Sam Heughan and Caitriona Balfe on ‘Outlander’.Credit: Robert Wilson/Starz

We know that Outlander is all about relationships. Sure, there’s a science fiction time travel element, with a little war thrown in for good measure, but at the root, it’s all about how a group of people navigates all the emotions that surround difficult situations that pop up in life.

For example, Marsali (Lauren Lyle) stands at the freshly plowed grave of her husband and shares the news with Jamie (Sam Heughan) that she has decided to take Percy Beauchamp (Michael Lindall) up on his offer to acknowledge that her son is now the heir to the Comte fortune. She will use the money to rebuild the print shop, keep up her family’s promise to fight the war with their words, and, hopefully, provide a place for her sons to continue the business in generations to come.

Including the baby that has not yet arrived. We all knew this announcement was just a matter of time, and as sweet as it was to think that Marsali had another piece of Fergus arriving in the near future, the more poignant moment was by far Marsali reminding Jamie that he was the only father Fergus had ever claimed. Now, then, and forevermore.

Let’s hear it for Sam Heughan’s glassy eyes in that scene.

With each passing moment, the big battle looms closer, and Jamie must do everything he can to prepare. He wishes that the rifles Roger (Richard Rankin) and Bree (Sophie Skelton) brought back were the new design he read about in Frank’s book. The guns of the future don’t require so much time shoving bullets and powder in the barrel. Bree reveals that she’s seen something similar adopted by the American Army, and she’s willing to see if she can adapt their dated rifles with it.

Spoiler alert: She does.

Buck (Diarmaid Murtagh) is still shocked that any woman knows how to handle a gun, and Roger swells with pride when he mentions that Bree has perfect aim. It’s the reason her father nicknamed her “Deadeye.”

We are meant to think Jamie’s face falls because Frank was the one who taught his daughter everything she knows about shooting, but it’s the name that gives Jamie pause. When he later opens Frank’s book, the dedication is made out to his “dearest Deadeye.”

All the pieces fall together. Frank wrote the book for Bree. That’s why he taught her to ride horses, shoot guns, and learn about the past. It’s a warning for Jamie to survive this battle, so he can continue to protect Bree.

Claire (Caitriona Balfe) continues the train of thought, wondering if, by staying in the twentieth century, she was able to train to be a surgeon. Maybe if he does fall in the battle, Claire has the medical skills necessary to save Jamie’s life.

Let’s hope so!

After a lovely montage of Jamie teaching his men to throw knives and CrossFit up the side of a mountain, Buck admits a few things to Roger. After he left Roger in their previous timeline, he went to see his mom, Geillis, who totally wanted to make out with him. Choosing to unpack that statement with a “told you so” nod of his head, Roger is more excited to hear that Buck also took a little trip to 1980, where he killed Rob Cameron and stole his hat. Grabbing a gemstone and Roger’s book from Rob’s satchel, that’s how Buck is back in the current timeline.

What’s our takeaway from this exchange, other than the ’80s villain is dead? Buck tells Roger that the stones themselves sometimes choose where to send a man. That’s how he ended up in the Regan Administration years again. Right where Rob Cameron lived. Will this information come in handy in the next few episodes? We shall see.

Back at Lord John’s (David Berry) house, Amaranthus (Carla Woodcock) blames herself for William’s (Charles Vandervaart) absence. She claims it’s her behavior, full of deceit and lies, that sent him packing. John claps back with his own version of why William left, which was of a private nature between father and son. Both feel horrible and have no idea where William galavanted off to days ago.

Sam Heughan and Sophie Skelton on ‘Outlander’.Robert Wilson/Starz

Guess who’s coming to dinner at Fraser’s Ridge? The prodigal son! William has arrived and offers everyone a charming, gentlemanly smile, excluding his birth father. Jamie receives the coldest of shoulders. The only person who receives William’s true emotions about his blowup with Amaranthus and John is Bree, who begs him to keep an open mind.

All the gang gathers around the dinner table, including Young Ian (John Bell) and Rachel (Izzy Meikle-Small). Roger announces that he’s going to be ordained as a minister and invites everyone to the ceremony. And then Jamie tricks William into meeting him at dawn to fish, because everyone under his roof has to catch their own dinner. Let the record show that I would starve.

The next morning, Jamie is able to melt a little of William’s frigid exterior, but Lord John’s name comes up, and all the hateful things spew out of William’s mouth, including the word “sodomite.” William is irritated that this word doesn’t seem to faze Jamie, and once again bemoans the fact that his father figures are masters at keeping secrets from him. Then he accuses Jamie of being John’s lover.

Jamie calmly tells William that it isn’t true. He follows that statement with the fact that John is one of the best men he knows and he’s quite confident that John loves William with his entire heart and soul. John has given William everything.

Except for the truth. And with that, William stomps out of the river, straight to his horse so he can take his proverbial ball and go home. Claire calls him out, knowing that William rode a very long way from home, not to visit with Bree, but to reconcile with Jamie. And let’s be clear, dear William. The country is at war, and Jamie could die. Is that the last conversation he wants to have with his father?

If she’d had a microphone, she would have dropped it.

Cut to William finding Jamie and his men, including Mr. Whitaker and other free slaves, training how to hold the line in battle. William nervously invites his dad to hunt with him the next morning, where Jamie shoots a huge elk. Dinner for the entire Ridge, everybody!

Carla Woodcock and David Berry on ‘Outlander’.Robert Wilson/Starz

As Jamie preps the elk, William apologizes for his behavior at the river. Then he presses into a few memories of Jamie when he was a boy, accounting that he worshipped him like a hero. He loved Jamie, and Jamie left him. How could he do such a thing?

Heughan’s glassy eyes make another appearance as he explains to William that he loved him fiercely, but had nothing to offer him. He was a Jacobite traitor and hated by any man who kept his oath to the king. As much as he wanted William, he didn’t want to condemn him to a life of pain, so he did what he thought was best. He asked John to love him as his own.

Jamie apologizes to William for causing him pain and asks for forgiveness, and William crashes into his father, weeping uncontrollably. It was the emotional breakdown that William needed. And we have to wonder if this means William will stay to help Jamie in battle? Or will he return to mend things with Lord John?

Or should I say, rescue Lord John?

Because when Lord John travels to Percy’s office to hear more about Captain Richardson, the “black-hearted scoundrel” slams the butt of his gun against John’s head in the middle of Percy’s office. What is going on?

Moving from one stressful situation to another, Rachel finds Fanny (Florrie May Wilkinson) on the stairs, upset. Some boys read the pamphlet about Jane and told Fanny that since her sister was a murderer and took her own life, she’s burning in hell. And sweet Rachel did what we all would have done in that situation. She suggests that Fanny go and talk to Reverend Roger about her questions.

Dairmaid Murtagh and Richard Rankin on ‘Outlander’.Robert Wilson/Starz

Fanny does go to Roger, but she decides she’s not ready to ask him questions. She even skips Roger’s induction ceremony. When he calls on her to find out why, she says she can’t stand to be in a place where her sister isn’t welcome.

Roger quickly realizes Fanny is upset about Jane’s death, and gently explains that the church is made up of people and rules are made by man, not God. A little confused, Fanny wisely asks Roger to intervene on her behalf and to please ask God whether Jane is in heaven with him. Roger suggests Fanny ask God herself. She should tell God how she feels. He’s always knocking, and anyone can let him in. Just be open to the idea.

We then see Fanny at Jane’s memorial stones, begging her sister to give her a sign that she can hear her. Fanny crouches down beside the river to pick up a funny-looking green rock. The rock either cuts her hand or burns it, and Fanny drops it quickly before examining it again, only to find the rock cracking in two. Then the buzzing noise swells as Fanny desperately grabs her ears.

Say hello to our newest time traveler!