Welcome back to Lallybroch, Sassenachs! It’s time for another Scottish summer with a look at Outlander‘s second season. But this year, we won’t be in the Highlands: we’re crossing the Channel to the Continent, where Claire and Jamie will find a new temporary home in the City of Light.
Claire’s medical training comes in handy as she and Jamie stop a wine deal that would bankroll the Stuart rebellion, but Claire cannot stop Jamie from breaking a promise – – and it comes with dangerous results for both Frasers.
It should also be noted that Outlander is very much an 18+ series, with graphic violence and sexuality throughout. As well, there may be spoilers within for both the tv show and the novel series.
1. Right Hand Man
All this time, I had been wondering and perhaps worrying (even though I know full well what happens) about Jamie and Claire’s relationship with the re-emergence of Randall. What I did not think about was the relationship between Murtagh and Jamie, which shows some cracks of its own when Jamie tells Murtagh the duel is off, but can’t tell him why. Murtagh certainly has every right to feel angry and betrayed – – he was around a lot longer than Claire, and both Jamie and Claire have the habit of telling him just what he needs to know and as vaguely as possible. Naturally, this is done to protect everyone around them (Murtagh most of all) but he’s starting to get tired of being left out of a circle of confidence that he was in way before Claire came into the picture.
Murtagh is a lot smarter than people may think, so I think it’s high time the Frasers started explaining a little bit more about Claire’s mysterious past to him. Fortunately, they also realize this, and decide to tell him “everything” about halfway through this episode. Much to everyone’s relief, Murtagh takes the news well, but does give Jamie a mean right hook as punishment for not telling him sooner. (And can you blame him?)
With Claire, he’s more vulnerable, attempting to grasp how Claire has lived through all the years she’s lived through, and how she knows history will play out. But he recognizes something about Claire’s gifts not directly addressed before: that knowing the future is a burden. It’s a moment where the two grow just a bit closer.
2. “We Will Meet Again, Madonna, In This Life or Another.”
Claire discovers in her daily rounds at L’Hopital des Anges that the King is preparing for some executions of people associated with the dark arts, and in a very gruesome way too (drawn and quartering). Claire knows her modern knowledge and the rumors of La Dame Blanche will put a target on her back, as well one on Monsieur Raymond.
As for Monsieur Raymond, he’s rather nonchalant about his danger at first, this has all happened before. The concern on Claire’s face does convince him that this time is different, and that he needs to flee the city for his own safety.
It’s a shame that this episode is one of the last we will see Dominique Pinon and his delightful apothicaire on screen. (His final appearance will be in next week’s “Faith.”) He’s shown Claire a kindness that she was sorely lacking in the 18th century as well as understanding her on a different level than Louise or any of her other friends – – as an equal in knowledge and skill, in spite of her sex. And there’s certainly an air of mystery about him based on his remark to Claire upon their parting. Could he be a time traveler or a supernatural being of some sort?
3. The Logic of Paying A Debt
Jamie’s really looking for any way out of this promise to Claire not to duel Randall, isn’t he?
Today’s argument? Jamie’s saved Claire’s life as much as Claire’s saved Jamie’s, so they’re even. And (in the stronger of his two points), Claire freely chose Jamie over Frank, so why should he care? This leaves Claire confused: why did Jamie even agree to this after all? It all points back to Charles Stuart, and his plans for the rebellion. He’s not sure of the future, but he wants to make sure Claire is protected. And if Jamie’s life is in danger, he wants her – – and their son or daughter – – to go back to Frank. So as much as he wants to cut Randall’s throat out right now, his mind is foremost with Claire and their future child – – and their safety.
Continued belowPutting his own ambitions – – ambitions that are passionate, justified, and most certainly will help him heal from the trauma he experienced at Wentworth — aside for the wellbeing of another, including the most innocent. If that’s not love, I don’t know what is.
4. A Pox Upon Your House
Remember in the very first episode where the Comte’s ship was destroyed due to a smallpox outbreak amongst the crew? It’s time to use the disease to the Frasers’ advantage. Claire finds the right combination of herbs to fake smallpox symptoms to convince the Comte this shipment is an ill-timed investment (literally and figuratively).
Operation Fake Smallpox starts off well, but mark me, something is bound to throw a wrench into things. That wrench is Stuart finding out about “an illness at Le Havre” and wanting the wine post-haste. Time for plan B, and time to bring Murtagh further into the things. And that B stands for Bandit, starring our favorite Right Hand Scotsman as a wine thief who just happens to encounter this lovely shipment of port for the Comte en route to the Fraser wine business. Oops.
The Comte’s certainly embarrassed, Prince Charles is despondent (don’t make him move to Poland!), and Jamie breathes a sigh of relief. As for the wine, Murtagh’s in Portugal selling it, so Jamie still makes some money off this endeavor.
All’s well that ends well, so let’s have a bit of breakfast. Except there’s no rest for the wicked. Charles is in trouble at the brothel and needs Jamie’s help.
5. Grave Danger
Throughout this episode, you see brief, fleeting flashes of Claire looking just a bit uncomfortable. She’s quite far along in her pregnancy now, so discomfort is to be expected. But as things go on, that discomfort ends up mixed with some alarm. Something’s not quite right, and it starts to show more and more at L’Hopital des Anges. She must rest on orders from Mother Hildegarde, spending the night at the hospital.
Except there’s no rest for Claire either, for upon returning home she finds out that the situation at the brothel escalated quickly and Jamie’s in the woods dueling with an English officer. You get three guesses as to which English officer, and the first two don’t count.
In spite of being in great discomfort, she makes haste to find her husband who has reneged on his promise. She can’t stop the duel, so she’s forced to watch her husband deliver a fateful blow to Randall’s family jewels (and get arrested) as she collapses in pain and her own blood.
The best laid plans of Fraser and Randall are certainly gone more astray than anyone ever expected, including themselves.
The Lost Papers of Black Jack Randall (Our Afterthoughts Section)
- The title of this episode takes its inspiration from Robert Burns’s “To a Mouse,” and the line that provides that inspiration for Chapter 23 of Dragonfly in Amber
- Suzette certainly enjoys dressing – – and undressing – – Murtagh in his French finery.
- Speaking of Murtagh, you’re certainly getting Seinfeld “But I don’t want to be a pirate” vibes as he contemplates his new clothes.
- Claire’s attempts at being an 18th century Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez with her friends doesn’t exactly turn out as planned.
We’ll see you next week for “Faith” and let us know what you thought of the episode in the comments.
As of this writing, the first five seasons of Outlander is available for viewing on Netflix in the US and Amazon Prime Video in the UK. All six seasons of the show are also available with a subscription to the Starz network in the United States. The seventh season of Outlander is currently in production.
