The Outlander Season 7 finale finally reveals whether or not dear Dr. Denzel Hunter (Joey Phillips) was in fact able to save Claire Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) from a horrific death at the Battle of Monmouth. However, during our heroine’s fight to survive, she’s visited by a spirit from seasons’ past. A certain French apothecary named Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon) appears to Claire in a vision, marking the mysterious character’s first return to the Starz series since Season 2!
Couldn’t remember what Master Raymond’s deal was? Totally shocked by what his message portends? Sort of confused by Claire’s revelations in Outlander Season 7 Episode 16 “A Hundred Thousand Angels”? Don’t worry, we got you!
**Spoilers for Outlander Season 7 Episode 16 “A Hundred Thousand Angels,” now streaming on Starz**
After Denzel saves — yes, saves! — Claire from her gunshot wound, she takes a few days and change to recover. At one point, she either dreams, or is magically visited, by a man in a dark hood. It is Master Raymond. He tells Claire it’s not her time to die and then begs her forgiveness. For what? He explains she’ll soon find out.
So who exactly is Master Raymond and how does this eerie reunion connect to the crazy Outlander Season 7 finale ending revealing baby Faith might have actually survived infancy? Here’s everything you need to know about the mysterious Master Raymond, a ghost from Claire’s past…
Outlander Season 7 Finale: Who is Master Raymond?
Master Raymond was first introduced in Outlander Season 2 Episode 2 “Not in Scotland Anymore.” He’s an apothecary whom Claire visits in the hopes of getting an herb to help the recently traumatized Jamie (Sam Heughan) sleep. Master Raymond immediately takes a shine to Claire, bonding with her over their shared love of botany and dislike of the Comte de St. Germain (Stanley Weber). He nicknames her “Madonna,” and the two become friends.
Later in the season, Claire warns Master Raymond that the king is cracking down on practitioners of the “black arts.” He promises to skip town, but later comes to her aid when she’s dying after delivering the stillborn Faith in childbirth. Master Raymond uses mysterious massage techniques to cure Claire’s puerperal fever. Later in the episode, Claire saves Master Raymond’s life in a magical trial the King forces her to preside over. Master Raymond is banished from France.
In the books, it’s a bit more clear that Master Raymond is a time traveler like Claire. In fact, it’s hinted, or at least theorized, that he is one of the original time travelers and may even be an ancestor of Claire and Geillis Duncan (Lotte Verbeek), explaining why they can travel through the stones. In any event, he has knowledge and abilities that defy even Claire’s 20th century scientific know-how.
Which brings us back to what Master Raymond did that was so bad he’s got to beg forgiveness…
By the end of the Outlander Season 7 finale, Claire is pretty darn convinced that her first child with Jamie, baby Faith, did not die as a premature stillborn. Faith somehow survived and went on to give birth to Jane (Silvia Presente) and Fanny (Florrie Mae Wilkinson). Jane tragically took her own life before William (Charles Vandervaart) and Jamie could save her from execution, but Fanny is now in the Frasers’ care.
While it’s yet unclear if Claire’s theory is correct, it would mean that Master Raymond secretly saved Faith and spirited her to another family, to be raised away from Claire and Jamie. But to what end?? We don’t know!
Master Raymond is played by French actor Dominique Pinon, who is a massive star in his home country, but you probably recognize him from the international smash hit Amélie.
