Outlander: Dining with the Enemy

Last time on “Outlander:” Jamie found his days jam-packed as he tried to juggle ruining Prince Charles’ cause from the inside and being a prominent Parisian businessman. Claire, though, found herself growing bored of gossiping at Louise’s—even as she discovered that Mary Hawkins was Frank’s ancestor.

However, Claire found a purpose when Master Raymond told her about a hospital in need of help. Murtagh escorted her down there and though Mother Hildegard is a bit suspicious at first, Claire soon won her over. Jamie, though, was less than thrilled about his wife spending all hours at the hospital—especially when he needed her. The meeting between the Minister of Finance and Prince Charles didn’t go as he thought and Jamie learned that Charles had secured a good amount of funding for his cause. He stormed out of the house and went to the brothel.

There, he found a young boy stealing from the patrons. Jamie chased him down and offered him a job. The boy, now named Fergus, agreed and went home with the Frasers. Jamie explained to Claire that Fergus could steal letters from Charles’ supporters so they could learn who the prince’s funders were. She admitted it was a good idea.

One of the letters Fergus took led Jamie to seek the help of Mother Hildegard, a trained musician. He and Claire were then able to discern that the Duke of Sandringham was Prince Charles’ benefactor. And so they plotted to have a dinner, hoping to dissuade the duke and anyone else from supporting the Jacobite cause.

Let’s see how that dinner goes, hmm?

I still really like the credits. Will the French chorus be dropped, though, once they go back to Scotland? Hmm…

We open in Versailles, where Jamie is playing a chess game with Duveney. Claire watches her husband and the Minister asks if they’ve thought of any names. She admits that she was hoping to name the baby after her uncle, Lambert. Jamie shoots it down as too English. He suggests a name that has Claire crinkling her noise in disgust.

(The Frasers...debating baby names)

Outlander: Purpose

Last time on “Outlander:” Jamie managed to get a meeting with Prince Charlie. He and Claire realized they had to cut off any chance of him receiving money from the French king. Claire’s friend Louise invited them to join her and ward Mary Hawkins at Versailles, introducing them to the Minister of Finance. After a rather wet start, he became good friends with the Frasers, which was a relief to them.

Claire and Jamie found the Duke of Sandringham, who tried to grovel about giving the letter to Black Jack. He and Claire exchanged words before he introduced her to his secretary, Alexander Randall. She learned he was the brother of Black Jack and also learned that her foe was very much alive.
Now, she has to tell Jamie.

Or does she?

(Yes, yes she does).

Night turns to early morning as Jamie and Murtagh return from another night at the brothel with Prince Charles. He grabs a glass of wine and changes, ready to start a rather busy day. He has inspectors coming to Jared’s warehouse, is supposed to play chess with Duveney and then has another night with Prince Charles to look forward to. But he figures it’s worth a few nights of missed sleep and encourages Claire to go back to bed for their child’s sake.

She, though, is feeling a bit useless while Jamie does all the work. But he says her days with Louise might produce something useful. So he tells her to enjoy her day there as he hurries down the stairs. He pauses but only to ask if she’s seen his wooden snake. She hasn’t but she’ll have the servants do a search of the house. He thanks her and leaves.

(Wishes there was more for her to do)

Outlander: A Glitzier Snake Pit

Last time on “Outlander”: Claire found herself in 1948 and she reunited with Frank. She connected better with Mrs. Graham while Frank tried to figure out what happened to his wife. Claire told him everything and he was pretty chill about it…until she revealed she was carrying Jamie’s baby. But after waging destruction on Wakefield’s shed that would make the Hulk proud and a conversation with Wakefield, Frank decided to commit to Claire and raise the child together. They went to Boston to start over.

In France, Claire and Jamie decided to infiltrate the Jacobite cause in order to prevent the destruction it will cause. Jamie convinced his cousin Jared of his supposed dedication and Jared promised to help. He asked Jamie to help run his wine importing business, which Jamie agreed to do.

On the docks, Claire diagnosed a dying sailor with smallpox. The harbormaster had to declare a ship infected and ordered it—and its cargo—burned. Its own, the Comte St. Germaine, warned Claire and Jamie that they had made a dangerous enemy.

Uh oh.

We open with a sex scene. Ahh, welcome back, Outlander. Jamie and Claire have sex…but then it turns into Black Jack. Jamie freaks out and stabs him, blood going everywhere. Outlander really is back! Anyway, even though it appears Black Jack is dead, he opens his eyes and is like “Never gonna die!”

Jamie sits up, panting. Claire wakes up and asks if he had another nightmare. He tells her he did and she assures him that Black Jack is dead. But Jamie knows he won’t be getting anymore sleep. So he slips from bed and tells her to go back to sleep.

(Poor bby)

Outlander: Welcome Back!

Since I haven’t really recapped the last two episodes of season 1…mostly because I’m still forcing myself to watch them…I’ll skip the “Last time on Outlander” for this recap.

We open with Claire on the ground, wishing she were dead. She sits up and finds herself in the stone circle of Craig na Dun and rages against them.

(Poor Claire)

Next, she wonders onto a road and is surprised when a car honks at her. The driver gets out and asks if she’s okay. She asks what year it is and he replies it’s 1948. Claire then demands to know who won the Battle of Culloden. He is now certain she is mad and doesn’t answer. Claire almost assaults him but he finally answers that the British won. Distraught, Claire collapses to the ground and wails. 

(Only about five minutes in and we're already in so much pain)

Frank hurries down a hospital corridor and asks to see Claire Randall. A nurse brings him to a doctor, who explains that Claire is physically fine. She was a bit dehydrated and had some cuts and bruises, but nothing serious. He says they did have to sedate her and she’s not really talking. Frank thanks the doctor and enters her room as a radio plays. 

She asks him to turn it off, though she doesn’t realize it’s Frank yet. He does so as she comments about how loud it is there. At that point, she realizes it’s Frank in her room and she grows awkward. All she can say is “I’m back.”

Outlander: Sing For Your Supper

I know, I know. It’s almost a year later. I will admit to being a coward. I’ve read the book so I know what’s coming. Reading it was bad enough so I’ve been afraid of actually watching it. But with Season 2 starting on April 9th (set reminders now!), I knew I had to watch the episodes. Thankfully, Starz made the episodes available online so I’ll finally catch up on the final 3.

Wish me luck.

Last time on “Outlander:” The Watch descended on Lallybroch, leaving Jenny and Ian to host them while trying to hide who Jamie really was. Someone did figure it out, forcing Jamie and Ian to deal with him. The Leader of the Watch then asked them for help dealing with some British soldiers and despite the danger, they agreed.

Meanwhile, Jenny went into labor and had complications. When the midwife was unable to get there, it fell to Claire to help her sister-in-law. Claire managed to turn the baby so it wasn’t breached and then helped Jenny deliver her baby girl.

A few days later, Ian limped home without his leg…and without Jamie. He announced that the British attacked the Watch and captured Jamie.

Uh oh.

There is chaos in Lallybroch. Baby Maggie is crying, Jenny is barking orders and Ian is sulking on the couch. Claire comes down and Ian asks her if she’s going after Jamie. She says she is and so he tries to get up, insisting he’ll go with her. Claire points out he doesn’t have a leg but he says he’ll make one right quick. She shakes her head and tells him to stay put to recover. Ian sighs and asks for paper instead. So he orders all the tenants to be rounded up to form a search party. Claire and Jenny squash that as well, not wanting Lallybroch to become a target. Ian then asks for paper, saying he can at least draw her a map.

("Fine, fine. I give")

Outlander: Things Beyond Your Ken

Last time on Outlander: Claire arrives at Castle Leoch and befriends the housekeeper, Mrs. Fitz. She continues to tend to Jamie’s wounds and learns more about the mysterious young Scot in the process. Claire meets the Laird, Colum MacKenzie, who is suspicious of her. The entire castle is, except Mrs. Fitz and Jamie it seems. And Geillis Duncan, who befriends Claire. Just as Claire spies freedom, Colum yanks it from her and declares she will be their new healer.

CREDITS! And I finally found out the name of the song used for the opening credits—“Skye Boat Song.” I’ve heard it before; George Donaldson sang it on the Celtic Thunder DVD Heritage. But it only appears on the DVD, not the CD.