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Prophecies are unsettling things. How much stock should we put in them? The temptation is there, if the prophecy is positive, to believe wholeheartedly that it will come to pass. But what if danger or death is predicted instead? Is there any way of altering or preventing such a course of events? If we could be told the date of our death, would we want to know what it was? And what would we do with that knowledge once we had it? Throughout the course of the season’s second episode, a number of characters are forced to contemplate the fragility of life and the possibility of death. Some of these contemplations happen in real time, others via flashbacks or warnings from beyond the grave. It is serious stuff indeed and it makes for a dramatic hour.
The episode begins with a brief flashback from 1775, as William and his cousins Henry and Ben Grey admire Ben’s new uniform and celebrate his posting to Boston. William, who has always appreciated the way Henry and Ben immediately accepted him as family, presents Ben with a talisman to keep him safe in battle, in the form of a small figurine from their childhood games. Ben appreciates the gesture, promising to keep the figure in the pocket of his jacket always.
“I know he’ll guard me well, cousin,” he says, as the opening music begins.
We return to North Carolina in 1779, with Claire and Fanny in Claire’s surgery. Fanny is looking through Claire’s microscope, equal parts fascinated and appalled by what she sees there. She’s not sure what is worse: discovering what is in the water she drinks every day, the fact that her stomach is full of acid, or being told that her body is full of mucus. Learning from Claire that mucus is used by the body whenever slipperiness is needed, Fanny is in more familiar territory, linking this to activities she has witnessed in the brothel. Claire quickly diverts the conversation to mucus’ role in childbirth instead.
Fanny is an eager pupil, asking lots of questions and it is clear that Claire appreciates the young girl’s interest. But Fanny quickly becomes melancholy, wishing that Jane could be there. She talks of Jane and how the brothel madam and soldiers alike had taken advantage of her sister’s “strangeness.” Claire is quick to reassure her that she understands Fanny’s situation. She has seen things too, she says, and won’t be shocked by anything that Fanny wants to say. At the same time, she cautions Fanny about saying too much outside the family circle, adding that there are people on the Ridge who would not be as understanding. Fanny worries that this means she shouldn’t talk about Jane, a worry that Claire is quick to dispel. “You can talk about your sister whenever you like,” Claire says. “She wanted to keep you safe and now we will keep you safe.”
There is both a familiarity and warmth to this scene, qualities that were largely missing from the season’s premiere episode. This reviewer puts this down to two factors. Firstly, the scene comes from the book, and returning to the source material always lifts the quality of the words that the actors say. Secondly, the episode is in the hands of none other than Caítriona Balfe herself, who seems to have a natural ability to create a gentle, caring atmosphere for her young actor to work in.
Outside, Roger has updated Jamie on Buck, explaining that Buck had decided to remain in 1739. Jamie, seemingly without a hint of irony, comments that Roger is good to forgive Buck for trying to have him hanged, adding that he doesn’t know if he could do the same. Roger replies that Buck is a good man, and that sometimes good men do things that they believe to be right at the time, only to find out later that they were wrong. It is impossible not to think of what Jamie himself had initially done to Roger, but if Jamie registers this fact, he doesn’t comment on it. “And he’s family,” Roger continues. “I love him for that alone.” We can’t help thinking again that Roger is talking about more than just Buck here, but never spells it out.
Instead, Jamie asks for Roger’s advice. He has been reading Frank’s book, he tells his son-in-law, and wonders whether Roger has heard of any of the men who are mentioned in it. Roger hasn’t, but adds that that war wasn’t his specialty. Besides, he adds, there are many men named James Fraser. He offers to read the book, but the conversation is interrupted by Captain Cunningham, who has heard that Jamie has been looking for him. Jamie gives the first phrase of the Masonic code and Cunningham immediately gives the response, thereby identifying himself as a freemason. Jamie promptly invites Cunningham to join the lodge that he is establishing on the Ridge, an invitation that Cunningham accepts.
In Philadelphia, a wedding is taking place. Henry Grey is marrying Mercy Woodcock in front of a small group of friends, William and Denzell amongst them. It is a union that is banned by Pennsylvanian law, something that Mercy hopes will be changed in time. As the only member of the Grey family in attendance, William makes a speech, apologising for the rest of the family’s stubbornness and expressing his pride in his cousin for following his heart. He leads the toast, but something is wrong - and Henry can see it. He asks to speak to William privately and although William is most reluctant to do so on his cousin’s wedding day, the news about Ben’s capture and subsequent death is finally revealed. Henry is understandably devastated, and William promises to try and find out more about what had happened.
The women of the ridge are picking berries, swapping stories. They talk of Rachel’s religion and marriage to Ian, and of Amy discovering love again with Evan Lindsay. Rachel grimaces as the baby kicks, and Lizzie shares her own birthing story of her son, Rodney. Once again, the dialogue comes from the book, and the relaxed humour within the words translates to the screen beautifully. But just as swiftly, humour turns to danger and tragedy as a bear appears from nowhere and attacks Amy. The screams of the women reach Jamie, Roger and Cunningham and they race swiftly towards the noise.
Jamie carries a gravely wounded Amy into Claire’s surgery, but it is obvious that there is nothing to be done. Evan and her sons are sent for, and are forced to say a tearful goodbye. Evan cannot believe it at first, saying to Claire, “Help her, please Mrs Fraser. You help everyone”. The pain on Claire’s face is evident as she apologises again that there is nothing she can do. Evan has time to tell Amy that she is safe, that he will take care of the boys and that he loves her. As Amy takes her final breaths, Evan asks Roger to pray.
The rest of the women are in shock. Ian races to comfort Rachel, who tells him that it could have happened to any of them. Jamie emerges to announce that Amy is with the Lord, and Rachel and Lizzie share a tearful embrace.
William has arrived at the camp where Ben had been kept, seeking information. The man in charge is most unhelpful, telling William that he has little information to share. He offers perfunctory condolences, but agrees to ask the surgeon about Ben’s personal effects so that William may return them to the family. While he waits, William asks to be shown to Ben’s grave.
Claire is beginning the task of cleaning Amy’s body, when a shocked Brianna enters the surgery. Brianna is blaming herself. “I had my rifle,” she begins. “It all happened so fast.” She tells Claire that she is going to get ready for the hunt for the bear, as she needs to do something.
Claire returns to her task and is cutting off Amy’s clothes, when she is interrupted again, this time by Mrs Cunningham. While still brisk and efficient, Mrs Cunningham is no longer the Wicked Witch of the West that Mandy encountered in the last episode. Instead, the older woman says that she has come to help. She has brought Amy’s burial shroud, having asked Evan where it was kept. Claire is a little taken aback to hear that Amy already had a shroud, even more so when Mrs Cunningham ask Claire if she has one of her own.
“No,” Claire replies. “Perhaps I should. Have you?”
With unexpected black humour, Mrs Cunningham replies, “Of course. At my age, I wonder if I shouldn’t sleep in it.” She offers to roll the shroud onto Amy’s body, but goes immediately in search of hot water when Claire comments that she should wash Amy first.
Jamie, Brianna, Evan and a small party are getting ready to hunt the bear. Amy’s eldest son, Aidan is to join them and Jamie hands him a rifle, promising that he will be able to avenge his mother’s death by firing the final shot once the bear is captured.
Mrs Cunningham adds salt to the water, to “wash away sin and stop her ghost from walking”. As they work, Claire muses about keeping Amy’s face covered for the wake. But Mrs Cunningham asks if Claire can do something to repair the facial features. “I’ve buried three husbands and four children,” she says, “and you always want to have one last look upon the face, no matter what’s happened.” The whole exchange has softened Claire’s previously harsh feelings towards the older woman (ours too!) and the two of them agree to a first name basis going forward - Elspeth and Claire replacing the more formal titles of Mistress Cunningham and Mistress Fraser.
As it turns out, the hunting party are too late for revenge. Hearing two shots, they come across Captain Cunningham already hacking into a bear’s corpse. He assures Amy’s sons that the bear will not harm anyone else, explaining that since he had already been in the woods with a rifle, he had followed its tracks.
“But you could have died,” young Aidan says.
“There was no danger of that, I assure you,” is Cunningham’s rather confusing reply.
William is sitting at Ben’s grave, railing against the war that has taken his cousin’s life. It is a heartfelt speech. William has always considered Ben a brother, he says and promises to tell young Trevor all about his father’s bravery. Claire meanwhile, is telling the bees about Amy and how she had found love and joy on the ridge. “But her flowers still grow,” Claire says, as she lays one upon the outside of the hive.
Later, Claire, Brianna and Rachel are preparing sauerkraut, watched by Ian, when Rachel’s labour begins. As she is taken into the surgery, Ian calls Claire back, handing her a pelt and asking Claire to wrap the baby in it. But Claire reassures a nervous Ian that all will be well and that he will be able to wrap his newborn son or daughter in it himself.
Ben’s personal effects have been gathered and another man comes to give them to William. The surgeon is mysteriously unavailable, but the man says that he knew Ben, describing him as a fine and civil fellow. He adds that he was surprised to hear that Ben had died, as he had seemed to be recovering well. Ben had apparently died overnight and had already been buried by the time morning came. It is obvious that William is beginning to have suspicions, which are further compounded when a search of Ben’s jacket reveals no little talisman figure in the pocket.
Claire hands a tearful Ian his son, as a smiling but exhausted Rachel watches from the bed. Fanny is watching too, but looks sad. She explains to Claire that babies were never cause for celebration at the brothel. “This is different,” Claire assures her and Fanny breaks into smiles as she approaches the bed. Brianna is also there, and the conversation turns to what the child will be called. A few names are suggested: Marmaduke, Fox and Wolf are all suggested, with even Rollo being mentioned!
At night on the porch, Jamie and Ian discuss being fathers. Ian wishes that his own father could be there, and wonders if his mother will meet her grandson one day.
“Jenny will be over the moon,” Jamie replies.
Ian wants advice, but Jamie reminds his nephew that he never got to be a father to his children as infants.
“You’ll get the chance I never had,” Jamie tells his nephew. “You’ll get to see your son grow up. You’ll be everything that the bairn needs.”
Smiling at each other, the two men toast “wee Oggie” while gazing out into the darkness.
Claire is collecting mushrooms when a man on horseback approaches, asking for Jamie. Rude and arrogant, he has no intention of speaking to a woman, refusing to even give Claire his name.
“Benjamin Cleveland,” he says to Jamie, upon following Claire’s directions to the woodshed. This is one of the men mentioned in Frank’s book, and Cleveland wastes no time in naming the others. They are raising a militia, he tells Jamie, to protect their properties from Tories and Indians. Cleveland also proudly takes responsibility for the hanged men that Brianna and Jamie had come across, hanging them simply for their beliefs. Cleveland is interested in another Tory, Captain Cunningham and wants Jamie to come and join the militia. Jamie wastes no time in refusing the invitation: “Mr Cleveland, I turned down George Washington himself. What makes you think I would change my mind for you?” He dismisses Cleveland, telling the man that he will look after things on his own land. Cleveland leaves, but we can’t help but be left with a feeling of unease. It is a smiling malevolence we have seen before, akin to the Browns.
Roger has arrived on Cleveland’s departure and recognises the name. Jamie tells Roger that Cleveland also knows the other men mentioned by Frank, adding that Cleveland wants Jamie to fight with them.
“So you are the James Fraser in the book,” Roger remarks and the two share an ominous look.
Over dinner, Jamie tells Claire more of the story, and how Cleveland has advised that Jamie should kill Cunningham, naming the man as a danger to him. Roger, Claire and Jamie discuss the possibility that this could be true and Roger suggests that lodge will be the perfect place to keep an eye on the captain, in case he lets something slip. Roger asks whether he is mentioned in the book and Jamie replies that none of Jamie’s men are mentioned by name. He finds this strange, he says, as he can’t imagine fighting without them.
“Because maybe you don’t,” Claire says.
It is a fair point. Other prophecies have failed to come to pass: their deaths by fire for one. Add to that their penchant for being able to change the future with their actions and there is no reason to assume that Frank’s statement about Jamie is a fait accompli.
Left alone after Roger goes back to work, Jamie and Claire discuss the book some more. Jamie hasn’t told Roger all of the prophecy, not mentioning the fact that according to Frank, Jamie will die in the battle. Claire is pleased that Jamie has said nothing, as she is equally convinced that Jamie will not die. She is confused by the fact that Frank said nothing of his research to her in over 20 years. She had met his conditions by not searching for Jamie while Frank was alive, yet Frank had been doing the very same thing that he had forbidden her to do.
“Why?” Claire asks.
Jamie muses that if Frank had loved Claire as Jamie himself does, perhaps he was doing everything to keep Claire with him. Or possibly, it wasn’t Jamie he was obsessively searching for in history, but Claire herself, to see if she returned to the past.
Lodge begins, led by Jamie, who declares the meeting open, reminding the men to set aside their political and religious differences. Jamie’s hope is to strengthen the ties that bind them and asks for a volunteer to speak. Cunningham volunteers. He begins by paying respect to Amy Lindsay and pledges his support to Evan. Cunningham goes on to say that he has looked on death as well, firstly with the death of his wife and then of his son, at Saratoga. Cunningham caught his son after being shot and, he says, felt his son die. But Cunningham speaks of a time in the hospital afterwards, where the life briefly returned to his son, long enough to be able to tell his father that they would be reunited in seven years time. Cunningham has taken this as proof that the soul lives on after death and that he himself will not die until the allotted seven years are up. He has come amongst them, he says, because he wants to use his time wisely.
Afterwards, Roger and Jamie discuss Cunningham’s speech and whether or not it can be believed. “A man being called by God is one thing,” Jamie tells Roger, “a man who thinks he cannot die is quite another.” Now we understand why Cunningham had had no qualms about tracking and killing the bear - it is because he believes himself to currently be immortal.
William is also pondering death. Something about Ben’s death simply doesn’t add up. And so, he does the only thing he can to confirm his suspicions. Under cover of darkness he digs up the body lying in Ben’s grave and uncovers its face. Sure enough, it is not Ben.
“Thank Christ,” William murmurs.
But of course, the mystery is just beginning. Who is the man buried in Ben’s grave? And where is Ben? Could he still be alive?
Once again Jamie is reading Frank’s book, when Frank’s voice is heard in Jamie’s mind. “Seven years from Saratoga, Cunningham said. So he has five more years to live. He’s not the only one who knows the date of his death.” Jamie looks uneasy, and no wonder. We are now entering Black Jack, rather than Frank Randall territory. It was Black Jack who Claire had unsettled with the date of his death - a prophecy that proved to be true. For whatever reason, Jamie seems to have combined the two men in his mind, perhaps because of their strong physical resemblance. It unsettles him to such extent that he wakes Claire, telling her that he needs her. They make love, but as they lie entangled in each other’s arms afterwards, Jamie hears the voice again.
“You’re going to die,” it says. “Who will hold her once you’re gone?”
It is certainly an ominous way to end the episode!
The fragility of life is a theme that runs throughout the second episode, affecting many of the characters in different ways. The Grey family are grieving the loss of Ben, whose reported death has been unexpected and sudden; while the sudden loss of Amy Lindsay is equally sudden and gruesome. Her death is all the more unsettling for the women who survived, because Amy’s fate could just as easily have been their own. Ian worries while Rachel labours, worrying that he may lose her and their child and his joy and relief afterwards is completely understandable. Meanwhile, Benjamin Cleveland celebrates the taking of lives for nothing more than differing beliefs.
Akin to the fragility of life is the uncertainty of death. Cunningham believes that his life cannot be ended until the length of time mentioned in his son’s message from beyond the grave has elapsed. William has discovered that Ben might still be alive, and Jamie is questioning the prophecy of his own mortality, being haunted by the voice of a Frank / Black Jack Randall hybrid, neither of whom had cared much for his welfare. But how much faith can we put in prophecy? Some events in Claire and Jamie’s lives have seen the future altered, while others could not be changed. What will happen this time? It is a question that could keep viewers just as unsettled as Jamie!
This recap and review was written by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher librarian who lives in Australia. She was very relieved to see large chunks of Diana Gabaldon’s book in this episode and also thinks that Caítriona Balfe is a natural as a director!
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