‘Outlander’: Who Is That Mystery Time Traveler in Episode 5?
Spoiler Alert
[Warning: The below contains MAJOR spoilers for Season 6, Episode 5 of Outlander, “Give Me Liberty.”]
In Outlander‘s latest Season 6 installment, “Give Me Liberty,” a surprise time traveler is introduced in Wilmington during Claire (Caitriona Balfe) and Jamie’s (Sam Heughan) visit to the North Carolina town.
But the reality of this time traveler isn’t as clear as Claire’s path of leading a life in 18th-century America because we never see their face. The individual is first mentioned while the Frasers attend a party for political figure Flora MacDonald (Shauna Macdonald) who claims that a thief tried stealing her necklace, but despite having recovered the piece of jewelry, it was missing one of its gemstones.
Anyone that knows anything about time travel on Outlander understands that gemstones are required to jump through time. The mention of a missing gemstone certainly would interest viewers, but might seem inconsequential to the characters living in the moment.
(Credit: Starz)
Yet, as Claire and Jamie get ready to leave Wilmington after their stay, she is transported back to the future when she hears a familiar tune. The “Colonel Bogey March” is a song created in the 20th century, just under 200 years from the point in time that Claire is living in with her family, and so it’s clear that there’s a traveler near.
When the camera shifts positions, we see the thief standing in a jail cell, long curly hair dangling in front of their face, shrouding their identity. As they hold up a gemstone, their intention is clear, this person wants to leave 1770s North Carolina.
So, who could that be? There’s one individual that fits that description and it would mean they had to survive Jamie’s massacre on the Browns in Season 5 — Wendigo Donner (Brennan Martin). He was among Lionel Brown’s (Ned Dennehy) band of men who tortured Claire in the Season 5 finale.
(Credit: Starz)
Wendigo didn’t take part in the brutalization of Claire, but he was a bystander in her trauma. He introduces himself to her in the episode and asks if she knows the name Ringo Starr, of course, she does, and the pair identify themselves as time travelers.
He explains to Claire that he traveled back in time from 1968 with a group of other Native Americans in an effort to help save them from their dark fate in history. Claire tries bribing Wendigo to free her, but he’s too scared to face Lionel’s wrath.
When he spoke to Claire, Wendigo mentioned how he was seeking gemstones to travel back to his time, and so, this mystery thief’s apparent need to acquire a gemstone seems fitting to Wendigo’s predicament. His long curly hair is also on par with Wendigo’s looks, and considering his affinity for music with the Ringo Starr reference, before, it would make sense that he’d hum a modern tune.
The episode does throw a red herring out too though as Roger (Richard Rankin) is chided by Brianna (Sophie Skelton) for humming modern tunes around the Ridge’s settlers. Only time will tell for certain who the mystery time traveler in the jail cell is, but Wendigo Donner seems a fitting option based on the clues.
What do you think? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section, below, and stay tuned as Outlander‘s sixth season continues on Starz.
Outlander, Season 6, Sundays, 9/8c, Starz
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Conversation35 Comments
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Comments are closed on this story.
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G
It makes sense that it would be Wendigo Donner but I thought Jamie had everyone killed with the exception of Lionel?. Im disappointed with this season so far. It seems slow & I really get thrown off with the theme song! Anyone else?
24 3
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C
Im thinking Windigo..Either way, I'm not digging on Claire's addiction to either.
16 1
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O
Definitely Windigo Donner
11
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O
the theme song is so out of tune! they should've kept the original theme song from season 1, which is extremely magical.
5
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O
I think it’s somebody entirely new. Or, it’s a little apothecary guy that Claire knew in France.
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O
I hope he travels back into Claire's life. I really like his character. 🙂
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C
I am thinking Bonnet as there was that jar on the mantle that Jamie saw with Bonnet’s name on it
7 3
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C
I thought so aswell, because they wouldn't show that for no reason.
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P
Bonnet was shot in the head by Bree.
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O
I thought Murtagh because of the song. Wishful thinking on my part because I loved the character. I'm not loving this season, it's all over the place, and it's too short.
3
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R
Frank Randal anyone? Not sure how it would fit, but wouldn't that be something?!
4 1
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R
Murtagh! He didn't die in the woods. He traveled, and now he is back!
6 3
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G
It’s definitely Donner and Claire does have a problem with ether
3
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O
The ether is Claire’s response to the abduction and rape; it’s PTSD, a couple hundred years early. Don’t worry about Claire.
1
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O
But I am worried…:(
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O
windigo donner
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R
Probably Donner but it would be nice if he is Roger's dad.
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G
I would love it to be Murtagh. He lived many more years in the series than the books. Maybe we will get lucky and he will return. But I think it is Donner. He ran off before the rescuers killed the lot if them.
2
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G
He died so it can't be him
2
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O
Donner
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P
I can't comment because I've read the books so I know who it is
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O
lol I appreciate no spoilers. I only have the last book left to read.
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G
I miss Scotland......just sayin
1
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O
So does my mom...
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G
Yup, that was my first thought.
1
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G
My guess was Wendigo Donner as well. Makes perfect sense,
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O
He needed a jewel that’s why he was in prison he got caught stealing Jamie’s old-time friend’s necklace
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P
The gemstone that was stolen from Flora MacDonald - they said he was arrested. Probably looking for a gem stone to travel
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B
I immediately thought it was Wendigo, but I was more interested in the song choice. I thought the song from "Bridge on the River Kwai" had a significant reference to Jamie's situation with the impending Revolutionary War. In Bridge on the River Kwai, Colonel Bogey was trying to care for his men, but got into a predicament that would be considered treason. I haven't seen the movie in probably 30 years, but that's the way I remember it.
I'm also remembering Jamie's mysterious uncle in Scotland, the guy they ran into a couple of times in the mountains. She sees him holding a large gemstone in the dissociation scene. He also fits the physical description of the guy in jail, but I'm still betting on Wendigo.
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R
I didn’t think of Wendigo… I was thinking back farther when Claire & Murtagh were searching for Jamie after he’d escaped from the redcoats and they were traveling.. when Murtagh was dancing and Claire was singing her tune… same music as boogie Woogie Bugle boy!!!
1
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O
Ah! The evil Gillian has arrived?
1 2
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O
That was my first thought as well.
1 1
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P
Maybe its Rogers father.
2 9
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O
Roger's father is dead
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G
But what about his birth father....hmmm??????? 😜. Though guessing it is not him!
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