the honeymoon didn’t last and the lovers quarreled. Roger, having been pushed away by Bri, leaves her — seemingly to return to their own time. Brianna returns to the tavern where she is staying and sees Stephen Bonnet with her mother’s ring. She’s tricked into a room alone with him where he brutally rapes her as the episode ends.

Here’s how Outlander season 4 episode 9, “The Birds and The Bees,” played out.

Brianna arrives back to the room she is sharing with Lizzie, her servant. She’s bloody and obviously stressed. Lizzi saw her leave with Roger and Lizzie thinks it’s Roger who hurt Brianna. She begins to undress and Lizzie sees that she is bleeding and badly bruised. Brianna begins to frantically clean her body and then gets into the bed she shares with Lizzie. Brianna doesn’t want to talk to Lizzie about it.

The next morning Roger returns to tavern looking for Brianna. He runs into Stephen Bonnet who asks him to join his table. Roger sits down reluctantly, unaware that he raped Brianna he night before. Roger says he will not return to the ship with Bonnet, but Bonnet says he must come on to Philadelphia. He says if he is not aboard when it’s time to set sail he will regret it. He threatens to take one of Roger’s limb.

“Limb or lass Mr. MacKenzie,” he tells Roger as they drag him out the door.

Brianna awakens and sees that Lizzie has washed her clothes. She says he won’t wear them again and wants Lizzie to rest. Brianna says she wants to leave immediately for Cross Creek.

Brianna goes down to the tavern looking for Roger and they tell her he was there but has left with the men from the Gloriana. She runs to the dock looking for him, but the ship has already left. Lizzie comes running and says she met a Scottish man in the street and began talking about the Scottish people in the area. She says that she heard that the wife of a Scotsman stopped a play to perform surgery and that the husband was called Mr. Fraser. She says they are here in Wilmington. Brianna runs into town looking for Jamie and finds him peeing against a wall (hilarious way to meet your father). He asks her what she wants here, and she says, “you.” She asks if he is Jamie Fraser and he turns to look at her. She tells him she is Brianna, his daughter. He walks forward and says he’s never thought of her as grown. He touches her face and cries. They embrace, both crying. Jamie begins to laugh and wipes away her tears.

If you aren’t crying right now you are not a human.

Jamie says he must take her to her mother.

Claire is walking down the street when she hears Jamie call to her and she turns to see them standing sitting side by side. Her face of shock says it all as Brianna runs into her mother’s arms.\

And if you still aren’t bawling like a baby now, then why are you even watching this show?!

Brianna shows Jamie and Claire the obituary and explains why she came. Jamie says that she and Lizzie must come to Fraser’s Ridge. Just then Young Ian comes running up and they introduce Brianna and tell him they will explain it all later.

Lizzie and Young Ian are sitting together on the barge and it’s clear she has a liking for Youn Ian and doesn’t mind saying so. Claire and Brianna are down below. She tells Claire about Roger and tells her that they were handfasted and says that he has left to travel back through the stones. She looks down and sees that Claire has a new wedding band. She does not tell her that she has recovered the old one, or that she was raped by Bonnet.

Young Ian and Brianna are on the top of the barge and he recalls to her the story of being robbed the last time they were on the river. He tells her the name and said he had Irish charm and she realizes it’s the same man who raped her. She begins to cry and says it is because of his story.

Claire and Jamie are on horseback. Jamie is upset that Roger would leave her alone. They discuss the obituary and what they will do about it. Jamie reminds her that they haven’t had much luck changing the history before.

They arrive at Fraser’s Ridge and show Brianna the land. She tells Jamie the history of James Boone.

They arrive at the cabin and Murtaugh comes out to meet them. He takes him over to Brianna and introduces him to his daughter.

“What took you so long lass?” he laughs.

They all sit around the table and Brianna tells them she has met Ian and his siblings. She says she is anxious to meet Fergus and Marsali as well. Brianna asks Murtagh what Jamie was like as a child. He tells her of a story when Jamie had his first kiss. Claire notices that Brianna looks uncomfortable at all the stories and laughter. Claire tells Brianna that she met George Washington and Brianna says she’d like to go to bed and check on Lizzie who has been unwell.

Murtaugh tells Jamie that Brianna has the same eyes as his mother. Jamie says he hopes that Brianna will feel at home.

The next morning Claire and Brianna are discussing Lizzie’s illness. Claire thinks she may have malaria. Brianna tells Claire that she has been a good friend to her. Brianna tells Claire that Frank knew she came back and Claire looks shocked. She explains that he also saw the obituary. She says Frank always knew her heart was with Jamie. Brianna says she sees it now and understands why she had to come back. Brianna gets flushed and Claire says she can talk to her about Roger. Brianna says there is nothing she can do now.

On board the Gloriana, Bonnet is paying the sailors. Roger sees gems on the table and asks if he can be paid in those rather than coin (don’t forget the only way to travel through the stones is with a gem). Bonnet hands him one and Roger leaves.

Claire and Brianna are doing chores around the farm. Time passed, it turns to spring and Brianna is getting more accustomed to the farm but it’s clear that she is still sad and distant.

Jamies and Claire practice shooting and it’s clear that Brianna is a great marksman. He asks how she learned to shoot and she says her father taught her (meaning Frank). Jamie says he has been told about Frank.

Brianna, Young Ian, Murtaugh and Jamie are drinking whiskey and they laugh when Brianna says people call her “Bri,” she does not understand why and Jamie says it’s a Scots word that does not translate.

Claire and Jamie are discussing the word later that night. Apparently, it means “a disturbance.” Claire says he should have just told her the meaning. Jamie says he did not want to hurt her because she is already grieving Roger. He says he understands the pain of losing someone. She says Brianna and he tiptoe around talking about Frank. Claire suggests that he take her hunting as a way to bond.

Jamie goes to Brianna and she is sleeping. He stands there for a moment watching her and smiles, not wanting to wake her. He bends down and wakes her and asks her to come hunting. She agrees and climbs out of bed.

The sun rises and she asks what they are hunting. He says bees and they set off to find flowers. Bianna spots a bald eagle flying nearby. They find a bee and Jamie shows her how to follow them to the hive. He explains how to trap them so they can be brought back to the farm. It’s not lost on Brianna that the bees are like her. Being brought somewhere new to make a home. Brianna says it feels disloyal to Frank to be here with him. Jamie says he doesn’t want to replace Frank and that he is thankful to him for raising her when he was not able to. He tells Bri that she is his flesh and blood and now also his heart and soul. She says she does not know what to call Jamie. He says she can call him “DA” because it’s simple.

They come back to the home with the bees. Claire can tell they have bonded.

Jamie sits awake at night, unable to sleep. Claire asks if something is bothering him. Jamie says the few weeks with Brianna has been amazing and he doesn’t want her to return to her own time. Claire says that she wants her to stay too but her own time is safer and there are more opportunities for her there. Jamie says that Brianna is a gift from he to Claire and from Claire to him. They kiss.

The next morning Lizzie wakes to find Brianna outside their dwelling. Lizzie tries to get Brianna to talk about what happened to her. Brianna does not want to. Lizzie leaves to spend time with Youn Ian.

Brianna and Claire are picking herbs. Claire asks Brianna if there is something besides Roger bothering her.  Claire asks Brianna how far along in her pregnancy is she and Brianna breaks down into tears. She says two months. Claire mentions Roger and Brianna says that it might not be Roger’s baby. She tells Claire about the rape. Brianna blames herself saying that she didn’t fight him enough. They embrace. Brianna says that she believes the baby to be from the rape because Roger withdrew.

Claire tells Jamie that Brianna was raped in Wilmington after Roger left. She tells him that Brianna is pregnant.

Roger is riding a horse through the woods looking lost. He comes upon Lizzie and Young Ian. Lizzie recognizes him as the man she believes raped Brianna.

Claire is folding clothes and the wedding ring falls out, she instantly knows that Stephen Bonnet is the man who raped Brianna.

Young Ian runs to find Jamie and tells him the man who raped Brianna is on the land. Jamie is enraged and asks Lizzie is sure it is the same man and she says yes. Young Ian thinks he’s come to claim Brianna. Jamie tells them to run home and not tell Claire or Brianna.

Claire confronts Brianna about the ring. Brianna confirms her suspicion. Claire feels guilty for the reasons that led her to the rape. She says he cannot tell Jamie because he will want to hunt Bonnet down and kill him. They agree to keep it a secret.

Jamie confronts Roger striking and kicking Rogers until he is unconscious. Young Ian rides up and grabs Jamie and they pull Rogers body to the side of the road. He tells Young Ian to get rid of him, but not to kill him because he does not want Young Ian to be a murder. They hoist Roger on the horse and Young Ian rides off with him.

Steam Rating: Unfortunately we have yet another not-so-steamy-episode, which is to be expected in the aftermath of a brutal rape.

Next Week: Roger is seen tied to a rope. He says he will escape and find his wife. Claire and Brianna discuss aborting the baby she is carrying. Lizzie tells Brianna that “he was here.” There are Indians and gunfire and Roger falls down a hill. Claire asks Jamie what he’s done.

Watch Outlander on STARZ every Sunday night at 8 p.m. ET.