“Stronger Together” A recap of season 8 episode 4 by your Aussie Blogging lass.

Outlander Homepage Originals 

Helen Keller once said: “Alone we can do so little; together we can do so much.” It is a quote that can be applied to this latest episode, the fourth one of the final season. It is not the actions of one person that stands out in this hour, but the growing strength that can be found in relationships.

Indeed, the episode begins with a strategy session. Jamie has reconsidered Brianna and Roger’s plans about procuring guns for the Ridge and is using Frank’s book to determine the safest way to do so. Armed with the date of the battle to end the siege of Savannah and the knowledge that it won’t reach the centre of the city itself, Jamie is sure that Roger, Brianna, Fergus and Marsali will all be safe, while Jem and Mandy will stay at the Ridge, well out of harm’s way. Jamie hands Roger a letter for one Lieutenant Colonel Francis Marion, a man with militia experience, who will, Jamie feels, be happy to arm people from the Back Country. Roger asks if they are raising their own militia and Jamie confirms this. It is either that or join forces with Benjamin Cleveland, something which Jamie refuses to do. There is no time to disguise the French gold as musket balls this time, but Jamie assures them all that he has an idea.

The idea turns out to be a pungent one. In Fergus’ print shop, the contents of barrels of sauerkraut are emptied to reveal bottles of whisky and the gold bars hidden in the barrels’ false bottoms. Quickly Roger explains to Fergus and Marsali their extra mission beyond Brianna’s portrait painting. Brianna adds that they had thought it best to leave the details out of their most recent letter. 

Given that Roger can’t just walk into an army camp with gold bullion and expect to walk out with spare weapons, arrangements will need to be made. While this happens, Fergus and Marsali agree to keep the gold. With the barrels resealed awaiting some German sauerkraut loving customers, the four friends prepare to toast their reunion with, in Fergus’ words, “Milord’s divine elixir.” Alone for a brief moment, Brianna asks Roger if he should leave for the camp straightaway, just to be on the safe side. But Roger says that he has plenty of time to return before the fighting starts, adding that a dram will help to speed him on his way. 

Jamie arrives back from collecting the rents and tells Claire that Cunningham had not been exaggerating about the loyalties of the people who now live on the Ridge. Most are loyal to the Crown and while the Ardsmuir men would fight in Jamie’s militia, it is not enough. He needs to recruit many more from elsewhere, so as not to arouse Cunningham’s suspicions, and plans to leave immediately, taking Ian and Josiah with him. Claire asks if it wouldn’t be better to evict Cunningham, but Jamie says that would likely only result in someone avenging the man, or having someone worse replace him. He prefers to keep Cunningham close. Again, Frank’s book has provided more information. It is Cunningham’s superior officer who forms the loyalist militia that will fight at Kings Mountain. Claire warns against relying too heavily on Frank’s book, given that they can’t be sure of his motivations for writing it, but Jamie responds that whatever the motives, they are beginning to see events from the book happening before their eyes, events that are being carried out by the same people Frank had written about. 

“I’m not certain if I will fight, Claire,” Jamie says solemnly. “But if Cunningham is forming a militia, then we need to be ready.”  

As Fergus, Marsali, Brianna and Roger toast to muskets, liberty and sauerkraut, they discuss the unlikely prospect of a minister and his wife being gun smugglers. Brianna takes credit for the idea, saying that she and Roger would be the last people to be suspected. 

“And here’s me thinking you came all this way to visit us and paint a wee picture for Lord John,” Marsali jokes. 

Fergus has also heard from Lord John. It has been suggested that Fergus should meet with one of John’s associates, one Percival Beauchamp, who has information that could be of interest. Brianna is musing as to the coincidence that Claire’s maiden name was also Beauchamp, when suddenly a rock is thrown through the glass window, narrowly missing her. Fergus races outside, but is only in time to see his printshop sign smashed and two men running away. 

As they start to clean up, Marsali reveals that this has been happening regularly. They have received threats, and even bags of dead rats and a serpent. “These days when people don’t like the news, they tend to blame the printer,” she says. Although their personal position as patriots is unknown and they have publicly taken an impartial view, it is impossible not to anger one side or another. 

“Just the life of a newsprinter in these troubled times,” Fergus remarks. 

There is a strength to Fergus and Marsali in these early scenes that is different to previous seasons, and Caesar Domboy and Lauren Lyle excel at portraying the couple’s growth since we last saw them. They are obviously settled in their relationship once more, and are a determined team. 

Meanwhile, Jamie has begun his recruiting campaign, promising a group of men their own individual muskets and shot when his expected delivery of weapons arrives. The men are happy to join his militia and Josiah records their names. But Ian walks over to Jamie, looking concerned. He has recruited more men, he says, but one man, also Scottish, has claimed to be enroute to Frasers Ridge, adding that he knows Roger and Brianna. Suspecting that the man could be Rob Cameron, Jamie and Ian approach the campsite, guns drawn. But instead of Cameron, the man turns out to be none other than Buck MacKenzie. He has come, he says, to tell Roger and Brianna that Cameron will not be bothering them again. He holds up Roger’s book, the guide to time travel that Roger had been writing back in the 20th century. “Don’t want it to fall into the wrong hands a second time,” Buck comments, as he gives the book to Jamie.

“Buck Mackenzie,” says Jamie, softly. “You remind me of your father.”

This is another departure from the book, and it will be interesting to see how this plays out. Whether Buck has been back to the 20th century, or Cameron had indeed made it to the 18th, it seems as if that particular danger has now been dealt with. (Given that this reviewer liked Diarmaid Murtagh’s portrayal of Buck, she is cautiously hopeful as to the storyline!) 

Brianna is agreeing to paint Fergus, Marsali and the children after her sitting with Amaranthus, and Fergus is giving advice to Roger. He shouldn’t linger at the Continental camp, Fergus advises, unless Roger wants to risk getting caught up in the imminent battle. 

Amidst the creaks and groans on a windy night, Claire and Fanny get into a philosophical discussion as to whether houses are alive. Claire is of the mind that houses absorb some of the personalities of the people who live there. The conversation turns to the recently departed, via mention of Amy Lindsay. Claire comments that after someone dies, the people left behind can sense them.It’s not a case of haunting, Claire says, but more a longing from the still living. 

“I wish Jane would haunt me,” Fanny whispers, tearily. 

Claire encourages Fanny to talk about Jane and keep her memory alive, so Fanny begins to do so, telling Claire how Jane used to talk about their parents and whispering snatches of French to her younger sister. We see this affect Claire, who no doubt starts thinking about Faith - but fortunately a loud bang from a loose window stops the conversation before we can get thrown headlong into another Faith Lived scenario…

Despite the regular snippets of this ridiculous plot line, we can’t take anything away from the beautiful emotive acting of Florrie May Wilkinson. She really is a delightful young actress.

Another delightful actress makes her appearance amidst the storm - Frances Tomelty, playing Elspeth Cunningham. Elspeth sweeps into the room ignoring Fanny’s polite suggestions of waiting in the parlour. She is hurt, having fallen and dislocated her shoulder. After a few generous slugs of whisky, she allows Claire to reset it, complete with a string of cursing that makes Fanny smile. Her guard down, the young girl forgets the “Don’t speak about life in the brothel” rule and begins a frank conversation with an increasingly inebriated Elspeth about what she has seen in her young life. 

After Fanny is sent to the kitchen, Elspeth and Claire continue the conversation, beginning with debating what constitutes bad language and continuing with the revelation that Elspeth’s first husband was a sailor. Elspeth makes the observation that women tend to be freer in their speech when men are absent, but also expresses concern about Fanny’s honest description of her past life. Claire assures the older woman that Fanny knows not to speak about it outside of the house and tells Elspeth that she too should feel free to say whatever she would like, as Elspeth’s injury and inebriation are enough reason for an overnight stay. 

This was a fabulous scene. Frances Tomelty is a consummate performer, turning Elspeth from a caricature “Wicked Witch of the West”, to a practical woman of the Ridge, to a slightly vulnerable older woman with a past and a penchant for bad language! It is obvious that Claire respects - and maybe even likes - Elspeth and this reviewer hopes for many more scenes between the two.

Brianna arrives at Lord John’s where she is greeted warmly by John, with surprise by William and in a decidedly frosty fashion by Amaranthus, the latter making a comment about not knowing that the portrait painter was going to be a woman and then racing off to give baby Trevor his evening feed. John quickly makes himself scarce, leaving Brianna and William to talk. William remarks that the last time they had met, Brianna was off to Boston. Brianna replies that in the current dangerous climate, they had preferred to be closer to family and so had returned to the Ridge. William asks after Fanny and Brianna responds that the young girl has settled in well, with both Claire and Jamie being quite taken with her. At the mention of Jamie, the talk moves to their shared father. Brianna admits that she had known who William was when they had first met, and apologies that she hadn’t said anything, explaining that Lord John and Jamie had been adamant that William should not know. Brianna says that she would have loved for William to meet Roger and the children and then uses a lovely turn of phrase. “I really wanted you to meet them,” she says, “even if you didn’t know that we were… well… yours.” William seems touched by this too and we watch a gentle sibling bond developing. William says that he is glad that she hadn’t told him, as he wouldn’t have known how to respond at the time, before admitting that he still doesn’t.

Charles Van de Vaart and Sophie Skelton do a lovely job of this scene - hopefully there will be more screen time with these two siblings in the future episodes. William loses his tendency towards stubbornness and petulance around Brianna and it is likely that if anyone can make William accept his parentage, it will be Brianna - a fact that Lord John undoubtedly knew before his sudden need to attend to various urgent matters!

Fergus has arrived to meet with Percy Beauchamp. Beauchamp wastes no time in getting to the point. He tells Fergus he can give him details about his birth and tells Fergus that he is the son of the Comte St Germain.  Fergus immediately dismisses the claim, branding it preposterous. But Percy continues. While not French himself, he has married into a prestigious French family with a sordid secret. He tells the story of his wife’s older sister, who began an affair with Comte, only to disappear. The name of the woman in question, Amelie, was one with whom Fergus was indeed acquainted, a girl at the brothel who had died some years before. Percy claims to have heard the story from a servant. The Comte had tired of a pregnant Amelie, so had lured her away, drugged her and sold her to a brothel, whereupon she gave birth to a child. The Comte himself has been missing for thirty years and is now declared dead, Percy tells Fergus, with his estate being held in trust. The estate could be released, should the Comte’s heir petition for it. 

Fergus reminds Percy that an illegitimate heir cannot inherit property. He goes to leave but Percy stops him by using his given French name of Claudel and then revealing his trump card - a copy of a marriage contract between the Comte St Germain and Amelie Beauchamp. If true, Fergus could inherit a sizeable amount of land and it is the land that Percy is interested in. Associates of his wish to establish a French colony with French settlers, but Le Comte’s solicitor refuses to sell the stock at any price. If Fergus as heir were to claim the land, Beauchamp says, his associates would pay handsomely for it. 

William finds Amaranthus in the garden. She is short with him, suggesting that if he is in search of company, then perhaps Brianna could oblige. It is clear that she is jealous. William explains that Brianna is his sister and begins to explain his complicated lineage, adding that while Jamie has never acknowledged him publicly, this is not something that he wants, in any case. 

“I’m only telling you this because you asked,” William says, “and because I enjoy your company.”

Amaranthus smiles and the two recommence their flirting.

William says that he has recently thought about renouncing the title of the Earl of Ellesmere, but that English law makes this impossible. Immediately, Amaranthus suggests a solution: they can marry and William can pass his title onto their first child. Somewhat taken aback, William listens as Amaranthus remarks that they enjoy each other’s company and that he might actually enjoy being married to her. William thanks her for not thinking less of him and she reminds him of her own lowly parentage. She had always thought she would be a merchant’s wife, she tells him, yet has found herself to be Viscountess Grey, with her son the future Duke of Pardloe. A title is just something to have, not something to define oneself by. She holds out her hands and William takes them.

This is a relationship that is developing at a rapid pace, and we can’t help but be suspicious of Amaranthus at this point. It is only her word that establishes her as Ben’s widow, and she now knows a lot of personal information about William. Might this conversation come back to bite him in the future?

A slightly hungover Elspeth and Claire are discussing the older woman’s condition. Elspeth flinches at the loud noises coming from the attic, and asks Claire why they had built an attic in the house anyway. Claire explains that it could be used as a refuge in times of trouble. Claire asks a question in turn: does Elspeth believe what her grandson had predicted on his death bed - that he would see his father, Captain Cunningham in seven years? 

“I only know that he believes it,” Elspeth responds. 

At that moment, a knock on the door reveals the man himself, who has come, he tells Claire to collect his mother. There is a decided shift in Cunningham’s mood. Far from being relaxed and pleasant, this Cunningham is impatient, pushing his way into the house and looking around before being directed to the room where Elspeth is waiting. She praises Claire’s healing and hostess skills, adding the information that Jamie is away on business. This is perhaps information that should not have been shared. After taking the herbs that Claire has offered for Elspeth’s continued recovery, Cunningham leaves Claire with a thinly veiled threat. 

“You have a very fine home,” he tells her. It must feel very empty, with him away and you here all alone.”

Refusing to be rattled, Claire replies that she is fine. Jamie will be home at any moment, she says, and promises to tell Jamie to drop by so that he and Cunningham can continue their conversation. Elspeth breaks the sinister atmosphere by standing and asking if Cunningham has brought the cart.

“Until next time,” Cunningham says and the two leave.

Marsali and Fergus are discussing the possibility of Beauchamp’s revelations being true. Fergus knew Amelie, he tells Marsali, but hadn’t known that she was his mother. She had earned the name of the Baroness, as she hated all of the children from the brothel, but Fergus most of all. He tells Marsali that he now understands why: he was the spawn of the man who had taken everything away from her. Yet on her death bed from the morbid sore throat, Amelie had summoned a six year old Fergus to her bedside and told him to be a good boy. 

The whole situation is horrendously complicated. Fergus hates what the Comte had done, including trying to poison Claire. The thought that he might be the man’s son is abhorrent to him. Marsali counters that Fergus is nothing like the Comte and that perhaps he can do some good with what he has been left. But Fergus is suspicious not only of Percy, whom he brands as a whore, but of what would happen if he was to sell the land to the people that Percy has mentioned. 

“We’ve devoted ourselves to the patriot cause. We’re not fighting to be free of a British king just to become servants of a French one.” 

The main problem though, is one of identity. For Fergus to claim the land, he must publicly acknowledge the Comte as his father. 

“Mr Beauchamp told me what every orphan wants to hear: that I’m the son of a great man. But I’m already the son of a great man.” 

He is of course referring to Jamie, and the two of them smile.

This was another beautifully acted scene, with Caesar Domboy showing Fergus’ conflicting emotions perfectly. 

Lord John is pouring a drink for himself and Brianna when distant canon fire is heard. Assuring her that she is perfectly safe, he explains that a French warship has taken to firing its canon on occasion. It is anchored well out of range and is more of a nuisance than anything else. Brianna asks John why he hadn’t told William she was coming. After a bit of mumbling and excuse giving, John admits that he had thought that Brianna would be able to help William, who has been lost since discovering his true parentage. Brianna is the only other person to have discovered, as an adult, to have been fathered by James Fraser.

“You could have just told me the truth you know,” Brianna tells him. “I would’ve come anyway.”

John challenges Brianna’s honesty too, guessing that Roger’s other errands actually involve the continental army encampment. She doesn’t deny it.

It is undeniable that these two characters share a special bond. John shares his frustrations and worries with Brianna, commenting that Jamie’s children have inherited their father’s stubbornness and that it is very difficult to get them to do anything they do not wish to do. He recounts a story of a young William who had become lost on the estate and had been wandering alone in a fog on the fells. 

“Sometimes I see that,” John says, “sometimes other things.”

Brianna assures him that it is natural for all parents to see things like that. “I can’t make any epromises,” she says, “but I’ll see what I can do.” John smiles at her gratefully. 

Rachel has seen a troubling headline in a newspaper in town and is noticeably distracted back at the Ridge while she works with Lizzie and Claire in the garden. She shrugs off Claire’s enquiry as to her welfare, when Mandy and Jem notice riders coming towards the house. It is Jamie, Ian and Buck, the latter being received with great excitement by the children. Claire and Buck are formally introduced and Jamie tells Claire that he has invited Buck to stay.

“Of course,” Claire responds. “You’re family.”

They head inside, with Buck asking if there is any chance of eating peanut butter sandwiches.

Rachel has stayed outside, looking troubled. When Ian approaches, she shows him the paper she has brought back with her. There has been a massacre of Mohawk villages, Shadow Lake amongst them. Anguished, Ian tells her that he must go north. He needs to find what has happened to his former wife and his son. Rachel understands, telling Ian that she and Oggie will accompany him. 

Claire helps Rachel as they prepare to depart. She tries to convince the younger woman to stay, but Rachel is determined. She prays that Emily and her children have survived, she tells Claire, but she also wants to be by Ian’s side so that he won’t forget the life he has with her. She feels guilty at the thought, but Claire assures her that this only makes her human.

Meanwhile Jamie is standing with Ian. Ian plans on taking Rachel to a proper meeting in Philadelphia on their way, commenting that Rachel has missed it. Jamie asks Ian to visit the brothel where Jane and Frances had been, to ask the girls there for any information Jane might have told them about her family. 

“We’d like Frances to ken more about her family,” he says by way of explanation and Ian promises to find out what he can. 

Jamie has one more important piece of information for Ian, telling his nephew about Frank’s book and the prediction of the upcoming battle on King’s Mountain and his supposedly involvement. Claire is convinced that Frank is lying, Jamie says, but he is becoming more convinced that it is the truth. Ian assures Jamie that he will be back from his business up north with time to fight with Jamie. 

“Da may be gone,” he says, “but I’ll guard your left in his stead.”

Tears shining in his eyes, Jamie thanks him and recites a prayer in Gaelic to send them on their way.

Roger has arrived at the Continental camp and has found Colonel Marion. He wastes no time in explaining the situation and offering to pay Marion for his assistance. Marion says that he feels they could reach an agreement and Roger hands over the letter from Jamie. But the name General James Fraser does not impress Marion as Roger has expected it would. Instead, Marion describes Jamie as the man who abandoned his troops to attend to his wife. Roger assures the Colonel that Jamie is an honourable man and a brave soldier, but Marion is not convinced. Jamie could have been court marshalled or hanged, he tells Roger, and he can’t afford to give his precious resources to someone who has already lost the Continental Army’s trust. His answer is no. But when Roger tries to take his leave, that is denied as well. The assault on the city is a few days away and no-one is allowed to leave camp, so that possible deserters can be prevented from warning the British. Nothing Roger says to try and convince him is successful and he is given two choices: Marion can find him a safe place to wait out the battle, or he can fight. He offers Roger a rifle, which Roger refuses.

“Stay here and wait then,” Marion says. “If things go wrong, you can help bury us.”

With a look heavenward, Roger makes a decision. “I’m no good with a rifle,” he tells Marion. “But if you can find me a sword, I’ll fight with you.” 

And with suitable atmospheric music, the episode comes to an end. 

Relationships are a central theme in this hour, focusing on the comfort and strength that can be drawn from them. We have long been used to the connection between Jamie and Claire, but in this episode many more relationships take their turn in the spotlight, notably Fergus and Marsali, Claire and Fanny, Claire and Elspeth, Brianna and William, Brianna and Lord John, Buck and the children, Claire and Rachel, Ian and Jamie, Ian and Rachel. Other relationships seem more problematic: William and Amaranthus, Cunningham and Claire, Percy and Fergus and finally Roger and Marion. If battles are truly coming as Frank’s book has predicted, then relationships and alliances will be more important than ever. But which ones will be helpful, and which will harm? The stage is set and the stakes are high.

This recap and review was written by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher librarian who lives in Australia. She didn’t expect to like Elspeth Cunningham so much, but hopes that there are many scenes to come in the episodes ahead!

“Feet of Clay” - a recap of season 8 episode 3 by your Aussie blogging lass

Outlander Homepage Originals 

We are used to idolising James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser. Jamie the warrior, the lover, the Laird, the protector, the father and grandfather, the man seemingly able to cheat death and who can always manage to be reunited with his wife no matter how many kidnappings, shipwrecks or time travelling stones stand in his way. Yet in this episode, we see Jamie’s feet of clay. He cannot stand the idea of Claire having had either a first or a third husband, and his inability to forgive Claire and John’s night of grief is taking its toll not only on him, but on the rest of the family as well. We see Jamie’s petulance, arrogance and insecurities - and while it is annoying, it also makes him a little more real! Jamie’s is not the only ego to be tested in this episode and there is quite a bit of posturing and frustrated gestures from more than one male! By contrast, the women are growing in strength. Fanny is getting more confident and showing that she can hold her own and speak her mind. Amaranthus is beginning to orchestrate her own future and Brianna begins to see Claire as a woman first and a mother second. It is Claire though, who undergoes the biggest transformation in this episode, as she begins to move into the height of her healing power. And all the while, war is coming closer, ominously predicted by the ghostly voice of Frank Randall. It is an episode that sets the scene for a lot of drama to come. 

The episode begins at the trading post, where Fanny is gazing at a ornamental hair comb, comparing it to one that the Madam at the brothel had owned. Brianna gently asks if Fanny would like the comb for herself. It is clearly a notion that is completely foreign to Fanny, and she hesitates. Brianna tells her to think about as she heads inside to collect the mail that Hiram Crombie has waved in her direction. 

While she waits, Fanny is approached by two lecherous men, one of whom is intent on getting the young girl to “accompany him on his travels.” But far from the scared child that she was, Fanny now stands up for herself, calling the man a toad-faced foot licker. The comb has lost its appeal, and she flings it back into its tray in disgust. Brianna approaches and asks if the men had been bothering her. Fanny has seen this type of man before, and tells Brianna that the men are officers. She can tell, she says, by the way they carry themselves and the way that they speak.  They remind her of the men who had frequented the brothel, expecting to be able to do whatever they liked with whomever they liked. Brianna is ready to confront the men, who are now talking with Captain Cunningham on the trading post steps, but Fanny drags her away. 

Immediately, the strength of the acting by Florrie May Wilkinson is noted. The timid young Fanny of season 7 has gone, replaced by a determined young lady who commands the attention throughout the scene. She gets better and better each time we see her. 

Claire is writing at her desk when Jamie stalks in, flinging a letter in front of her. It is from Lord John and Jamie is clearly jealous. John is inviting Brianna to go to Savannah and paint a portrait of Amaranthus and baby Trevor, and Claire stands, saying that she will go and ask Brianna if she wants to go. 

“No you won’t”, Jamie calls from the window.

Claire asks if Jamie wants to rephrase and he doubles down. 

“No,” he says and an old argument begins. Jamie still cannot get over the knowledge of how Claire and John had dealt with their grief when they had thought him dead, and Claire is clearly frustrated at his inability to do so. She reminds him that if William is involved with John, then that means that Jamie still is too. 

“Damn William!” he calls over his shoulder as he stalks out. 

Jamie does not come off well in this scene and his attitude puts a severe dent in his long established “King of Men” reputation! He needs calling out for his behaviour - either that, or a counsellor specialising in Post Traumatic Stress Disorder needs to move onto the Ridge… At the same time, this bickering middle aged couple version of Jamie and Claire is rather amusing! 

Frances has overheard the argument and, with a wisdom beyond her years, advises Claire that perhaps Jamie should have been left in the dark about what had transpired. 

“I know what swived means,” Fanny says. “Men don’t like to share a woman.” 

But then her mood changes and she becomes once more the young girl. By her logic, she is only at the Ridge because William had asked Jamie to look after her, so if Jamie is angry at William then he won’t want to do this anymore and she will need to return to the brothel. But Claire reassures her that Jamie is a man of his word. He has promised to keep Fanny safe. So has she - and that is precisely what they will do.

In Savannah, it is John’s turn to be frustrated with a stubborn Fraser male. In this case, it is William, who is insistent that Ben is alive, citing that the body in Ben’s grave was not his, and the toy soldier that William had given him was not amongst his belongings. John has more plausible explanations for these facts: Ben’s body and the other man’s must have been mixed up, and the toy soldier had simply been lost. But William is not convinced. The powers that be are covering up Ben’s disappearance, he says, because they are embarrassed that Ben has slipped from their grasp. John doesn’t believe this and his exasperation with his stepson is obvious. Nevertheless, he tries to be understanding. He acknowledges William’s difficult few months, and grabs the decanter of spirits from William’s hand when the young man reaches for it. John checks that William has not seen fit to tell Amaranthus of his suspicions and William assures him that he hasn’t - and won’t until something more substantial comes to light. 

This gives John the opportunity to put a plan of his own into place. If Ben has indeed escaped, John muses, then he would have likely gotten word to his commander. As it happens, the man in question will be a luncheon that John is attending and he offers to get William an invite.

“You’re simply trying to get me back out into society,” Wiliam answers petulantly.

“How fortuitous then than an opportunity should arise in which we both get what we want,” John counters. He has won this round, and William knows it. 

Claire and Brianna are cooking. Brianna mentions John’s offer and wonders why he has written to Claire and not Jamie. Claire explains that John and Jamie have had a falling out and aren’t currently on speaking terms. Brianna clearly wants more information, so Claire briefly summarises the situation, telling Brianna that when they had thought Jamie dead, John had married Claire to stop her from being arrested as a spy. 

Brianna is still confused. “Then why is Da mad?” she asks. “It sounds like John was protecting you, It’s not like you slept together.”

Claire’s guilty silence is beautifully played by Caitriona Balfe and Sophie Skelton’s reaction as Brianna is equally brilliant. Brianna’s jaw drops open, as Claire rapidly defends their actions: it had only happened once, and both of them had been drowning in grief and alcohol. 

Brianna giggles. “How in the hell will I look John in the eye when I see him?” she muses, before teasing her mother a little more. “I don’t have to call him Da now, do I?” she asks.

“Do not joke about that in front of your father,” Claire responds and Brianna assures her that she won't.

This is a fabulous scene, and indeed its lighthearted tone is most welcome after all the petulance and frustration of the episode so far. Sophie Skelton does a fine job of portraying the glee and mock horror of every daughter who has ever discovered that her mother has done anything remotely scandalous. Meanwhile Caitriona Balfe balances Claire’s embarrassment with a sense of relief at not being judged by her daughter absolutely perfectly. 

Jamie has arrived at the trading post to speak with Captain Cunningham about the men who had been seen earlier. Cunningham explains that the men had been friends of his late son, and had only come to return some of the son’s belongings, in the form of a gun and a sword. Jamie is not in favour of either. He is suspicious of the true motive behind the men's visit, saying that it is a long way to come to return the belongings to the captain. Cunningham agrees, adding that he hopes he had adequately expressed his gratitude. But Jamie needs to make his feelings clearly known. While he knows that the two men differ in politics, and he is not in favour of holding a person’s opinions against them, he does not want anything that will threaten the peace of the Ridge and its inhabitants. Cunningham assures him that the men meant no one any harm, but Jamie is not convinced. He mentions that one of the men had greatly upset Frances and Cunningham immediately apologises, promising to speak to the men if they should return. 

Amaranthus walks in on a shirtless William, much to his initial embarrassment. She has brought a waistcoat for William, in addition to the new suit that John has already purchased. The waistcoat has been elaborately embroidered and was initially meant for Ben, but Amaranthus wants it to be used. She explains its design. Every single embroidered beetle can be found in the colonies, she says, and she has taken care to check that their shapes and colours are correct, aside from the red eyes that she has added purely for aesthetics. William compliments her work and she insists that he try the waistcoat on. Her hands linger just for a moment on his back, before she smooths the fabric and declares the fit to be just right.

William asks why she has chosen beetles for the design and Amaranthus shares more of her story. Not descended from nobility, her father is a naturalist and a bookseller, her grandfather a botanist. Her own name, she says, is the name of a plant, although it translates to the more common name of pig weed.

“It’s a beautiful name and a fine waistcoat,” William replies and the two smile tentatively at each other. 

Uh-oh… Something is happening here!

Petulant Jamie is back. Brianna and Roger are trying to convince him that if war is coming to the Back Country as Frank’s book suggests, then they are going to need guns. Savannah will be the place to get them, and they will be protected, given that  they are travelling under a letter of safe passage from John Grey - a fact that causes Jamie to bristle again. He asks how they will pay for the guns that they want to buy and Roger suggests some of the French gold. Jamie refuses once again, saying that they will be unlikely to enter the city without being robbed. He stalks out, and after a glance at Brianna and Jamie, Claire follows him into the bedroom. 

Claire wastes no time in getting to the point. Jamie is punishing Brianna and Roger because he is angry about John. She reminds him that they don’t need his permission to carry out their plan, but had still wanted his blessing and help. Bitterly, Jamie says that they don’t need his help either, since John has taken care of everything. As they prepare for bed, discussing whether or not Claire could have lied and kept Jamie in the dark about the whole incident with John, he asks why she didn’t in fact attempt to do so. She replies that it is because she had promised him honesty and that if that turned out to be a double edged sword, then the wounds were usually worth it. 

“Did Frank think that?” Jamie counters. 

Claire is taken aback and replies that Jamie would have to ask him. She comments that Jamie can’t truly love someone if he won’t forgive them. They are facing away from each other at opposite ends of their bed, probably the furthest apart that they have ever been whilst in each other’s company. Jamie spits out an “I forgive you,” which Claire refuses to accept. She didn’t do anything wrong, she tells Jamie. She wasn’t unfaithful to him, even though it is obvious that he thinks she was. 

Jamie attempts to explain. He has been trying to put the thought of it out of his mind, he says, but any action, like the letter from John, always brings it back. He can’t share a bed with John in it too. Claire assures him that she has never thought of anyone but him during their lovemaking and that she should be offended that he would think that she would. At this he becomes vulnerable again, saying that he doesn’t think that, but is concerned that he might. So Claire decides to solve the problem by making love to him, asking afterwards if they have gotten the matter out of their system. It seems almost too easy when Jamie agrees that they have, but he certainly seems more content. Running her hands over his chest, Claire asks if she has broken the skin.

“You do that every time you touch me,” he replies. 

The next morning, Jamie comes outside to see Claire reading Frank’s book. “We go to bed fighting about your third husband and I wake to find you gazing at a book written by your first,” Jamie says. Thankfully, his tone is playful - another argument would have completely ruined his King of Men status! 

“Lucky for you I am only in love with my second,” Claire responds in the same playful mood. She wonders aloud whether Frank had intended for her to read his book while he was still alive, as some sort of punishment. If she had known that Jamie had survived Culloden then the life she had envisioned could have been within reach and Frank had robbed her of it. Without a hint of irony, Jamie wonders if Frank could have held that much hate. Claire wastes no time in calling him on it, reminding him that he can’t forgive John for a marriage that only lasted a few weeks. Jamie realises and admits that if he were Frank he would hate Jamie for taking Claire’s heart forever. They then consider another scenario: what if Frank had thought Claire had returned to Jamie? Again, punishment is mentioned. Claire compares her own torturing of Black Jack, when she had whispered the death date that she had read in Frank’s research into the captain’s ear. Perhaps, in his book, Frank was doing the same, by torturing Claire with the news of Jamie’s death. She doesn’t know what is real anymore, she tells him, which is what is worrying her. She leaves him alone with the book, and soon Frank’s words appear in Jamie’s mind to do some torturing of their own: “You know it’s real,” the voice says. “In your heart, you know what’s written is the truth.”

Also seeking the truth, William, in his spectacularly embroidered vest, wastes no time in seeking out General Leslie, Ben’s old commander. He introduces himself as Lord John’s son, and responds to the General’s compliments about the waistcoat by saying that it was embroidered by Ben’s widow. Leslie expresses his sympathies at Ben’s loss, but doesn’t have much information to help William’s cause. He last saw Ben when he left with the raiding party and received one more letter after their capture. 

“He was a fine soldier and an even better man,” Leslie says. 

It is now obvious that Ben didn’t send word of an escape and it appears that William’s quest for more answers has come to an end. Leslie does ask one favour though. Leslie wants to know about the conditions where prisoners are held, and since William had visited the camp where Ben had lost his life, Leslie wants William to give his impressions of the place. But then Leslie furnishes William with a piece of information that he didn’t know - that Lord John had also dealt with prisoners in the past during his time as Governor of Ardsmuir Prison.

Claire is in the garden at the Ridge, when a young negro woman appears, asking tentatively if Claire is the healer. When Claire confirms this, she is quickly taken by the young woman, Agnes Whittaker, to a wagon concealed in the nearby forest, where her mother Susannah is in labour. The midwife, with her, Binta, explains that something is wrong and Claire promises to help. Inside the Big House, she quickly diagnoses the problem. Susannah is having twins and the babies are caught on each other, with one stopping the other from moving. 

Back at the fancy luncheon, the space next to Lord John is filled unexpectedly by none other than Percy Beauchamp. John is not pleased to see him and wonders as to Percy’s current loyalties, asking what he wants. 

“Quite a lot of things,” the other man replies, putting his hand onto John’s knee. Percy tells a visibly uncomfortable John that he is currently seeking a meeting with Claudel Fraser, who he knows was rescued from a brothel as a child by a tall red headed Scotsman named Fraser. Knowing that John and Jamie are known to each other, Percy wants John to persuade Claudel to meet. John replies that since Percy had helped before with William, he would consider the proposal, but only if Percy will in turn locate Captain Richardson, who has disappeared following the incident with the Hessians.

“Consider it done,” Percy replies.

Jamie answers the door to reveal Aaron Whittaker, Susannah’s husband. He has come to fetch his wife, Aaron says, telling young Agnes that she had put them all in danger by bringing Susannah to the Ridge. He has no trust in white men, he tells Jamie. He and his wife are free and he plans on raising their children as free too. Jamie assures him that he will tell no-one that they have been to the Ridge and reiterates that Aaron needs to allow Claire to help. As his wife joins in to entreat him, grasping his hand, Aaron gives in and allows Jamie to lead him away for a dram of whisky.

William waits at the foot of the stairs with a bundle in his arms for Amaranthus. She comes down the stairs towards his happily, but is less pleased to see what he is holding: Ben’s regimental uniform. William tells her that he has retrieved it for Trevor, so that the boy could have something of his father’s. Amaranthus thanks him and goes to put the uniform with the rest of Ben’s belongings. William follows her, watching as Amaranthus opens a chest of drawers to reveal various items, and he notices the small soldier talisman amongst them. A closer look reveals it to be the figure he had once given to Ben. Amaranthus tells him that the last time she saw Ben, he had asked her to give the soldier to the baby. This revelation puts a dent in William’s theory of Ben’s escape and he looks rather crestfallen,

“Come,” says Amaranthus, taking his arm. “Let’s take a walk. It’s lovely outside.”

Against the idyllic garden backdrop, William thanks Amaranthus once more for the waistcoat. He regrets the fact that he was unable to tell anyone at the luncheon more about the beetles embroidered upon it, given that his father was merely a lowly Lord, who knew little of the natural world. It is a clever compliment to her own genealogy and lack of noble birth, which is not lost on Amaranthus. She begins to tell him of the characteristics of each beetle, running her hands slowly over his chest as she does so. It is certainly a unique way of flirting, but flirting it undeniably is. The conversation turns to Amaranthus’ assessment of William as someone who doesn’t intend to live his life to please someone else’s expectations. When William confirms her assessment, she leans in and initiates a gentle kiss. She walks away with a smile, leaving William looking after her. 

The growing relationship between Amaranthus and William is being beautifully brought to life by Carla Woodcock and Charles Van de Vaart. It will be very interesting to see how things develop. 

It is night on the Ridge. Susannah’s labour has progressed slowly, but finally her son is born. The joy is short-lived however, as the second child is upside down and requires more effort and pain in order to be born. By contrast to her son, who entered the world with a healthy cry, Susannah’s daughter enters silently. With a worried look at Jamie and Binta, Claire whisks the child over to the corner of the room. It is obvious that Claire is thinking of Faith, as she desperately tries CPR to bring the little girl back to life. Susannah’s distressed cries blend into the background and Jamie steps forward, telling Claire to give him the child. But Claire refuses. She holds the child protectively in her arms (in the same way she had held her dead child in France all those years ago) when suddenly the image of blue wings appears and we hear Master Raymond’s voice again, describing Claire’s aura as blue, like his own. Claire’s hands are on the baby’s chest and suddenly her heart begins to beat and a cry is heard. Unbelievably, the little girl is alive. No-one is more shocked than Claire. She gives the baby to Jamie, who hands it to a grateful Susannah, who remains ignorant of the miracle that has just occurred. 

Alone in the house after the Whittakers have gone, Jamie and Claire discuss the possibilities of what has just happened. Jamie comments that he had seen the look on Claire’s face that indicated that there was nothing to be done - so how has the baby lived? Claire has no theory that makes sense, she says, so Jamie asks her for one that does not. She tells him of the aftermath of Faith’s stillbirth, where Claire had lain gravely ill, knowing that she was dying. Then Master Raymond had appeared and laid his hands on her. A pale blue light had spread through Claire’s body, burning the infection from her. It is the same blue light, Claire says, that seeped through her own fingers into the baby, until its heart began to beat again. 

Jamie tells her that he has seen her bring people back from the brink of death many times, but Claire stops him. “This is different,” she says and asks if Jamie had noticed anything different. But Jamie had seen no blue light as she worked, even though he knew that she had been thinking of Faith the entire time.

Up until this point, the mystery of Claire’s healing of the Whittaker baby has come from Diana Gabaldon’s Bees novel. But now, sadly, the scene heads back into the showrunner created Faith Lived alternate universe. (This reviewer may have audibly sighed.) Claire muses that if Raymond had been able to heal her, perhaps he had also brought back Faith in the same way and that was what he had wanted forgiveness for. 

“Why did he not tell you? Why did he not return her to you after?” Jamie asks. 

“Perhaps he couldn’t,” she responds, citing Raymond’s arrest and banishment shortly afterwards as possible reasons.

“I can’t say it’s an easy thing to understand,” Jamie replies. 

(Because it’s IMPOSSIBLE, that’s why. But moving on…)

Claire is unwrapping the head scarf that she has been wearing. “Jamie,” she asks haltingly, “what colour is my hair?”

“All the colours of the earth,” he replies, but then stops short. “But here, all round your face, ’tis the colour of moonlight.” It looks like the prophecy about Claire’s powers is beginning to come true.

The next day, Jamie and Fanny are walking through the woods. Jamie is explaining that a cairn is a way of honouring those who had been lost. He shows Fanny a cairn and tells her it is for Jane. He invites her to add a stone to its top and talk to her sister, something that she can do whenever she is missing her. 

“This is your home and Jane’s home,” he tells her and Fanny races to embrace him. 

Suddenly shots are heard and Jamie, after telling Fanny to stay where she is, goes to investigate. He finds Benjamin Cleveland gleefully unloading a shipment of rifles. Slumped nearby are two dead men. Cleveland tells Jamie the men were trying to smuggle guns onto the property. He killed them and now intends to string them up as a warning. He expects Jamie’s assistance, which Jamie refuses to give. They are interrupted by Fanny, who has not stayed put after all and she identifies one of the men as the one who had been harassing her at the trading post. Jamie pats down the man’s body and discovers a letter hidden in his boot. Cleveland wants to see it, but Jamie says that he will handle his business himself and tells Cleveland to get to the other side of the property line. Cleveland agrees to go, but takes the muskets with him.

Jamie wastes no time in confronting Cunningham at the trading post. He tells Cunningham that his son’s friends had returned and had tried to smuggle guns onto the ridge. It is Jamie’s suspicion that they had been on their way to see Cunningham. He informs the captain that both men are dead at Cleveland’s hand, and that Cleveland has kept the muskets. Cunningham expresses sorrow at the men’s deaths, adding that he will have to write to their families. Jamie holds up the letter that he had found, which is supposedly from Cunningham’s uncle. He begins to read, suspicious of the letter’s bland contents. It seems to discuss trees, but certain words stand out and Jamie knows that it is a coded message. All he needs to do is find the cypher, which he duly does, hidden in the barrel of Cunningham’s son’s pistol. Once applied to the letter, Jamie reads the actual message, which mentions the imminent arrival of arms, and the need for new recruits.

Having been discovered, Cunningham tells Jamie the real story. The letter has been sent by Cunningham’s commander, Major Patrick Ferguson. He had intended to retire, he tells Jamie, but now believes that God has other plans for him. The greatest untapped resource in the war, Cunningham says, is the loyal Southerner, and he has been put in charge of raising a loyalist militia on Fraser’s Ridge.

“You are sorely mistaken if you think I will allow it,” Jamie says, angrily.

But Cunningham informs Jamie that the inhabitants of the Ridge are not as loyal to Jamie as they once were and their loyalty to their King is now stronger. He expresses regret for his dishonesty, citing Jamie’s history with the rebel army as the reason he kept silent. But now that he has come to know Jamie better, he says, he wonders whether their politics are that different after all.

“We both wish to put this war behind us,” he tells Jamie. “The quickest way for that to happen is to hasten the King’s victory.” If Jamie truly wishes to protect his land and the people who live on it, and to keep Fraser’s Ridge intact after the war, Cunningham says, fighting with the loyalist militia might be Jamie’s only option.

As Jamie stalks out of the trading post and rides away, the Frank/Black Jack voice speaks again. “I told you, Fraser. It’s coming. The pieces are falling into place, just as I wrote. Each day brings you closer to King’s Mountain - and closer to your history.” 

Dramatic music swells and the episode comes to an end. 

There was a lot of testosterone on display during this hour. From lecherous soldiers to jealous husbands, from frustrated fathers to stubborn sons, from bloodthirsty militia to vengeful ghostly voices, everything is pointing to trouble on the not too distant horizon. Amidst it all, Claire tries to keep everything together - reassuring Fanny, pacifying Jamie, defending John - all the while developing her healing powers to the point where she can now resurrect life. The way things are going, it’s a skill that could very well be needed before too much longer! 

This recap and review was written by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. She audibly sighed when the Faith Lived storyline raised its ugly head again and also wanted to give Jamie a slap at one point, but otherwise enjoyed the emotionally charged episode!