Outlander, Season 1, Episode 8: “Both Sides Now”

The official synopsis, courtesy of Starz:

Frank desperately searches for his missing wife, while Claire tries to come to terms with her new marriage. Claire is faced with an emotional quandary as a life-altering opportunity presents itself.

My synopsis:

The episode opens with the ringing of a telephone.

What? A telephone? In 1743?

Nope, it’s 1945, and we’re catching up with Frank, the husband Claire left behind. It’s been weeks since Claire’s disappearance, and Frank is not giving up. In fact, he’s been hounding the police so relentlessly that the detective is fed up, and finally confronts Frank with the cold hard truth as he sees it: His wife has obviously left him for another man.

Rather hilariously, the “missing” posters on the police station wall are of Claire and of the mysterious Highlander whom Frank saw outside the inn back in the first episode. Hmm, look familiar much?

Cut to the 18th century, and Claire and Jamie seem like a pair of blissful newlyweds, having a rather damp picnic on a misty, drizzly hillside. Jamie wants to know if what they have is typical — are these intense feelings and connections between the two par for the course for a man and a woman? Claire assures him that what they have isn’t typical at all.

The lovebirds are interrupted by an arrow landing nearby, and after a startled moment, Jamie recognizes an old friend, Hugh Munro. Hugh Munro is a mute, but is able to converse with Jamie through gestures and a basic sign language. He has news: There’s a man named Horrocks who witnessed the murder that Jamie is accused of, and can clear Jamie’s name. The catch is that the man is a British deserter, and might not be trustworthy. Hugh gives Claire a wedding gift — a chunk of amber with a dragonfly inside.

It’s a DRAGONFLY IN AMBER!!! Book two, yo.

Back we go to the 20th century. Frank has been staying at the manse with Reverend Wakefield, who seems just full of theories about Claire’s disappearance, including the idea that perhaps she fell in the river, washed up on a deserted island, and has been living on frogs ever since. Um, okay Reverend, whatever you say. A charming lad makes an entrance bearing biscuits:

It’s wee Roger! Watch for him in season 2, when he’ll look a bit different:

Frank is fed up with doubts and theories, and goes off to the local pub to get plastered. A mysterious blonde approaches him, says she knows where the Highlander from the missing poster can be found, and tells him to meet her in an alley after midnight and she’ll take him to meet the man. Oh, and bring the reward. And come alone. And don’t alert the police.

That’s not suspicious in the slightest.

Back to the 18th century (this episode does a lot of century-hopping). Jamie and Claire are at a mountain campside with the MacKenzie men, listening to Rupert telling stories by the campfire. Claire and Jamie are cozy and cuddly and smoochy, and very, very cute. The horses are restless, which alerts the men that trouble is near. They subtly move into defensive positions and get their weapons ready, and then they’re attacked by a band of men from the Grant clan, who make off with a horse and some grain.

20th C: Frank shows up in the alley as the rain pours down, and of course, it’s a set-up. The blonde’s two thuggish friends assault him and demand the reward money, but Frank is not having it. He pulls a blackjack (a BLACKJACK!) from his coat pocket and begins to beat the men senseless. Basically, he goes berserk. Back at the Reverend’s house, Frank realizes he’s slipped too close to the dark side, and that this has to end. The Reverend advises Frank to return to Oxford and start over, to let Claire go, as she has so clearly let Frank go.

18th C: The next morning, the men decide that Claire had better learn to defend herself, and she gets some stabbing lessons from Angus, who demonstrates the best way to kill a man with a sgian-dubh, a small blade often hidden in one’s socks. Claire gets the knack pretty quickly.

20th C: Frank packs to leave, and leaves Claire’s suitcase — with their wedding photo — behind.

18th C: Jamie and Claire still can’t keep their hands off each other.

They sneak off for a quickie in the grass, quite passionate but also full of laughter, but are rudely interrupted by a gun held to Jamie’s head right when they’re in the middle of the act. It’s two redcoat deserters, who pull Jamie off Claire, then decide it would be fun to have Claire themselves and make Jamie watch. As one of the deserters attempts to rape Claire, she stabs him in the kidney just like Angus taught her, and Jamie kills the other man. Claire is in shock, shaking and staring at the blood on her hands.

20th C: Mrs. Graham insists on telling Frank what she thinks really happened to Claire. She didn’t abandon him, Mrs. Graham declares — she’s gone through the circle of standing stones at Craigh na Dun, known to have magical powers. There are stories of this throughout the legends and songs of the Highlands… and the travelers often come back! Frank scoffs. Mrs. Graham tries to persuade Frank, but it’s no use. He’s officially done, and he leaves.

Dougal tells Jamie that they’ll all go with him to meet Horrocks, since they’ve just seen how dangerous deserters can be. Jamie tells Claire to stay put in a hiding place in the woods, and Claire is upset and defiant. She seems very angry with Jamie for not protecting her, but promises to be there when he returns. After Jamie rides off, Claire realizes that it’s not Jamie she’s mad at — she’s angry at herself for allowing herself to become distracted by happiness with Jamie rather than keeping to her vow to find a way to return to Frank. Talk about convenient timing — at that moment she looks up and sees the hill of Craigh na Dun in the distance, just across the valley.

She realizes she must choose who she wants to be — Jamie’s wife, or Frank’s? Claire takes off at a run for Craigh na Dun, calling out Frank’s name.

20th C: Frank is driving away from Inverness when he sees a sign for the turn-off to Craigh na Dun. He goes there one last time, looking for some sign of Claire.

We cut back and forth between Claire and Frank as each climbs the hill, desperate to find one another across time, calling each other’s names. Claire finally reaches the top and is about to place her hands on the stone… when she is yanked backward by a troop of redcoats, who pull her away.

Frank is left alone on the 20th century hilltop, and has no choice but to realize that Claire is gone for good.

The rest of the action is set firmly in the 18th century.

Claire is tied up and taken away in the back of a cart, and she’s knows with certainty that she’s being taken to Ft. William to be handed over to Black Jack Randall. She has only the length of the journey to try to come up with a plan.

Brought to BJR in his fortress room, she’s terrified but looks for an opening. BJR is ultra creepy as he congratulates her on her marriage. He doesn’t know, of course, who her husband is, other than being the nephew of the Laird of the MacKenzies. He threatens Claire, without subtlety:

“I fully intend, by any means necessary, to discover both your true nature and the secrets you hold.”

Claire bluffs her way forward for a time by asserting that she’s an agent of the Duke of Sandringham, just like him, and that the Duke wouldn’t appreciate BJR’s interference with her mission. It almost works, but BJR catches her in a factual error, and Claire is once again tied up and at his mercy. BJR is done with preliminaries — he slices open her bodice and throws her onto his desk, intending to rape and torture her.

The window bursts open, and there’s Jamie! Pistol in hand, he states:

“I’ll thank ye to take your hands off my wife.”

BJR reacts with glee, as he realizes that Claire’s husband is none other than Jamie Fraser, the Highlander he flogged almost to death.

And… scene!

Episode 108 was Outlander’s mid-season finale, so Jamie was left in the window for six long months before viewers learned his fate.

Steam factor:

The chemistry between Jamie and Claire is so strong. They spend the first half of the episode never out of reach of one another, constantly touching hands or smiling or simply looking at each other. Sparks galore!

Fashion statements:

Claire’s traveling cloak and clothes are sturdy yet lovely. Although I couldn’t help feeling sorry for Claire as she ran toward Craigh na Dun — running in all those heavy layers looks exhausting!

Beautiful shot of Claire’s two rings — I love the visual representation of Claire’s dilemma:

Key points:

Major facts that the episode gets on the table:

• Claire acknowledges to herself that she’s allowed herself to develop dangerously strong feelings for Jamie. She doesn’t call it love just yet, but recognizes it as something powerful and real.
• Claire seems to have proven herself as a member of the MacKenzies and has earned herself a place among them.
• No matter what has happened up to now with Jamie, Claire can’t put aside her yearning to return to Frank.
• Frank held onto hope for a long time, but seems to have finally given up on Claire.
• Black Jack Randall is bad, bad news… and now he knows that Jamie is within reach, making his torment of Claire that much sweeter.

Memorable lines:

Jamie’s question to Claire:

“Is it usual, what it is between us, when I touch you, when you lie with me? Is it always so, between a man and a woman?”

Finding the right knife for Claire:

Claire: “It’s too long and heavy for me.”
Rupert: “Lassies say that to me all the time.”

While watching Claire’s training with Angus:

Murtagh: “I still say, the only good weapon for a woman is poison.”
Dougal: “Perhaps. But it has certain deficiencies in combat.”

Character impressions:

Frank definitely has a dark side. He holds himself back, but I think part of the reason he ultimately gives up the search is because he’s afraid of what his desperation may drive him to.

Jamie is, as always, a prince of a guy — clearly already madly in love with Claire, a lover and a protector who feels terrible when Claire must defend herself against the redcoat wannabe rapists. He sees it as his duty to keep Claire safe, and feels that he’s failed her. He swore to her on their wedding day that she’d have the protection of his body, and he proves it to her over and over again… such as climbing in the window of Ft. William to rescue her.

Takeaway:

I have to admit that I was irritated no end by Claire’s running off to Craigh na Dun, so desperate to reach Frank… but I know that my reaction is based on my love for Jamie. Really, Claire’s attempt to get back to Frank makes sense. She’s only been married to Jamie for two days at this point, and she still thinks of Frank as her real husband. The scene is built with a great deal of artistry, cutting back and forth between Claire and Frank, and I was cringing watching Claire get closer and closer to the stone — even though I knew full well from reading the book that she wouldn’t get there.

For people watching the show when it first aired, this episode marked the beginning of Droughtlander… the long six month wait for a new episode. Fortunately for re-watchers, no wait is required! I’ll be back shortly with the next episode. After all, we wouldn’t want to leave Jamie in that window any longer than necessary, would we?

Outlander, Season 1, Episode 7: “The Wedding”

The official synopsis, courtesy of Starz:

Claire and Jamie are thrown together in marriage, but as their emotional and physical relationship unfolds, deeper feelings arise. Claire is ultimately torn between two men in two very different times.

My synopsis:

The episode that fans were drooling in anticipation over!

But surprise! It doesn’t start where we think it should — we open with Claire and Frank, looking very sharp indeed, sashaying down a London street holding hands. They’re on their way to meet Frank’s parents, but he has a sudden inspiration. They’re right outside the marriage bureau office — hey, let’s get married! Right now! Claire seems a bit stunned, but agrees…

… and as we hear a voice proclaiming “I now pronounce you…”, the scene cuts to a candle-lit church as Jamie and Claire have their first kiss as man and wife.

What?

If you’re like me, upon first viewing of this episode, you were pretty shocked and maybe even felt a little cheated. No ceremony? We don’t get to see the build-up? But no worries, it’s just a very clever approach to the framing of the episode.

Next scene, we’re in the large upstairs room of an inn, while a raucous party takes place below. Claire sits alone in her shift and corset, and then Jamie enters in his shirt and kilt. The fancy wedding attire is gone. Now it’s just the two of them, alone for the first time, with a job to do. As Jamie points out, everyone is downstairs waiting for them to make it “official”.

It’s awkward, to put it mildly. Claire is unhappy. Jamie is nervous (and sweet, and kind of shy). He drinks to “my wife, Claire Fraser” — and Claire starts to guzzle, glass after glass. It’s going to take a LOT of alcohol for her to loosen up.

Claire has questions for Jamie, starting with “Why did you agree to marry me?” Dougal forced her into it, but why did Jamie agree to go along with the scheme? Jamie’s response is classic Jamie: “I didna see I had much choice either.”

Flashback! Cut to a stable, with Jamie, Murtagh, Dougal, and Ned discussing the plan. Ned points out the legality of the matter. The marriage must be consummated right away, with witnesses (in the building, if not in the room) to say that it really happened. Jamie questions whether Claire knows about this part, and Murtagh points out that Dougal has said that he doesn’t support rape. “Not rape. Persuasion.” is Dougal’s reply. Dougal warns Jamie that he’d better not make any deals with Claire to say that it happened when it really didn’t, then goes on to say rather crudely how he himself thinks Claire would be great to, um, consummate with. Jamie takes offense and warns Dougal not to talk about his wife-to-be that way.

Dougal reminds Jamie what’s at stake. Claire took a punch from Black Jack Randall and still kept silent about the clan’s illegal Jacobite activities — but if she actually fell into BJR’s hands for prolonged questioning, there’s little chance she’d be able to withstand the interrogation. Jamie has to marry Claire to keep them all safe.

Back to the wedding chamber, where Jamie’s devotion and gallantry know no bounds:

“You have my name, my clan, my family, and if necessary, the protection of my body as well.”

Claire is moved, and there’s almost a first kiss — until Claire breaks off with only an inch between their lips to ask Jamie to “tell me about your family”. Jamie giggles, and they’re both just so cute and nervous. It’s a marvelous moment, followed by (according to the voice-over) several hours in which they exchange stories and drink, getting to know one another and breaking the tension.

After a rude but funny interruption by Rupert and Angus, who are dismayed to see that they both still have their clothes on, the two are alone again, and the awkwardness returns. Claire declares that it’s late, and they should probably go to bed.

“To bed, or to sleep?” inquires Jamie.

Jamie helps Claire undress, peeling off the layers of overskirt and hip pads, then unlacing (forever, it seems) her corset until she stands before him in just a plain shift. Her turn next — she undoes the buckles of his kilt and it falls to the ground. They kiss, and the passion builds. They fall to the bed, still in their shirts, and have a very quick first go at lovemaking. It’s over in a moment, clearly good for Jamie but not so much for Claire.

Awkwardness threatens to return, until Jamie chuckles and shyly reveals that he did not realize that it was done face to face like that — he thought it must be done from behind, like horses. Claire cracks up, and the ice is broken.

Jamie asks Claire whether she liked it, and she’s silent for a moment. Ah, he says, then Murtagh was right. He’d warned Jamie that women do not generally care for it.

A significant pause… and Claire tells him:

“I did like it, Jamie.”

Oh, the look on Jamie’s face! He looks so young, and so sweet, and so innocent.

Another humorous break of tension, as Claire decides to go get food, and the entire inn full of drunken clansmen cheers as the newlyweds step out of their room wearing just their nightclothes. Jamie sends Claire back inside and goes downstairs in his shirt (and apparently still has his boots on!), to much good-natured ribbing and some slightly less good-natured advice from Dougal, who commands Jamie to keep Claire waiting, as it’s no good to let a woman think she’s in control. Jamie wisely ignores Dougal’s instructions and rushes back to Claire, and the two enjoy some relaxed conversation over a snack.

Claire notices the Fraser tartan of Jamie’s kilt, lying in a heap on the floor, and wonders where he got it. More flashbacks! First, we see Jamie and Murtagh in a stable, where Murtagh has just arrived after traveling to a nearby village to find a Fraser widow who was willing to lend the kilt for a day. Murtagh thinks Jamie is daft to wear it, seeing how there’s a price on his head, but Jamie insists that he’ll get married under his own name and wearing the colors of his own clan. There follows a sweet conversation about Jamie’s mother, and it’s clear that Murtagh was sweet on her.

Jamie tells Claire that he had three conditions before agreeing to marry her, and we then get another series of terrific flashbacks:

FB #1: Jamie informs Dougal that he’ll marry Claire, but they must be “wed properly, in a church, before a priest.” The scene cuts to Dougal and Willy dragging a sick priest out of bed and threatening him at knife-point, finally bribing him into agreeing to perform the ceremony with the promise of new windows for his cold, falling-down church.

FB #2: Jamie wants a ring. The two stooges, Rupert and Angus, find a blacksmith to make a ring out of a key that Jamie has given them. The key to what? Jamie seems not to want to tell Claire right then.

FB #3: Jamie wants Claire to have a real wedding dress. In a rather hilarious scene, Ned visits the local brothel to see if he can find something suitable. Really, Ned? You’re shopping for a wedding dress in a whorehouse? The ladies fawn all over Ned, especially once they see how full his coin-purse is. The madam offers a dress that was left in the brothel by a gentleman as barter, never worn, then sends one of the girls to entertain Ned while she wraps it up for him.

How did Claire spend her day, Jamie wants to know. In response, Claire holds up a bottle. Yup, she drank the day away, and only remembers bits and pieces, other than being extremely hungover.

Finally, we come to the memories of the wedding itself. Claire and Jamie are stunning. Jamie tells Claire that seeing her was “as if I stepped ouside on a cloudy day and suddenly the sun came out.” Swoon.

He introduces himself formally to Claire, finally sharing his real name: James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. As they enter the church, Claire removes Frank’s gold wedding ring from her finger and places it in the bodice of her dress. The ceremony takes place — first the traditional vows, then the Gaelic vows, and then a kiss.

Back in their room once more, Claire tells Jamie to remove his shirt.

“I want to look at you.”

She circles him, admiring his body, and then undresses as well. They make love again, and this time Claire is verra into it. As Claire cries out, Jamie stops, worries that he’s hurt her, and Claire explains that no, that’s not what those noises mean. Jamie is immensely gratified to learn about female orgasm! Especially once Claire explains that it doesn’t always work that way — only if the man is a very good lover. Further intimate explorations ensue. These two are having a marvelous time, and sweet Jamie is very appreciative.

During a break in the action, as Jamie sleeps peacefully, Claire slips downstairs to the now deserted inn in search of more booze, and runs into Dougal. He’s just come back from seeing BJR and informing him of the marriage. BJR was quite pissed, but Dougal is sure he’ll leave them alone now. After all, he wouldn’t dare kidnap the wife of Colum’s nephew from Colum’s own lands. Claire turns to go, but Dougal stops her. He commends her for doing her duty, but suggests that now that that’s done, she can feel free to sample other pleasures. He finds her a most “singular” woman… but propositioning a new bride on her wedding night may not be Dougal’s most shining moment. She declines and heads back upstairs, and Dougal vents his frustration by punching a drunken Rupert for no good reason.

As Claire sits deep in thought, Jamie wakes up and comes to her, placing a long strand of pearls around her neck. They were his mother’s pearls, and now they’re for his wife. The two make love once again, and this time it’s clear that their emotions are involved. It’s tender and passionate, and we see the blossoming love on both of their faces.

The next morning, the two are cheerful as Jamie heads down for breakfast. Claire says she’ll be right there once she dresses and straightens up a bit. But as she shakes out her wedding dress, the gold ring tumbles out and rolls across the floor. Claire retrieves it, and places it back on her finger.

We close with Claire staring at her hands, each bearing a wedding ring from a different man. What has Claire done? What does this mean? How can she be married to both Frank and Jamie?

It’s a startling, profound moment at the close of a powerful, passionate episode.

Steam factor:

Yes! This episode is full of steam, passion, sparks, and fireworks. The three interludes of lovemaking show the progression of Claire and Jamie’s relationship, both from the physical and the emotional perspectives.

The first time, it’s sex. It’s Jamie’s first time ever, and it’s artless and fast.

The second time, it’s sexy and erotic, as both truly take pleasure in exploring one another and learning each other’s bodies. There’s a growing tenderness, as they’ve talked, shared secrets and laughter. Claire is more emotionally involved, having now spent a few hours learning more about Jamie and the care he took to make sure she was not just married, but married in a way that was meaningful and respectful and proper.

And the third time, it’s love. Claire is overwhelmed by the meaning behind the gift of the pearls. She’s opened herself emotionally to Jamie as well, and it’s clear now that the feelings are not one-sided. There’s a lovely moment this time around as Claire takes the fallen kilt and wraps it around both of them. It’s reminiscent of the very first episode, as Jamie wrapped his kilt around Claire as they rode on his horse. It symbolizes protection and caring, and by enfolding Jamie this way, Claire is demonstrating her desire to love and protect him, just as he’s done for her.

Fashion statements:

It’s all about the wedding clothes, really, but I’d be remiss in not mentioning how dapper Claire and Frank looked in the opening scene. I especially loved Claire’s jaunty little hat:

But, really and truly, the fashion in this episode is all about the wedding. Claire and Jamie both look magnificent. A thousand kudos to the design team for their outstanding work here.

Key points:

Major facts that the episode gets on the table:

• The marriage might have been arranged for legal purposes, but for Jamie, it’s real.
• Claire feels conflicted, but she’s also developing strong feelings for Jamie.
• Dougal lusts after Claire.
• Jamie is quite serious when he vows to protect Claire by any means necessary.
• The chemistry between Jamie and Claire is unexpected, but quite real.

Memorable lines:

After the first kiss in the wedding chamber:

Claire: “Where did you learn to kiss like that?”
Jamie: “I said I was a virgin. Not a monk.”

Claire’s voice-over, after making love with Jamie:

“There it was. Not only was I a bigamist and an adulteress, but I’d enjoyed it.”

The Gaelic wedding vows:

You are blood of my blood, and bone of my bone.
I give you my body that we two might be one.
I give you my spirit til our life shall be done.

Jamie, on presenting the pearls to Claire:

“They’re very precious to me — as are you, Claire.”

Character impressions:

Jamie, Jamie, Jamie. He’s on display in full splendour — not just his good looks, but his kind and protective soul. This episode solidifies all the various impressions that have been shown in bits and pieces so far: Jamie’s gallantry, bravery, devotion to family, honor, and willingness to lay down his life, if needed, for the sake of those he loves.

When Claire tells Jamie “I did like it, Jamie”, it’s a key character moment for Claire, and a turning point for their relationship. If she’d stayed silent, Jamie would have accepted that sex, for Claire, is a duty and would have been unlikely to press for more. They might have moved forward with their marriage as a business arrangement, in which they’ve both sealed the deal, and can now continue with their lives. But by telling him she liked it, Claire in essence is declaring that she’s in this relationship with Jamie, and that she cares, and feels. It’s a breakout, dramatic moment — a small line, but one that makes a huge difference in how they move forward together.

We see so deeply into Jamie and Claire’s souls here, and get new insights into their beliefs, their fears, and what makes them tick. They learn about each other on a whole new level, and make a connection that is rare and special.

Takeaway:

Wow. Just wow. Passion, love, loyalty, devotion. Steamy sexytimes. An arranged marriage that may just be a match made in heaven for the two people involved. And yet, danger. Conflict. Confusion.

This episode captures all of the highs and lows, and does it with grace and dignity. The sex isn’t hidden or prettied up — the first time feels like a first time, and it’s a rare thing for a TV show to offer a view of a developing sexual relationship, rather than instant fireworks with no work or effort involved. Jamie and Claire come together with nervousness and hesitation, but over the course of one long night, find a surprisingly strong connection that I don’t believe either expected.

Claire ends the episode in conflict, having almost lost sight of her first husband in the giddy rush of finding love and joy with her new husband. It all comes rushing back to her as she gazes upon the silver and gold of her two wedding rings.

Claire is at a crossroads, with two paths — one to the man in her past (which is the future), and one with the man before her in her present. With this episode, we get a strong, clear picture of what might hold Claire in the 18th century, even if the opportunity to leave becomes available.

Outlander, Season 1, Episode 6: “The Garrison Commander”

The official synopsis, courtesy of Starz:

Claire’s unexpected meeting with a British general turns tense when Captain Jack Randall arrives. Claire finds herself alone with Randall — a dangerous man determined to uncover her secrets.

My synopsis:

I am firmly convinced that this is one of the most powerful episodes of the series, and the first episode that really goes all-out to create a mood that builds and builds from start to finish. And in case I forget to say it later — this episode should have earned Caitriona Balfe an Emmy. Period.

Now then, the synopsis:

We open exactly where we ended the previous episode, with Dougal and Claire at a stream, surrounded by redcoats. Claire faces a moment of truth — ask for rescue by the British officers, and thereby bring violence and punishment upon the men she’s been traveling with, or deny that anything is wrong, and possibly miss out on her best chance for escape and an ultimate return to her own time?

After a tense moment, Claire smiles and thanks Lt. Foster for his concern, but reassures him that she’s a guest of Clan MacKenzie. He doesn’t seem terribly convinced, and states that his commanding officer would like to meet her. It’s less of an invitation that a non-optional order for her to accompany him, and Dougal insists on coming too:

“Well, if the lady goes, I go.”

Off they ride to the town of Brockton which, despite being a Scottish village, seems to have been taken over by British troops. Claire reflects that even though it’s a different century, there’s something familiar to her about being in company once again with the British army which she, in her own time, so recently was a part of. As they reach the town, Claire realizes that the shoe is on the other foot, as it’s Dougal who is now the “outlander” and she who fits in.

In the inn’s upstairs dining room, Claire is introduced to General Thomas and a gathering of officers, all sitting down to a sumptuous meal. Claire is invited to join them, and the General fawns all over Claire, complimenting her on her beauty and exclaiming over what a treat it is for them to have an “English rose” join them. The officers are rude and insulting toward the Scots, and mock Dougal’s accent (“damned offensive to the ear”) and appearance. He takes it all for a time, standing by Claire’s side in a posture of protection, until finally he’s basically kicked out. Dougal leaves with dignity, headed downstairs for some “good Scottish ale”.

The men seem enchanted by Claire, who tells her (make-believe) story of how she came to be stranded in the Highlands. General Thomas offers to have Claire escorted back to Inverness, and she’s delighted, so much so that she decides to have more wine. Uh oh. Claire has shown that she doesn’t hold herself together very well when she drinks. But all is well, right? Everything is set, she’s been promised an escort back on her journey, and the whole unfortunate Highland business is done. Right? Right? Oh, Claire.

Claire’s prospects take a decidedly downward turn with the sudden intrusion of Black Jack Randall, who bursts into the room full of dust and bluster, annoying the General no end. BJR is a man who is an obedient soldier while making his indifference and independence abundantly clear. He defers to the General at the same time that he makes it obvious that he has no respect for the man.

BJR and Claire recognize one another from their initial encunter, but both deny having met before. Tension mounts, particularly as BJR informs the group that a group of British soldiers has been attacked by a band of Scots. BJR dominates the room and the conversation, and skillfully plays Claire, maneuvering her emotions and subtly egging her on until she finally makes a statement that turns the room against her. He insinuates that Claire has been sleeping with Dougal, choosing “barbarians” over her own people, and Claire takes the bait, angrily denying his accusation and declaring that the Scots just want freedom:

“It is their land, and we are occupying it.”

Thud. Claire has really stepped in it. The General’s reply says it all: “I believe it is the king’s land.” He tells Claire that he finds her loyalties “extremely puzzling”. Without doing much of anything, BJR has won.

There’s a flurry from below — a man wounded in the ambush has been brought into the tavern, and Claire dashes downstairs to help. Dougal pulls Claire aside and tries to get her to leave. He saw Randall go upstairs and knows that the man is highly dangerous. Claire disregards Dougal’s attempt to take her away (foolish Claire) and insists on treating the injured man, who needs his arm amputated. Close-up on the arm. Ick.

By the time Claire makes it back upstairs, the situation has changed dramatically. All of the officers have left to deal with the recent ambush, and she walks in to find BJR sitting alone at the table with a very nervous corporal giving him a shave.

Flashback! Claire recognizes the straight-razor as the same one that she use to shave Frank. Now simply a tool belonging to BJR, it will become a 200-year-old family heirloom by the time it belongs to Frank.

Back to the dining room, where BJR scarily intimidates the young corporal before sending him out of the room, leaving Claire very much alone with a man she realizes is very dangerous to her well-being. He insists that she’s been lying to everyone, shows utter disdain for General Thomas, and informs Claire that she’s going nowhere until he gets the truth. She spins a sad story of being a woman who was a fool for love, following a lover to Scotland only to realize that what he felt was not love, but lust. Her heart has been broken, and she begs BJR to ask her no further questions, as she does not want to sink to her ex-lover’s level by exposing him to scandal and disgrace.

BJR isn’t buying it. He leaves Claire hanging while he sketches a drawing of her, then tells her it’s called “Beautiful Lies”. BJR is weirdly scary. He never raises his voice, but the danger is so clear. Finally, we come to the crux of the matter: BJR knows that the MacKenzies have been raising funds for the Jacobite cause, and wants Claire to give him proof. She insists that she has no knowledge of his, and has never seen them doing anything of the kind. If she will not comply with his demands, BJR tells her, “I shall be forced to use methods less pleasant than talk.”

Once again, Claire falls into his trap. NOOOOOOOO. Claire rises to the bait and says that she knows all about his “methods”, and that while at Castle Leoch she heard about a poor “Highland boy” who received 100 lashes upon 100 lashes. NOOOOOOO. Claire, stop! Don’t bring up Jamie! Wow, is BJR eager to jump into this topic. And now he knows that Jamie is with the MacKenzies.

This brings us to the centerpiece of the episode, in which BJR recounts to Claire the story of Jamie’s flogging. We’ve heard a brief mention from Jamie, but here we get the sordid, bloody details from the man who carried it out, and it’s scary and disgusting. In an extended flashback, we hear BJR’s narration as we see the events — Jamie chained to the whipping post in the courtyard, a crowd of Scots forced to bear witness (including Dougal and Jamie’s father), and the stubborn courage Jamie shows in the face of overwhelming fear, as his already destroyed back is subject to another round of flogging only days after he received the initial 100 lashes. It’s horrifying.

BJR is challenged, intrigued, and (we can surmise) aroused by the fact that Jamie takes so much abuse and pain without crying out. BJR is determined:

“I will break you.”

His language in describing the events is sickeningly full of wonder and awe:

“I was hurting him. The sheer judder of the whip coursing up my arm, exploding in to my heart.”

The flesh hangs from Jamie’s back. He can barely keep to his feet. But BJR’s words are a stark contrast to the horror:

“I could see the beauty. I saw the truth. That boy and I, we were creating a masterpiece. An exquisite, bloody masterpiece.”

Claire listens with tears streaming down her face, but insists to BJR that “it is not too late to win back your humanity”. She tells him there is hope yet for his soul, and that he can return to the goodness that must still be inside him. He seems to consider her words and take them to heart, offers her a hand to help her stand… and then sucker-punches her in the gut, leaving her gasping on the floor. He proclaims to Claire that he dwells in darkness, and that seems to be where he wants to remain. He calls his corporal into the room and orders him to kick Claire, which he does.

Dougal bursts in, scares off the corporal, and raises Claire to her feet, putting a protective arm around her. He’s going to take her away, but BJR says no… until Dougal threatens war on the spot if BJR tries to stand in their way. BJR backs down, and orders Dougal to bring Claire to Fort William by the following evening for further questioning, or he’ll hunt Dougal down and punish him and all the MacKenzies who get in the way, “even unto death.”

Dougal and Claire leave, and ride off on their horses as fast as they can. Dougal calls a stop by a hidden spring, and while Claire is drinking, asks her one more time if she is a spy for the English or French. Claire denies it, then sees that Dougal had been holding his dirk behind his back in case she gave the wrong answer. He can finally trust her, because this is St. Ninian’s spring, and if you drink from it and tell a lie, it will burn you from the inside out. Claire is still alive and well, so she must be telling the truth!

Claire is upset and believes the MacKenzies will have no choice but to turn her over to BJR, but Dougal tells her there’s another way. The British cannot compel a Scot from clan lands, so Claire needs to become a Scot. Huh? She must marry a Scot, and thereby become a Scot herself. What, marry Dougal? Nope, he chuckles. He might like the idea of having sex with Claire, but he’s not going to marry her — he has someone else in mind as the bridegroom.

In the final scene, we see Claire drinking (again!) while reading over a marriage contract. Jamie comes to sit by her side, and he seems perfectly willing to follow Dougal’s orders and marry Claire. Claire is unhappy, but sees no way out. She tries to get Jamie to change his mind or object, but he rationally responds:

“You’ve mended my wounds more than once. Besides, what kind of friend would I be if I left ye to that mad bastard Randall?”

All seems settled. All Claire can do at this point is keep drinking.

Steam factor:

The flashback scene to Claire shaving Frank — him shirtless, her in a sexy nightgown, all framed by an open window — is sweetly sexy and loving.

Fashion statements:

Claire wears that beautiful pleated green dress throughout this episode, with and without the shawl over her shoulders:

Her nightgown in the flashback scene is lovely (the picture doesn’t really do it justice):

Key points:

Major facts that the episode gets on the table:

• Black Jack Randall is a sociopathic, disgusting, amoral sadist.
• Basically, he’s the worst thing in the world.
• Like, rotten to the core.
• Jamie is brave, strong, and true, and has lived through hell.

Memorable lines:

Putting the emphasis on the positive, I’ll just include the concluding dialogue from the episode:

Claire: “Doesn’t it bother you that I’m not a virgin?”

Jamie: “Well, no. So long as it doesn’t bother you that I am. I reckon one of us should ken what they’re doing.”

Character impressions:

The sadistic nature of Black Jack Randall is revealed, and it’s horrifying and scary as hell. This is a bad guy way outside the typical TV versions of bad guys. Through quiet talk and intimidation, he does more damage to Claire than any show of force could.

Dougal is seen here as strong and defiant. Even as a man being mocked, he maintains his dignity and pride. He could easily have dumped Claire, but he takes on a protector role and won’t leave her to BJR’s mercy. Of course, we know as well that he has a vested interest in keeping Claire out of BJR’s hands. She’s seen a lot on their travels, and does know about their Jacobite activities. I don’t believe Dougal’s protection of Claire is only mercenary — he does need to keep her from informing on the MacKenzies, but he is also a gallant man who cannot abide seeing a woman abused so brutally.

Jamie is very matter-of-fact about the upcoming marriage, and seems to see it as the duty of a friend to marry a woman in need. He points out to Claire that he really has no marriage prospects, as no father would want a man with a price on his head as a husband for his daughter.

Takeaway:

This is a breathtaking episode, with all action centered around the table in the dining room. All events stem from that set piece, as Claire’s fortunes rise and then fall again over a brief period of time.

Claire is often described in the books as having a “glass face”, meaning that her emotions are always obvious to anyone looking at her, and Caitriona Balfe makes that so true in this episode. I absolutely believe that you could watch this episode with the sound muted and you’d still know exactly what was happening just by watching the changing expressions on her face. It’s an astounding performance.

As I said earlier, this episode has an intensity and dramatic arc throughout that build and build and build, a cohesive, powerful approach to storytelling that’s unlike anything we’ve seen before. It’s quite a masterpiece, and despite the lightness of the ending scene, the stakes are high and the danger is real.

From here, we know that there are two overarching stories to pay attention to: Jamie and Claire’s relationship, and the threat of Black Jack Randall. We may not see him again immediately, but we’re now on notice that BJR thrives on pain and would love nothing more than to continue to hurt and threaten Claire and Jamie.

Outlander, Season 1, Episode 5: “Rent”

The official synopsis, courtesy of Starz:

Claire joins the MacKenzie rent-collecting trip. To her horror, Dougal uses Jamie’s scars to gain sympathy for the Jacobite cause. Claire recalls that a defining moment in Scottish history is fast approaching.

My synopsis:

First things first — this is not what this episode is about:

Okay then…

This episode opens with a simply breathtaking shot:

The MacKenzies are on the road, traveling through MacKenzie land to collect rent from the tenants. Claire sees this trip as her best option for escape, but she’s watched constantly (and also has no real idea of where she is), so running off seems unlikely. The landscapes throughout this episode are stunning.

Claire recites a John Donne poem as she gazes across the loch, and is joined by a spry older man, the lawyer Ned Gowan. He seems like a kindred spirit, someone a bit apart from the Highlander hooligans, and they bond over poetry and Claire’s treatment for Ned’s allergies.

The group sleeps in tents and tells bawdy stories around campfires, using Gaelic to exclude Claire. Jamie treats Claire with kindness, reassuring her that no one hates her (except maybe Angus, who hates everyone), and urging her to just chill and not take offense.

When they reach a village, Ned sets up a table to tally the rent, which includes not only coins, but bags of wheat, goats, and pigs. Dougal is chummy with all the villagers, and Claire gets bored and wanders off. She meets a group of women engaged in waulking wool — using “hot piss” to set the dye. This is an amazing scene, showing the production’s efforts to include cultural moments from the history of the Highlands.

The women sing as they work, and Claire joins in. (I couldn’t help worrying about her pretty dress!) Check out the song from the Outlander soundtrack:

There’s trouble, though. Angus is “pissed” (ha!) that Claire wandered off and drags her back to the men, who are preparing to move on. Claire is angry at her treatment and acts out, trying to return a goat given as rent to a family who needs the milk for their baby. As a major confrontation with Dougal ensues, a young man with an English accent approaches, asking if Claire needs assistance. He’s outnumbered by the clansmen, who send him packing. Later, we see him don a red coat — he’s an English officer.

In a tavern that night, Claire witnesses what will become a repeated events during their travels. Dougal gives an impassioned speech to the gathered villagers (in Gaelic, of course, so Claire has no idea what he’s saying). The climax comes when Dougal rips the shirt off Jamie’s back, displaying his horrifying scars to one and all — which inspired the people present to hand over coins to Dougal and Ned. Jamie looks upset. He hates being used that way. Claire is disgusted. From what she can see, Dougal is using Jamie’s back as a way to scare the people into paying protection money. Basically, she believes he’s stealing money and hiding it from Colum. Her opinion of Dougal and the rest of the MacKenzie group plummets.

At the next camping site, Claire continues to sit apart from the men, filled with anger. She refuses the food she’s handed, accusing the men of thievery, causing a meltdown by Angus. Claire is hurt and upset, and Jamie tries to calm her down, cautioning her not to judge what she doesn’t understand.

As the rent party continues on the road, they encounter the Watch — a group of Scots who extort money from people in order to protect them from Redcoats. Anyone who doesn’t pay up gets punished, like by having their houses burned down. Jamie makes himself scarce. Murtagh explains to Claire that since Jamie has a price on his head, if the Watch sees him and realize that he’s wanted, they’d turn him over in a second in order to get the reward.

Later, there’s a harrowing sight — two Highlanders crucified along the roadside with the letter T, for traitor, carved into their chests. Clearly, they’ve been killed by redcoats and left there as a warning sign. The group cuts the men down and buries them. At the next stop, when Dougal again launches into his speech and collects payment, Claire finally recognizes the Gaelic phrase for “Long Live the Stuart” — and realizes that Dougal isn’t a thief… he’s a Jacobite. Dougal is collecting money for the uprising aiming to restore the Stuarts to the throne.

Flashback: Claire remembers visiting the Culloden battlefield memorial with Frank, as he explains the battle of Culloden in 1746, which was a devastating defeat that essentially spelled the end of the Highlander clans and culture. As Claire looks again at her traveling companions, she realizes that the battle at Culloden is coming in only three years, and that all of these men could be slaughtered. She tries to warn Ned, telling him that the Rising will fail — but he responds coldly, telling her that it’s just her opinion.

Culloden memorial

The group sleeps at the tavern, and Claire finally has a room to herself, a change from sleeping out of doors. She hears a noise, goes to investigate, and trips over Jamie, who is sleeping on the floor outside her room. (2nd episode in a row where she trips over Jamie. These two are adorable.) He explains that the men are drunk and rowdy, and that after Dougal’s performance, Sassenachs like her aren’t exactly popular. Basically, he’s there to protect Claire. Awwwww. She tells him to at least sleep in her room, rather than in the hallway, and he’s aghast at the idea of sleeping in the same room as her because it would damage her reputation. Claire seems amused, and practically twinkles at him.

Next morning, there’s a huge brawl in the tavern. Turns out that a neighboring table of men have been talking trash about Claire, and her gang isn’t having it. They look like they’re having a blast during the fight. Claire patches up the scrapes and bruises, and is touched to realize they’ve been defending her. Later, she jokes with the men and seems to finally be accepted by them. Jamie looks pleased as punch to see Claire and the men laughing together.

Finally, at the next stop, Claire goes off to wash in the stream and Dougal follows her, again demanding to know her secrets. Ned has told Dougal about Claire’s predictions about the failure of the Jacobite cause, and Dougal’s suspicions about Claire are fired up all over again. In the midst of their confrontation, the redcoat they’d encountered earlier shows up, this time in full uniform and with a bunch of other men, all fully armed and on horseback. Lt. Foster asks Claire once more if she needs assistance. Dougal and Claire are surrounded, and all Dougal can do is wait to see how Claire will answer.

“Tell me madam – are you here by own your own choice?”

Close-up on Claire’s face and… scene! We end on a cliffhanger moment — will Claire stick with the MacKenzies, or will she ask to be rescued, which would surely result in violence for the men? Stay tuned!

Steam factor:

No actual steam in this episode, but there were sparks! Jamie seems to be taking on a protector role around Claire, keeping an eye out for her and reining her back in when she makes the men angry. He’s made it clear that he’ll keep her safe if it’s in his power to do so.

In the scene by Claire’s door, she hands him a blanket and their hands touch briefly — and yes, there was definitely some electricity in their connection at that moment.

Fashion statements:

Claire’s traveling coat is so lovely, and we also see her in this capelet (which has caused its own little fashion stir on Etsy and elsewhere):

Claire’s traveling clothes are simple yet beautiful, and her accessories include her fichu and more mitts (again, tons available on Etsy — this show has done wonders for crafters!):

We also get our first glimpse of Claire’s green pleated dress and the shawl she wears over it, which we’ll see a lot of in the next episode:

(For more on the amazing costumes of Outlander, I’d recommend checking out costume designer Terry Dresbach’s blog, http://www.terrydresbach.com).

Key points:

Major facts that the episode gets on the table:

• The Jacobite cause is heating up. The redcoats are abusive toward the Highlanders, and the resentment is growing.
• The Watch is a dangerous group. Cross them at your own peril.
• Claire is disturbed by her knowledge of the future, and fears what will happen to the people she’s come to know.
• Jamie is upset by how Dougal uses his scars for his own purposes, but remains obedient to his uncle for now.

Memorable lines:

Dougal to Claire: “Stop your havering, woman.”

Jamie to Claire: “What’s got into you, woman?”

Dougal in the tavern (in Gaelic): “Long live the Stuart!”

Jamie to Claire in the inn:

“Sleep in  your room? With you? I couldn’t do that. Your reputation would be ruined.”

Murtagh, after the brawl in the inn:

“You’re a guest of the MacKenzie. We can insult you. But God help any other man that does!”

Character impressions:

Once again, we see amazing character development for Dougal, who has quickly become one of the most fascinating characters on the show. Dougal is vulgar and funny with his men, telling bawdy tales around a fire. He’s warm toward the MacKenzie tenants, acknowledging each by name, with a personal comment for all. He’s a fierce orator, rousing group after group with tales of redcoat abuse, drumming up support for the Jacobite cause. He may be harsh and suspicious with Claire, but he has a tender side too, returning the wheat and other goods paid in rent by a village that had a bad year, making sure everyone can feed their families.

Claire doesn’t always come across in the best light in this episode. She’s allowing her prejudices and modern-day opinions to color her views of the men of the traveling party. They may be excluding her, but she’s also alienating them by being so judgmental and scornful. It’s Jamie who gives her the wake-up call she needs by cautioning her not to judge what she doesn’t understand. By the episode’s end, Claire seems more open toward viewing the good of these men, and in return, they begin to accept her as belonging to them.

This episode also introduces two fun characters, Ned Gowan and the young clansman, Willie. Both can be counted on to be entertaining whenever they pop up in future episodes.

Takeaway:

This is the first episode that really brought the politics of the Jacobite rebellion to the foreground, and the first episode (I believe) in which Claire directly tries to warn someone to change a course of action because of her knowledge of future events. It’s ironic that by the episode’s end, she seems to have begun to gain the trust of the men who disliked her at the start, while she’s also alienated the one person, Ned Gowan, who started out as an ally.

This episode also shows a growing connection between Claire and Jamie. Claire seems to realize that Jamie will help her if he can, and Jamie follows through on his promise from the very first episode to protect her. The attraction between the two remains unacknowledged, but it’s certainly there.

Final takeaway: Scotland is gorgeous.