Outlander Season 2: Episodes 5 & 6: Best Laid Schemes Go Asunder

Hello all! 

First off I do want to apologize to the loyal readers for my lack of a review last week. I've been having a lot of issues at home and I've actually been dealing with quite a bit of a financial crisis and seemingly hit after hit of bad luck. So thanks all for being so patient with me. So consider this a double episode review and what a review it is.

I have to say that these two episodes were certainly intense and in their own ways. We saw the re-emergence of the disgusting Black Jack Randall and the repercussions of that, as well as the strain of responsibility Jamie is under in trying to prevent Bonnie Prince Cry-Baby from getting necessary funds to run his uprising and build an army.  All of the relationships explored in these two episodes show their strengths and weakness.

Episode 5 had two great stand out moments. The first being when Black Jack comes back into the picture. The friction of that moment, followed with King Louis' subsequent humiliation of Black Jack left me tense and at the same time in a fit of giggles. I don't think I've seen anything quite as satisfying as Jack being forced to his knees to beg, only to be called a fool and be laughed at for it. Ah. That disgusting piece of crap deserved it and the best part was seeing the smiles on the faces of our dear Jamie and Claire as they looked on his humiliation with glee.

The scene was certainly more intense than it might have been considering that Jamie and Jack could do absolutely nothing to each other for they were in the presence of the King and as it has been noted before, drawing a blade, or any weapon in the presence of the king is a death sentence. Richard Kahan, the writer of Episode 5, I think has done the best job this season. He gets it. He totally understand Jack's character, Jamie's and Claire's and the writing was absolutely superb.

The second scene of Episode 5 that I thought was worthy of note was the final scene between Jamie and Claire when Claire forces Jamie to choose to wait to kill Black Jack because she knows that in the Family Bible, Jack has to marry Mary Hawkins and have a child with her. That child has to happen in order for her husband from the future, Frank, to be born. The intensity in that scene is palatable. Jamie's anger, though rather restricted is shown well in the stiffness of his body and on his face. He eventually agrees to wait a year before he kills Black Jack and when she reaches for him and he snatches back, recoils, it's a stab to Claire's heart. Mine too.

It's Sam Heughan's best acting since Wentworth. I know heaps of praise gets placed on Caitriona Balfe and Tobias Menzies but when Sam Heughan is given material to work with that highlights his acting skills, he definitely puts them to work and this scene highlights his great skill of using facial expressions and his eyes to convey more than what his words do. You can feel the anger, feel the hurt and betrayal coming forth with a single look in Claire's direction. Bravo Sam. bravo. All the awards. Maybe the Emmys and Golden Globes will show you some attention this season where they certainly didn't last year.

Episode Six: Best Laid Schemes... is perhaps more action packed but up until the last few minutes, less impactful than what happened in Episode 5. Even so there were plenty of moments to make you smile, and even crack a little laugh. We have Jamie and Murtagh trying to ensure that the wine that will be used to make money for the Jacobite cause  is never delivered. Murtagh even posing as a Highwayman which I'm thinking the Comte might be aware of. Murtagh's French isn't exactly impeccable and when he mentions how it was probably a set up, Charlie of course defends Jamie for it.

Of course, losing the wine and the money that he would have gained from it, makes Bonnie Prince Charlie cry and honestly, it's the highlight of the whole episode to see that man be a little crybaby and have to possibly go to, of all places, POLAND! It was a much needed laugh because the last minutes of the episode are even more intense, and heart breaking than the last moments of the episode before.

Bonnie Prince Crybaby

Jamie had gone to the brothel to settle Prince Charlie's debts and Fergus, the adorable little pick pocket, had gone into an open room and found some lavender oil. Liking the smell, he'd stuck it in his pocket and the camera had panned onto a British Officer's Uniform. Which of course, revealed the room to belong to Black Jack Randall.

When Claire returns home after staying the night at the hospital, she discovers a note, and a house full of frantic servants trying not to tell her that Jamie has gone to the woods to duel Black Jack. There is a note from Jamie apologizing and Claire is left reeling as to why he would break his promise. Not even the audience knows why he broke his promise, only that Fergus and Black Jack Randall are somehow involved.

The dueling scene between Jack and Jamie is already underway when Claire finally makes it there. We can hear Jack trying to get a rise out of Jamie asking "How could she forgive you?" to Jamie and I think it's because Jack knew well, that he had managed to break Jamie's will back at Wentworth and hopes to get under Jamie's skin. Jamie manages to get a stab to the crotch area of Jack and we can only hope and pray the man's junk was permanently damaged, especially just show watchers who haven't read the books.

It is after Jack is stabbed that the Gen d' Arms arrives to arrest them for their illegal dueling and when Jamie finally notices Claire who is in the middle of a very harsh miscarriage. When he calls to her, tries to get to her, and is unable to, the grief, the fear for her safety is palatable. In Season One, Episode Nine: The Reckoning, he states how seeing her and being unable to do anything, was like tearing his guts out and in that moment, you can see how he can't do anything to get to her. He's helpless to aid his pained wife and we're left with Claire calling out to Jamie, and fading into darkness. It's heartbreaking, and now we have to wait a week to see the outcome of that. Needless to say, for you show watchers, I'd recommend a box or three of kleenex. You're going to need it.

Also we are selling t-shirts here at Outlander Sassenach. Shirts are 20 bucks plus 3.99 shipping and handling. The link is below and the campaign for selling them ends on May 22nd, 2016 so be sure to order quickly before time runs out! Various colors, sizes and shirt styles available.

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Top Ten Moments of Season One: James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser

Welcome once more to a top ten countdown in relation to season one of Outlander. Thanks to the success of the Top Ten List on Claire Moments, I have decided to dedicate an entire series of top ten lists. This will be a top ten list of Jamie's best moments, and will be followed by top humorous moments and then top moments overall. Outlander certainly has become my passion over the past two years and nothing was perhaps more satisfying then seeing Jamie Fraser come to life. Sam Heughan, really has done a bang up job as the leading man, and it was an absolute joy to see him on screen. Before I get into this top ten list, I'm going to ask what your favorite funny moments, and favorite moments overall in the show were.

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Now, onto the list!

#10 - "So long as I'm with you." Castle Leoch, S1E02

Jamie's character has always been strong, compassionate and as hot headed as Claire. The tender moments he shows Claire are honestly some of the best in the show. This is one of them. After a long ride, and a few scratches, Claire's meltdown prompts him to just hold her close and let her cry about her husband. He whispers calming soothing words in her ear and offers her a much needed shoulder to cry on. And then promises her that so long as he is around, he'll keep her safe but is also sure to remind her that she's an English woman and to be careful all things considered. Poignant, touching and wonderful, a true mark of Jamie's character.

#9 - "I guess that means you're coming with me." Sassenach, S1E01

We first get our eyes full of Jamie Fraser in the first episode and the best moment, for me, from the first moment is when he judges Claire's character accurately enough to call her bluff. He catches her running away from the men and informs her that if she doesn't come with him willingly, he'd pick her up, throw her over his shoulder and carry her back. She of course, doesn't want him to do that, and so he replies with that cocky grin. "Weel, I guess that means you're coming with me." It's the first glimpse we have of Jamie's ease of humor and wit (though, my one woe is how little of it we truly saw in the show, compared to the books, but that's another blog post altogether). It's a testament to Sam's acting to pull off ruthless and charming at the same time.

#8 - A Trip to the Snackbar. By the Pricking of My Thumbs, S1E10

Another humorous, and definitely sexy moment in the show, is Jamie waking Claire up with a bit of loving. And it's glorious, especially when Murtagh's trying to break down the damn door. There isn't really much to this scene in the form of substance, but it was super sexy and he was such a gentleman to let her finish. I don't know, I just like this moment because it's a rare tv moment for the focus to be on the woman's pleasure and woman's pleasure alone and honestly, Jamie certainly seems to satisfy her on screen.And what woman wouldn't want a man that saw to her needs before his own every now and then.

#7 -Fixing the Mill. Lallybroch, S1E12

In one of his more humorous scenes, Jamie wakes up with a hangover after playing Laird of Lallybroch the night before and finds out the mill is broken. Determined to fix the issue himself, we once more get that wry wit of his and well, a decent glance at his backside. While humorous, it's also a bit of a nail biter because the redcoats show up while he's fixing the mill. It's also the first time that Jenny sees the scars left by the floggings he received at the hands of Black Jack Randall. Which brings us to my next favorite Jamie moment.

#6 - Facing the Flogging. The Garrison Commander S1E06 & Lallybroch S1E12

Not many men who have received 100 lashes live to tell the tale. That same number probably would take the offer that Black Jack offered than take the punishment. Jamie's bravery certainly takes center stage. We first see the flogging scene in The Garrison Commander but the back story behind that scene takes place in Lallybroch. Jamie explains that he didn't want to have another flogging, but he couldn't dare imagine giving her body to Black Jack to spare himself the feel of the cat o nines again and that to do so, his father might think less of him. It is a strength of character, but it is also Jamie's tried and true stubborness.

#5 - The Oath Taking. The Gathering, S1E04

Thanks to Claire's shenanigans, Jamie finds himself in quite a dilemma. He has to swear an oath of fealty to his Uncle Colum at the gathering. If he doesn't pledge, the clansmen will kill him. If he does pledge, his Uncle Dougal will kill him. Quite the pickle I'd say. Regardless, Jamie's ability to think lightly on his feet grants him a perfect way of swearing fealty, but also ensuring that he is not killed by Dougal. It's eloquent, on point and perfectly encapsulates Jamie's intelligence.

#4 - "Fair is fair." The Wedding, S1E07

By far, one of the best episodes of the season finally gave Jamie the limelight. After six episodes of being a passive character in the background, he came to center stage as the virginal young man who thought that sex was done the back way. The best moment for me, during this whole episode was right after Claire explores his nakedness and then he counters that it's just as fair for him to ogle her. I could of went with a million moments in this episode that were poignant, funny or ultra romantic, but I think this statement really sets the tone for that second and much for satisfying sex scene in the whole episode. He was cocky, self assured and damn if it wasn't sexy as hell to watch.

#3 - The Spanking Scene. The Reckoning, S1E09

On the previous list, I included the argument between Jamie and Claire and highlighted it as one of Claire's best moments. I would of liked to duplicate it in this but decided to give you this moment instead. Now this has to be the most dividing scene of the entire season. People like me, who grew up in a house where a spanking with a belt was considered proper punishment, sort of laugh and giggle through it, especially since Claire's reactions are so similar to us bargaining kids doing anything to get out of it. I thought it showed that while Jamie is strong, he is a man who is also from a different time. A time where corporal punishment is the norm. And it's because this scene is so divisive to different audiences, that I decided to place it on this list.

#2 - Jamie's Acceptance of Claire's Story. The Devil's Mark, S1E12

Picture it. Your significant other, whom you love deeply, has just told you that s/he is a time traveller and is 200 years from the future. I bet most of us in that given situation, would just smile awkwardly, pick up the phone and call the local psychiatric hotline. We wouldn't believe it. What a crazy ass story right? But Jamie, dear sweet Jamie, actually believes her. He doesn't understand it, but he believes her all the same. If that is not a testament to true love, I don't know what is.

#1 - Jamie Offers his Body in Exchange for Claire's Safety. Wentworth Prison, S1E15

Perhaps one of the most heartbreaking scenes, and a true showing of Jamie's love for Claire, is when he offers himself up in exchange for the safety of his wife. He is already beaten, bruised and tortured but none of that matters. Even when Black Jack Randall drives the nail into his hand, he doesn't waver in what he means to do, even though he knows the steep cost. It is heartbreaking, watching the weight of his decision cross his features after Claire is gone, but that doesn't stop him from comforting her when BJR sends her away. He doesn't let her see how scared he is. He is the perfect embodiment of strength and vulnerability and it is one of the most devastating scenes of the entire season, and also the one scene that resonated the most with me overall.

So what were your favorite Jamie moments?

Portraying Rape: Outlander VS Game of Thrones

So I want to address a certain group of people who are crying out about the rape on Outlander versus Game of Thrones. As we all know, this season, Game of Thrones showed a non-cannon rape against Sansa Stark. There was outrage about this. I was one person that was outraged about the backward character development and shock-value violence against a woman on screen. Game of Thrones is all about violence and politics and has had a lot of gratuitous rape scenes not cannon to the books (Daenerys and Drogo on screen, Jaime and Cersei Lannister in Season Four). This rape of a main character was obviously a last straw for several people. There was reason for the outrage. It was seen as a lazy plot device meant to further along the story of Theon Greyjoy and ten steps back for Sansa Stark. Now people are complaining that Outlander fans who complained about the Sansa rape should be decrying the rape shown on screen of Jamie Fraser by Black Jack Randall. Calling those of us that aren't rallying against it, hypocrites. Why? Because we aren't screaming out about it.

The thing is, what happens between Black Jack Randall and Jamie Fraser is in the books. It's described in great detail, all of the things that happen between these two men. In the books, it was very visceral and difficult to get through. It was disturbing and gut wrenching. It was sob-worthy. It was also very key to the character of Jamie Fraser, who is influenced by this event for the rest of the series, most especially in book two, three, and four. It was cannon where the Sansa scene was not.

I think the real issue is, while Game of Thrones used a gratuitous scene of sexual violence against a woman, the focus was not on the victim, but rather on the man forced to watch the exchange. The camera did not show the graphic depiction of the horror taking place for Sansa Stark, instead focusing on the tears rolling down Theon/Reek's cheeks at being forced to watch the exchange. He was the victim we were supposed to consider in that episode. Not Sansa Stark. Her rape was just a plot device to further Theon's story. 

Outlander handled rape differently. Instead of just panning away, it shoved it down our throats. It showed us how rapists get off on the power they have over their victims. It showed BJR trotting away from a broken and shattered Jamie with a look of satisfaction on his face. It showed BJR breaking Jamie down piece by piece by piece. Not only did it show the power of BJR, but it showed the vulnerability of Jamie. Sansa Stark's character was very weak in the beginning, spoiled, selfish and impulsive and she was on her way to becoming stronger before being victimized yet again in one of the worst ways a woman can be victimized. Jamie is shown as strong and manly and stubborn from the very beginning. From what I can tell this episode was meant to show how even strong men, who are stubborn and proud can be broken down and waste away into a shell of their former selves. It shows how rape, at it's most violent, can utterly destroy someone. Unlike nearly every other rape scene on television, it shows the gritty repercussions of what rape can do to it's victim. The haunting looks, the PTSD, the emotional and physical trauma of losing your will, and having someone else degrade you in the worst way possible.

You will get no outrage from me over what happened in Outlander. It was in the books and honestly, while terrible and horrible and disturbing, I knew that it was something that had to happen. Honestly though, it was handled better than what I thought it might. To take  that scene from the books and barely look at it, or pan over it quickly, cheapens that scene somehow. By showing it so much, by showing the screams and the torture and the breakdown, we are deeply affected by it. Jamie is deeply affected by what's happened to him, and by seeing it, we too, are left with that impression of him losing control and losing his pride and his strength. We understand how truly horrible he was treated, and his reasons for wanting to end his life.

If it had been handled differently, it might well of been a joke. Just like male on male rape has been treated as a joke in the past (think the jokes made about Deliverance). Hell, even male on male love scenes are poked fun at or treated with disgust by some of it's audience (outrage over homosexual scenes in Game of Thrones, and movies like Brokeback Mountain). It's very difficult for viewers to poke fun at this, to make light of it. And in a way that's good. From what I have seen, sexual assault victims of both genders, have said the scene portrayed is very similar to how they felt. That it was a terrible thing to watch, and perhaps triggering to some, but ultimately they appreciated it because it was a very honest representation of their own personal nightmares and was not treated lightly. 

So there will be no outrage from me for the honest portrayal of how rape affects it's victim. There was nothing gratuitous in this finale episode of Outlander. The violence and the rape, necessary if not hard to get through. It was a very real depiction of rape and violence. And for non-book readers, we tried to warn you without giving it away. We understand that you might want to not watch any more after this, that it might be to much for you. But for us fans of the books, it's part of the story. A necessary evil that was explored in a very respectful and honest way. At least that is my humble opinion on the matter.

Don't call us hypocrites though, for not crying out in rage and anger over the depiction of rape when we did so in Game of Thrones. Game of Thrones is an entirely different entity, geared more toward a male audience than a female one. While they are both rated M for mature, and fantasy shows on premium cable networks, that is about where their similarities end.

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Outlander S1E16: To Ransom a Man's Soul, A Recap

Here it is. The end of the line. The final episode of the first season of Outlander. When we first started our journey in August, who knew that this show would garner the following it has. The tumblr I run with my best friend has a mass following of ten thousand people. We see fantastic reviews from the critics and from 95% of the show watchers who are also book readers. As a book reader, I'll admit to some disappointment over the past season. Now Ron Moore has done a rather fantastic job and this is one of the best book to screen adaptions I've ever seen, second only to 1995's Pride and Prejudice with Colin Firth, but I do miss certain lines of dialogue. I think it's safe to assume that we book readers have all had small disappoints, some more than others. And I know that a few of us have hated the show but I am not one of those people. I loved it. Kudos to Sam, Cait and Tobias for their acting skills and much graciousness to Ron Moore for bringing the book to the screen. But mostly, I want to thank Diana Gabaldon. The woman who brought us these characters, and their stories. A woman who created one of the most epic romantic, historical, fantasy, dramatic novels of all time. She is truly one of the great American writers of all time. And with that, it's time to discuss the Outlander Season Finale.

The show opens with a scene of the British flag being raised at the Prison. But all of that is nothing to the shot we have of Jamie. He's laying there on a table, his broken and abused hand present, his eyes vacant, his body filthy and naked. He doesn't move, he seemingly doesn't breathe. He is completely and utterly shattered. We see Black Jack Randall behind him sleeping, only to rouse and begin dressing. It's as he is dressing that Jamie snaps out of it and it is apparent that what he wants is for BJR to slit his throat. Randall grabs the knife to do just that but before he can, there are noises that rouse his attention. As Jamie sobs in defeat and anguish, BJR goes to inspect what is going on and as he nears the door...BAM....a heard of cattle come and run his ass over. Murtagh, Angus, and Rupert enter and save Jamie, then ride him to Claire waiting in the middle of the road.

When she sees his condition, she knows he needs help and so they ride to an abbey, intent upon getting him better. Now in the books, they travel to France before they even start the healing process but moving it up in the show, makes sense. A lot of stuff was left out to make time for what happens in this episode and therein lies some disappointments that we book readers have, but overall, I understood that the adaption had to make sense for non-book readers. And that little bit of the unexpected, keeps book readers on our toes.

So they are in the abbey, discussing what needs to be done. Jamie's having serious moments of PTSD, Claire's face, interchangeable to that of Black Jack Randall is having serious emotional repercussions. He's angry, hurt, broken, and utterly destroyed. The monks speak of his soul needing saving and there are several hints to his soul throughout the episode, no doubt hints to the title of this episode.

One of the most heartbreakingly delivered lines of the entire episode is when Claire asks him what happened and his response:

"To much, and not enough."

I will leave it to you, dear readers, to ascertain exactly what that statement means.

As the scene cuts back to a flashback of Jamie with BJR, I'm sick to my stomach. Tobias Menzies is gut wrenching, using kindness as a way of debasing and humiliating Jamie. This whole entire moment of glory is about his power over Jamie. He refers to Jamie as a "beautiful creature" rather than a human being and kisses him, but is not satisfied with Jamie's lack of response to him. Well that certainly won't do. He starts to give Jamie a few strokes with his hand and Jamie finds himself unwillingly responding, loses his temper and spits on him, telling him to take his pleasure and be done with it.

And then BJR picks him up, bends him over, spits on his hand and then proceeds to rape Jame Fraser until he screams. It is graphic, it is disturbing but it is not gratuitous. It's gut wrenching and terrible and horrible but in no way a gratuitious scene of violence. I started to cry and cry hard. Selena Gomez style:

As the flash back zones out, Jamie takes a healthy swig of laudenum, letting the opiate overtake him and then Claire sets to work. We hear her narration, discussing how Jamie had once said he could handle pain for himself but couldn't bear hers and it relates both ways. How she managed to have the strength, I will never know. As she is dismissed by the monk to go rest, she sets herself in the chapel. Another monk, the head of them I'm sure, enters and tells her he'll hear her confession. And so she confesses. She confesses EVERYTHING, blaming herself, ultimately for what has happened and the monk wisely tells her that perhaps her being here is some sort of miracle and tells her "whatever your sins my lady, have faith they will be forgiven,"

Murtagh and Jamie have a discussion but it is all in Gaelic. At moments like these, I really wish for the subtitles but understand that we are supposed to be as clueless as Claire about the Gaelic since this story was initially her point of view. Even so, it would be nice. I don't know what's being said at this point but Murtagh is looking like he's saying, use your damn head, don't be stupid, or are you insane?

We're having another flashback. Jamie's got blood all over between his thighs. And he's broken down enough that BJR manages to get him to brand himself with his initials. Marking him as property, debasing him even further. It breaks my heart in two and just when I'm finished sobbing about the first flashback, I'm reverted back to tears. It's so bad, so achingly realistic and disturbing.

As we're back in the allie, Willie tries to liven Jamie's spirits, try to help and Jamie tells him to cut his throat, that dying is far better than remaining here on earth. We find out in the next scene with Claire that that was essentially what he told Murtagh and the knowledge that Jamie wants to kill himself, put himself out of his misery, is enough for Claire to faint. When she comes to, the monk says that his soul is in danger of being lost forever in the darkness and Murtagh suggests that someone might have to slip into the darkness with him.

In the book, this was more self reflection on Claire's part than anyone telling her but that wouldn't exactly translate well to screen and so it was changed with Murtagh giving the suggestion of going there, rescuing him from his own thoughts. And so, she makes a vat of oil of lavender and goes to his room, determined. The resulting scene is her rousing anger out of him, and finally getting him to react to her in more than a dead stare and muted words. they end up on the ground, her trying to figure out why he's so destroyed, wanting to heal him and then she sees the brand. He tells her that he put the brand there himself and then goes on to explain that he was not just raped but made love too.

The final BJR flashback is the one scene that truly breaks my heart. Where Black Jack Randall uses lavender oil and uses his manipulation for Jamie to think of Claire. He uses Claire's power over Jamie to destroy him. This young man has faced hell, death and destruction but his breaking point is BJR using Claire to debase him, to demean him, to destroy him utterly and completely. Jamie finds pleasure with this final rape, the sort that comes from mental, emotionally and physical exhaustion. And when he comes to, and realizes that he found pleasure with his rapist, it's the moment that you see this man so full of pride and honor, break and shatter into a thousand pieces.

Male Rape has often been used as a punch line in tv shows and in movies while female rape is often used as a lazy plot device/place holder/shock value. Most times, female rape is meant to be gratutitous, appealing to the basement dwelling men who get off on the fantasy of a helpless woman. The rape of Jamie Fraser by BJR is none of those things. It's a disturbing look of violence, trauma and true destruction. It was depicted as the disgusting crime it is and not as a weak plot device meant to shock viewers. It was groundbreaking and horrifying.

As he finishes with his confession, thinking Claire would never forgive him, she does...and she manages to bring him out of the darkness enough that he can distinguish her from BJR. He comes back to reality. Is he completely healed? No he is not. I think that for people saying that he was healed with just a few hugs and tears are missing the point. He isn't healed. He isn't completely himself. All she's managed to do, is pull him out of the darkness enough that he has a will to live again. That's what he had lost and she brought it back. He's not completely better, he's not back to normal, and he is still traumatized, but at least now, he is not wanting to die and put himself out of his misery. He's willing to fight his way back to normacly or at least a semblance of it.

With Murtagh's help, they cut away the brand and then they get ready to travel to France.

As all say their goodbyes, we finally get a little bit of comic relief by Angus who decides to kiss Claire in a not so gentlemanly fashion and then Rupert does it with a bit more finesse by kissing her knuckles as that is the proper way to kiss a lady.

The final scenes of the episode are on a boat. Jamie makes a small joke, Claire is glad to see he has a sense of humor and he admits to trying. And then she suggests that they try and change the future. He doesn't think they can but he's at least game for it and then she makes one final reveal. That she is pregnant.

Jamie, who had thought he would never be a father, is struck with a moment of pure joy. For the first time in the episode, his eyes light up and he smiles and admits he never thought he'd be happy again, but he is and they embrace and so the episode ends.

It's been a long time coming, the end of a fantastic debut season. I'm so happy to see the books brought to screen, but very much sad that we now have to wait until next spring for Outlander: Dragonfly in Amber.

So a big thank you to all of the followers we have on tumblr, to the readers in Outlander groups on Facebook that read what I have to write, and thank you most of all to the cast and crew of Outlander for bringing us a wonderful first season. And with that, I make this special announcement:

Outlander S1E15: Wentworth, A Recap (sort of)

First off, I wish to apologize for the lack of recap last week. I won't divulge my personal life to you guys, unless you ask. I did that once before and had some rather rude anons on Tumblr get mad at me for it and I just can't handle the drama of that again. That being said, I will do this recap a little differently than what I normally do for this episode. Instead I want to focus on the acting, rather than what happens. And I doubt there will be much humor in this because there was nothing funny about this episode. It was grim, gut wrenching and disturbing. Also if you have any possible triggers involving brutality, torture, death by hanging and/or suicide, it would be in your best interest not to watch this episode. Also note that this post has possible spoilers for the final episode. You have been warned.

This episode was mostly focused on Jamie and Black Jack Randall. There were bits and pieces of Claire but the majority of it focused on the terrible BJR and his would be victim Jamie Fraser. There are several moments of true depravity in this episode. Moments of gut wrenching disgust at what the man does to our poor hero, but also moments of light. 

Sam Heughan, until this point, has done a great job as Jamie Fraser but perhaps has been slightly outacted by the older and more experienced Tobias Menzies. Tonight, all of that changed. Instead, it was Sam Heughan who shone through in his riveting moments on screen. First when he is sentenced to hang. Even when facing his death, Jamie shows humor, poking fun at how his wife would be disappointed to know how he might die by the noose. Even joking with McQuarrie. And Jamie tries to go out by being shot but instead, is moments away from being hung before the bastard that is Black Jack Randall rides in on his fiery hell horse, giving Jamie a temporary stay of execution. 

The moments after this are pivotal when considering the roles of Jamie Fraser and Captain Randall. Tobias Menzies manages to show cool aloofness, and true sexual pleasure in all the pain and torture he causes his captive. Sam Heughan, plays a man who even in the face of sexual deviance, and torture and true evil, can still find a sense of humor, still give a fighting chance. The struggle plays well on his face. Randall gives him the chance to give over his body in order to make his death quick and noble but Jamie Fraser is strong. The way Sam manages to convey his inner thoughts is truly a wonder. 

At the pivotal moments in this episode, the hand being crushed, the moment Claire comes in to save the day, only to be thwarted and Jamie's hand being nailed to the table...Sam Heughan conveys all of it. Pain, anguish, heartbreak, humor. Even when he is at his lowest point, giving in to what BJR wants to protect his wife, there is that moment when the two are embracing and I can feel his heartbreak but also his determination. I can see that even though he knows the worst thing to happen to him is soon to occur, he wants her to feel reassured, to know that he loves her, even for what he must do. It is a full self sacrafice. 

Sam manages to make me feel strongly, every emotion that comes into play in these moments. I'll admit that I cried. I didn't cry when he was having his hand smashed to bits. I didn't cry when his hand was being nailed to the table...I cried when he resigned himself to his fate and sat there with BJR licking his back and reveling in his defeat.

Before this episode aired, my favorite episode was Episode Six: The Garrison Commander. I had found Tobias' performance to be truly engrossing, and disturbing and every time the man is on screen, he steels the spotlight. Until tonight. Tonight it was all about Sam Heughan. He is a brilliant actor, who has had very little in the way experience compared to Tobias. Much like Cait, he's never truly carried many hard hitting, emotionally geared roles and he executes the part of Jamie Fraser so well, it is very hard to seperate the man from the part. 

In real life, Sam Heughan seems to be an utter gentleman, a truly humorous and good man, unused to the limelight and yet he truly deserves some sort of accolade for the performance given tonight. It outdoes any performance he has done in the show or movies of the past. It's brilliant and genius and true perfection.

Even if this episode was hard to watch, it has become my favorite episode because it managed to make me feel so deeply, more than I've ever felt about any sort of show before. I'm an avid TV lover but no other episode of any show I have ever watched, has ever made me fell the way I feel tonight. Knowing that we haven't seen the end of Jamie Fraser's ordeal, knowing what's coming, I can only applaud Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies, and Catriona Balfe for all giving great performances. And mostly, I give thanks to Diana Gabaldon because without her talent for writing, we would of never seen how truly wonderful each of these individual actors could be. 

If this show doesn't win any awards, I feel like I'm going to riot. 

With no new episode next week, and with the finale a week from next Saturday, be content in the knowledge that this story has a happy ending. That the final chapter soon to play out on screen, ends with our two main characters setting sail for a whole new life. That despite the horrors soon to play out, that Jamie recovers. After all, Claire has to save his soul does she not?

See you in a couple of weeks Sassenachs, and as always, thank you for reading my thoughts on the matter. 

Outlander S1E13: The Watch, A Recap

It is time ladies and gents for a new episode of Outlander. We were left with quite the cliffhanger last time with a gun pointed squarely at Jamie's head and the threat of his brains being sprayed all over the floor and so now it's time to play the game of "Who the Fuck are These People?". It's one of my favorites. So without further adieu, let's commence with the review and recap of the episode.

Turns out the man pointing a gun to Jamie's temple is a man named Talum who is in charge of some of The Watch. He's rather well acquainted with Jenny and Ian and it turns out the two of him have been paying them to keep the redcoats away and it's part of the reason for their visit. Ian's quite chummy with this Talum fellow and has even had the man's sword repaired or what have you. Since the men are hungry, Jenny departs to the kitchen to start some dinner and is followed by her brother and her husband and eventually Claire. Jamie's a wee bit pissed about the whole idea of the Watch being there, saying that it wasn't right at all for them to decide that sort of decision but Jenny was like "fuck you bro, we had to do what we had to do without you around..." Well you get the idea.

They all agree the best course of action is for Jamie to keep his nose clean and his head down and then the Watch will be gone and no one will be the wiser. All shall be well in the land of Lallybroch.

At dinner, we learn more about the relationship between Ian and Jamie through the questioning of Talum MacQuarrie. He is quite suspicious of the two but says very little on the matter and gives the greatest toast I've ever heard.

"Here's to a good life and a long one.
A quick death and an easy one.
A good lass and an honest one.
To great whiskey, and another one."

Gif makers take note, I'd love to have this giffed for me. I'll pay you in hugs and internet cookies I promise.

The following day Jamie is guiding a horse to the stables in order to have a look at his leg since he's supposedly lame, seeing one man smoking on Ian's tobacco. He's a bit of a smartass to the man and goes about trying to mend the horse's leg with the help of wee Rabbie. Next thing you know, there's a big ass fire and the dick who was smoking the pipe had lit it. Fucker! Well Jamie and a few others manage to get it out but Jamie's fucking pissed and decides he's not going to take this shit any further. His clean nose didn't last eighteen hours.

A fight breaks out, Jamie ends up kicking ass and MacQuarrie ends the squabble and apologizes. You know, for all he does, he's certainly a bit of a charmer. I can see why Ian likes him. He suggests that Jamie would be a great fighter on his team but Jamie's like "nah dude. I love my wife, I'm settled..." Smart guy Jamie Fraser.

As the men are returning to the main house from the stables, there are the men that MacQuarrie's been waiting on and who'd be in their ranks but Horracks. In case you don't recall, Horracks was the man that knew Black Jack Randall was responsible for killing his own man in order to frame Jamie for it. All for a price ye ken. Now he's with the Watch, and they are all at Lallybroch and he knows who Jamie is. If he spills the beans, Jamie's sure as shit off to Fort William and Black Jack Randall's clutches. Jamie is fucked.

Thankfully, Horracks keeps his mouth shut on first meeting and all seems to be well. Claire of course is scared to death that something bad is going to happen but she's Jamie's strength in this moment.

"What ever happens, we'll handle it...no matter the cost."

Later on we see Claire and Jenny doing the wash. There's a cute moment with Wee Jamie (who is super adorable, omg I want one) and Claire. They talk and wash, of bairns and children, of Jamie and Ian and all of sudden, Jenny's water breaks. Looks like there is a wee babe a coming. And come to find out, Claire discovers the babe is breach, meaning it's in the wrong position. In case you aren't familiar with old time child birth, this is very dangerous for the mother and the baby. Claire tries to get the child right in her belly but it doesn't work and there is nothing to do but wait out the birthing.

During this time, Jamie approaches Horracks and they discuss what the bastard wants. Well he wants to go to Boston of course (as all Irishmen seem to do) and make a life for himself in the American colonies. Problem is, he needs money and he wants Jamie to give it to him, if only to keep his mouth shut. Jamie concedes but is none to pleased about it. Who would be? After all, the bastard is blackmailing him.

Cut back to Jenny and Claire, Jenny's pacing and Claire asks what it's like to be pregnant. Jenny's description is verbatim from the book. I've never been pregnant before but the way Jenny describes it, it's both a mixture of beauty and misery. Claire is calm through it all and no doubt sees the conversation as a way to distract Jenny from her contractions. It's going to be a long day. I'm very glad they decided to keep all of this dialogue from the books in the show. A midwife was supposed to help out Jenny but the midwife's away (of course), so it's up to Claire.

Claire: It's alright. It is possible to deliver a breached baby. I'll only have to reach inside and guide it out.
Jenny: Alright. You'll be fetching me a good stiff dram before we start.
Claire: In that case the baby will likely be drunk too.
Jenny: Well then he'll come into the world a true Scot.
Claire: Alright

The show cuts to Jamie and Ian speaking while cleaning the wagon with the burned hay. Ian explains why he likes MacQuarrie and why he enlists The Watch to look out for them. He doesn't want Jenny in the same position she had been in when Jamie was taken away. He does it to protect Jenny the only way he can. Jamie confides in him about Horracks and Ian speaks to him of the money that Jamie's father put aside for him.

Jamie doesn't want to take it and explains why to Claire. It was meant for her, and for their children. It's at this point that our strong heroine Claire Fraser confides in Jamie, what she feels is a major shortcoming. The inability to have children. It's so heartbreaking, seeing her pain in thinking she is barren and there is some disappointment in Jamie's features but he brushes it aside.

Again, there is more dialogue very close to the book and he comforts her. One of the many reasons I love Jamie Fraser. He's truly a good and kind man and even if he is powerful and strong, he can be sensitive too. He's the King of Men for a reason and this only reinforces my opinion. It's just sweetness and love.

Our next scene is when Jamie meets Horracks with the cash. But as all blackmailing goes, it's not enough. He needs more money to keep his mouth shut and even goes so far as to threaten Jamie's family. Before Jamie can do the job of killing him, Ian runs him through with a sword, the death affecting him. This scene is pivotal, showing the true bond betwen Ian and Jamie and what makes them almost as brothers, not just brothers in law.

As they return home, Jenny's in the throes of labor upstairs and the guys from the Watch are being rude as fuck. Horracks is nowhere in sight and MacQuarrie querries about what might of happened to him. See what I did there? Jamie's like, fuck if I know where he is.

It's morning now. Jenny's still in labor and MacQuarrie is still wondering where Horracks is at. His horse is still there? Man wouldn't take ten steps to piss, let alone run off. MacQuarrie's a pretty good smartass and then Jamie tells him the truth, kind of. He says he kills Horracks because he dared blackmail him and threaten his family. At first we think everything is going to hell in a handbasket but then MacQuarrie laughs it off.

"Yeah fuck that guy. Fuck that old Irish son of a bitch..."

Unfortunately, the man has a wee bit of a problem. He needs a man on his mission to ambush a party of the British and Jamie agrees to go along, Ian too.

Before they leave, Claire gives him a carved snake that his brother William had carved for him. And they kiss and she makes him promise to come back to her. It's love and it's beauty and I"m crying. Not really, but I'm heartbroken, knowing what's coming.

So the men go off and then Jenny's actually having the baby. Holy fuck. She's giving birth and Claire reaches right on in there and pulls the babe out.

At the same moments of this, the scene cuts to where Jamie is with the other men of the Watch, waiting on the chance to ambush. Jamie, observant as ever, realizes to late that it's an attack and there's no way of escaping. The screen white's out as the British attack and fire the guns and we are left in the dark as to what happened.

As the scene moves to Claire and Jenny it's touching and sweet. Instead of the son Jenny thought it was, it's a wee daughter. Margaret Eleanor Marie Murray and she's totes adorbs. Okay, I quit.

Three days pass and there is still no sign of Jamie or of Ian. Claire's worried and Jenny has turned into the quiet sort of strength that Claire usually is with Jamie. Then the dogs bark and there are two figures hobbling down the road. It's Ian! But it's not Jamie with him but a man of the watch.

He explains that Jamie stayed behind to help a wounded MacQuarrie and that the British took him. My response is Oh Fuck!

So Diana Gabaldon has already said her piece on the matter so far as what happens. Half of the episode is very much straight from the book (Jenny's birthing) while the other half is not (The watch, backstory on Ian and how Jamie gets taken into custody). We also get a bit of background on Ian and Jamie not in the original novel but in a story she wrote for an anthology called "Virgins". See picture below:

I really like how they did this episode and how they changed it from the book. It was a major change but it easily transitioned the story to where it needed to go. Now the job of Claire is to find Jamie and for book readers, we know that we're less than an hour of the season away from the dreaded Wentworth Prison.

Until next time my fellow Sassenach and Outlander Addicts.

Picture Credit: Starz/Showcase/Amazon Prime UK

Outlander S1E12: Lallybroch, A Recap

First off, I wish to apologize for the day late recap. Normally I have the recap done by ten EST  the night of the US showing but was swept up in long made plans and didn't get home until 9:30 pm, thoroughly exhausted and blah. But now I shall do my utmost to review and recap this fabulous episode of Outlander. Of course, everyone recalls the last episode where Claire made her choice to stay with Jamie and so it was time for them to go home...to Lallybroch. So let's talk about that home coming aye?

So the scene opens after the credits with a sweeping score by Bear McCreary, uplifting and beautiful like the landscape of Scotland. When we finally see Jamie and Claire riding on horseback, she's explaining the whole Airplane thing and it's something that Jamie Fraser is having a hard time imagining though he certainly seems to be in awe of it. He sees Lallybroch in the distance and you can see his face light up like a Christmas tree and see that he is finally home. Of course, there are things stopping him. His flashbacks to that day he was taken away, the look on Jenny's face. He confides in Claire that Dougal told him Jenny may have fathered Black Jack Randall's bastard. It's a layer of guilt that we continually see explored throughout the episode. 

They enter into Lallybroch and Jamie's once more swept up in flashbacks but then he is brought back by the sound of Claire engaging a small child by the entrance and then there is the sound of Jenny calling for Jamie (her son) and then she sees her brother. Dropping everything, cupping her pregnant belly, she runs to him and they embrace but it is a very short term and tender reunion as she introduces her son to his uncle. His namesake Jamie. Of course, the elder of these two asks why? After all, according to Dougal, the child is Black Jack Randall's. Jenny is of course, is rather upset that her brother is calling her a whore and sends Wee Jamie away. Once he's gone, Jamie keeps on calling her a whore in his own way. Claire's trying to diffuse the situation, to which Jenny replies thusly:

"Tell that Trollop to keep her neb out of my business"

Needless to say Jenny Fraser is not one to mess with. And one should never piss off a pregnant woman. Which Jamie has done here.

So there's that. It's a heated exchange and Jamie isn't listening to a word Jenny says and finally she gives the best few lines of the episode. 

Jenny: Do I have to do what I did when we were bairns? Grab ye by the balls to make ye stand and listen to me. 
Jamie: You're now trying to shame me in front of my own wife!
Jenny: Well, if she's your wife, I imagine she's more familiar with your balls than I am!

Eventually they all settle down, we find out that Jenny is married to Ian Murray (a kindly man with no right leg) and that the child in her belly and Wee Jamie are both his. Jamie relents but he still wants to know what happens after  he was knocked out cold. 

Jenny tells him and it was a rather difficult scene to watch because Tobias Menzies does such a great job as the evil and cruel BJR once more. He's really nailed it as the sadistic captain of dragoons and every time he's on screen as Randall, Menzies is as enrapturing as he is terrifying. BJR in this scene is of course, trying to rape Jenny but he can't *ahem* stand at attention and is stroking and stroking to no avail. Jenny of course, sees this and looks a bit mad but she starts to laugh. He slaps the shit out of her a few times but she just looks at him and laughs some more until he finally gives up and slams her head into the post of the bed, knocking her out cold and then leaving her unconscious but untouched. Now I've seen a lot of outrage because of the full frontal nudity and seeing Tobias Menzies' penis. Personally I don't understand all the outrage. I mean, women are subjected to full frontal nudity in premium channel television shows so it's almost sort of refreshing to see male nudity. I imagine for a lot of people it was very shocking but it's not nudity for the sake of nudity. It's a way of showing that he can't get it up to perform a rape on a young Scottish woman. And then there is the shame he feels, not in trying to rape her, but in the fact that she's laughing at him. It infuriates him and wounds his pride. So to those outraged, I made you a special meme:

So once all is settled, Jamie takes over the Laird's chamber and reminisces about his father and the secrets he thought had been held in this room when he'd been a child. And then he speaks of the last time he saw his father and how he'd kissed his cheek. He speaks of how he chose to be flogged again instead of buggered (which means of course sodomized), and how his father might lose respect for him should he allow himself to be broken. It's a very poignant scene and you can see the grief and guilt over the fact that his flogging and the horror of it may have caused his father to die of his stroke. 

Jenny of course, adds into the guilt with a few lines meant to sting when they all sit down to dinner, and you can see that the family is a hurting open sore in need of mending but of course, both Jamie and Jenny are a bit to proud to give in just yet. 

The next day, is quarter day. It's a collection of the Rents but because Lallybroch is so small, everyone comes to the Laird versus the Laird going out to collect. There is dancing and partying and Jamie's stepping into place as Laird, making quite a big show of it. Honestly he's coming off as a wee bit of a dick. Jenny's talking to women inside, Claire is outside speaking about herbs and healing when we meet a man by name of MacNabb for the first time. He punishes his son for daring to eat a bannock and Claire confronts him, get's called a Sassenach but she embraces the vitriol and manages to skillfully get the boy away from his father. Jenny knows all about the issues with MacNabb and his son but avoids the matter with Jamie. Claire of course confides in him but Jamie's not exactly listening, or so we think. 

Night comes and Claire is in bed and Jamie comes in drunk. Lord he is super drunk. It's the most hilarious thing I've seen in the show so far and he's just a mess, way deep in his cups. Claire's a bit amused and annoyed at the same time and he keeps smacking her backside and soon he's collapsed in a heap on the bed, out for the count and Claire's smirking at his behavior. It's a bit endearing. 

The next morning though, Jamie's hung over and not a bit endearing at all. His head is no doubt a-pounding but Jenny's in a tizzy, and gets angry at him for daring to start a fight with MacNabb the night before whilst drunk and now having another mouth to feed. Nor did he collect the rents which are needed to keep the estate running. Well that pisses him off and then he starts acting like a tee-total dick complaining about how the bannocks aren't right and the servant-woman says that the mill isn't working and that someone's been sent for to fix it but Jamie's all manly. "I can do this dammit. I'm the laird..." The whole macho man chest pounding kind of thing that's very out of character for him. Since returning home, I think it's obvious that he's trying to fill his father's shoes but not being very good at going about it. He comes off as showy and it's just not the same Jamie we have seen in past episodes. It's as though as soon as he busts through the gates of Lallybroch, he's trying to assume his position as Laird and take over where Jenny and Ian have been running the place for near on four years by himself. Even if he is Laird, he is coming off as an asshole. 

Well down to the millpond we go. Jamie's going to fix that bloody mill and strips all the way down to his shirt. Claire's rolling her eyes because Jamie really is being an idiot and there's really nothing but she can do about it. While he's in the cold ass water, Jenny comes up in a flurry. The British are Coming! The British are Coming and Jamie has to hide. No where to go but under so that's what he does. Jenny tells the Brits that they have someone to fix the mill, hiding the Fraser plaid with Claire. The British officer in question is the son of a miller and knows his way around a water wheel and is about to undress to try and fix it when all of a sudden (It's magic!) the wheel starts to work again and a shirt comes up over the top. How in hell could a shirt stop a water wheel. 

British Soldier: It's Scotland. 

The soldiers leave and Jamie comes up very much naked, cupping what's left of his balls as I imagine they're mostly shrunk up inside his body for warmth and asks for his clothes in a rather rude fashion. But he is fucking cold.  I'll give him a pass here. That night, Ian and Claire have a bit of a heart to heart and Ian tells her that Jamie must be a lot like Jenny in that they're both stubborn as fuck and need a push sometimes. Well Claire takes it literally coming into the bedroom to see Jamie sleeping peacefully and shrugs him out of bed and sets him straight. 

She lays it into him hard. Essentially she calls him out on his shit. On trying to be his father when he's not. On being a complete dick to everyone, herself included, and how's he just been the asshole to end all assholes. He tries to intervene but she isn't having it and finishes her peace and even says that if his father were here right now, he might well thrash him for being a stupid fucking idiot of a man. Well her words set in.

He goes to visit his father's grave for the first time since his return home and Jenny comes to him there. They lay out their souls on the line. Both of them feeling guilt in their own way for what happened. Jenny is horrified at his scars and blames herself for not letting BJR rape her and Jamie admits his own guilt in his father's death but comes to the conclusion that no one is to blame for the death of their father save Black Jack Randall, who's actions that day in arresting Jamie and nearly raping Jenny, set in motion the chain of events leading to his death. They mend their bond and all is well between brother and sister. Understanding and honesty bringing them together. It was a much needed scene that reconciled them and laid the hurt away. 

That night, Claire and Jamie are back to normal. He's become the Jamie we know and love again, no longer weighed down by the guilt in his heart and soul. It's in this scene that he confesses his love to Claire. Now I've never had a problem with the changes from book to screen. I've never complained because I understand that it's impossible to go word for word in a book and place it on screen. That being said, for the first time in the show, I felt a little sad that they didn't make the confession of love between Claire and Jamie humorous. The way they did it was almost verbatim so far as dialogue but there was a little tiny part of me disappointed. Even so, I know the way they did it, fit perfectly with the scene and it was perfect and beautiful and sweet.

The two make love and the next morning Claire wakes up alone and has a very satisfied grin on her face. She gets dressed and she exits the bedchamber, she hears the sound of men carrying up the stairs and there are men surrounding Jamie as he is in the hall and one points a gun to Jamie's head and then the episode ends. 

Who were these men? What did they want? We only have four episodes left before the end of the show's season. We've reached the halfway point and it's going to be a sad day in the Outlander fandom to see the show end until next year. But I'm sure there are still four fantastic hours of television left for us to watch and I can't wait to see how well they handle the upcoming scenes that will no doubt have us crying and sobbing. 

This episode had deviations as most of the episodes do but I found it a nice character study of Jamie and Jenny. At first Jenny comes off as a real bitch but then you have to realize she too is carrying stress and guilt of her father's death and her brother's imprisonment. The fact that the two of them reconcile makes this a great episode and I'm ready to see what next week has in store. Until next week my dear sweet Outlanders!