Blacklanderz Convos!

Outlander S4 Epi11 – If Not for Hope

Written by Shaina Fewell & Bronwyn Garrity | Directed by Mairzee Almas

This conversation is between Blacklanderz Tqwana, Olivia and Vida. Arranged and edited by Vida.

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CONFIDENCE | HOPE | THE FUTURE

 Tqwana: We’re seeing the major players, Claire, Bree, Jamie and even Fergus dealing with crises of confidence in themselves and their situations. Jamie is worried he won’t find Roger and regain his daughter’s love and trust. Bree is afraid she’ll be forced to marry out of obligation, and Fergus is dealing with what it means to be a man who’s differently abled, but is still expected to provide for his family. Claire is dealing with a changing dynamic between her and Jamie for the first time. It gives us an episode with a lot of tension.

HOPE | REVELATIONS | CULTURE | ULTERIOR MOTIVES | UNKNOWN

 Olivia: The thread that runs through everything is hope, as the episode title suggests. Hope that Jamie, Claire and Ian can find Roger alive; Jamie hopes he will redeem himself in Bree’s eyes; Bree hopes Roger can be returned to her; Jocasta hopes Bree will marry one of the suitors for the bairn’s sake and societal conventions; Marsali hopes Fergus will feel valued.

Beyond this, we see cultural norms play out at Jocasta’s dinner introducing Brianna to eligible bachelors, one of whom Jocasta hopes will ask for her hand in marriage. Revelations are revealed: Alderdyce’s homosexuality (in a lovemaking scene with Lord John Grey), and we wonder what’s up with LJG’s decision to propose to Bree. And then of course, we don’t know what’s in store for Roger, with the Mohawk, Murtagh and Bonnet. A lot going on in this episode.

SUFFERING | TRAGEDY | CHILDREN

Vida: I have to admit that it was really hard for me to really get into this episode. I am not quite sure what it was, but it seemed too much was going on and it did not have its usual rhythm. Everyone is suffering in one way or another, and no one is dealing with it. Ian tries to get things back to normal between Jamie and Claire, but it takes the entire episode for them to work things out. Lord John Grey is back. And though he is at River Run for one reason, Bree gives him another. The tragedy for him is that he will never be able to be with the person he loves, and yet fate continues to find ways for him to stay connected to the Frasers. [Side note: I was not a huge LJG fan of the book, but David Berry is making me like him the more he is in a scene! He is excellent!]

Being in the 18th century has just caused one tragic event after another. Roger is with the Mohawks. He has no idea why he is there and probably why everyone is beating him up. Bree is working out her pain through her drawings. She, at least, felt comfortable discussing what happened to her with LJG, but it was brief. She has no idea where Roger is, if he is alive or if her parents will find him. It is bad enough that she was raped, now pregnant and does not know who the father is. But on top of that, she must immediately find a suitor to ensure her child is not ruined by being born out of wedlock. It is all just a nightmare!

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At this point, Roger has been through hell. The rational move would be for Roger to escape through the stones into the safety of his time, but Brianna would be left behind and love isn’t always rational. This shower scene was inspired by a fun conversation in the room. A writer was talking about how after she learned a second language, she would still think in her first language. We applied this logic to time travel. If you were to travel back in time, would you think and dream in the past or the present?

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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O: The writers pulled a sly one here, starting with a scene of Roger in the future.

V: They initially threw me off. I was thinking he had passed through the stones, which I am sure is what they wanted us to think. I presume he was just thinking of a hot shower rather than bathing in the stream/river.

T: This was a little jarring for me, honestly. Too much of a cheap “a ha, gotcha” to start with Roger thinking of the future and hot showers. Did anyone really think Roger was going back without Brianna? How could we ever root for him again if he did?

V: Initially, yeah. I had no idea what was going on. I also don’t know what that was . . . a thought, a day dream, what? They really could have left that out all together.

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O: Then, we get the title card of Bree’s drawings of the slaves’ life at River Run.

V: I loved that they highlighted the slaves on the plantation. Hell, for the most part, this is the only mentioning of it we get.

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We thought it could be interesting to have Lizzie observe some of the drawings that Brianna was doing as a sort of therapy, to work through the aftermath of her assault. Without the context of having seen much art, Lizzie is disturbed by the dark images and interprets them as Bree being possessed, but the meat of the scene is Lizzie’s question about whether Brianna can forgive her father. It was important to delineate that although Brianna might forgive him for what he did to Roger, she was extremely wounded by the things Jamie said to her—things she felt that Frank would never have said—and thus, we drive a wedge into the newly forming relationship between Brianna and her 18th century father, who loves her deeply. Even though Jamie is a progressive man, sometimes his 18th century values can cause pain to those he cares about.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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O: Brianna looks troubled.

Lizzie’s reaction to her dark drawing as an indication that Brianna is “possessed” is an example of how easy it is for the 18th century world to see something we think of as ordinary or easily explainable as demonic. That’s how Claire ended up being tried as a witch. It’s good Bree quickly explained she was upset and Lizzie accepted that because that could be whole other problem.

V: She is troubled and I guess this is the only way she can express it. That is what is so scary about the time; and again, Lizzy has no idea what she is talking about. I was glad Bree quickly explained that this was her way of dealing with the anger she had inside.

What have I brought ye to?
monstrous darkness – – ye are
possessed!

O: Forgiveness comes up here. Lizzie asking Bree to forgive her for mistaking Roger as the man who raped her. Bree readily forgives her, but is not ready to forgive Jamie—yet. That’s a bit troubling to me, but I suppose that’s an example of Bree’s stubbornness.

Lizzie, I’m not possessed. . . I’m
hurt and angry —

T: Bree’s unwillingness to forgive Jamie seems deliberate to me. It’s as if she wants to hold on to being mad because of her own guilt in regards to Frank (for actually liking and loving Jamie as her father too), but also her own part in this whole debacle. Forgiving Lizzie is a start.

V: I thought the same thing. She can easily forgive Lizzy, who started this domino effect – that is, after that psycho Bonnet, but is unwilling to forgive Jamie. She mentions she can’t forgive what he said to her, but she is having selected memory. Did she forget what she said to him?

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O: As they try to track the Mohawk, we see the worry in Jamie; he fears he’s seen as just “a fearsome brute.” Ian worries about what he fears is the fraying relationship between Claire and Jamie.

We don’t often see this strain between them last this long, not since S2 when Jamie was struggling with PTSD after being raped and tortured by Black Jack Randall.

T: I hate seeing them so strained. But, I love Ian trying to play matchmaker and fix the problem – with his little chin hairs. I also love how his clothes are becoming more and more like the Indians, who I still wish had speaking roles when their interactions with the main cast are positive.

V: ‘A fearsome brute?” Ah, hell yeah! He was enraged when he attacked Roger and beat the crap out of him. It is a good thing Claire and Bree didn’t see Roger’s face afterwards.

The strain in their relationship made it difficult to watch the episode. We haven’t seen them this way for so long and it was draining. I also loved that Ian could tell things weren’t right and they were having difficulties. Well, more so with Jamie and he wanted Claire to fix it, like she fixes everything and everybody else. I was also surprised that the Native Americans had fewer speaking roles this episode when some of them clearly speak English. I wonder why that decision was made.

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O: Even though Ian urges Claire to comfort Jamie, it’s telling that she doesn’t go to him right away. She tells Ian she’s thinking about how Roger and Bree are feeling. But hen is worried still. They are really drawing this tension out.

T: In a way, it’s good to see that Claire and Jamie have this great love, but have relationship issues just like everyone else. Since we tend to think of it as so epic, crossing time and space, their issue grounds the relationship more in reality. But, they need to stop playing and kiss and make up.

You’re still angry with him, then?

V: I thought it was drawn out too, especially them not talking or discussing what happened. It seemed out of character for them.

No . . .

I get if they, or mainly Claire, didn’t want to go into details. But, at least, tell the man that it is not him and that you need some time or space.

We didna mean to be reckless. We thought – –

I know what you thought . . . what you
both thought. But it’s hard not to think about
how Brianna . . . and Roger must feel . . .
when you have a child one day you’ll
know. You never stop worrying about them.

Instead, Claire is acting like she’s angry and mad at Jamie, but tells Ian she is not. Okay. I was as confused as he was.

I hate you both suffering so.

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O: Interesting dynamic developing with a grown up Fergus and Murtagh back together. Fergus is now facing his disability in a way we haven’t seen before.

He is used to being indispensable and now he can’t find a job in this new land.

T: Yes, indispensable and confident and now we’re seeing him struggling with it. I loved that French snootiness about him, even as a boy. I hope it leads to more Fergus and Marsali screen time.

V: I felt badly for him. This is the first time that he is feeling ‘less than’ and now has a wife and baby to support.

But, I am glad that Marsali is on his side to lift him up and that he and Murtagh are sharing some screen time.

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O: Did you catch that brief bit where the slaves are walking behind the overseer who’s on horseback?

I appreciate that, even though they are not focusing on slave life, per se, you still get glimpses of it.

T: I don’t know about this montage of slave life. It sort of presents it as idyllic, which I can’t get down with. I know they needed a scene transition, but as the kids say . . . this ain’t it chief.

V: Yeah, I saw the two scenes. I know this is about Claire, Jamie and the rest, but I have a problem with them skirting around the plantation and slave life too. We only really got to see it with Rufus and then that was it. However, since they stay in and around the house and that is the only interaction with slaves, I guess that is why we are not seeing more of a real depiction of their lives.

O: Phaedre demonstrates the slave life when she’s clearly uncomfortable sitting for Bree, a very pregnant Bree, who wants to make a portrait of her.

T: I wonder if Bree is the first person who made her feel like more than just property, like a person with value and beauty.

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Brianna, like Claire, is a modern woman and doesn’t believe in slavery. We wanted to show here that she doesn’t hesitate to draw Phaedre, who she finds beautiful. It certainly throws Phaedre who’s not used to being noticed this way and will ultimately be a scandalous comment at the dinner party, when Brianna’s desire to draw slaves raises brows among the guests.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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V: Bree is just like her mother, not realizing she could get her in some serious trouble. She probably is the first person, white person that is, who sees her as: 1) a human being and 2) a beautiful person.

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O: Jocasta puts into bright focus Bree’s connection to the grandmother she never met, Ellen.

Both could draw. It’s an indication of how talents can come through our bloodlines.

T: Finally, we’re getting the Ellen and Brianna connections. And Bree is learning she gets a lot from the Frasers and MacKenzies.

V: I guess since they didn’t spend a lot of time in Lallybroch, this is how they decided to make it up and provide the backstory of Ellen and her connection with Bree.

O: Our Jocasta is not above a little bit of subterfuge. Did you catch that bit about fitting Bree in a dress that will hide her protruding belly? That’s a MacKenzie for you!

T: She was smooth in getting Bree to do her bidding here. She is definitely Colum and Dougal’s sister.

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Brianna is in a tough spot in this episode. Family can be therapeutic when facing hard times, but Brianna’s visit with her Aunt is complicated by the expectations of this time. We see here some of the machinations of a MacKenzie at work when Jocasta presses Bree regarding a new dress, but Jocasta can empathize; after all, she too has been through a lot, enduring the deaths of three husbands. Since Brianna wasn’t able to hear about her family from Jenny at Lallybroch, we really wanted to find time for Jocasta to talk to Brianna about her Fraser heritage.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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V: Oh yeah, she is smooth and cunning. Maria Doyle Kennedy is playing the hell out of her role. She was an excellent selection.

O: Yes, she is on point with Jocasta’s machinations.

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V: Every time I see that tavern, especially at night, I think we are going to see that psycho Bonnet.

O: Marsali enlists Murtagh in helping to make Fergus feel valued, by asking Murtagh to ask Fergus to join the regulators. It’s nice that Marsali and Murtagh are now allies. In the earlier scene, I was worried that Marsali might turn on Murtagh, but I’m glad she doesn’t.

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This scene was a nod to a story in Dragonfly in Amber where Jenny requests that Jamie ask Ian to go with him to fight—even if Ian can’t, it makes him feel needed, and is a boost to his confidence.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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T: She would still probably prefer Murtagh take his Regulator business away from her house, but he is family. I’m glad she knows she can trust him to help give Fergus get back some of his confidence.

V: If only she knew what all Fergus and Murtagh have encountered together, it would blow her mind. She is a slick one. She knows she loves her ‘some Fergus’ and how to help him. But yeah, I do love her spunkiness and intelligence. She knows she can only do so much for him. But a man, such as Murtagh, can do much more to build up his confidence.

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O: The dinner party at River Run introduces us to some forlorn—looking suitors for Bree.

T: Poor Bree is on the meat market. All the single men sizing her up.

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The writers’ room loved the part in the book where Brianna comes down the stairs with her baby bulge swelling proudly before her. It was such a juicy moment on the page, but in the context of production, it wouldn’t have played. You simply couldn’t tell that Brianna was pregnant through her period clothing at this stage in her pregnancy. In the end, it allowed Brianna’s pregnancy to be revealed in a more intimate moment with Lord John Grey.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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V: I noticed the title card here as she is coming down the stairs. But yes, I was thinking the same thing. . . a meat market and Wolff seemed to be salivating!

Ladies and Gentleman, may I present
my niece, Brianna Fraser . . .

She was in an auction to the richest suitor. The way Forbes and Wolff were looking at her was just crazy.

Bree is even looking at her aunt like this is so ridiculous!

And what sort of things do you draw?

I’ve recently completed a portrait of Phaedre.

I presume you mean the Phaedre of Greek mythology – –
wife of Theseus?

T: Bree was not here for the snide comments about Negroes. I think Mrs. Alderdyce was about to get the business if Jocasta hadn’t interrupted. Bree takes after Claire in that regard.

I believe Phaedre is one of the slaves her at River Run . . .

You mean to say you draw Negroes?

O: Oh give me a break, woman!

V: I wanted to slap her when she made that comment and asking why she didn’t draw more beautiful things there like . . . landscape!  Bree is certainly forgetting where the hell she is and the time she is in.

She is surely her mother’s child by pushing the boundaries. Ulysses is trying not to react, but seems a little worried by the interaction between Bree and Mistress Alderdyce.

 O: I did think Forbes had the upper hand when he shows the gems: sapphire, emerald, topaz and diamond.

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The interplay between Bree’s suitors was fun to write. The actors all did a terrific job and the looks on their faces when their competition, Lord John Grey enters, is priceless.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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T: I’m sorry, lol, but I can’t think of him as Forbes. He’s Pippin. I’ll shall call him Pippin Forbes.

V: Yeah, I can only see Pippin too.

May I present Lord John Grey.

O: Then Lord John Grey walks in. He’s more handsome than the others, I’m assuming richer, a man with a title, no less, who upsets the apple cart. Then he drops a bombshell, for Bree, at least that he knows her parents. That was fun to watch.

T: And have mercy, Lord John knows how to enter a room. The mommies recognize real competition in him for Bree.

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We all love, in the books, the Brianna-Lord John relationship. It’s so unusual. This episode is just the beginning of that, and it’s so special because Lord John has this close relationship with Jamie, but not as close with Claire [Caitriona Balfe]. There are so many mixed feelings there. With Brianna, Lord John sees a combination of Jamie and Claire and someone he can be close with and has a kinship with, but without the baggage. ~ Maril Davis

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V: Yes, LJG does know how to enter a room and close the bidding down. Wolff and Forbes know it too. I also noticed he gave Bree a once over. That surprised me. Did you see Jocasta swooning over him too?

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V: I love these scenes with the two of them. It was funny how Fergus was paying more attention to Germain than he was to Murtagh.

O: This was a nice scene between them. I liked that Murtagh asked him to join the regulators. But he declines, saying his place is with Marsali and the baby. Let’s hope Fergus will feel worthy again, and find gainful employment.

V: Look at her eavesdropping on their conversation. Love her!

T: Just asking made all the difference for Fergus. I’m hoping it means they pack up and head to the Ridge once all of this is over.

V: I was smiling right along with Marsali when I heard his decision. He had no difficulty making it and was proud of it too. If I am not mistaken, he stuck his chest out!

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Some of the writers were surprised to learn that the concept of psychology was known in this time period, but it was, and we had fun having Bree use it to entertain the table. John Grey’s answer, that he pictures her father, ends up revealing something about him to Brianna when she figures out later that Grey has romantic feelings for Jamie…

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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. . . but there is something for occasions like this I
learned a long time ago. . . on the subject of psychology – –
“the science of the soul” if you will.

O: This psychology game of Bree’s reveals some things: that Alderdyce has a secret and that LJG does, too!

V: OMG, Forbes is truly a hoot! Yes, that’s true, but it seemed out of place and I was wondering why it was included.

I’ll ask you some questions and I
want you to think of whatever comes
to mind first . . . oh, and you might
want to close your eyes – –

Must I close my eyes when you are before me?

T: Raise your hand if you knew immediately who John was thinking of.

V: Ooh-me-me . . . You can’t see it, but my hand is raised!

T: Lt. Wolff’s side eye during this dinner. Everything Alderdyce and Forbes says is hilarious!

V: Yeah, she is not impressed by him at all. Wolff and Forbes also provide the comedy for this episode.

T: Everyone is full of it, putting on this show for Brianna.

V: Yeah, but why is she playing this game? I was so confused. That fainting spell of hers was a trip!

O: Bree begins to learn just how well LJG knows her father, when he hands her a letter from Jamie. However, she doesn’t read it then, stubbornly.

V: OMG, Lizzy with her big damn mouth. How is it that she is telling Bree’s business in front of people. Really?

Oh Mistress — I was so worried
when I heard that ye’d fainted —
in your condition.

I guess because LJG said he was friends with her parents, it’s okay to just tell e’rything?

O:  Jocasta gives Bree the lowdown on how society works, that if the baby is born out of wedlock, the child’s life would be ruined. And the practical Jocasta tells Bree she can’t live on hope, and accept that Roger’s either dead, or won’t be able to come back to her. So Bree accepts the notion she needs to marry for the sake of her baby.

T: Bree needs these hard lessons from Jocasta. She’s not in the 20th Century anymore.

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Jocasta isn’t exactly pleased to be confronted by Brianna about the matchmaking, especially when she realizes the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree and that Bree is very much her mother’s daughter, just as spirited and outspoken. But in her own way, Jocasta, knowing the mores of the time, is only trying to protect her pregnant grand-niece by encouraging her to marry and not wanting her to have false hope about Roger’s return. This is Jocasta’s version of tough love.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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V: I wish I’d played a drinking game for the number of times the characters said ‘hope’. I get that was the message of the episode, but did they have to say it soooo many times?!

Honestly, to have Beauchamp, Fraser and MacKenzie genes all in one person is like a bomb waiting to explode! No, and I honestly don’t think she remembers where she is, century wise. She needed to be told what would happen, if she had a child out of wedlock.

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V: That damn tavern again. Oh lord, there’s Bonnet. I surely hope they change his story. I want him gone.

O: Murtagh and Fergus have Bonnet pointed out to them when Bonnet walks into the Inn. Yay! Murtagh pulls a gun on Bonnet then knocks him out. Bigger Yay!

T: This was almost too easy. I don’t trust it. Outlander is going to Outlander itself and this is going to blow up in our faces.

V: Since Murtagh’s storyline has changed, I was wondering how all of this was going to go down. And yeah, it is too easy and quick. Again, they had to rush through this scene to move on to the next. I am just glad Murtagh knocked him the hell O-U-T!

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O: Bree not reading Jamie’s letter really annoys me.

V: Yes, she is as stubborn as both her parents; that trait is shining through brightly this episode.

T: Her not reading it is the biggest temper tantrum ever.

V: Okay. W-T-F?? Here they are in a house full of people, FULL OF PEOPLE, and they are screwing all out in the open that way? Really? I know it is for the purpose of moving the plot; but realistically, anyone could have heard and seen them just like Bree did.

T: Oh my gosh, yes!! The butler’s pantry of all places?! Both of them should’ve known better. Imagine if it was someone else other than Bree. At least, lock a door or something. Blow out the candles. Be discreet, people.

O: At least her restlessness enabled her to see what their secret was.

V: I guess with seeing Bree and talking so much about Jamie, LJG had to do something to get it out of his system (no pun intended). But, he was reckless. Bree surely did move her ass away from the scene quickly, didn’t she?!

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V: I thought it was pretty slick and quick thinking on his behalf to save Fergus from being arrested too. I also thought, poor Fergus. He is always in a position of learning of someone’s arrest and having to try to do something about it. Remember, Claire had to let him know Jamie was arrested in Jamaica? Now, he is going to have to informed Jamie of Murtagh’s arrest.

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The difficulty with keeping a character alive in the show that’s not alive in the book is that all of a sudden you have to create story for them that didn’t exist before. Sometimes that takes away from other characters or sometimes it moves [the] story in a different way. We needed something for Murtagh to do, and it felt like Jamie, as he’s off to look for Roger, would task his godfather with tracking down Bonnet.

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Unfortunately, Murtagh also has a price on his head because we decided he would most likely have sided with the Regulators. There’s not a lot to tease aside from will he hang, or won’t he? The same for Bonnet as well. We were really excited to see those two characters share some scenes, because we didn’t know how it would turn out as obviously Murtagh isn’t alive in the books at this point. ~ Maril Davis

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T: He is a good man saving Fergus like that. Let’s hope he heads to River Run with this news.

O: Uh-oh. Glad he pointed out that Bonnet was wanted, too. I’m interested to see how this plays out.

V: So, riddle me this. If they knew who Bonnet was and that he was a murderer, how is it that he has been allowed to wonder about and no one arrested him before now? I am also interested to see how this plays out, especially since Murtagh is arrested too, let alone still in the story.

O: Good point.

T: Bonnet’s smuggling lines the pockets of a lot of people. Probably some of the same people who would try and convict him, not so much these two militiamen.

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O: Here’s where the intrigue emerges. Phaedre let’s Brianna know that Forbes will propose; Bree sets out to meet LJG.

T: Seeing Bree’s 20th century thinking against Phaedre’s 18th century way of thinking. Would most women have been happy to know that a man of standing wanted to marry her despite her condition, as they call it? Relieved, if not happy, I guess. But, Bree is her parents’ child and isn’t going out like that, not when she has blackmail material.

V: That’s true and probably why Phaedre is so excited for her and she is mortified. Besides the fact, if I lived during that time I’d be a slave, I wouldn’t want to be a women during those time either. The idea that Forbes met Bree once and now wants to propose is outlandish!

T: We would’ve just been screwed all the way around with no choice about anything. I’m pretty sure Forbes and Jocasta had this marriage thing all worked out, even before he met Bree that night.

V: It seems that way. God, I am glad Bree told Lizzy to be damn discreet with her non-discreet ass.

O: Ha Ha . . . trying to get Lizzie to be discreet.

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O: Bree ask LJG to marry her!

V: Well, I know LJG was thinking, ‘I’ve already given my word to take care of ‘your brother’, now you want me to take care of his niece, or nephew?’ Yeah, she did ask him and it is a helleuva ask.

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We really wanted to try to capture that, but it’s difficult because, as you saw, she tried to blackmail him, the poor guy. That scene, we tried to walk a line because you still need to like Brianna. You’re pulling for Lord John in that scene where she calls him out and tries to get him to do what she wants, but at the end, you feel like they can share things with each other and be vulnerable. She knows his secrets and he knows hers. That’s the start of this bond between them. ~ Maril Davis

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T: This whole scene right here is why David Berry is my favorite casting choice in the series. That face goes from pleasant to aristocratic gall in a snap.

V: Yeah, he definitely made this scene work.

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This was a great scene in the book and in the show. We knew it would be tricky for Brianna to blackmail Lord John, and yet we had to understand the motive of a desperate woman. John Grey needed to have the right mix of outrage and yet compassion. The “teach you to play with fire” line was important, to show the John Grey could strike back—reminding the audience that he was a husband to Isobel in every way and that Brianna needs to be careful what she wishes for.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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T: His face is saying, “I am a Peer of the Realm, courtesy title be damned and I will end you with class and sophistication. Do. Not. Come. For. Me.”

V: She is out of her element and doesn’t know who she is dealing with.

T: He probably had to remind himself that he’s talking to Jamie’s daughter and she’s desperate right now. She really is impulsive and reckless. She’s lucky John is who he is.

V: On another note: Why aren’t people surprised that she calls her father Jamie, his first name? Wouldn’t that be odd for someone to do in the 18th century?

T: Yes, I was also questioning her calling him Jamie, especially to John. Though everyone knows that she didn’t grow up with him, it should still seem odd.

O: Remember, she’s still pissed with him, so she’s withholding respect. And she’s talking to her father’s trusted friend. I don’t believe she calls him Jamie to Jocasta.

V: I couldn’t believe she told him e’rything.

O: I like that we have trust between the two of them being established here.

V: But when she said that she would be exchanging hope for a broken heart, that’s a terrible position to be in.

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V: Lord, look at him, poor creed. He is so excited and thinks he has won his prize.

T: Lord John to the rescue! We just knew he couldn’t let Jamie’s child enter a marriage of convenience.

O: Wow! I wonder what made him change his mind?

Thank you for waiting for me, my dear.
Have you told them our good news?

V: I heard his footsteps before I saw him and Voilà! He probably thinks Jamie would never forgive him for allowing her to marry someone else and he could have stopped it.

. . . No, I haven’t.

O: Jocasta is okay with it. Forbes is not, of course. Ooh, what does Forbes’ humiliation mean for the future?

V: Under the circumstances, probably nothing.

I’ve asked for Miss Fraser’s hand in marriage, and she accepted.

T: Bree out-MacKenzie’d Jocasta. On another note, I need to know who Brianna’s 18th century eyebrow person is. They are very well groomed.

I dinna ken how ye managed it, but
a MacKenzie ye truly are.

V: She surely did and Jocasta was impressed by her move, especially snagging a lord.  Poor Forbes. I was thinking no first or second breakfast with her! Tqwana, I’m with you; he will never outgrow the role of Pippin (Peregrin Took).

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O: Rollo finding that corpse, which Ian recognizes as the man the Mohawk had as prisoner heightens the urgency for Jamie, Claire and Ian. Can they find Roger alive?

T: Don’t you love how they’re just handling these humans remains like it’s nothing. Oh look, a dead man’s leg. Here Auntie Claire, take a look.

V: That was a weird scene for me too, just handling it like it’s a stick or something.

O:  None of them finding another body is a hopeful sign.

V: That is true, there is still hope that Roger is alive. But, they surely covered the area quickly, didn’t they? Jamie said he went out a mile.

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O: LJG brings up his son William with Bree. He then tells her Willie is “not truly mine,” but that he loves him nevertheless. Two things come to mind here: LJG’s son is Jamie’s son and LJG may love the boy because of that, but also he clearly loves him because of the boy himself.

He’s letting Bree know Roger could come to love the child, whether he sired him or not. That’s grace, I think. And finally, Bree begins to read Jamie’s letter. I think she’s finding some grace of her own here. Her forgiveness has entered the picture.

T: Finally, someone is able to make her see reason, at least a bit. It was good of him to share the partial truth about William’s paternity (with William’s sister!). Let’s hope John is right about Roger and he will love this child and Brianna’s newfound faith in him isn’t in vain.

V: Although I could appreciate what he was telling her, I think we get the point of one man taking care of another man’s child (e.g., Frank with Bree and LJG with William), and loving it all the same! They don’t have to keep hitting us over the head with it. We get it! And, hopefully, she does too.

I am not sure why they have to keep going over this with her. She should already know this, by now, with how Frank raised her. Hopefully this is the last time someone has to bring it up. I was really wondering if LJG was going to spill all the tea, but glad he didn’t. I really believe if the child isn’t Rogers, he would love it because of Bree. So, what’s in the letter?

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O: I like that they bury the Mohawk prisoner. Like Jamie says, he was someone’s child.

T: This whole situation is taking such a toll on Jamie. It’s so hard to see him like this and not the laird and “King of Men.”

V: That is true. He is totally beaten down and Claire is not helping him either. They know each other so well. I am not understanding her right now, and a little bit pissed at her. But, I am glad they at least gave Caleb (I think that’s his name.) a proper burial. I also loved that Jamie mentioned that he was someone’s child. Again, this episode is all about someone’s child.

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O: Seeing Claire explain her angst to Jamie was good here. She explains how she and Bree kept the secret about Bonnet and that led to Jamie wrongly injuring Roger.

T: He is so vulnerable when it comes to his daughter and Frank. It breaks my heart. And I’m glad she is the first to apologize because she is right. Had she told him, it might’ve saved Roger.

V: He truly is, but can you blame him? He finally connects with a child he thought he’d never meet. And as soon as he does, all hell breaks loose and he doesn’t know if she will ever forgive him.

This was one of the best scenes in the episode. We finally get some real communications as to how each is feeling and why they did what they did. I agree with you, Tqwana. It was good that she apologized first and let him know she wasn’t angry at him. Do you know how devastating that is for him to think Bree and Claire are upset with at him, at the same time.

O: He is showing how heartbroken he is here and how Frank was a better father to Bree than he could be.

But she at least explains that like him, Bree says hurtful things out of anger that she doesn’t really mean. This was believable to me, and it was well-played by Sam and Cait.

V: They always bring their A-game; I’ll give them that!

T: She still acknowledges that she sometimes has to put Brianna first.

V: Yes, she did. Though he has never had to ‘parent’ a child, he at least understands why she might have to keep secrets from him now.

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The Jamie and Claire story here was gratifying to explore. They have such a rich and mature love, that it is very difficult for anything to come between them. Having their daughter here complicates things in a way that is new to their marriage. They need time to process their feelings on the misunderstanding about Roger. Claire had to respect their daughter’s wishes by not telling Jamie it was Bonnet who raped her. Jamie was protecting their daughter from a supposed rapist when he attacked Roger. This causes dramatic tension and guilt within a very stable relationship. Issues with family are relatable, timeless issues.

~ Shaina Fewell, Outlander Community

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O: Their making love here was icing on the cake.

T: Finally, FINALLY, they’ve kissed and made up. I need Jamie and Claire to be united on this journey.

V: Yes, finally. Now, we can move on and won’t have to feel the strain between the two of them!

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O: Roger running the gauntlet at the Mohawk village was harrowing. For a second, I thought he’d earned his place with them, when they cheered. Then he got punched out. Ok. What’s next?

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Jon Gary Steele and his team did an incredible job bringing this set to life. When I walked on set for the first time, you forget you are even on a set. It feels like you’ve just walked into this undiscovered village that’s been there forever. ~ Richard Rankin

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T: This is really starting to bother me, the portrayal of all the POC. I really hoped that we would get a more balanced view of the First Nations people. But again, we’re leaning into the aggression. I hope this gets explained more next episode, as a rites of passage into the tribe or something. Otherwise, I’m truly over it.

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Roger’s journey has not been an easy one and will continue to not be easy. He’s had quite a fraught few months. Roger’s been through so much, so many misunderstandings, and how does this really lovely, genteel professor deal with this kind of hardship? He at this point thinks all is lost for him. ~ Maril Davis

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V: We don’t seem to be getting any explanation when it comes to the Native Americans or Roger (especially what happened at the stones). But, I believe that is exactly what is happening . . . he is getting beaten into the tribe. Why doesn’t he know how to damn fight, or at least attempt to fight back? At this point, if I were Roger, I’d be thinking I was in the Twilight Zone or in the Groundhog Day movie.

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Episode Rating (1-5 Shots)

We give this episode 4-shots (really, 3.8 rounded up)! Once again, we are divided with this episode. For one, it was intriguing and the had a good pace. For the others, it was a bit disjointed and jumped around a lot to ensure the plot advanced. Some scenes were rushed, while other scenes went on unnecessarily too long.

There was not a lot of suspense for this episode. It was all about finding Roger and finding Brianna a husband. Although it is difficult to tell whether Claire, Jamie and Ian are getting any closer to Roger, at least the distance between Claire and Jamie was finally closed.

It was a fascinating look at the tension for all of the characters: Mohawks and Roger; Claire and Jamie; Brianna and Jocasta, as well as her suitors; Marsali, Fergus and Murtagh and Lord John Grey and Brianna. One thing is for sure, all of the scenes were well performed. But, it just did not seem that any of them had enough time for their character to breath.

We were glad to see that Lord John Grey was back. He surely is a scene stealer. We also enjoyed spending time with Fergus, Marsali and Murtagh. It will be interesting to see how Murtagh’s character arc turns out. Any time spent with Phaedre and Ulysses is a plus. And Jocasta? What can we say. Maria Doyle Kennedy portrayed the subterfuge of Jocasta to full effect, especially when she explained the conventions of the day and era to Brianna. However, we did not like the one-dimensional portrayal of the Mohawks and hope they are represented differently in the next episode.

As always, the set designs from the interior of Fergus and Marsali’s home to the Mohawk village were outstanding. We do hope to see more in the next episode.

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LOOKING FORWARD

What we are looking forward to in the upcoming episode.

Olivia:  I am looking forward to how things play out for Roger, Murtagh (I really don’t know where that storyline is going) and Bonnet. Also, will Jamie and Bree reconcile? Follow Olivia on Twitter: @newsollie.

Vida:  I am really looking forward to some of these storylines coming to a damn end . . . Stephen Bonnet, I’m talking to you! We’ve had to deal with him since the first episode. I also want to see how they expand Murtagh’s character and if we will see more of the Mohawks, besides them being captors. I am also looking forward to seeing if Claire, Jamie and Ian find Roger in the next episode, or if they wait until the finale. Follow Vida on Twitter: @Blacklanderz.

Tqwana: I’m looking forward to Bree reading Jamie’s letter and finally starting to get over being mad, hopefully. How is Murtagh going to get out of this situation? What role will Fergus play in all of this? I need more Fergus and Marsali. Follow Tqwana on Twitter: @TqwanaBrown.

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