Outlander season five, episode 7, spoilers follow.
"Jesus H Roosevelt Christ", as Claire Fraser would say.
The latest episode of Outlander packed in the shocks, from highlander Jamie having to put on an English red coat (which, goddamit, he looked far too sexy in) to the grim result of Roger's (Richard Rankin) excursion to stop the rebel Regulators going into battle against Governor Tryon's well-armed soldiers.
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The most heartbreaking twist of all, however, was the death of Jamie's godfather, Murtagh Fitzgibbons Fraser (Duncan Lacroix).
As fans of the Diana Gabaldon books know, Murtagh died far earlier in the novels, at the battle of Culloden (a battle that took place at the end of season two on screen).
Related: Outlander season 6 – everything you need to know
But he was such a fan-favourite in the TV series – thanks in large part to Lacroix's enjoyably grouchy performance – that Murtagh returned in season three as Jamie's fellow prisoner in Ardsmuir, before popping up again in season four as a Wilmington blacksmith, having been shipped off to the American colonies after the prison closed.
Jamie and Murtagh's reunion was one of the highlights of the last season, as the gruff, now-silver fox was the strongest link to Jamie's Scottish past, and the one person Jamie loved almost as much as Claire.
There was also the added bonus of Murtagh's lovely romance with Jocasta (Maria Doyle Kennedy), but the season ended with his newfound bliss in jeopardy as he was forced to go on the run from Tryon's soldiers following his rebellious actions with the Regulators, who object to the English government's excessive taxes on local workers.
If you looked closely, there have been some hints this season that fugitive Murtagh may not be long for the show, from the sad ending of his relationship to Jocasta to the touching moment where Jamie released his godfather from his oath to stay by his godson's side forever.
And with Jamie forced to hunt down the Regulators to keep his own Fraser's Ridge community safe, it did put the men on opposite sides. But no-one could have predicted what cruel twist the Outlander writers would inflict on us next.
In the aftermath of the battle of Alamance, Jamie is saved from a Regulator's bullet by Murtagh, only for one of Jamie's men to then fire on his beloved godfather. He carries Murtagh back to Claire, begging her to save him, only for her to tell Jamie that Murtagh is already dead (damn you, writer Toni Graphia, for writing one of the most heart-wrenching scenes in Outlander ever).
So what does the death of Murtagh mean for Jamie and the Outlander world?
Certainly, Lacroix's absence will be felt as he was such a much-loved character, but Outlander has survived the loss of other fan-favourites in the past – most notably Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies) in season three and Dougal Mackenzie at the end of season two (keep an eye out for Graham McTavish, who played Dougal, as he briefly cameos in this week's episode as Mackenzie relative Buck).
It's worth remembering that Outlander is primarily about Jamie and Claire, and also now their daughter Brianna and her husband Roger, so it is likely the remainder of this season – and season six, which is due to begin filming later this year – will focus more on their relationships and continuing life on Fraser's Ridge.
If the show follows the books, that will mean that Jamie's presently awkward relationship with son-in-law Roger will improve, especially as both men have the shared desire to kill Stephen Bonnet, the man who raped Brianna.
Roger and Brianna will also have to decide whether 18th-century life is really for them, and it is possible that they'll discover this season whether their son Jemmy can also travel through time – giving the family the opportunity to return to the 20th century, where they are from.
Meanwhile, when Caitriona Balfe talked to Digital Spy and other media late last year, she hinted that there was a new storyline for Claire that is not in the books, one that is likely to be linked to her medical training. Having already 'invented' penicillin in her little surgery, does this mean Claire could now perform open-heart surgery a couple of centuries before it really happened? (Let's just hope it's not on any characters we're too fond of).
There is also the looming War of Independence to consider in future seasons, too. Episode seven is set in 1771, just four years before it begins, and the battle of Alamance where Murtaugh died is considered by many historians to be the spark that lights the fire of the American Revolution.
With Jamie closely tied to English soldier Lord John Grey – who is raising Jamie's secret son William – this means there are going to be many conflicts ahead for the Frasers, both personal and on a far larger scale.
Even without our beloved Murtagh, love, murder, battles and betrayal are surely ahead in the final five episodes of this season – and they are all the things that Outlander is the best at.
Outlander season 5 airs on Starz in the US. The show streams on Amazon Prime in the UK.
Outlander - Season 1
Outlander - Season 2
Outlander - Season 3
Outlander - Season 4
Outlander (2014) - Seasons 1-4 DVD
Go Tell the Bees that I Am Gone (Outlander 9) by Diana Galbaldon - Signed
The Making of Outlander: The Series: The Official Guide to Seasons One & Two
The Making of Outlander: The Series: The Official Guide to Seasons Three and Four
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Freelance film & TV writer, Digital Spy
Critic and writer Jo Berry has been writing about TV and movies since she began her career at Time Out aged 18. A regular on BBC Radio, Jo has written for titles including Empire, Maxim, Radio Times, OK!, The Guardian and Grazia, is the author of books including Chick Flicks and The Parents’ Guide to Kids’ Movies.
She is also the editor of website Movies4Kids. In her career, Jo has interviewed well-known names including Beyonce, Steven Spielberg, Tom Hanks, Kiefer Sutherland, Tom Cruise and all the Avengers, spent many an hour crushed in the press areas of award show red carpets. Jo is also a self-proclaimed expert on Outlander and Brassic, and completely agrees that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.
