Outlander season 7 episode 14 ending explained: Is someone plotting to kidnap and torture William? Reasons for the plot explored

Outlander season 7 episode 14 premiered on Starz on Friday, December 27, 2024, bringing more context to previous events, including Lord John Grey's mysterious disappearance. This latest episode shines a light on Jamie's biological son and John's adoptive son, William Ransom.

After learning about his true parentage, William lashes out at both his fathers. With his questionable lineage, he becomes even more eager to prove himself in the army. Unknown to him, his eagerness to earn the trust of his superior, Captain Richardson, puts his life in danger. Richardson used William to send a message to the Hessians for his own capture and kidnapping, aiming to give the Americans an upper hand by having the Grey family do their bidding.

Meanwhile, John returns but finds himself a prisoner of the Frasers in his own home. He faces a critical task that could ultimately affect William's fate if he arrives on time.

Disclaimer: This article contains major spoilers for Outlander season 7 episode 14. Reader's discretion is advised.

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Outlander season 7 episode 14 sees someone plotting against William Ransom to get to John and Hal

William Ransom takes center stage in Outlander season 7 episode 14, as his entanglement with Jane continues amid lurking danger and betrayal. Back at the British soldiers' camp, William has taken Jane and her sister Fanny under his protection after they unexpectedly arrived, supposedly running from Captain Harkness.

Jane and William in Outlander season 7 episode 14 (Image via Starz)

William appoints Jane as his laundress, despite her attempts to seduce him at any instant. The problem is that Jane has no idea how the outside world works. She has zero experience using money and claims to know nothing besides working at the brothel. However, William insists that while she is under his protection, she wouldn't be a wh*re.

Besides William's precarious non-affair with Jane, he finds himself in a dangerous situation when Captain Richardson asks him to deliver correspondence to Oberst von Schnell. Richardson tells him that finishing the task would prove his trustworthiness, and eager to prove his worth in the army, William is excited to carry out Richardson's bidding.

Unbeknownst to him, Captain Richardson has other plans for sending him to von Schnell's camp. Percy Beauchamp, who turns out to be Lord John's stepbrother and is now working for the United States, arrives at his house to tell him about what Richardson has planned against William.

William at the Hessian camp (Image via Starz)

It is revealed that the letter Richardson asked William to deliver instructs Oberst von Schnell to capture, kidnap, and torture William. Beauchamp further reveals that Richardson is a spy and that torturing William is their way to discredit Lord John's family, including his brother Hal, the Duke of Pardloe.

Beauchamp explains that Hal has been pushing for reconciliation at the House of Lords, and some people, the Americans, in particular, didn't like that. Richardson and his allies think that they could demand John and Hal's cooperation in exchange for William's life.

By the near end of Outlander season 7 episode 14, William arrives at the Hessian camp and gives von Schnell the letter for his own kidnapping. After reading Richardson's secret message, von Schnell asks William to stay with them for supper. Little does William know that something sinister is going on beyond the supper invitation.

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John becomes Jamie's prisoner in Outlander season 7 episode 14, what happened to him is revealed

Outlander season 7 episode 14 sees Jamie and Claire Fraser take an unexpected prisoner—Lord John Grey, whom they saw at the army camp. The latest episode also reveals John's fate since the last time Jamie saw him when the continental army took him.

Lord John in Outlander season 7 episode 14 (Image via Starz)

While tending to the sick soldiers at the camp, Claire notices John, who has a patch on his left eye and is dressed in ordinary clothes. She then calls Jamie, who is attending to his men at the time, to the tent, and that's when John tells him that he surrendered to Jamie personally.

The next time the three of them are seen in Outlander season 7 episode 14, they are in Lord John's house, with Claire examining his damaged eye. It turns out that Jamie has taken John as his prisoner and that he is now under house arrest in his own house, which he quips about during his conversation with Claire.

The last time Jamie saw John was in Outlander season 7 episode 12 when a group of American militia captured him. With Denzell's help, John escaped but was soon found by another group of American militia. He had to fake his name and tell Jamie that he had to swear an oath of allegiance to the United States to avoid being hanged on the spot.

Despite these challenges, there are some positive developments for Lord John Grey in Outlander season 7 episode 14. His damaged eye is recovering well, although the process did involve Claire getting her hands on his eyeball to turn it a little to free the trapped muscles, which causes John to scream in pain.

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Outlander season 7 episode 14 sees Jamie send John and young Ian to save William

Jamie sends John and Ian after William (Image via Starz)

Time was of the essence in Outlander season 7 episode 14, as the war is brewing. Jamie Fraser manages his new job as a General and oversees his 300 men. When he learns about Richardson's plot against his biological son, he doesn't have any choice. He tells John that he couldn't save one soul, forgoing the other 300 he is responsible for.

However, John doesn't want to give up because, after all, William grew up thinking that John was his father. So, he tells Jamie to parole and frees him so he can save William from Richardson's evil plan. Although it didn't happen as John suggested, Jamie ends up sending John with young Ian toward the Hessian camp.

John is still bound like a prisoner when he and young Ian leave for the Hessian camp, but this is merely for a show in case some soldiers inquire about their whereabouts. Jamie instructs young Ian that if anyone asks, John is a prisoner. Only time will tell if they arrive in time to save William from his precarious situation in the hands of Oberst von Schnell and his men.

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Outlander season 7 episode 14 sees Brianna change plans to keep her family safe

Brianna in Outlander season 7 episode 14 (Image via Starz)

In the alternate timeline in Outlander season 7 episode 14, Brianna is still fighting against the people threatening his family. After Rob Cameron escaped, she took matters into her own hands. She sent the kids with Ernie and his wife while she armed herself and hid in the bushes to wait for Rob's return.

However, she found two intruders in her home instead. Making things worse, Ernie and his wife, along with the kids, returned home, so she had to shoot towards the intruders so they could escape. Rob then arrived in his car, and Ernie's wife said that they had to return because Rob was in their house.

With no place to keep her family safe, Brianna agreed when Ernie said that they should go to Roger. However, she is unaware that Roger accidentally went to 1739 Scotland, as seen in Outlander season 7 episode 9, which could be another problem for her.

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Catch Outlander season 7 episode 14, now streaming on Starz for US audiences and on Netflix for select regions worldwide.