‘The Outlander‘ Season 5 Episode 10: ‘Mercy Shall Follow Me‘ Recap and Review

Jamie, Roger and Young Ian want to try to put an end to Bonnet. They had previously arranged to meet with him to sell him some whiskey. The plan was to go to the prearranged rendezvous point with Young Ian pretending to be the seller. As they wait inside a cabin, Roger tells Jamie HE will kill Bonnet. Jamie tells him that if Roger is killed, he will avenge him. Roger tells Jamie the same. Glad they got THAT resolved. But after a long wait, Bonnet doesn’t show. He sends some of his men instead. Jamie and his crew take the men take them out and ask his main guy where Bonnet is.

Meanwhile, Bonnet meets with his lawyer Forbes at the brothel. They discuss when the papers will be signed that will make Bonnet Jeremiah’s legal father. Bonnet tells Forbes of his plan to kill Jacosta and her new husband to take RiverRun. Once he has possession of the property, Forbes will get his payment. Forbes agrees to this because he was spurned in his efforts to wed Brianne. This was before Roger returned. In other words, he’s a poor sport.

While this is going on, Brianne and Claire go shopping in Wilmington with the intention to have a syringe created. Claire continues to flaunt the history of medicine. They then go to the beach to find shells to make more medicinal items. After they separate, Bonnet comes upon Claire. He knocks her out and takes Brianne to his island. Once there, he tells her to teach him how to be a gentleman. To become a good father to Jeremiah. She humors him, giving him some instruction. She also offers to read Moby Dick to him. (Actually, she is reciting by memory as the book she is looking at is a book on Husbandry).

After some time, she tells him that a gentleman would now say goodnight. They go to bed separately and she awakens to find Bonnet having his prostitute make them breakfast. As they sit, she tells him that she needs to get Jeremiah. Brianne tells him she must go alone. She will bring him back to him so they can be together…as the fates have proven. Bonnet agrees and tells her that he will find them a place for them to live. He asks for a kiss to seal their agreement and when she complied, he realized she was stringing him along.

This makes him angry and he shows her what “she is missing” with his prostitute. Ewwww. For her part, the prostitute named Eppie asks Bonnet for payment. It IS her business after all. While Bonnet is fetching her coin, Brianne asks her where they are and if she can help her escape. She warns her not to cross Bonnet. If she does what she is told, it would go better for her.

Elsewhere, at River Run, Jacosta calls for Forbes to discuss her estate. She plans to disperse some of her wealth to her family. As she tells Forbes what her plans are, he gets more upset. Slowly but surely the money he is hoping to get is being given away. He tells her he was humiliated by them when Brianne refused his marriage offer. He snaps and he grabs a pillow and tries to smother Jacosta. Ulysses hears the struggle, bursts in and grabs Forbes from behind around the neck. He lifts him off his feet and snaps his neck. He checks on Jacosta fearing he was too late, but she lives…much to his relief.

Meanwhile Claire has told Jamie and Roger that Bonnet has Brianne. They locate Phillip Wylie who had set up their deal to sell the Whiskey to Bonnet. At knife point, he tells them that Bonnet is often seen at Mistress Sylvie’s. They tell Roger and Young Ian to wait and keep watch while Claire and Jamie go to the brothel. Once there, they ask if any of the “girls” know of Bonnet’s whereabouts.

They come across the girl that was at Bonnets. Eppie claims that she has no information to give them. However, Claire notices that she walks with a limp. She gives her quick exam and realizes that one of her legs is shorter than the other. With that in mind, she takes a deck of cards to build up her heel to see what would be required to even her gait. Once Eppie tells her she has no money for fancy shoes, Claire offers to help pay for them. (We knew that opening meant SOMETHING). When she asks why, Claire tells hers her that when you can help a person, you should. Eppie then tells Claire where to go, telling them they would need a boat.

Meanwhile, Bonnet has decided to sell Brianne to Captain Howard. Howard examines her closely (mainly with his hands) even getting bit while checking her teeth. He offers 6 pounds. Bonnet says that is agreeable since he feels he doesn’t need her to get Jeremiah. Howard tells Bonnet that they need to go to his ship to get his payment.

As they approach the beach, a shot rings out and one of the men falls as Jamie, Claire, Roger and Young Ian come running. Bonnet takes off on the run and Roger goes after him. He catches up and beats him down. They debate whether to kill him but Brianne thinks he should face justice.

They get Governor Tryon to expedite his trial and he is found guilty and sentenced to death by drowning. He is chained to a pole awaiting high tide. The water slowly rises as those who were to witness slowly left. With the water up to his neck, he looks out…staring ahead. Suddenly a gunshot rings out and he is hit in the head. The scene pulls back and Brianne is revealed to have shot Bonnet. Roger asks her if this was a mercy killing or to make sure he is dead. She doesn’t answer as she walks away.

Another winning episode with the final chapter in the William Bonnet saga. And what a wild ride it has been. If ANYONE has been asking for a painful demise, it has been Bonnet. From the killing of Jamie’s man after he had set him free. The dumping of sick children from his ship and of course, the rape of Brianne. His fate has been written (well in the books anyway). But you never know when adapted for television. So going in, who knew?

Bonnet has been a complex character. At least as far as crazy goes. He tried to tell Brianne he wanted to learn to be a gentleman. To learn how to be a good father, and be accepted in polite society. This coming from the same man who just earlier talked about killing Jacosta and her husband and taking River Run. So there was that.

As for Brianne, after she was captured, she did her best to placate the man. Giving him tips on how to behave like a gentleman he proclaimed to want to be. She offering to read to him when she realized he could not. So, because he was a seafaring man, she began to tell him the story of Moby Dick. Pretending to read it. In the end, he reverted to form. There was no changing him. He realized that she was not being truthful with him when she kissed him.

From that moment, the Bonnet we had known returned. In that span of time, his fate was probably sealed. At least we hoped so. And it was fitting that Brianne was the one who decided his fate. By first suggesting he face justice, and finally by giving it to him…in a manner of speaking. How Outlander like. Another 9 out of the 10.

So we are down to the last two episodes for this season. What other moments of drama will they explore during that time? We will see the first answer next Sunday. Have you been following The Outlander? What did you think of Mercy Shall Follow Me? Share your thoughts about it with us at GeekVibesNation.