Ep 12. Never My Love

Set in the year 1775, Outlander is a historical drama television series that follows the story of Claire Randall, a British Army nurse who time travels to the Scottish Highlands in the 18th century. The show explores the lives of the characters in the midst of the Jacobite Rising, as they navigate through political and emotional turmoil while trying to assert their independence and fight for their rights.

Season 5 of the show has been a rollercoaster ride so far, as Claire and Jamie led the settlers of Fraser's Ridge through a deadly war against the Regulators. While the couple has been fighting to protect their family, they have also been dealing with their own personal problems. In particular, Claire has been struggling to cope with the trauma of being kidnapped and assaulted by Lionel Brown and his men, and the aftermath of that event has been haunting her.

As the season draws to a close, episode 12 - Never My Love - is set to bring all the storylines and character arcs to a climactic end. The episode is written by Matthew B. Roberts and directed by Jamie Payne, and it promises to be one of the most intense and emotional episodes of the season.

The official synopsis for Never My Love teases that "Claire struggles to survive brutal treatment from her captors, as Jamie gathers a group of loyal men to help him rescue his wife." The episode is expected to pick up immediately after the events of the previous episode, in which Claire was kidnapped by Lionel Brown and his men. The teaser trailer for the episode shows Claire in a state of distress, as she is being tortured and interrogated by Brown's henchmen. The scene is graphic and brutal, as Claire is shown being burned and beaten, while her captors demand to know the location of the hidden treasure.

Meanwhile, Jamie is seen rallying a group of men to rescue his wife. He is determined to get Claire back, no matter the cost. We see him riding through the wilderness, wielding his sword, and screaming a war cry that is bound to send chills down the viewers' spines. Jamie's quest for vengeance and justice is one of the main themes of the episode, as he confronts Brown and his brother, and shows just how far he is willing to go to protect his loved ones.

But Jamie's rescue mission is not the only storyline in Never My Love. The episode also promises to be a showcase of Claire's strength and resilience, as she fights to survive her brutal treatment. We see her using her medical knowledge to treat her own wounds and keep herself alive. We see her slipping in and out of consciousness, as she flashes back to memories of her life with Jamie and her daughter Brianna. We see her holding onto hope, even in the darkest of moments.

The teaser trailer also hints at other plotlines in the episode, such as Roger's growing hatred towards Stephen Bonnet, and Brianna's emotional struggles as she tries to cope with the fact that her mother may be gone forever. The show has always been adept at balancing multiple storylines and character arcs, and it seems like Never My Love will be no different.

In terms of the performances, Never My Love is expected to be a tour-de-force for Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, who play Claire and Jamie respectively. Both actors have been praised for their nuanced and powerful portrayals of their characters' struggles this season, and the finale promises to be a showcase of their range as performers. The supporting cast, which includes Sophie Skelton, Richard Rankin, and David Berry, is also expected to shine in this episode.

Overall, Never My Love is shaping up to be a fitting finale for season 5 of Outlander. It promises to be a thrilling, emotional, and satisfying conclusion to a season that has been lauded for its exploration of trauma, resilience, and love. Fans of the show will not want to miss this one.