Want a minute-by-minute recap of Outlander Season 3 episode 7, “Crème De Menthe?” We give all the details…
Do you find yourself gabbing obsessively about Outlander to your friends and family? Wishing your Sunday nights included a living room full of people with whom to watch, discuss, comment, cheers, jeers and well, experience alllllll the feels? Dinna fash, Obsessenach—you are not alone.
Good news—we can get new family and friends pour ourselves a dram and, through the magic of technology, enjoy it together! As we brought to you during Season 2, we’ll be LIVE blogging all the episodes in Season 3. Like the Outlander Cast podcast, it will be SPOILER FREE for non-book readers.
Not into distractions during your visit to the World of Outlander? That’s okay! Our LIVE blogs double as episodic recaps to serve as a trusty viewing companion on your second, third and umpteenth re-watches (hey, we get it).
So get all your post-18th Century gadgets ready and settle in, because the best things in life should be shared with a buddy. Hi, buddy.
Now let the show begin…
[8:02 p.m.] Get the hose, Chief. Foreshadowing to an actual fire or what will be needed for us according to the episode content warning? ¯\_(?)_/¯
[8:03 p.m.] This poor lass. She’s not been back but 24 hours and is already wrestling for safety in a half-dressed state… again. Like the Staples red button, well that was easy.
[8:04 p.m.] Seriously, she’s taking the Hippocratic oath now!?!
[8:05 p.m.] I’m having trouble fathoming how her struggle sounded uniquely different to the acoustics of everyday shenanigans in a brothel, enough to warrant them coming to check on her.
[8:06 p.m.] Oh please let Dorcas be the “discreet one.” After all, she knows all about the restorative properties of hot water. For your lady bits, or a hematoma, apparently. Score one for Dorcas.
[8:07 p.m.] Madame Jeanne is completely unflappable in this whole mess, as if this sort of scenario comes routinely with running a brothel. I might like this lady after all.
[8:08 p.m.] “Stubborn as always.” Jamie, recalling all that comes with loving a woman like Claire.
[8:09 p.m.] I love that she’s made it a priority to holster up those bubbies as part of her pre-op regimen.
[8:10 p.m.] King of Men is running these lads through an 18th century CrossFit WOD with all that cask rolling and deadlifting. Claire, I think I have your answer on how he got that late-40s physique.
[8:12 p.m.] The roles of Bartles & Jaymes will now be played by Fergus and Young Ian. I’ll buy whatever this adorable duo is hocking. #IAmAMarketersDream
[8:13 p.m.] “Spirited and incredibly brave…” Fergus recalling “Milady” with vivid, warm accuracy. It’s uncanny how on the nose Cesar Domboy channels Romann Berrux’s mannerisms and portrayal of Fergus.
[8:14 p.m.] Willoughby experiencing baptism by fire into life with Honorable Wife, and not minding one little bit. He’s drawn to Claire because of his loyalty to Jamie, but also because she looks at him like he’s an equal, something I imagine was severely lacking during this day and age.
[8:15 p.m.] I chose the wroooong time to sip red wine. And all these years I convinced myself that the sound of a dental drill was the worst noise ever. Nope, it’s THIS.
[8:16 p.m.] I’m opting to just ignore the fact that this incredibly rudimentary surgery is taking place on that bed – the bed – that saw a lot of candlelit magic time just a few hours earlier. Talk about a cold shower.
[8:18 p.m.] “I’ll not grieve for the man who tried killing my wife” – probably the safest thing Jamie could say in the moment after pulling the short straw on the receiving end of Claire’s professional disappointment and misdirected anger.
[8:19 p.m.] In the afterglow of the reunion, Claire’s rightfully second-guessing what it all means, how she will retain her essence and found purpose in this old-but-new world. This is the very real underbelly to all that longing and pillow talk, and we’re forced to experience it for her, with her.
[8:20 p.m.] Caves, prisons, stables, brothels – my mind rattles through them all as Jamie declares that he’s finally been cast out of his 20-year darkness thanks to the sun that streamed in with Claire upon her return through the stones and into his life.
[8:21 p.m.] Jamie and Claire will soon resort to managing their marriage through Outlook to keep their individual appointments straight. It works for the hubs and me.
[8:22 p.m.] Yes please, to all this time watching the budding brotherhood between Fergus and Young Ian. These two are vying for their place as the baby versions of Angus and Rupert, only with more innocent charm. For now.
[8:23 p.m.] “Menage a tois… two women and one moi.” I guess “for now” was short-lived. Since Fergus was living at Lallybroch at age 15, I have some questions about the key players in said extracurricular activities. Perhaps I might have the chance to have them all answered in a forthcoming “Dear Fergus” sex help column.
[8:24 p.m.] Fergus is every child star who insisted on playing the “I’m all grown up now card” by flaunting their sexploitations on TMZ. *cough Miley Cyrus cough*
[8:25 p.m.] John Bell has stolen my heart as Young Ian already with his bumbling, youthful charm. Kudos on the perfect casting yet again, Suzanne Smith!
[8:26 p.m.] Can someone come cuddle me? This looney lady is bound to give me nightmares later. Also, I guess TV Archie has chosen a less biblical calling than book Archie.
[8:28 p.m.] Hold up, after that very lengthy description of sister Margaret’s garden variety of batshit crazy, all she needs is a couple fresh papayas?
[8:30 p.m.] Like uncle, like nephew. Apparently, the collective sexual consortium of Murtagh, Rupert, Ned and Fergus forgot the fundamentals when offering a crash course to virginal Fraser men. Side note: “Horses and Whooores – A Sexual How-to by Furry Highlanders” has a nice ring to it, eh?
[8:31 p.m.] Hiding a body in the crème de menthe casks because no one will find it – is that like hiding it in a holiday fruit cake?
[8:32 p.m.] “Dinna fash, Sassenach. ‘Twas no more than a wee bit of chaos. Nothing we haven’t seen before.” – Jamie, summing up their relationship succinctly.
[8:33 p.m.] At Claire’s request to find more suitable accommodations, I’m going to implore you to read/re-read Nikki’s latest post on why Jamie appeared visibly stressed upon Claire’s return. #NailedIt
[8:34 p.m.] “A terrible misunderstanding” is what I’d call forgetting to pick up your kid from soccer practice or grab milk on the way home, thinking your spouse was handling. Living a half-life in misery for 20 years while longing for the love of your life under the false assumption he was dead? I’d label that something a tad stronger.
[8:35 p.m.] Has Lallybroch life with Jenny and all the bairns forced Ian to age in dog years? He cruised up on 20 years, then blew miles past it.
[8:36 p.m.] Terrible misunderstanding is also not what I’d call refraining from telling your long-lost wife about any – ahem – conniving skeletons in your closet.
[8:37 p.m.] You always remember your first time… especially when it’s in backroom of your uncle’s shop and that deflowering glory is thwarted by an intruder Snaping around.
[8:38 p.m.] Noooo, not that gorgeous Jon Gary Steele print shop! We’ve not had enough time with you yet.
[8:39 p.m.] This whole exchange regarding Jamie’s ease at lying to Ian brings Diana Gabaldon’s Voyager text fresh to mind: “Sassenach, will ye take me – and risk the man that I am, for the sake of the man ye knew?”
[8:41 p.m.] “I didn’t realize lies had shades.” Like 50 of them, Jamie. At minimum. I’m estimating you’re paint-stroking about 49 of them with your current lie of omission.
[8:42 p.m.] Oh JHRC, we’re still on that bikini? That bikini has become Jamie’s scapegoat for airing all his grievances and insecurities about Claire’s life without him, and now with. Enough, Soldier.
[8:43 p.m.] Please tell me that we’ll return to extinguishing this fire after the one in Carfax Close. Because we’re getting to conversation of substance that needs time to breathe.
[8:44 p.m.] Caped crusader, my arse, JAMIE AND HIS MAN SHAWL swooping in for the save! And salvaging his treasured portrait of Willie in the process.
[8:45 p.m.] I love that he’s still Young Ian even when he’s the only Ian around. Just in case Fergus might be confused that it’s Big Ian fumbling around in the print shop on a late-night booty call.
[8:46 p.m.] We likened the beauty of Jon Gary Steele’s print shop set to a church last week. So, this just feels sacrilegious.
[8:47 p.m.] Poor Young Ian, blue balls and black lung – all in the same night.
[8:48 p.m.] Have I mentioned the high levels of relief I have at TV Willoughby versus his book characterization? Thank you, production team and actor Gary Young for that one.
[8:49 p.m.] I’m so ready for this overdrawn she doesn’t know we know she knows he knows you know to be over. Out with it already. I’m exhausted, but partially relieved that at least the word “wife” emerged.
[8:50 p.m.] For those keeping score for Jamie at home – 36 hours in, print shop in ashes, squabbling with his wife (not that wife, his other wife) and likely in need of a less busty place to call home. Honeymoon over already?
Closing Thoughts:
Welp, that was an episode. In its most literal definition, that is. Because while it wasn’t my favorite, I’ll take it and try not to pass out from anticipatory anxiety caused by the realization that we are more than halfway through this season. Gulp.
I’ve now decided that the title card fire hose signified the cooling off of the immense crescendo of the first six episodes. We could only stand the heat for so long and were bound to hit a forced plateau to catch our breath, and that’s what this felt like – a recovery lap after a hard-run race (forgive the retired runner in me; everything breaks down to a sports metaphor). It reminds me of what an immense deal sweeps periods used to be for broadcast TV, before the advent of year-round and digital/streaming programming. Shows would hoard their best, most pivotal episodes and drop them when ratings meant the most – November, February and May. As a viewer, you’d note a remarkable drop-off from one week to the next once the pressure cooker of sweeps ceased and it felt anticlimactic. All that to say, every now and again, you just need a good plot development episode that doesn’t elicit tears or anxiety or goosebumps; it just serves a functional purpose. It’s not unlike real life, if you think about it.
I could, however, have done without the convenient and contrived Frank-drop in Jamie and Claire’s brothel argument, but understand the intention of the creative liberties taken in the adaptation. When the candles burned down on a well-earned reunion, we were left in the light of a normal day – one in which Jamie and Claire must deal with repairing and understanding everything about themselves as individuals and together outside of their physical connection. It’s as if we’re watching them visibly process, “yes, I choose you – then and now. Without a question. But it’s going to take time to understand implicitly what that choice means as a whole.” For us too, lovebirds. For us too.
Hey, when all else fails, hop back on that bike and give it another spin. We know you speak that language together fluently and flawlessly, no helmets needed.
Thank you, friends, as always for joining us. If you’ve missed any of our episode recaps, you can catch up with them here:
Episode 3.01: “The Battle Joined“
Episode 3.02: “Surrender“
Episode 3.03: “All Debts Paid“
Episode 3.04: “Of Lost Things“
Episode 3.05: “Freedom & Whisky“
Episode 3.06: “A. Malcolm“
Okay, it might sound a tad greedy, but did those two use up all their mo-jo in “A. Malcom”? Found it hard to believe that in a mere few hours there was nary a cheek peck nor hug, much less a kiss to be had in this episode. Ample opportunities! I agree, I’m relieved with the TV Willoughby version. Not my favorite episode, however, this continues to be the most terrific thing to hit my airwaves in years (and I’m D. Gabaldon’s age), and I’m all-in, book changes and all. This season is going way too fast!
Kimber, great way to say it and I’d like to echo it — I’m all in too, book changes and all. This saga is all-consuming for me, even when some episodes are stronger than others. Let’s hope we see them share some affection next week, but it looks like we might have a ways to go.
Thank you, Ashley, for your closing comments. Helped me make more sense of this episode. Watched it several times today it still feeling a bit shaken.
I understand the need to condense the book to fit tv, and actually have not minded that much until now, but there was very little of the book in this episode.
I was a bit surprised, though, that they put so much friction in this between J and C. Especially bearing in mind what we will get next week. Did they really have her tell Jamie he had no parental experience. Low blow.
You are right, though, I love the books but there has been so much in them that didn’t make much sense, and this does seem more realistic. Just hope they get these two back on track soon. Doesn’t look like it will be next week.
Linda, thanks for your comments. And for putting up with my long-winded rambling on the closing comments. Something felt off, but I think it was meant to feel that way. But wow, that honeymoon was super short-lived. We might have some flashes of hope next week in the early moments before the dung hits the fan with the big reveal. The book chapters are my favorite ones to read, but maybe it’s because everything is tied up nicely with a bow. That’s not probably in real life, I suppose, and the TV show is underscoring that.
I have been trying to figure out what really upset me about this episode. Your closing and Nikki’s latest post about Jamie were helpful, but I am definitely resisting. Feels like someone died and I’m in mourning.
I think it may be that I feel like we lost the story, and they won’t bring us back to it. This particular love story has gotten to me like no other I have ever experienced, and I do not want to lose it. I have been so looking forward (and how many months was it) to getting back to my weekly Jamie/Claire fix.
My logical side knows what Jamie went through and it is totally understandable that he has changed (may even still have a death wish.) He said to Claire he had been living in the shadows and by returning she cast out the darkness, but I think he’s still there. Maybe Claire’s next line should be “come find me Jamie, come find me.” Hope it’s soon. I need my next fix.
I hesitate to again give the disclaimer that I understand the difficulty of trying to cram Voyager into 13 episodes, but …
Yeah, that disclaimer. But, Episode-7 felt rushed like the mission was to get from point-A to point-B because we have to get to point-C by the end of Episode-8, and so on. I fear my fear is coming true – the fear that there is too much in story in Voyager to nicely fit in one season and consequently the flow of the story line will be compromised. I don’t necessarily mind leaving changing the TV story line given the time constraints, but I do mind when it feels like it’s rushed.
Anyway, I’ll watch it again once or twice and probably feel less critical than I do now after the first watch, and it’s still better than droughtlander, so perspective is helpful, but first impressions being what they are, I must say this is my least favorite episode in the entire series so far and it’s not because of the acting or sets because those were excellent as usual.
Dear Ebony Raptor: Ditto, ditto-ditto, ditto-ditto-ditto, dash, ditto. Ditto! ?
Glenn, you hit the nail on the head. There’s just too much dense plot in that thick book to fit into a slim 13 episodes. It’s funny to me now that Season 1 got the most episodes, when there was less actionable points on the story’s timeline. But that allowed us to take our time in getting to know Jamie and Claire, their new relationship, their struggles, etc. Your summary about racing around to hit the points on a timeline is so spot on. Thanks, as always, for reading and commenting!
Please excuse the disjointed sentence structure of my previous post. Oh for an edit function. 🙂
Ebony I’m with you on the 13 episode limitation and this was the one section of the book I thought might be super condensed. It was a short episode also. Which didn’t make much sense.
Right?! Why was that? It was 50 minutes! And the first 3 were “previously on Outlander” and “siiiiiing me a sooooong”.
Oh thank you. I needed to read this for some “bust out laughing moments” in my break! “Blue balls and black lung??!! My stomach hurts from laughing. Crazy how I agree with everything you’ve surmised. Something tells me the remaining episodes are going to scorch…in that Outlander way!
Maggie, I heart you… for reading and for commenting! Thank you. I had a half-second of “can I get away with writing blue balls publicly?” then reminded myself I was an editor for the site so took it as a free pass. Glad you approve.
Hi there, everyone!
Oh, I couldn’t agree more.
Ashley, I wholehearted agree this episode wasn’t my favorite, and I agree with Ebony
Raptor, that this episode felt rushed.
Rushed? It felt like they crammed a hell of a lot of stuff into one episode that wasn’t even an hour!
Honestly it felt like the dead body stuffed in the cask of Cream De Menthe (Something I won’t be drinking anymore any time in the future!)
It seemed totally obvious that they wanted everyone to get from point A to point B (as
everyone pointed out) and they had to literally burn down Jamie’s accomplishments and new life as A Malcom printmaker to do it!
I felt terribly sorry for Jamie in this episode. Boy, it didn’t take Claire long to throw off
the afterglow of being with her soulmate Jamie and good sex and revert back to the woman
who was deeply unsatisfied with her environment.
I have to ask, what the hell? She spent 20 years with Frank and Bree missing her old life with Jamie, missing her place in Scotland, missing the man he was, the way they were together.
She prepared to go back to Jamie, talked to Roger, talked to Bree. And now…
Now she insists that she has to operate on a man who tried to rape and kill her (and
Jamie if it came to it), the fact that she lost him as a patient made her bemoan the fact she was now in the past?
It wasn’t like Claire didn’t know about the medical practices of the past, that people died easily. Claire knew this from her first trip though the stones.
I felt that she treated Jamie so unfairly in that scene. “You’ve never been a parent.” Really? And bringing up what a great father and man Frank was? (she didn’t care about that in her 20 years with him)
That was just plain wrong.
I feel that Claire often feels like she is the smartest person in the room and often treats
Jamie like the village idiot.
And Jamie–instead of going on about the damned bikini, he should have really have really had it out with her.
Sometimes I feel like Jamie’s “Foul Mouthed Bitch” comment about Claire in the Reckoning is how he sometimes truly feels about her dark side.
The whole episode just felt like “Okay Scotland’s done. Now the next phase of the journey.”
Okay, now here’s the part I really did like: Fergus and Ian. Boy like Rupert and Angus before them, they all need their own show!
Terrific.
Adult Fergus has slipped into the shoes of the young actor Fergus so seemlessly, it seems
as if the young kid is all grown up. He is so joyful, yet so beyond his years.
I laughed as Fergus counseled Ian in women–recalling that yes, indeed the young Fergus grew up in a brothel.
He seems to be a bit of a storyteller too, so who knew if his threesome story was true.
Good thing that Black Jack didn’t scar him too much.
Young Ian was so cute and so adorably Fazier. He’s so much like Jamie in the Wedding Episode, I just had to smile.
And then there’s Jamie saving Ian, swooping in like Robin Hood.
What a hero till the end.
Hugs everyone!
Oh my Dawn, thank you. I completely agree with your points. Well said! It makes my heart hurt a little though. I now have a worst episode list. As a lover of the books, I’ve tried really hard not to compare too much and to give the show it’s space and deference but…, ultimately it is a show more than loosely based on a book series. It seems the writers have forgotten that point in this episode.
Okay, I watched it a second time after a good nights sleep with a hopeful new perspective … and … it’s still the worst episode ever, in my opinion. I went from the tenderness of Episode-6 where I loved both Jaime and Claire to Episode-7 which managed to make me dislike both of them – Claire for prioritizing her Hippocratic Oath above the life and safety of the husband she just reunited with after 20 years of pining for him, and Jaime for being so cavalier with lying to Ian about young Ian and then trying to justify it by bringing up that he didn’t have any say in Brianna’s upbringing.
I can’t remember another episode where I was left disliking one of them, let along both of them. I hope all future episodes are better than this one because this one fell far short.
Thank you Ebony Raptor. I love that people are able to put into words the feelings I have about this episode. It helps to know I’m not out there somewhere in left field. I don’t expect it to live up to the books and I’ve given it’s own respect, but this week was just awful!
I’m happy I still have my books.
Weeeeeeeeelllll rather different from the book,but still fine,Jamie & Claire better have a serious discussion in the future episode,about the different century and all that comes with it soon,I can understand they are both angry,I was sorry to see how Claire got a bit bitchy again,as reality bites & Jamie please come clean about Loaghare,see we can all move on lol,loved young Ian & Fergus,thank you for the review Ashley!
Hi
Ashley your comments were hilarious and reading them made the episode more bearable . You need your own stand up comedy show!!
The show was one of the worst I have seen. To go from lasts week honeymoon bliss to this weeks uncomfortable episode makes me worried for future episodes. The essence of Outlander is the incredible love between Claire and Jamie! I hope the show will still cherish this!! Also, it felt wrong to me to watch a 15yr old “getting it on”. Yuck . But I have to say the acting is amazing by everyone. Great cast and great sets.
Good point Beth and spot on about J and C’s relationship being the cornerstone of the series. I too will say this is the worst episode I’ve seen to date. Here’s to hoping for more sweetness and joy in each other and less antagonistic behavior from them.
Where do you guys come from??
The wittiest commentary ever….I lost it at 8:12 with the Bartles and Jaymes comparison!
Love your post, please keep up the great work, it’s great comic relief and helps makes the week seem a wee bit shorter until Sundays come around :)))
Agreed that J and C lost that loving feeling way to quickly….Reel life. Ugh!