Murtagh’s return in Outlander Episode 405 gifted us a blacksmith shop reunion. Nikki Gastineau explains why the Murtagh reunion tops the print shop reunion in Season 3.
It’s been a few days since I finished “Savages” and my internal squealing has not stopped. I’ve been telling anyone who will listen that Murtagh is back, but my exclamations are mostly met with blank stares and indifferent shrugs (I’m looking at you, humans who live in my house). Murtagh is back, ya’l,l and I couldn’t possibly be happier about this huge diversion from the books!
It was the reunion that we all knew was coming but had no way to prepare for. Those of us who follow the Outlander gossip have been caught up in speculation for months. Would Murtagh be married to Jocasta? Would he replace John Quincy Myers? Would he be the one hanged in the opening episode? I certainly didn’t see this blacksmith gig on the horizon but it’s gotten me all sorts of giddy, so much so that I think this reunion might have been better than the one in the Print Shop.
I always feared the Print Shop reunion the way an adult fears a family trip to Disney World. You know your kids will smile and feel warm and fuzzy for a bit, but you also know that there’s the potential to have the magic sucked right out of your own moment when those kids have an unexpected meltdown, the Florida heat becomes unbearable, you refuse to stand in one more ride line or approximately 1.7 million other reasons. We had so many emotions pinned to that Jamie and Claire reunion that it was destined to fall a little bit flat. I felt so perplexed by it that I had to write a blog post (Jamie Fraser, The Print Shop, and Newton’s Third Law) to help me work through my emotions. Judging from the response, I wasn’t the only one who struggled, at least momentarily, with the scene.
This reunion was all the magic with none of the hype. If you watched Murtagh and Jamie and felt like the writers were evoking the Print Shop, you aren’t alone. Even Duncan Lacroix spoke about the comparison between the two. I loved every second of the Blacksmith Shop reunion and here’s why.
Book Readers and Show-Only Fans Were Equally Surprised
We all knew, based on the Season 3 book deviation that allowed Murtagh to survive Culloden, and some sneaky photos taken at filming locations, that Murtagh would return this season but all we could do is speculate on the when and how. None of us had a way to brace ourselves for what was coming because we didn’t actually know what was coming. And for once, book readers and show-only fans got to squeal in unison when we heard that voice and saw that face. Has there ever been such a moment of complete togetherness? Will there ever be a chance to repeat this feat? I think it’s doubtful and, for that reason, I am basking in the warm glow of this one.
Photo courtesy of outlander-online.com
Tears and Smiles
When Claire stood in the Print Shop, she had a few moments to prepare for Jamie to turn around. She steeled herself against what she might see and what she might feel when gazing upon Jamie for the first time in 20 years. As viewers, we had an opportunity to do the same.
Savvy viewers knew the moment Ian began his negotiations that the stubborn blacksmith was Murtagh. In her episode recap, Ashley Crawley begged Murtagh to “turn around.” On a related note, screaming at the screen never works. It’s why I had to stop watching horror movies. As viewers, we weren’t sure what to do with our excitement. Would we be left waiting another few episodes before Jamie and Murtagh connected? Would they always narrowly miss each other?
We didn’t have to wonder long as Jamie stormed into the shop to take up his grievance with the blacksmith. When Murtagh finally turned around, we experienced the moment of reunion along with them. Neither had time to prepare. Neither wondered what they would say to the other. They just stood there lost in smiles and tears and all of our faces leaked together. Your face leaked too, right?
Photo courtesy of outlander-online.com
No One Fell “Thoroughly To Pieces” and I Don’t Even Care
Book readers will recall the line from the Print Shop scene in Voyager when Jamie viewed Brianna’s photos. Diana wrote that Jamie “buried his face in my shoulder and went very quietly and thoroughly to pieces.” In the show version of the Print Shop, readers waited for Jamie to go to pieces and, instead, he told Claire about Willie. While I, mostly, understand why the writers did this, it felt like a bit of a letdown for the book readers who wanted to see the rugged, middle-aged warrior weep uncontrollably at the site of his child.
Remember when I said that no one fell to pieces? What I really meant was that none of the characters on the screen fell to pieces. I, however, dissolved into a puddle of goo when Murtagh asked Jamie about “yer bairn” and Jamie told him about Brianna. Imagine Jamie’s complete relief at being able to speak of Claire’s return and his daughter with the only other person in the world who knew the entire story. For once, Jamie didn’t have to defend Claire against those who thought she abandoned him and he didn’t have to make excuses for Brianna’s absence. The pride on Jamie’s face as he told Murtagh that Brianna was a university student in 1971 reached all the way into the linen closet where I watch the show. Murtagh understood exactly how miraculous Claire’s return and Brianna’s modern life were and he shared Jamie’s joy like no one else could.
Joy, So Much Freaking Joy
Jamie and Claire’s reunion was joyous but, for book readers, that joy was tempered by the knowledge of so many terrible things that would come (the fire, Laoghaire, Ian’s kidnapping). It was all too easy to look beyond those first, tender embraces and fear the episodes that lay ahead.
With Jamie and Murtagh and then Claire and Murtagh, we were left only with joy. The smiles, the tears and all those hugs were enough to fill my Outlander heart to bursting. In a show where tragedy and happiness often walk the same path, one a few steps behind the other, it was a beautiful thing to watch these characters experience happiness without a threat looming just outside the frame.
Photo courtesy of outlander-online.com
I recognize that all my giddiness is the result of the Outlander writing staff changing the course of Diana Gabaldon’s books in a major way. It was a risk on their part and I still don’t know how it will play out in the long run. For now, I want to offer a huge thanks to Bronwyn Garrity (the episode’s writer) and all the other amazing writers for bringing us this little slice of happiness in the midst of political and social upheaval and (spoiler alert) all the chaos to come.
We don’t know what will happen with Murtagh. If we let our minds wander a ahead a bit, we might assume that he and Jamie can’t come to terms with their opposing political views and go separate ways. We might also imagine that Murtagh gives up his political leadership in order to live, once again, alongside his godson. Any scenario we conjure is speculation at this point and I’ve decided not to give it much thought. Until the next episode airs (and in my mind), Jamie, Claire, Murtagh and Ian are frozen in time at that lovely little cabin on Fraser’s Ridge catching up on the past 20 years and existing as the most badass family this side of Cross Creek.
Did you like the Jamie/Murtagh reunion? What did you think of the deviation from the book?
Nikki joined Outlander Cast as a writer in 2016 when she realized that her friends would no longer tolerate her constant talk of Outlander. Each time you read one of her blog posts, you are working to save those friendships. Both Nikki and her friends thank you. If you would like to read more of Nikki’s mostly nonsensical and occasionally heartwarming writings, you can visit her personal blog at sassynik.com. If you’d like to see photos of beer and wine, sunsets, and cozy things, you should follow Nikki’s Instagram account. You can find her at @nikkigastineau on both Instagram and Twitter.
As much as I abhorred the notion of Murtagh surviving Culloden on the television show, I was thoroughly delighted with episode five in season four. I stared with disbelief when Murtagh’s face appeared on my screen, and cried along with Jamie when he realized that he was belittling his oldest friend. And when Claire heard Murtagh whistling their song from years back, I grinned from ear to ear (literally!). Beautifully done, writers!
Yes, I was right there with you. As much as I loved Murtagh’s character I wasn’t on board with having him survive Culloden. HOWEVER, the reunion put all my worries to rest. It was magnificent!
No he leído los libros, pero siempre me quedo ese sin sabor cuando ellos fueron separados y las miradas cuando cada uno se alejaba del otro!! Lloré tanto!! Y pense mucho tiempo en que cuando se volverían a encontrar….ES EL HIJO DEL AMOR DE SU VIDA!! ELLEN ?
Ahora, en este episodio pues entre en trompo, porque después de que ambos se volvieron a encontrar lo cuál para mí fue como una taquicardia de emociones!! Me impacto demasiado!!..que me quede boca abierta!!! ? Más que Murtagh fuera un líder y estuviera al lado de los más desvalidos….COMENCE A QUEMAR CEREBRO!!! Después de que Jaime le dijera que ponga su herrería en Fraser’s Ridge y Murtagh que se uniera a la causa!!! Y AHORA!!??… Me dió ataque de ansiedad!! Que estuvieran en diferente sintonía!! Pero especulo que Jaime se unirá a la causa justa de Murtagh, basándose en que bajo sus dominios no existiría el pago injusto de esos impuestos….ya no quiero inventarse más….pero dudo que las tierras de Jaime, no sean coaccionados en un futuro cercano….si no no es OUTLANDER!! ??
Murtagh’s back, back again
Murtagh’s back, tell a friend
Murtagh’s back, Murtagh’s back…
LOL ?
And this is precisely why I’ve had Eminem stuck in my head all week long.! 🙂
I think Murtagh suspected when Ian used the phrase “guts for garters”. He kind of froze up a tiny bit, then asked Ian for a crazy amount of money. I think he was subconsciously hoping when the Uncle in question showed up, it would be Jamie! This episode was spectacular!
Indeed it was Mam! Thanks so much for taking the time to read and respond.
The Jamie/ Murtagh and Claire/Murtagh reunions were masterpieces. I totally lost it when Jamie and Murtagh recognized each other. I have watched that scene several times and it still has the same effect on me. The Claire/Murtagh reunion had the same impact. It was Duncan Lacroix’s episode and he put all his wonderful talent into it. I will never forget the way he says ‘ah, lass’, the second time he hugs Claire. 405 is one of my favorite episodes of all 4 seasons.
Agreed. It was Duncan’s episode all the way. I’ve only watched the episode once but the blacksmith shop scene a few times as I wrote this post. I know, without a doubt, that I will revisit this one over and over again in the coming months.
While I enjoyed watching the reunion with Jamie and Murtagh, the Print Shop episode will always be my favorite. I guess I am a book purist and do not much like all the deviations from the books that the writers have made.
Susan, I try to be ok with changes from the books because I know that the show writers can’t possibly give us an exact replica of the books. However, I wasn’t sure how I felt about allowing Murtagh to survive Culloden. This episode cleared it up for me.
I was definitely more moved by the blackshop reunion than the printshop as well. I think you are correct in that we experience everything new in that reunion compared to the other. I think back to when I first read Drums and the feelings I had reading the lines with Jamie/Willie and the goodbye scenes with (spoiler) toward the end of the book. Just a few pages and the goodbyes are short, but I can remember ugly crying so bad I had to stop for 10 minutes of bathroom snot repair. I envy the viewers who get to experience that for the first time. Off topic here for a second, but I just had to say, when I see people who say Sam isn’t Jamie, I had to rewind the 5-6 seconds of Jamie walking from the street to the wagon and climbing up on it just before the “you paid how much” scene like about 10 times. The swagger was all Jamie Fraser!
Bathroom snot repair! I know exactly what you mean!!! This season has been giving me a lot of that.
I became a show fan with 101 and I started reading the series right away becoming a huge fan of the books. I understand the need of changes in order to accomodate 800-1000 page books into 13 hours. I´m not a book nazi or a show nazi. This said, I admit that I struggle every episode with the changes taht keep happening during the most important and anticipated moments from fans of books and even show. All these changes and made me less enthusiastic about the show and I dont bother so much about watching the episode right away because I live in this “tv fear” that something is going to be screws up again. In this battle of the reunions I must said that the Murtagh and Jamie reunion wins the fight big time. 306 reunion started nicely, anticipation, joy etc but the show messed it up BIG time changing one of the more awaited and anticipated moments of the ENTIRE series. Jamie barely cried, he was stunned but he didnt cried nor broke into pieces and he mentions Willie when it was clearly a “family” moment, Jamie-Claire and Bree. I was one of the thousands that yelled at the screen and almost cried beacuse I was denied such an important and pivotal moment. The Murtagh -Jamie reunion is not in the books and I´m of the opinion that keeping him alive may change the core story significantly but Murtagh won our hearts from the begining and this reunion, also extremly anticipated, was a delight to watch. Jamie´s and Murtagh´s feeling were there, we could see them, feel them and almost touch them. Jamie cried, fact that he barely or he didnt do with his own child??!! This reunion even for hard core book fans brough us what THE reunion was supposed to give us. Love, affection, tenderness, joy and union. After 306 and taht specific moment the whole season felt disjointed, the characters extremly changed in many ways and the story line became strange to many of us.Suddenly we werent watching OL but something else. anyway, J-M reunion WAS the reunion I waited since 301.
****sorry for the spelling and mistakes. writing from a phone while hiking and the autoccorect keeps changing words uggh …. not good
Thank you so much Keesh for all of those amazing thoughts…and while hiking no less!
I agree with Keesh 100%. My feelings exactly!! Thank you for your submission… As an Avid Reader of the books since their unvailing to the world as a pre-teen and having read all of the books over a 100 times and Outlander well into the 1000s.
I am not as much of a fan of the shows as I was at first or in as much of a hurry like I was in the beginning because so many important events were altured which made me dislike the turn of events, and the one with Claire and the reunion w/Jamie was the most disheartening.. But I always felt that Murtagh should have lived. I am thrilled that Diana loved the changes and thrilled that he has returned. But I hope they do not cause their relationship to harden and end in a bad way. Thay would ruin it.
I am also dishearted in the changes of Jamie’s character. Some of his quite but extreme male strength has been taken from him, showing him to agree with his wife way more than he did, when in fact he was very much the epitomy of a true man and he was the leader of his home with a very strong mate. In the books, Jamie is everything à man should be ! I feel some of that is lost with making Claire too PC in this day and age. The books roles into the story of Jamie and Claire, not only Claire.
But I still love the show and will watch it, again, in an OUTLANDER BINGE when the Season is done. Love OUTLANDER and so excited that Murtagh has returned!! Keesh AWESOME JOB.. THANKS Again.. Love to all my Outlander Companions and to all of their ideas for our Beautiful Tale.. Diana.. Thank you again for this amazing journey and the gift of a life long story that has rode with me through each part of my life and I am only 41! 🙂
I agree with everything you said. I am uncertain about the Print Shop being less than this episode. The Print Shop was really everything, though. All I felt was – AT LAST- and utter joy. I couldn’t totally argue with Sam’s change in the reaction to the photos of his daughter. He is a man and felt this was more in line with how JAMMF would react. He did have to go and sit down to deal with it all. Two realities in books/show. Men today are more able to show emotion by crying. I only saw my husband truly let go once. When we had to say goodbye to our last dog we had. He completely lost it. Never before. Not his parents when they died. Not being presented with his daughter. Never. So that was amazing to me that he did with our dog’s death. So. Jamie, in a time when men pretty much never lost control, did not bother me that much. I felt what Sam portrayed as JAMMF was feeling. The Murtagh reunion was pure joy, as you described it. You described it perfectly. In my mind as well to have Jamie FINALLY experience pure joy. Jamie, after all, feels the same as Murtagh, politically. He must, first, think of his family and their safety. Dine rambling now. Thank you for the always wonderful insights into the episodes.
I am absolutely loving this season and this episode especially! I was so excited to see Murtagh again but couldn’t imagine how it could happen. This was perfect! It made me so much happier than I expected and I’m still feeling the glow a week later! I’m also trying not to think about where his character will go from here. I have a feeling it won’t be as simple as him moving to Fraser’s Ridge. This is one book change that has thrilled me!
I agree with a lot of what you said. I loved the Murtaugh reunion because I love the character and the reunion was so unexpected. I don’t think it was better than the print shop however. The print shop episode is my favorite of all the episodes so far–even the wedding!
I thought Murtagh should have died at Culloden, but found myself fist pumping when he came on screen.
Right?! I don’t think I’ve ever been so excited to see a fictional character reappear on a television screen.
Wonderful episode! Loved the looks on Jamie’s and Murtagh’s faces; astonishment, joy, love! Then, when Murtagh came walking through the woods whistling “Boogie, Woogie Bugle Boy” for Claire, *gasp*, and they saw each other; absolute delight and love! I didn’t know whether to smile or cry do I did both.
As a longtime book reader who well understands the insane challenges of adapting print for the screen, I love this deviation. I sometimes wonder whether Duncan LaCroix’s wonderful characterization had anything to do with the writers’ decision in this case. He has helped make Mutagh a much more engaging character than he was on the page.
Anticipation is huge. Impatiince is growing. Your comments all-together feed me and help me to overcome the fact that I will only see this in May or June as I am waitng for the DVD. But, I have read the books several times – sometimes a little too long – and seen previous DVD’s. I enjoyed this change and reviewed the images found on FB or Twitter with an enormous joy. Such a fantastic change! A real manly reunion! Two characters of the first season together, a close relationship, a proud friendship and concern about each other, and two deeply-excellent-brilliant actors! What else did we need to have a good episode. Will it be difficult later for them? Jamie made a choice and has a family but his heart is not with the British. Murtagh is alone, has no family connction and has suffered under the aftermath of Cullloden. Revolution is coming and he is 100% ready for the fight. And now there is a familyconnection for him too. What will they do? I saw that Lord John Grey would be in the coming episode. How will Murtagh react. he did not share the meals in prison and he did not live in Hellwater…
I loved the Jamie reaction in this reunion more than in the printshop scene, but am still enthousiastic about the images seen until now. Jamie did not have to fall to pieces for me, but He and Claire were separated for 20 years ans he could not cry on her shoulder. A was born to be a man. Diana Gabaldon certifies that somewhere in the books! Men did ot cry! But Jamie has very often tears in his eyes…
Will make my opinion later when I will have seen the DVD 2 or3 times!
Thank you for feeding me crumbs of the show!
Wonderful recap, Nikki. I always look forward to reading your thoughts and feelings on Outlander.
I just love talking with everyone who loves to dissect the show (not a book reader–yet) as I do.
I loved this! For me personally, I think that the Murtagh/Jamie reunion topped the Print Shop episode.
I think for me personally with the Print Shop episode, there was so much hype regarding it, everyone’s expectations (like mine) were so very high, it might have been impossible for the show to measure up.
Call me crazy, but I felt, in the Print Shop episode there was so much tension expressed, that I didn’t feel the catharsis.
But with the Jamie/Murtagh reunion, there was so much expressed without saying a word! Duncan and Sam have such a wonderful chemistry and the history between the characters go way back to Jamie’s childhood. In this way, Murtagh is even closer to Jamie than Claire is–he was Jamie’s champion at Castle Leoch, and I feel much of Murtagh’s affection for Jamie stems from his feelings for Ellen, Jamie’s mother.
Anyway, in the reunion, their relief, shock, joy at finding each other after all of the years that passed were written all over their faces, in gestures, in body language.
When they finally found each other again and hugged, it was like an emotion bomb exploding, and I just teared up.
It was amazing.
Seeing Murtagh was like coming home: A bit of connection for the Fraisers.
And Murtagh whistling “The Boogie Woogie Bugle Boy of Company B” to make Claire turn around—Oh my God, I just melted. It brought back memories of “The Search.” Now, I didn’t care for that episode, but that was the point where Claire and Murtagh started to bond over their love of Jamie and found a friend in each other.
So it was amazingly well done.
Loved it. I can’t stop watching this episode.
Thanks so much Dawn for, as always, being incredibly kind and generous with your feedback. What you said about the Print Shop…all the tension and no catharsis…is so true. There was the tension and the build-up but everything still felt unsettled and awkward.
As I’ve said in other places, I’ve only watched this episode once but it’s only because my time has been limited this week. I will go back to this one again and again. It was THAT good.
This was a great post, thank you! This episode was simply THE BEST ever. I’m a book reader and try to be understanding of “most” of the deviations….in the book, Murtagh was there, but not very pivotal. I doubt there were a large number of readers emotionally invested in him. There’s hardly anything there to get in an uproar about being changed. The series fleshed him out, and Duncan brought the magic…and still does after a 2 year hiatus! Readers and series watchers were able to come together here on the same page, as who didn’t fall in love with this character in the series? We lost sooo many great complex characters-Frank, Dougal and Collum. I hope they find a way to keep him around indefinitely.?
Thank you as always Nikki for a delightful post. I loved the Murtagh reunion as well and I’m very happy to have him in the storyline. I love the books but am ok with some changes — as long as they’re good! (Ha ha). Wishing you happy holidays. Keep blogging —- you are terrific!