devotees are delving back into earlier seasons of the hit show as the Droughtlander period takes hold. The series left viewers on a heart-wrenching cliffhanger, with Claire Fraser (portrayed by ) discovering that her firstborn daughter, Faith, might still be alive despite being stillborn.
In a hallucinatory state induced by a gunshot wound, Claire experienced visions of Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon), who offered her an ambiguous apology. This cryptic message hinted at Faith’s survival, further suggested by a locket inscribed with the child’s name.
Master Raymond had last appeared in the dream sequence of season two’s episode titled ‘Faith’. In this instalment, he saved Claire from the brink of death by covertly entering the church hospital where she was convalescing.
He risked much to heal Claire, affirming their friendship and mutual support.
Claire later reciprocated his kindness by saving his life when King Louis XV (Lionel Lingelser) sought to expose practitioners of sorcery and summoned her as La Dame Blanche. Additionally, Master Raymond sent Claire anonymous packages in Scotland containing various items that would later bear significance in her life, such as bear finger bones—a nod to Jamie Fraser’s () Native American moniker, Bear Killer, reports the .
Master Raymond seemed to be able to see Claire’s future (Image: STARZ)
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These mysterious gifts seem to indicate that Master Raymond possesses knowledge of Claire’s future and what lies ahead for her.
Master Raymond seemed to have taken his final bow in Diana Gabaldon’s Outlander series after Dragonfly in Amber, only to be referenced anonymously in A Breath of Snow and Ashes. So, when he made an unexpected comeback in the show, fans were caught off guard, having not anticipated his re-emergence.
However, those avidly watching may have overlooked a subtle foreshadowing in season two. Master Raymond dropped a cryptic clue about his future presence when he insinuated a reunion was in the cards.
Master Raymond teased his return back in season 2 (Image: STARZ)
Outlander’s scriptwriter Toni Graphia revealed on an episode commentary: “I like what he says, ‘We’ll see each other again.’ He told her a few episodes ago, in my other episode, ‘You will see Frank again.'” She went on to say, “And here he says, ‘We will all see each other again.’ I don’t really know what that means, but it sounded mystical and he says to her, ‘Have faith’.”
This enigmatic dialogue pointed towards Master Raymond’s return before he actually resurfaced in season seven. Graphia also noted on the Official Outlander Podcast: “I purposely had him say, ‘Have Faith,’ because of course that’s what Mother Hildegarde has named the baby.”
Master Raymond and Claire saved each other’s lives (Image: STARZ)
This detail was essential – for the infant to be interred within church grounds, she needed a name and baptism.
Even though Graphia admitted to being unsure of its full implications, the dialogue left a door ajar for Master Raymond’s potential reappearance. Furthermore, this thematic thread allowed the writers to more effortlessly segue into the intriguing alternative Faith timeline, where Master Raymond rescues the child, whisking her off to a different epoch where she continues her life.
This is a storyline that Outlander’s creator, Diana Gabaldon, had intended to delve into through a graphic novel but was unable to due to time constraints. However, fans can now witness this narrative unfold in the series, which will henceforth deviate from the original books.
Outlander Season 7 is available to buy now on Digital and Outlander is streaming on MGM+ via Prime Video now