‘Outlander’ Season 4, Episode 13 Review: “Man Of Worth”

Well, we’re at the end of another season of Outlander and I’m actually pretty sad about it, especially since, while many loose ends were tied up in “Man Of Worth,” still more were left dangling and it’s going to be a long while before we get some answers. What is Brianna’s baby named? (Please, God, don’t let it be Roger Jr.) Is Young Ian going to be the next Mohawk chief? Is that even allowed? Are Jocasta and Murtagh going to handfast next? I’m getting ahead of myself here…

Seeing Jocasta and Murtagh get it on wasn’t totally unexpected but did elicit a few cheers on my end. As I’ve said throughout the season, I love Jocasta and think she’s a total badass. Same goes for Murtagh, so hooking the two of them up is a natural but pretty awesome move. Jamie being ordered by Tryon to kill Murtagh might put a bit of a kink (but the wrong kind) into their burgeoning romance, but I’m not ashamed to say I ‘ship it—even more than Jamie and Claire. (Is that sacrilegious? Oh well!)

Of course, bigger things happened in this episode. Brianna finally gave birth to her baby after a lightning fast (like, three episodes max) pregnancy and equally speedy delivery. He’s a healthy baby boy with all ten fingers and toes and by episode’s end, he’s already several months old! He still doesn’t have a name, but that’s a purposeful plot device I think so that Roger could return and they could decide together to name the baby after him. Insert eye roll here.

I suppose I’m glad that Jamie and Claire were able to get to Roger—and I wasn’t entirely sorry to see Roger throw Jamie around a bit if I’m being honest—but it sucks more than a little that Outlander seems so hell-bent on lionizing their men for doing basically normal crap any decent human, man or woman, would do. Like, it’s nice that Roger came back for Brianna at the end and all, but if that’s his wife and the woman he apparently loves, isn’t that a given? Why did he need weeks or possibly months to decide that it was the right choice? I know I’ve been complaining about Roger all season but it’s because I really can’t stand him and any efforts to endear him will always fall upon deaf ears for me, unfortunately. Ah well, at least Bri’s happy.

I wasn’t so sure about the whole “Young Ian sacrifices himself” business, but I suppose it does bring his storyline full circle as there wasn’t much point of him otherwise anymore. It was great to see him hold his own during the Mohawk initiation and his triumphant smile as he was welcomed as one of the tribe afterward was admittedly pretty adorable. I’m not sure how true to real life that is, of course—would a Native American tribe welcome in a white guy as one of them just because he dodged a few punches? Ah well, it was a heartwarming scene so let’s not overthink it too much.

Anyone hoping that Jamie and Claire would get a little one-on-one time in the finale will have been sorely disappointed, as the two were too busy trying to stay alive on their way back to North Carolina and not die of dysentery (that’s not just in Oregon Trail, right?) to really be thinking about sex. I suppose we do have the bathtub scene to look back on, and I think we can all agree that was erotic enough to tide us over ’til Season 5.

All in all, “Man Of Worth” was a really strong ending to an inconsistent but generally pretty enjoyable season of Outlander. These 13 episodes really set up the series to move into new territory—literally and figuratively—next year. I’d like to see Fraser’s Ridge become more of a focal point and perhaps introduce some other residents/characters in that regard, for one. Some more interaction with the Natives is always welcome too. What will happen and how it’ll all play out is anyone’s guess, but I know we’ll all be hooked to the screens to find out when it comes around.

Jennifer Still is a writer and editor from New York who cares too way much about fictional characters and spends her time writing about them.

Stream Outlander Season 4 finale ("Man Of Worth") on Starz