Fair warning first:
When we left our dear characters last time, Jamie Fraser was being exiled along with Dougal and he told Claire to not go around Geillis Duncan, who had just killed her husband. But as this is Claire Fraser and not a biddable, obedient wife, the first thing she does when receiving a note from Geillis is go to her. Turns out that the note was merely a ruse and she and Geillis were both being put in a cart, headed to the thieves hole for being witches and Laoghaire was smiling like the cat that got the cream.
The show opens with Geillis and Claire being thrown into said thief hole. Of course, Claire is not having this shit. She's rightfully pissed off at Laoghaire and frightened. I mean, she's from the 1940s, no doubt she's heard about the Salem Witch Trials. People were hanged for nothing or pressed with rocks in order to confess. She and Geillis are not espcially amiable at this point. At first Geillis is a total bitch. Claire is astonished that the woman has the nerve to fault her and they get into a big row. Claire is having none of it. It's not her fault after all. Geillis was the one who was making potions and selling ill wishes and dancing naked in the woods, humping mother nature. How in hell is it Claire's fault that she's bat shit crazy?
Claire also isn't afraid to call her out on murdering her husband and Geillis just shrugs it off.
"Oh I've been poisoning him with arsenic but it wasn't working..." Basically what she says. For shame Geillis. For shame. Even if he wasn't that appealing a man to look at, he wasn't the worst husband I imagine. Claire shakes her head in disgust then tries to use her position as Jamie's wife to get her way out but it's no use. She's stuck.
Geillis is convinced that all will be well, that Dougal will come for them but guess what Geillis? Guess what? Colum banished him and Dougal and Jamie left without you two so you guys are well and truly stuck. So they are left to spend the night in a filthy, rat ridden hole with only some bread to eat and it doesn't look the least bit appetizing. Especially after falling on the floor where no doubt rat shit and e. coli live in harmony.
In the morning, the trial began. The pyre is being built and Geillis gives a great line.
Claire: "Is that what I think it is?"
Geillis: "Well it's not a maypole Claire..."
Me: -giggles-
Despite the severity of the situation, it's always good for a laugh, especially when everyone is crying Burn the Witches.
The court is packed, everyone's ready to see these two witches burned at the stake for daring to cast spells and call upon the devil. Whore, witch, bitch, the crowd cries. It looks bad but then Ned Gowan appears like a chicken legged man of the law, come to be Geillis' and Claire's lawyer but not before saying that this trial is illegal. Oh yeah, it's illegal under English Law but not under the Law of the Holy Mother Church. Good old Catholicism. One would think witch burnings went out of style in the 1600s but guess we're wrong.
So begins the trial. The servant that worked for Geillis, the woman who left her changeling babe in the wood, both of whom Ned manages to sway away as proper witnesses. Good man Ned. Good man. Then this man came forward saying Geillis was summing thunder and lightening and she was taking off like a bird. Well that's the end of day one. Colum wants Geillis and Claire out of the way, if what Ned says is to be believed and so it's another night in the hole.
Claire has some optimism but Geillis is like, do you not understand? They want us set up on that pyre like a pig on a spit. Roasted until crispy. We find out that Geillis wants to support Prince Charles and is a Jacobite like Dougal. Which is how the two of them became lovers. She does not admit to loving Dougal but it's completely obvious. Claire apologizes to her, but Geillis is to strong to ever have anyone give her pity.
Morning comes and the two have mended and become strong friends but this day of trial looks to be worse than the last. Things were going so well but we didn't count on two very important witnesses. Number one being, that beautiful sixteen year old bitch Laoghaire. She admits to placing an ill wish, and admits to buying potions. Even though Laoghaire gets called a jealous heartbroken bitch (essentially) it's Claire that's taken the blame for it. She plays the victim so very very well and gets the court to sympathize with her and all I want to do is wring her bloody neck. Honestly I don't think the weight of the situation really resonates with her. She just wants Claire out of the picture so she can have Jamie all to her lonesome.
The next strong witness against them is Father Bane. Remember him? "I smell the vapors of hell on you". Yeah him. Oh he's good. Really really good. He manages to convince the entire court that Claire's the worst of the worst. It started out sounding really good but it's a manipulative ploy meant to convince the court that she some how managed to hold her power over him and get him to retire. "She's a witch! She's managed to turn the Reverend away from God! Used her wiles on him! She's a witch!"
"Witch! Witch, you're a Witch!" Think about the movie Practical Magic and those mean kids yelling at the two girls. That's what I'm reminded of with this scene.
So with the Reverend's expert manipulation things come to a head. They both know they are going to be burned but Ned steps in, manages to give them a few moments alone before they are sentenced and carried off at the stake. Ned tells Claire to betray Geillis. She can convince the court that witchcraft caused her to do all she's done and for a moment Claire considers it. Then comes the best line of the entire episode.
"Looks like I'm going to a fucking barbeque!"
All hope is lost. Or so Geillis thinks. Claire however, is now besties with her and will not see her burn by herself on that pyre. When Ned speaks for her, she declines to confess to anything or to blame anyone, determined to die with her friend. Admirable indeed. Even if Geillis is a murderer. So the court agrees that both of them are witches and "Thou shalt not suffer a witch to live." Ned decides to go bat shit crazy, and try to protect them. He brings out his pistol and waves it around and Geillis starts to speak the number 1968. What the fuck does 1968 mean?
Claire goes insane after they hurt Ned. She calls them all murderers. They are all going to burn in hell and because she dare say Catholics are going to hell (especially as she is a convicted witch) they decide she needs a good whipping.
And then there is Laoghaire as Claire is getting prepped to feel the cut of a lash. "I shall dance upon your ashes!" she says with so much glee I want to fucking kill her. I'm no longer a sympathizer. She can go to hell in a handbasket. I'll hand deliver her myself.
It's during this whipping that our handsome hero arrives. Finally! In comes Jamie, swords at the ready, rescuing his wife from the horror of being burned alive. I jumped off the seat and cheered! Thank God and all that's holy for Jamie Fraser. -Crosses myself-. Geillis then decides to create a diversion. She reveals her smallpox scar and calls it the devils mark (hey look the title to the episode). She sacrifices herself, says that it was all her fault and even as Claire tries to defend her, knows it's no use. Geillis is carried toward the pyre and Claire and Jamie set out, away from mob and to safety. I'm just very glad that we didn't watch Geillis burn on screen.
Some time later, Jamie and Claire are in the woods, Jamie tending to her wounds. Jamie asks her to tell him the truth about herself and she does. Every single detail that led up to the moment they met. He looks so shocked, takes it all in. Surely he doesn't believe her right? I sure as hell wouldn't believe her. Let's be honest. If someone told you they fell through time by touching some stones, would you believe them? I didn't think so.
Jamie however, after pondering, says he believes her. That she isn't mad. He looks incredulous that he does believe her but he trusts her. And trust is a truth between them. This is a pivotal moment. He's just been told something insane and yet he promises to trust and believe her. That my friends, is amazing. He's already denied normality and the status quo by promising to treat her as his equal, to never lay a hand on her again and now he's going against the grain once more, trusting what she says. He even feels such guilt at "beating" her for wanting to go back to her husband. What a man eh. For all of you people who were so quick to hate his character, look at him now? This is the Jamie you love. He is a man of honor, not prone to perfection, flawed but wonderful. And this is the Jamie Fraser that I love. The flawed, handsome, beautiful Jamie Fraser that Sam Heughan makes my heart break over.
Claire: Do you really believe me?
Jamie: Aye. I believe you Sassenach. Though it would of been a good deal easier if you'd only been a witch.
All done, they began to travel. Then there comes a scene of such intimacy. There's not even any nudity. She's sleeping and he wakes her by stroking her between her legs and when she begs for him to come into her body, he says that he only wants to watch. People have been saying that this show has been vulgar and edging on pornography so far as the sex between Jamie and Claire but I've never seen it as pornography. That said there is nothing more poignant than this moment when he's giving her pleasure and taking none for himself. I feel as though I'm peaking into a world of two people who love each other deeply and wholly. It's more stirring than any other intimate scene between them.
When the next day comes, we find out they are back at the stones and even though it kills him, he is willing to send her back to her husband. He's willing to let her go. He wants her happy and safe and back where she belongs. It must of been the hardest thing for him to do and before she touches the stones, he stops her, unable to help himself. He needs that one last touch. That one last kiss before he lets her go and then leaves, saying he'll stay at the camp until he's sure she's safe.
Claire sits there for hours, pondering and pondering her choices. Frank or Jamie? Which is the right choice between them? Staying in the past, or returning to her future? It must not of been easy. The camera pans toward the stones and then we are left staring at Jamie as he sleeps. Then her voice comes out of the darkness.
"On your feet Soldier."
Jamie rouses with a start, he sees her and he cries and dammit, I'm crying with him. I never cry when I watch TV shows but this moment was so perfect, so raw and emotional, I can't help but feel my heart aching. The fact that he had been willing to give her up, only for her to come back to him, and the sheer joy on his face. It was heartbreakingly wonderful. You're definitely going to use a box of tissues even watching it a second time. I know I did. It's the best episode yet just for the last ten or so minutes. Hell the last two minutes are the best when he realizes that she chose him.
It was in this moment in the books that she realized that she loved Jamie and it doesn't make her love for Frank any less but it just proves that Jamie is her soulmate, the other half to herself.
Drying my eyes, I'm so emotionally raw I can't even think straight but I can't wait to go to Lallybroch with them. This was a heavy episode, and very emotional and this is definitely one they should submit to the Emmy's to give them all nominations. They all deserve them. I can't wait to see you all next week.
Until then my fellow Outlanders.
(Show Still Credits: Starz/Showcase)
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