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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!
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