Episode 210 Prestonpans

A special thanks to Kate Reed of  MKR Designs for the featured image this week.

 

When I was a kid, I became interested in history, specifically, wars. This included the American Revolution, the American Civil War, and World War 2. I loved researching every aspect, every battle, every detail of how these wars and battles shaped the country and the world. I wrote research papers on pivotal battles of world history; Hastings in 1066, Gettysburg in 1863, D-day in 1944. So when I picked up Diana Gabaldon’s books and started reading about the pivotal battles of the English nation, I realized how little I knew about the pivotal events that shaped the English countryside. Strangely, in all my research I had never heard about the battle of Culloden, nor had I read anything about The Risings. I realized that without the watershed moment of Culloden, the way things could have been as opposed to the way they actually turned out.

One of the things I love about these books is the relentless attention to detail when it comes to making history Right. I have read other historical fiction where the writer fudges details for the sake of story. And I mean huge fudges where history is taken out of context and forced to fit it into the story just because. This shows a great contempt for the reader, one which Diana Gabaldon has never held for her readers. Sure, she could take one year between novels and just throw us the next Outlander Big Book, but she isn’t going to do that, and I respect her relentless pursuit of Fact and getting things correct, even if it takes four or five years to get the next one.

So when I watched this episode, I said to myself, they got it. They got everything right. They followed the Gabaldonian code of the relentless pursuit of Fact when it came to the Battle of Prestonpans. And they made us feel for every character, no matter if they had been with us since the first episode, the fifth episode or the episode from the week before. Every character has character, joys, sorrows, wants, needs, and a history. Be they plain spoken farmers, cottars, unruly Scots with a heart of gold, or English soldiers with noble heart and spirit. And that’s one of the things from my research into battles that was fascinating, the characters. The historical figures we read about who help shape battles and history. These mythical figures, the General Lees, the Pattons, the Bonny Prince Charlies, the Washingtons are scattered all over the pages of history.

But little do we hear about the Kinkaids, the Mohrs, the Fosters, or the Frasers. This is why I read the series, and why I watch the show. These characters, no matter how small, all have life, and when they are taken from us, we cry, we gnash our teeth, we weep for the characters they left behind as though they are our family, our brethren, our brothers in battle that didn’t make it back home. So here it is a day after watching episode 10 that my heart is still sad for Rupert, and Ross, and a fandom that loved Leftenant Jeremy Foster.

Ok, enough of my infernal blathering, let’s get it on with, aye?

1. I hate spiders. That is all. Seeing one crawl out of a dead guy’s mouth was icky. And I’m sure it was for Claire, because we see her looking over the body of a dead Scot, watching the maggots and insects writhe on his desiccated corpse. She is ruminating in a voice over about the battles yet to come and how many are going to die.

SIDE NOTE: Hey, Ron@Co, can we get rid of the VO already? I don’t really think it’s necessary anymore. There are other ways to tell the story, and having her talk to us and describe things we already see is kind of defeating the purpose, you know? I’m hoping in season 3 there will be enough characters around where we don’t need to do this. That is all.

Jamie hurries her up with a question about how long it takes to wash herself, and it’s off to the camp where Bonny Prince Charlie and the Battling Clansmen fight about hw to carry out the battle to come.

2. “War is of vital importance to the state, hence under no circumstances should it be ignored. When in peace, prepare for war. And when in war, prepare for peace.” Sun Tzu, The Art of War. I read this book in seventh grade. I know, I am a huge nerd, (and anyone who has followed me this far can agree by reading my writing.) so throughout this recap I will be quoting from this book because they followed it to the letter in order to win the battle. If only they had followed it to the letter in regards to Culloden, we might see a different map of the world, but that’s just speculation at this point, ken?

The generals are arguing about what to do, how to conduct the battle, and there seems to be a disconnect about how to navigate a certain spot of boggy ground that stands in between the Scots and the Brits. The only way to get to the British is to march through this tough patch of marsh, which would open up the Scots for a huge amount of casualties as they get bogged down in it. The other alternative is to sit in place on the high ground and let the English come to them. It’s a stalemate, and could last quite a while. Neither general likes the idea.

“Country in where there are precipitous cliffs with torrents running between, deep natural hollows, confined spaces, quagmires, and tangled thickets should be left with all possible haste and not approached.” Sun Tzu. One general seems to be following this advice, while the Irish quartermaster seems unaware of this rule of war. Jamie agrees, we can’t go over boggy ground. However, he comes up with a plan that might work and involves a certain Mackenzie war chief.

On the way out of the War Council, Bonny Mark Me Charles comes to Jamie and asks, “When the battle is over, could you have Claire treat the English wounded first?” and Jamie’s all, “I don’t think so. You do realize who we’re talking about here, right?”

3. Men who are in camp and not doing anything quickly become bored. Angus is pestering Kinkaid by spitting water at him, and generally being an asshole. And yes, this is what bored men do when they are waiting to be told what to do. They antagonize each other. Well, Kinkaid will have none of it, and his BFF Ross gets up to help him. Dougal can’t get an ounce of sleep, and yells at all them to keep it down, while turning over and trying to get a few winks in before he has to go kill Brits.

Ross and Kinkaid are getting in Angus’ face, and the wily little rogue pulls a dirk and starts shouting about how unprepared the other guys are for this battle, and how they’ll probably run away when the first shot is fired. Murtagh sees this, and tells Angus to put the dirk away, to which Angus says, “Don’t tell me what to do, you bushy faced whoreson!” and all the Murtagh fans in the audience are like, “Aww, no he didn’t!” Then Jamie shows up and says, “Is that a dirk in your hand Angus?”

Jamie comes to Dougal with a proposition. “I need you to go out into that boggy marsh and see if you can get across it.”

4. So Dougal goes out toward the marshland, to see if infantry can get across it. In their prior conversation, they agreed that he should stay about a hundred and twenty five yards away, just to test the ground. He goes out there, and the British soldiers stand to get a look at this crazy Scot’s antics, and so do is fellow countrymen. The Brits start firing on him, missing with every shot. Dougal just wades farther into the marsh, until he gets bogged down and the horse can’t get out of the muck with him on it.

So he gets off, and a shot goes through his hat, scratching his head. At that point, he’s had it. He pulls the horse out of the mud all the while the Brits are still firing and getting closer to his position, and gets the hell out of dodge.

Meanwhile, Bonny Ponce Charles comes out to see what is going on, and Angus asks, “Who are you?” and Charlie says, “Uh, yeah, the prince you all are fighting for.” and Angus is all, “Oh, ain’t he posh.” while Rupert shows the prince respect and nudges Angus to do the same. Which he does, half heartedly.
Dougal comes back to the triumphant howls of his brethren, and Charlie comes up and gives him a rather embarrassing hug. “You are the finest and bravest night in all the land, will you join me at my court at Camelot?” Dougal is taken aback, and can say nothing. “I wish I had a hundred men like you in my army. Then we would win this war no problem.” Yeah, that’s what this show needs, one hundred Dougals.

Jamie comes up to thank him, and says, “you‘re hurt there, you want Clare to look at it?” “Tis but a scratch, I have bigger things to do right now.” Dougal says. And Jamie‘s all, “Well, you certainly are the hero of the hour. Want a dram?” “After I go change my soiled breeks, yeah. Heroing is hard work on the bowels, ken?” Dougal answers, and goes off to get into something a little less poopy if you know what I mean.

So the generals argue some more about what to do concerning the bog, now that it’s been shown to be impassable. Charles tells them to figure it out, we don’t have time to waste here bickering and arguing. We need to move, and quickly, before more redcoats have a chance to get here and bolster their position.

5. In the field hospital, Claire tells the women what to do, about how they need to follow her orders when it comes to who to treat first, how to clean equipment, and the beneficial aspects of honey water. One woman looks at her like, “What’s blood pressure?” and all the while Fergus is messing with the equipment and generally making a nuisance of himself.

6. Later, Fergus brings in a man who wants to speak to a general. Apparently he has information that may prove useful to the cause, as he knows the land around the battlefield having lived on it for his entire life. Fergus goes to get Jamie, and the man is introduced as a Mr. Richard Anderson. He explains that there is a way for the Highland army to get down the ridge and have easier access to the enemy. It would certainly end the stalemate the two camps are in, that’s for sure.

So Charles, Jamie, and the General come back and have another argument about this, wondering where the Irish quartermaster General is. “Probably out trying to find food for his men,” says the General. “We need to strike, and now. This is our chance for Scotland, and glorious victory!” and all that other jingoistic stuff that generals do to convince an army or other people to go kill for them.

After a few moments of hemming and hawing, Poncey agrees. “We will win this battle for god and country, Mark me!” and it’s at this point, I think they went for the world record of “Mark Mes” in a single episode. This is what, six already? Damn, at this rate I’ll be plowed by the end of this show.

7. Ross and Kinkaid and Murtagh and Jamie and Rupert and Angus. Brothers in life, in battle, friends forever. These men show what true friendship is all about, giving of each other, baring emotions before the fateful taking up of arms against their enemy. None knowing whether they will come back alive, how their lives will matter to the victory, and what to do if either of them lives and the other one doesn’t.

Ross and Kinkaid spit shake on their agreement. One takes care of the other’s stuff, family, goods, and property. Because that’s what true friends do. They watch over each other if either one falls in battle. This is when I start really liking these two, and a testament to the writing. When you start to make me care for characters you just introduced last episode, and you make me start worrying about their welfare, you’ve done a great job as a writer.

Angus and Rupert share a comical moment, where Angus sees the agreement made between Ross and Kinkaid, and tries to do the same with Rupert. “You can have my sword, and my hoor.” Angus says with lethal seriousness. Rupert isn’t having any of it. Because it’s Rupert and Angus, there wouldn’t ever be a point where it’s not Rupert and Angus. “Dude, we’re the comic relief of this show, dinna fash, we’ll come out of this alive.” says Rupert, and you want to believe him with every fiber of your being. You really want to believe him, even though their conversation is like a cloud over the rest of the episode.
Murtagh and Jamie share a few words, amounting to Murtagh saying that he doesn’t know hw one man’s death could have an effect on the coming battle when there are thousands of men fighting, as opposed to a raid when there are a few fighting to get what they want. Jamie has no words of comfort. Because for once, he doesn’t know the answer to the question. “It’s a shame we couldn’t stop all this in Paris,” Jamie says. “It almost cost me my wife, and all that I hold dear.” And Murtagh is all, “Maybe we can’t change history.”
No, you can’t. and both men realize that about the same time. They tried and failed, and now they have to try to win the war, knowing what will happen. With that thought, Jamie leaves Murtagh sharpening his dirk for the thousandth time, echoing the behavior of men on the eve of battle that don’t know what else to do but hone their weaponry and their senses.

8. A few minutes later, The men go to Claire, and Angus asks for a kiss. “If I’m laying on the field of battle, I don’t want to think how my last request of a kiss from a pretty woman was denied.” Rupert’s all, Dude, we’re going to be fine. When we get back we’ll share a dram.” but regardless, Claire kisses Angus on the cheek, and in a serious moment the share a look. And you know he really cares about her, and she cares deeply about him. Despite their differences, and their arguments and difficulties in the past, they have always had a respect for each other.

Then she says to Murtagh, “Keep Jamie safe,” and he just answers, “Always.” Then he asks if they win this battle, and she says, “Yes, we win this one.” but her words “But we still lose the war” hang silent in the air between them. Because she knows it, but doesn’t want to say it at all, lest it come true.

Jamie steps up, and they share a kiss, full of want, and longing, and all the things that you can’t say out loud, but that you say with a deep meaningful joining of bodies in passion. “On your way soldier,” she says, and once more leaves out the “If you don’t come back I’ll find you and kill you myself.”

9. While the men walk through misty marshes on their way to a day of slaughter, Claire gets her troops ready for the doctoring work to come. Then she looks around for Fergus, and doesn’t’ see him. “Where’s Fergus?” she asks, and in the next scene

We see the kid carrying one of her knives, ready to fight along with his laird. This is when I start getting nervous for the wee lad, because they have diverted from the source material before, and in the books he’s still around eight books later and there’s a certain tension in the thought they could do anything with characters like that. One of the great things about the show in difference to the books is that anything could happen, and that in itself is tension enough to watch the show. The uncertainty principle when it comes to who could die and when.

The men line up for the battle, mist is heavy and thick, and Anderson says to Jamie, “Well, I got you here, so imma bounce, General.” And Jamie says, “I’m no general, but Scotland owes you a debt.” So the kid goes, and we see Jamie go to the prince and tell him to stay put with the other generals.

“This is my army, my destiny, and I have to lead my men into battle.“ he says, and Jamie will have none of it. “But I have a sword, and I know how to use it,” Charlie says, “Besides, if I die, I don’t think my dad will really care, since he’s not so fond of me.” and he throws another Mark Me into the mix because I’m not drunk enough at this point. Thanks Outlander for making me suck down another shot of Tequila. That’s what, seven so far? I can hardly take notes at this point!
10. Back in the field hospital, Claire marshals her own troops with words of wisdom. The girls are all full of trepidation and worry, and so Claire goes full combat nurse mode and gives them a speech that is basically, “I know you’ll all do fine, and just do your best, because that’s all you can do at this point.”

The sense of looming dread is played in this scene so well by a constant thunderous pounding of drums, and as it rises in tempo the men start moving through the mist, and then the drum stops on one lone exhausted sentry resting his head on his rifle. Then we hear the thundering footsteps of several hundred Scots, and he looks up just in time to see a wall of bearded highlanders rushing his position.

It is a brutal slaughter at this point. The English don’t know where to go, and for the next several moments, we see Highlanders butchering English soldiers without mercy. This is battle, unrepentant killing for the sake of murder.

11. In the field hospital, we see Ross with a look of shock and horror on his face. He has a body over his shoulder, his best friend Kinkaid. He implores Claire to save him, but it is too late. And with a look of finality, he tries to stop her, to implore her to use her powers to bring him back, and the look she gives him shows that she is unable to do so. There are no words for his despair. And again, Ron & Co I love you and hate you for letting me start to like a second tier character. I think he was one of us, tho. The new recruit, not the season hardened fighter. Not the warrior, but a normal guy like the rest of us. That’s what hurts, and it also shows us the brutal randomness of war.

Then we see the English soldiers running, hiding from the Scots, playing dead, and at one point a guy looking at his arm wondering where his hand is. And it’s at this point I feel like I’m watching the first twenty minutes of Saving Private Ryan. Did you guys in production spare no expense with the gore effects here?

12. There comes a point in every war movie or TV show where your favorite character suffers a wound and you instantly leap out of your seat and yell “NOOOOO!” OH MY GOD!” At the screen. This was one of those moments for me. The English general is trying to rally his troops, there’s total bedlam, and then he sees Rupert standing there, and charges.

Then we hear the gut wrenching sound of metal going through flesh. Rupert falls, holding his guts and trying to keep them inside his body. The next few instances show like a mini flash forward out of sequence memory. Angus brings in Rupert’s body to Claire. He yells at her to try to patch him up, even though there are several English prisoners who have gotten there before him.

Rupert asks about the cannon, and Angus says, “Don’t worry about that.” Then Claire gets needle and thread and all the while I’m yelling at the screen, “You save him! You do everything you can to make sure he’s safe! He isn’t supposed to die this day! Not today!”

We see through flashbacks what happened. When the general stabbed Rupert, Angus shot the man from his horse, and while standing there, a cannon ball went off behind him, and threw him to the ground. The flashback ends with both of them on the ground, crawling to get close to each other.

After the surgery, Angus is watching over his best friend. Claire looks at him and surmises that he’s got a mild concussion, and he’ll be fine. Angus sits with Rupert, “As long as his stomach goes up and down, he’ll be fine.” he says. And Claire can only agree. “As long as that happens, there’s hope.”

13. Then Jamie comes in, with the sun shining at his back and declares the battle is won. Hundreds of British dying or wounded, and with the loss of only fifty Scots. “If only we had cavalry, we could pursue the English and capture their general and end this rebellion once and for all.” Which is a lofty overreaction to the winning of one battle. But they once again share a smoldering kiss, one that Warrior Jamie would probably like to continue in an all out barbaric quenching of desire on his wife.

Then she looks him over, trying to figure out if he’s been wounded. Seeing no outward harm, she looks around for Fergus. “He’s outside, he did well, aye?” Jamie says. But Claire is going to see for herself. So she goes out to admonish and love him in equal measure. “But all the men were going off to war,” he says, “If they asked you to jump off a bridge would you do that too?”

He explains that he may have inadvertently killed an English soldier, and he’s in shock with it. He’s tired, and hungry, and Mama Claire kicks in and takes him to find something to eat and a bed. Thanks god, the kid came back. And Rupert looks like he’ll pull through. So we got out without a lot of casualties at this point, yeah?

14. Dougal is stalking the battlefield killing man, and putting them out of their misery when he hears a familiar voice behind him say, “Dougal Mackenzie, still haven’t quenched your bloodlust?” and all the girls in the house go SQUEE!!! Because it’s none other that Leftenant Cutie, Jeremy Foster himself. And I am pleasantly surprised and happy that I didn’t read spoilers for this episode. I had no idea that he was going to make an appearance.

So Dougal sits down and has a chat with the guy which goes something like this. “So you’re an honorable guy, sorry about being so stabby killy to you guys in red.” and Foster’s all, “So can you patch me up? Get me to Claire? Do something to help me?” and Dougal’s says, “Nay what would be the point of saving you? You think you have a right to be saved because you were in a past episode and have a name? think again boyo.”

And that’s when I realize he is wearing a red shirt. “You may have won this battle, old man,” Foster says. “But you’ll never win the war.” And then Dougal is finished with this banter and stabs him in the stomach and kills him, while grabbing his face and saying, “I’ll see you in hell!” as the man’s life blood oozes out of his body and it’s at this point I throw my laptop to the ground yelling hateful epithets to Dougal Mac.

Just for the record, I have been in his camp for a while now. I got him finally. He wanted to make Scotland free again I get that. Okay, he’s a patriot, and I understood his motivations. BUT THIS ASSSHOLE JUST KILLED THE BEST ENGLISH OLDIER HE’S EVER MET! I FUCKING HATE YOU DOUGAL. I’M DONE WITH YOU FROM THIS POINT!

Just had to vent. I don’t care how he goes, what he does, there is no redemption for him from this point on. I can’t sympathize with him, I can’t like him, and to hell with you Outlander for thinking you can make that happen. It’s not. I have no love for the man after this point. None!

15. Now that the men have relaxed somewhat, They are all remarking that Rupert is pretty much going to pull through because he could eat like a horse. Claire comes to Jamie to inspect him because he looks like he got bruised and Jamie’s all, “Yeah, got stepped on by a horse, no worries.”

Claire gives him what for, tells him to pee in a glass and the guys start to make a game of it. She insists that he’s had a four hundred pound horse step on his kidneys and wants to make sure he isn’t bleeding in his kidneys. Well then he goes to an English soldier and says, “Dude, hold this, I’m going to see how far I can get away from it.” And the English soldier’s all, “Give you six pence if you go three feet. “ which happens. I’m a guy, pissing contests are a norm with us. Get a group of dudes together and their inner ten year old starts to come out.

Just as he’s in the middle of a number one from hell, Bonny Ponce Chuck comes in to congratulate the men and be contrite all at the same time. “Sorry we had to slaughter a shit ton of you guys but we’re besties, right? High fives?” and they aren’t having any of it.

Then Dougal comes in, lusty and powerful, grabbing broads and stealing kisses like only a true murderous A-hole does after killing one of the most beloved guys in the series. He sees the wounded Brits and starts after them, wanting to murder them as well. Calming him down, Jamie’s all, “Dude, the prince, chill the fuck out,” and holds him back. Well, Chuck will have none of it, and goes to him, grabs his face and says, “We don’t need your kind of bloodthirstiness in our army. I’m done with you. GTFO, and don’t come back!” And Dougal looks all crestfallen and the audience is happy. What we really wanted the prince to do was stab him repeatedly so we wouldn’t have to look at the man again.

Jamie cautions the prince and says, “What if we give him a bunch of horses and a group of men to hound the enemy? Kind of like that other Rapey Douchebag Jack Randall?” and the Prince says, “Yep, that’s a fine idea, that way I won’t have to see his ugly mug again. Good one Jamie.”

Then Poncey leaves, and Dougal comes to Jamie and says, “Dude, you get rid of me and champion me at the same time, that’s some stone cold Colum Mackenzie shit right there.” And Jamie’s all, “Don’t make me regret it, because I will murder you, old man, and see if I don’t.”

16. While they are all arguing over killing and pissing and stabbing English soldiers, Angus starts frothing at the mouth and having seizures on the floor. Claire quickly runs to him, sees that his stomach is red and bruised. He has been bleeding internally all this time, and he looks up at her imploring her to save him and blood is coming out of his mouth and the audience is weeping into their millionth tissue at this point because pretty soon, he dies.

And the damage to my computer exceeds all possibility of repair at this point.

Finishing watching on my tablet, I have to thank Outlander and Starz for the damage to my computer. That’ll be five hundred dollars for a new one, thank you. I’ll expect a check in the mail forthwith.

Then, Rupert groans, stands up, and hobbles over to the man’s dead body, where he takes Angus’ sword from it’s hilt and then goes to his bed shakily to hold it against his chest. You can actually hear his heart breaking for his friend through the screen. Just the look on his face after this is one of loss and pain.

17. That night, everyone is drinking to the victory. Ross and Rupert come out singing “Down among the dead men” and sharing a dram. They’re drunk as hell, they’ve just lost their best friends, and they are sharing a moment among warriors toasting the life of those they have lost and will miss desperately. Ross toasts the sky, and the look on Rupert’s face as the credits fade to black is absolutely gut wrenching. I mean, I am absolutely gutted at this point.

War is hell, they say, and by the looks of things, we know it. It is a testament to the fine acting on display throughout this entire episode. I am amazed how everyone brings their A game, even characters we only see for a few minutes on screen. I love how Ron & Co. get us to love minor characters like Kinkaid and Leftenant Cutie. But I want to also take a few lines to say a fond farewell to our beloved Angus, who has been with us since episode 1, and his first line, “Fetch me a belt, she says…” we will miss the comic relief from him and Rupert, and I’m sure they’ll show the loss of this wonderful character in the next few episodes.

Now here it is, you Jamie Moony Eye pic of the week. (Sis, did you guess this one?)