Good news – we can get new family and friends pour ourselves a dram and, through the magic of technology, enjoy it together! Each Saturday at 9:00 p.m., we’ll be LIVE blogging the episodes to bring you a two-screen experience into the world of Outlander. Like the Outlander Cast podcast, it will be SPOILER FREE for non-book readers.
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 . . .
[9:00 pm] Sigh. Episode number 5. This season is going way too damn fast. But the “previously on Outlander” sequence and opening theme never cease to have me giddy with anticipation at what this new episode will hold. My own weekly “brace for impact” moment.
[9:03 pm] Huh, Claire doesn’t seem to be taking issue with all the hired help now. And I don’t blame her about-face attitude. Imagine cleaning up that mess, five months pregnant . . . and with your husband in jail for the night. No thank you.
[9:04 pm] Four minutes in and “I thought my heart was gonna burst” at Jamie tenderly carrying a sleeping Fergus to bed, sent off with the most loving glance, touch and kiss between he and Claire. It’s a scene we all want so desperately play out repeatedly for them in the future. No spoilers here, folks, but I can dream.
[9:07 pm] “You did what?” – Claire, in a line that’s been spouted from wives for centuries and has zerotranslation issues. In this case, Jamie fought off whores in his lap by telling them his wife was a witch (a white witch, hence “La Dame Blanche”) only months after she was nearly hanged for the same label. And there maaaay have been “a fair amount of drinking involved.” Thankfully, it could lead them to uncovering who attacked them in the alley. Talk about a free pass, dude.
[9:09 pm] Talked about ripped from the headlines – initiation into the aristocratic gang involves raping a virgin. Deplorable. On another note, Murtagh’s unforgiveable remorse at being not able to protect the girls from attack and his admission of it to Jamie is now my favorite scene between these two [thus far] this season. And again I say, Murtagh needs a hug.
[9:11 pm] Is it me or does Rosie Day’s portrayal of Mary Hawkins, while tremendous, make you feel like you’re listening to the “Childlike Empress” from The Neverending Story? I keep waiting for her to yell, “say my naaaaaaaaame!” That reference might be limited to children of the ‘80s, so bear with me.
[9:13 pm] Talk about nurture . . . between Claire’s mentoring of Mary, especially in this bittersweet scene, and Jamie’s of Fergus, these two are primed and ready to make wonderful parents.
[9:14 pm] Oh girrrrrrrl, don’t you dare. That’s far too Wentworth BJR with the Sandringham letter of you and you’re better than that, Claire. MUCH better.
[9:21 pm] I know Claire’s got a vested interest in ensuring the Randall family tree branches down as it should, but our preggo friend takes meddling to a whole new – and infuriating – level. Also, I don’t think we can offer enough praise to Suzanne Smith and the casting department for their discovery of how eerily similar Laurence Dobiesz and Tobias Menzies are – mannerisms, facial twitches and all. Seriously, Google an image or two of the actors. Fun party trick.
[9:23 pm] The brothel is safe, for now. But these two can continue to throw side eye, front eye and every other eye at each other until the end of time because . . . hell, do I need to spell it out?
[9:25 pm] You rub that belly, Jamie. All day long. That is all.
[9:27 pm] JENNY! Geez I miss that tough-as-nails lass. Also, I appreciated the explanation of how these spoons made it to France. I know I should have just let the sweet sentiment of this scene wash over me, but my logistical brain got stuck wondering how their mad dash out of Scotland included rounding up heirlooms to take on the boat.
[9:28 pm] “What you don’t ken, you’ll learn. We’ll learn, together.” – Jamie, locking up my favorite line of the night and reducing me to choked-up tears.
[9:35 pm] Holy. Shit. Eloquent, I know, but those are the exact words that escaped the hubs’ and my mouths at the same time. I’ve never been so ecstatic to see a maniacal villain alive and well, but in fairness, Tobias Menzies and his incomparable talent will do that to you. There’s so much to grab at in this scene – his blurred entrance, the sharply crafted dialogue, his pained grunts to remind us of the state he was in when we last saw him, his stalking movement over Claire like a predator to prey, his helping Claire to lodge her pregnant foot in her mouth in front of the king, and so on and so on. And I might have called my favorite line of the night too early, because this about sums up everything we’re all thinking: “Claire, you of all people. Surely you can step outside the passions of the moment and appreciate the sublime preposterousness of a universe that would guide us to a meeting at the French Court.” I’m going to need to watch this scene again and again, and it’s not even the one with Jamie laying eyes on BJR yet.
[9:39 pm] Oh god, here it is. We’ve waited nearly five hours of Outlander for this reunion. Holding my breath until it’s over.
Never mind, I couldn’t. He touched him. You guys, BJR touched our Jamie.
[9:44 pm] Knee porn. Thank you, kilted Jamie . . . and kilted Murtagh for that matter. Also, tonight’s Jamie Hair Watch – vintage Jamie is back.
What did you think of this episode?
Episode 2.05: “Untimely Resurrection”
Episode 2.06: “Best Laid Schemes…“
Episode 2.07: “Faith”
Episode 2.08: “The Fox’s Lair“
Episode 2.09: “Je Suis Prest“
Episode 2.10: “Prestonpans”
Episode 2.11: “Vengeance is Mine“
Episode 2.12 “The Hail Mary“
Episode 2.13 “Dragonfly in Amber“
Dear Fergus guarding Milady!
We all need a wee Fergus!
Loved this ep.both Sam&Cait a brilliant job in this!Of course I'm not so fond of Claire in this meddling with Mary&Alex & of course she comes off very bossy towards Jamie as well having reed the books though I know whats coming!Kudos to Laurance D,Stanley W. for great acting!Last,but not least JAMMF has arrived in this season.Thank You Ashley!
I loved Louis bringing the snark. French royalty is so often portrayed on screen as dim-witted (the legacy of "let them eat cake" IMO) that it's great to see the reality of a king raised in a time/place where using one's wits was critical. He read the dynamic between Claire/Jamie and BJR perfectly and took full advantage of it.
Hi Ashley – I don’t read your blog while I’m watching Outlander as me and multitasking don’t get along 😉 …but then I like to read it later on to see what you saw in each episode….and one of my most fond memories from this episode was
‘on your knees soldier’…. seeing JBR on his knees was so unexpected and gratifying 😉
I agree with you that Clair’s meddling between Alex Randall and Mary Hawkins is too much. Especially since they both are a bit of misfortunate souls and don’t need anybody else trying to trip them.
Seeing Tobias Kenzie – as our favorite villain – in his red uniform was great. Him being a villain vs. Le Comte…Comte has nothing on Menzie…in my opinion. All Le Comte does is stare a lot.
Claire’s line of ‘we are acquainted’ was totally a Facebook material.
Finally – the final scene between Jamie and Claire stole the show for me as well. The final words ‘Don’t Touch Me’ that Jamie spoke to Claire really made me feel what a hard choice and promise he had to make to her. The dialog was written beautifully by Richard Kahan &produced by Toni Graphia.
4.9kilt rating for me.;-)
Aki S.
@AkiAga
I'm so glad you got it! I had the SAME reaction! The credits rolled and my mouth was still agape.
I agree! Our feisty Jamie is back, and it's about time. I miss our Scottish pals but this season's cast is incredible! Thanks for reading!
So well said. I whole-heartedly agree!
Aki, I'm cracking up about the multi-tasking and I totally get it. I'm just glad you read it as a recap after, which I think most people enjoy better. That scene with Claire, BJR, Jamie and the King was the best yet by far. Imagine if the Duke had been in it too! You are so right about Le Comte having nothing on BJR. I think Blake said it best in sir podcast episode that followed by the premiere – he said he was a cartoon villain. He's got that evil stare down pat. Thanks for reading!
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