Episode 301 The Battle Joined

 

And we are back! What’s it been, a year and a half already? Glad you all stayed with me, and welcome to the new folks. There’s been a lot of changes to the world in the last several months, but one thing that won’t change: our undying love for all things Outlander, am I right? Thankfully, we have season three, which is the adaptation of many of our favorite novels in the series, Voyager. This is the one that really sucked me in and made me really love the series. It flew faster than the other two combined. Not that I didn’t like the first two books, but this one was hands down the best of the three when it came out. I will admit that DIA was a bit of a slog, but my sister told me to keep reading because Voyager was going to rock the socks.

Boy am I glad I did. So welcome back everyone, and thanks for reading. Let’s get to it, aye?

I’m not going to post a spoiler alert because you’ve already all seen it and if you haven’t, go ahead and watch. I’ll wait. Yeah, right. No, I won’t. You came here for Kiltlander goodness, and who am I to slow down the proceedings, right?

Oh, and for the new folks, I like to use adult language, so if a few F-words and S-words bother you, now’s the time to leave prior to complaining about it, you know?

1. “He was dead.” Probably the first best line I’ve ever read. And Sam pulls it off with a masterful grace. He manages to do so much emotion with only eyes and breathing. I love the fact there is no music, it is simply the ‘music’ of the soldiers going through the dead bodies and Sam’s breathing. Before all of this, we see the men who fought lying in heaps and piles where they were cut down. The English soldiers are going through the dead, killing the wounded and looting the bodies. Jamie keeps still through all of this.

Then there’s a young lad who is naturally frightened and can’t keep still. Jamie keeps looking at him as if to say, “Calm down, you little twerp, you’re going to draw attention to us!” but alas, the kid fails and we see him stabbed by a wandering English soldier wielding a bayonet.

All during the next few minutes we see Jamie reliving all the event that led up to his miserable fate lying under the dead body of Jonathan Woolverton Randal Esquire, AKA Black Jack Randall. There’s a scene where Jamie relives the moment when Claire went through the stones, where he rides back to camp right before the battle and Mark Me Charlie is still under the impression he will win the day. TThen the scene where the generals are urging Charles to make a decision, and they finally do when Jamie steps up and says, “We must order the charge. If we sit here we’ll all be doomed.” and the rest of the generals say, “Yeah, that’s pretty much it,” while a cannon barrage is going on around them.

Then it’s the charge and everybody is running pell mell into the horde of British soldiers killing, hacking, and suffocating them with piles of grass. And then there’s Murtagh! And the crowd goes wild at seeing this fan favorite for the first time in a year.

Then apparently, the Highlanders rally and make another charge into the bristling teeth of the English muskets. And they are cut down like a scythe to the wheat. Luckily, the English are only able to get a couple of volleys off before they are met with the cold Scottish steel. While Jamie is hacking and killing we see a familiar face in the form of one dastardly villain: Black Jack Randall. And this is what we’ve all been waiting for.

This fight goes on for quite a few minutes and goes down precisely as we wanted to see it. Jamie getting revenge for all the awful crap that Randall did to him. The beatings, the rape, the degradation, you name it. This is where our hero gets his revenge. And it is beautiful to watch. At one point I was yelling, “Yeah, stab him! Twist that knife! Make it hurt! This segues into a beautiful ballet of death, where Randall actually reaches out to Jamie with a plaintive, almost loving look on his face. At that moment, once again, I see the brilliance in Tobias Menzies’ brilliant style of bringing humanity to what could have been a mustache twirling one-dimensional Snidely Whiplashian character. Then he falls on Jamie and they go down in a heap and they both collapse into each other like lovers.

2. Black Jack is finally dead. Thanks to the production team for giving us a battle royale we didn’t get to see in the books. Nothing against Diana Gabaldon here, but if you are a fan of swashbuckling adventure and seeing dastardly villains getting their comeuppance, readers were expecting some kind of showdown. The fact we didn’t get it in the books made many of us say, “Aww…” (But not enough to put down the book and stop reading.)

To have it in the show was awesome. And everything and more that we wanted as fans.

3. Then it is nightfall, and we see Claire walking through the dead bodies toward Jamie. She is clad all in white, her hair perfect, bleached white skin against a grey black background. He’s fading in and out but in that moment she touches him and he breathes, and she says, “Are you alright, Jamie?” At this point, he’s probably thinking he’s in heaven because I’m sure he knows that’s where Claire is and he’s going as well. But it is only Rupert and a couple of guys come to take him to safety in a house nearby.

4. Now we are in 20th century Boston, with Claire and Frank. They’re walking around a pretty large house and she asks, “Are you sure we can afford all of this?” and he’s all, “Sure, we’ll manage. It’ll be tight but we’ll be fine.” It’s interesting to see the distance between these two this entire episode. They still haven’t gotten back to each other yet, and it shows. Of course, he wants to, but she is still in Scotland.

She tries to do the domestic goddess routine but it’s hard for her to get into the flow of things when the last two years she’s been without hot and cold running water, a good bathtub, and an oven that works. Which this one doesn’t so she goes to the store and buys a bunch of firewood.

While she is unloading, Mrs. Busybody Neighbor comes over to help and kibitz and ask a lot of prying questions like, “Are you enjoying Boston?” and “How did you learn to cook on a fireplace grate?” to which Claire opens her mouth and says, “My uncle taught me.”

 

The looks that Claire goes through here when Busybody Neighbor is talking are priceless. And you know what husband Claire is thinking about when  Busybody says, “You’re lucky, you won’t find another husband like Frank again.” to which Claire is thinking, “Baby, you have no idea.” because she had the King of Men wrapped around her pretty little finger.

5. Then we are back in Scotland, where Rupert Mackenzie is tending to a wounded Jamie. Then he goes to talk to another guy who we’ve not met yet about running away. But they both tend to think they can’t get anywhere because the British are still “Thick as lice,” Besides, Rupert is Jamie’s friend, and he has too much honor to leave him here among the dead and dying wounded Highlanders.

6. With Jamie’s close up, we cut to the Present again, with Claire in front of a mirror getting ready to go meet the boss. Who turns out to be a total asshat, by the way. He’s talking all smug about how Truman isn’t going to be a great president and isn’t going to be elected again, and then Claire has the audacity to open her mouth and start talking. Which rubs the guy the wrong way, as if to say, “Wait, a woman is speaking about politics? How dare she?”

At one point, there’s a woman sitting next to another poindexter looking guy silently thinking “Shut up girl, women aren’t supposed to talk. They’re only here to look nice.”

This dude keeps going on about how women can’t do things like be lawyers and doctors, and Claire stands up for women doctors because she is one. They also have let them into Harvard medical school, but this guy brushes that off to the fact that “Eleanor Roosevelt and her ‘Agitators’”

Later, Frank and Claire are walking home and he knows something is up. When he asks, “Are you alright?” she answers, “I’m fine.” which is woman speak for “I am definitely not fine. I am a thousand miles away from fucking fine! And when I decide to talk to you again, you will find our how distant from ‘Fine’ I am, mister!”

SIDE NOTE: What’s with the fucking college professor? What a misogynistic asshole, right? Well…. In his defense.. (Uh oh, here we go, defending the guy) no, really, it’s the nineteen forties. That’s how most men thought. Sure, ladies had the vote, but no other real rights to do anything outside the ordinary. They were expected to be home when they got married and cook dinner, raise the kids, and greet the man with fresh lipstick, a cold beer, and dinner on the table when he walked in the door from work. They weren’t doctors, lawyers, and certainly not Indian Chiefs. They were secretaries, receptionists, and shop clerks. When motherhood hit, they were expected to be home raising the young’ uns. Remember Mad Men? That’s how it was for ladies. I agree it sucked, but that was the prevalent mood at the time considering the status of Women in the country. It’s as if Rosie the Riveter put away her machines and put on aprons and baby making gear when the boys came home. And Claire wants to be a surgeon some day? Good luck. (Oh, she does later on, because she’s awesome like that.)

7. In the morning, back in the hovel, the British arrive. Lord Melton, AKA Lord John Grey’s brother, comes in to tell the men that he has been tasked with executing traitors in one hour. He asks Rupert if there are any men who claim their innocence.

Grant O’Rourke kills this episode. In more ways than one. I love his character, and it’s beautifully written. As well as acted. Grant does some amazing things with just a touch of dialogue. “Traitors all,” he says resignedly. He knows what’s coming. There’s no surprise. He’s all, “Well you found us, we weren’t really hiding, but we kinda wished you’d not have found us, ye ken?”

Then Melton says, “In that case, I’ll have to kill you all in one hour. If anyone wants a few pages and a pen to write home, he’ll give them that. Then he leaves, and all the men are looking at each other like, “Well, that’s it then.”

8. The fight begins. This is where Claire and Frank have to have a heart to heart about everything. She is probably going to have the baby soon, and He wants to know a few things. Namely, why American Tea is so awful and English tea is better. (He’s right, you know. But I have to add that Southern Sweet tea from North Carolina is best.)

He has been trying to be nice by talking about bacon and eggs and all kinds of simple domestic issues. That’s when she lays a bomb on him that she wants to become an American Citizen. Then he bristles a bit because they are English and well, you know, that whole independence thing still sticks in his craw. And then he mentions several names of English history, one of them being Stuarts and that’s when it amps up.

He just wants her to come back from the past. She has tried, and he’s all, “I’m thinking about the baby we have agreed to raise together. “ Now she won’t let him touch her and he’s confused. She screams, “What do you want, a good fuck?” and he’s all, “Well, at least I’m not the one who’s been fucking other people!” And then she throws an ashtray at him, which narrowly misses.

He puts on his coat and says, “I’m not keeping you here. You want to leave, then go. I’m here, I’ve already told you the bargain, if you can’t come to terms with that, it’s your choice. Stay or go.” Then she starts crying as he walks out the door and this shot is brilliant. Two people at opposite ends of the frame, a wide shot of the hallway, and the gulf between them couldn’t be wider.

SIDE NOTE: The fight, from Frank’s point of view. Since I am a man after all. I will have to take his side. Sorry, ladies, just hear me out. Here’s a guy, in love with the girl he’s married and only seen a handful of times up til the famous second honeymoon in Scotland. He’s got his whole life ahead of him. With his wife, Claire. They are there a few days before he sees a Highlander’s ghost and the next day his wife disappears.

For two years.

And when she comes back she’s pregnant.
With another man’s child.
Spouting a ridiculous story about faerie circles and Scottish Highlanders and the battle of Culloden.
As a man, it’s a hard story to swallow, but he does for the sake of the child.
Which he has chosen to raise with her because it’s what an honorable guy would do.
And every time you want to touch her, she shies away because you aren’t HIM.
Oh, and you also remind her of the most horrible sadistic villain of all time.

So tell me why we shouldn’t have a bit of sympathy for the guy? Just a little? He’s fucking upset, what do you think he’s supposed to do, bring her flowers every day and rekindle the romance? She’s dreaming about a hot hunky Scottish Highlander with a heart of gold and other parts that are just as strong. Frank pales in comparison. So yes, I get why he’s upset. He’s fucking trying for Christ’s sake! Give the guy a break. He’s going to get angry. He’s going to yell every now and then. He’s going to be a bit batshit nuts about the whole circumstance. Ask a guy, you’d get the same answer.

9. Then we go back to the hovel, where the men are being led out to be shot. When the British come to the two boys Rupert tells Melton, “They’re just boys, they didn’t have any choice in what they were doing. Spare them, please.” To which Melton says, “I can’t, I have orders to execute all traitors, regardless of age.” This is heartbreaking because these kids can’t be any more than eighteen, with their whole lives ahead of them. Hell, they probably haven’t even kissed a girl yet. And here we have the sad fact of war. It spares no age limit. Rupert tells the kids, “Chin up, go out like men.”

The guy who is tending Jamie asks him if he wants to write a letter to family, or to his wife, and Jamie just replies, “She’s gone.” Then the guys asks, “Where did she go?” Just two hundred years from now is all, mate. But Jamie can’t tell him that. Obviously.

And we hear the inevitable gunshots an the whole place goes silent as we see the anguish on all the men and the realization of the impending finality of it all.

After that, they ask for a volunteer, and Killick stands up to get his punishment. These guys are brave as hell. They take their punishment like men. Sure, they’re scared, but even men who are scared can be brave and do things others couldn’t.

Rupert and Jamie get into a heart to heart about Angus, who snored the most, and Rupert says, “It’ll be good to see him again.” to which Jamie says, “It’ll be good to see you both together again.” See, Jamie still thinks he’s going to be shot. Which is what he wants. Rupert says, “I’m still angry for what you did to Dougal, but I won’t judge you for it, that’s up to you and the maker.”

Rupert then gets up and volunteers to be shot. Still cheeky to the end, he tells the men, “I mean to set a quick pace, so try to keep up.” Then he goes out to meet his eventuality. When we hear the shots, Jamie says in Gaelic, “Farewell Rupert.”

And here’s another shout out to the director. He parallels Jamie’s face on the right side of the screen as we fade to

10. Frank’s face on the left side surrounded in darkness. He’s lying on the couch, trying to get some sleep while hearing everything in the house that makes noise. The boiler is going, the faucet is dripping, he’s unable to sleep because he’s thinking about the fight from earlier. Then a thought occurs to him and he gets up to write a letter.

“Dear Reverend Wakefield,” he starts. “I would like you to help me in finding information on a Scottish Highlander named James Fraser.” He gets to that part when Claire comes down and says, “We havin’ a baby, let’s go.”

Frank is up like a shot. “I’ll warm up the car,” he says.

11. Lord Melton is told that all the ambulatory men have been executed and now it’s down to the guys who can’t move. “Should we shoot them lying down?” he asks. To which Melton yells, “No, sit them up for god’s sake!” Ever the honorable man, this guy. Not only in this book, but in every one after. He really isn’t so bad of a guy, just doing his duty and trying to be a good guy at the same time.

When they get to the question of who is to go first, Jamie volunteers. They ask his name and he tells them “Jamie AllPerfect MoonyEye MacHunkington Fraser” (You’re welcome) Melton turns around at hearing the Fraser name and walks back over to him. “James Fraser?” he asks. Jamie’s all, “Yeah, Duh!” and Melton asks if he remembers a kid named John Grey. At first Jamie is confused. Then Melton tells him, He tried to kill you that one time and you spared his life.”

Melton now has a conundrum on his hands. Here’s the most notorious criminal of England laying at his mercy and he has to spare his life because some debt of honor. His adjutant is all, “We could kill him under an alias,” but Melton’s Honor won’t have any of it. “I’m not going to have this guy’s life on my head.” He orders the adjutant to get a cart and someone who can be bribed to take Jamie away in the night. Jamie keeps asking to be shot. But Melton’s all, “Not on my watch, boyo.”

I love how they kept this scene from the book exactly like it was written. It’s such an iconic scene, and there really wasn’t any reason to change even an iota of dialogue. It’s one more thing I like about the writing staff when they see something that is integral to the plot and keep it as it should be kept.

Then we see a cart taking our intrepid hero home to be tended to by his family at Lallybroch.

12. Claire and Frank are at the hospital, where the doctor introduces Claire to 20th century medical procedures. After asking about any other complications she’s had, Claire says, “Well, I had a miscarriage once.“ Frank seems surprised at this information, and so am I because I thought this was something that she would have told him in the confession from the premier of season 2. Dude’s all, “That’s fine, let’s get through this and we’ll have a nice good talk about what else you’re keeping from me.“

The doctor then wheels her into the delivery room and gives her a sedagive that knocks her out so presumably they won’t be hearing the screams of the ladies. Meanwhile, Frank is ushered to the Father’s waiting room because god forbid the man should go into the delivery room. My we certainly have come a long way haven’t we? I was in the room for both my kids and had to hear every scream, insult, and epithet known to man while the mother of my children were being delivered. I envy Frank that he didn’t have to go through that. I’m sure Claire could have gone a long way with “Bloody this,“ and “bloody that,” and “If Jamie were here right now she’d cut off his fucking bollocks!”

I love how right before she goes out, she calls the doctor a “Bastard.”

13. After a perilous journey, Jamie finally makes it home in one piece. Jenny and Ian are there, welcoming him home, and it’s a welcome surprise to see them both in the first episode. I wasn’t expecting that. I kind of figured that the cart would go off into the sunset and we wouldn’t see them until next episode. We also get to see the majestic home of Lallybroch again. It’s as if they made every effort to impress and let us see all the sights we wanted to this episode, just to get us back into the Outlanderverse again.

14. Claire wakes up and starts asking about her baby, ala shades of Episode 207 Faith. And you can’t blame her. She’s asking for her baby, just like in that episode because reasons. The nurse comes in and says, “It’s fine, you had a girl. Frank brings in Baby Bree and shows the girl to her.

In that moment, they come together as a family, and she admits she’s been horrible to him and he’s past that because he wants to have the child as a father and mother and let the past be behind them. It’s a happy moment, and he’s out of the doghouse when this happens.

Now you all know, this whole love triangle couldn’t be solved in that one moment, didn’t you?

END NOTE: All in all a pretty solid episode. It opened up the story and I like how they put more emphasis on Frank and his struggles to find out what the hell is happening to his wife. The Jamie storyline was great because now we get the next few episodes of him being an outlaw, a prisoner, and a groomsman for the Dunsany family. And book readers know how that turns out. I’m not going to spoil it here, but I am going to eventually weigh in on that whole controversy when it blows up the web in a few weeks. Until then, I’ll see you all next week with another Recap.

Now here it is, your Jamie MoonyEye pic of the week.