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: Homecoming

Last time on “Outlander:” Geillis and Claire were put on trial for witchcraft. Ned snuck down from Caste Leoch to represent them and did his best to discredit the witnesses. But the people are determined to burn someone, so Claire and Geillis have to chose between them. Geillis reveals she’s not only a Jacobite but from 1968 and after witnessing Jamie save Claire from a flogging, chooses to sacrifice herself. As she’s led away, Jamie runs off with Claire.

In the woods, he asks her for the truth. So she tells him everything—she’s from the future and that she fell through the stones. Jamie takes her back to Craig na Dun, saying goodbye and leaving her free to go back to Frank. But she doesn’t and instead asks Jamie to take her home to Lallybroch.

Credits! Tobias Menzies’ name appears in them, so we’re going to get some Black Jack scenes. Should be good!

Outlander: The Rescue

Last time on “Outlander:” After their wedding, Claire and Jamie can’t get enough of each other. Jamie learns there might be someone who can clear his name and he goes out to meet the man. He orders Claire to stay behind but she runs off when she spots Craig na Dun in the distance. In the 20th century, Frank is standing by the stones as Claire runs toward them. Before they can be reunited, British soldiers haul her back to Fort William and Black Jack. As he’s about to assault her, Jamie appears in a window with a pistol, ready to rescue his wife.

Time for season one to continue!

Outlander: Past and Present

Last time on “Outlander:” Wedding bells all around! Jamie and Claire got married and spend time in the 18th century version of the honeymoon suite. They talk about their families and generally get to know each other. Jamie also tells Claire about how the wedding day came together, which is good because she was buzzed for most of it. She warms up to Jamie and the rest of the episode can be summed up in this gif:

CREDITS! Are they going to update the images for season 2, I wonder. Also, another warning—there is some graphic content in this again. I’ll give you some warning. And I won’t post screen caps of them.

Outlander: Going to the Chapel…

Last week on “Outlander”: Claire and Dougal are escorted by Lt. Foster to the garrison for a meeting with Lord Thomas. Claire charms him and is thisclose to returning to Inverness when Black Jack returns. He interrogates Claire and then tells her about the time he whipped Jamie. It’s best not to dwell on that. When Dougal comes to fetch Claire, Black Jack orders him to bring her to Fort William for further questioning. To save Claire, Dougal insists she marries Jamie. Claire agrees, grabbing some liquid courage.

CREDITS! Who’s excited? Cause I know I am! BRING IT!

Outlander: The Heart of Darkness

Last time on “Outlander”: Dougal and his merry group of Scots travelled the MacKenzie lands to gather the rent from the people who lived there. Claire went along and her 20th century sensibilities ran contrary to 18th century practices. But she soon becomes one of the boys as she realizes the MacKenzies are raising money for the Jacobite cause. A British soldier arrives to check on Claire, which is where we ended.

CREDITS! I have nothing else to discuss, but I will give a warning: This episode is graphic and violent. I will not use screen caps of anything too gory, but even me talking about it could be a trigger. You have been warned.

Outlander: On the Road

Last time on “Outlander”: Everyone gathers at Castle Leoch. Claire this decides this is a great time to escape, but finds many obstacles in the form of a lovesick teenager and several drunken men. When she gets out to the stables, Jamie informs her why this is the worst time to escape. He escorts her back to the castle but they are spotted. Jamie is forced to stand before Colum, where he could risk death by either taking an oath of loyalty or refusing to. Jamie manages to say the right things and gets to play in their reindeer Highlander games. After watching how she handled the death of a man on their boar hunt, Dougal tells Claire she’s coming with him to collect the rent.

CREDITS! What to say this week…Hmm, I guess not much. I think I’ve gushed over them long enough. Sorry, guys.

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.

Outlander: Into the Viper’s Nest

Last time on Outlander: Frank and Claire Randall go to Inverness, Scotland on their second honeymoon to reconnect after spending the Second World War apart. And for Frank to explore his ancestry, including a British soldier named Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall. When Claire visits a stone circle outside the town, she falls through time and lands in the 18th century. There, she comes face to face with Black Jack himself. He proves himself to be the evil doppelganger and Claire is rescued by a group of Highlanders. She is forced to travel with them and starts to bond with a member of their group named Jamie, who is very injury-prone. As Claire finally comes to terms with her situation, the group arrives at Castle Leoch.

CREDITS! Anyone know if the song is on iTunes? I would love to have it!

Outlander: Through the Looking Glass

It’s here! The TV adaptation of Diana Gabaldon’s best-selling novel “Outlander” has arrived. And I’ve decided to recap it because…why not?

Note: I have read the book the series is based on. For the most part, I will not focus on divergences from the source material unless I feel there is something BIG being ignored that you should be aware of. But based on this first episode, I doubt that’ll be necessary.

Let’s begin! And we’ll start with the credits. My God, they are gorgeous! The shots of the Scottish landscape as well as shots no doubt of scenes coming up throughout the miniseries—absolutely perfect. So is the song that plays over them. Brilliant work, production.

Outlander Has Its Villain!

And no, it's not Jason Isaacs.

It's Tobias Menzies.

Let's take a look, shall we?