Outlander Homepage Originals
In times of crisis, it is sensible to have plans. Plans for how to approach danger, plans for how to respond in a crisis, plans of who to rely on and how to move forward. But what happens when plans change? And what happens if loyalty is misplaced? Can you still move forward, or will the consequences be permanent? A number of characters battle with loyalty - both true and misplaced - throughout this episode and plans most definitely go “agley”.
As the hour begins, Claire and Jamie are watching Buck play with the children and discussing the somewhat awkward truth that they are responsible for the death of both of Buck’s parents. They are tending to the beehive as they speak and it is a conversation for the bees’ knowledge alone.
Buck has heard a noise from the bushes and he sends the children to the house. Jamie and Claire notice that something is wrong and quickly move to join Buck. But this time it is not a bear in the bushes. Instead it is Aaron Whittaker, who has come with a warning.
“Do you know a man named Cunningham, Mr Fraser?” he asks. “He’s coming for you.”
Inside the house, Whittaker tells Jamie what he knows. While out hunting with the Cherokee, his party was approached by white men trying to drum up support for the Loyalist militia. The message being given was that Cunningham would soon be in control of the Ridge. Whittaker and his friends had said nothing, but listened to the conversation play out. Cunningham’s plan, Whittaker says, is to attack Jamie and take him to General Ferguson to be hanged for show. This attack is to come in the near future, delayed only by Cunningham’s need to wait for reinforcements. Jamie expresses gratitude, but Whittaker says that he felt he owed it to Jamie, as thanks for the help that Claire had given in delivering their children. Jamie assures him that no debt had existed, but that he won’t forget it - nor will he ever let on where the information has come from.
At Lord John’s, Brianna is painting the portrait of Amaranthus and a restless baby Trevor when William comes into the room. He compliments the painting, while Amaranthus steals flirtatious looks at him, before leaving to feed the baby.
Brianna is distracted. The battle is about to begin and she doesn’t know where Roger is. William comments that she could wait until the battle is done before completing the portrait, but Brianna wants to continue. The painting serves as a distraction.
The two siblings sit and have a heart to heart. Brianna asks William if he has been able to spend some time with Jamie. He replies that Jamie had helped him look for Jane, something for which he was grateful, but that the connection has gone no further than that.
Brianna then shares her own story. She tells William that she didn’t know about Jamie until she was 19. Fresh from the loss of the man who she had idolised as her father, she didn’t want another one and was furious to find out that everyone had lied to her for her entire life, especially Claire, who she had wished dead instead of Frank.
“Sound familiar?” she asks, with a wry smile at William.
“How did you overcome it?” he responds.
The answer is beautifully poignant.
“I got to know our father,” she replies.
Meanwhile Jamie, Buck and Claire discuss Whittaker’s news and what can be done about Cunningham. Jamie tries to work out where the attack will be, dismissing both the Ridge, where Jamie still holds an advantage and the trading post, which will be too public. Suddenly, he realises that it is likely to happen at a Lodge meeting, where none of the men will be armed.
Claire and Buck tell Jamie not to go to Lodge. Buck adds that they should kill Cunningham now, since he doesn’t know that Jamie is aware of the attack plans. But it is not as simple as that. Jamie needs to know where the alliances of the other men on the Ridge lie, as well as learn more about the extra militia that has been sent for. He needs to go, expecting the attack to take place after the meeting, so that Cunningham hasn’t broken the rules of no weapons in Lodge. It is time to make plans. Jamie’s own militia is still untrained and spread across the county.
“There’s only one way I can see to stop it,” Jamie says. “I’ll have to make a deal with the Devil.”
The decision made, we see Jamie soon put a letter into the hands of Josiah Beardsley, who promises to ride all night to deliver it.
At the continental camp, Roger is writing a letter of his own, to Brianna. He apologises for the position in which he finds himself. Although he hadn’t intended to be there, he tells Brianna, he nevertheless has the strongest feeling that he is where he is meant to be. He cannot in all conscience leave younger men to fight a battle that he knows they will lose. He compares his own decisions to the ones his father must have made in the second world war, and wonders if the feelings of fear would have been similar. Looking resplendent in his uniform and having completed some sword practice, Roger prays, asking God to allow him to live through the battle. “Because if you don’t, you’ll have my wife to deal with!” he adds. It is a nice bit of humour amidst the drama.
As he moves to join the groups starting to march, Roger notices a young French boy carrying a drum and obviously terrified. Roger goes to him and shares how scared he also feels, but adds that God is with them both. The boy smiles and Roger asks if he is ready.
“Je suis prest,” the boy replies and they begin to walk together.
Brianna flinches at the increase in noise and William confirms that the battle has begun. The only road into town has closed, so it will be a while before Roger will be able to return. He asks what business has kept Roger away and in the spirit of their new honest relationship, Brianna shares part of the truth - telling William that Roger is at the Continental camp. She only says that he was ministering to the men, however, leaving out the details of trying to acquire guns for Jamie’s rebel militia. Brianna then asks where Lord John is and William replies that he is at headquarters, but pushes a packet across the table to Brianna. It is a flag designed to keep her safe, to be placed in the window should the city be breached.
Unfortunately, Roger is not safely behind the lines, but running through the woods very much in the thick of battle. He comes across a man dying from a serious abdominal wound and stays with him as he dies, promising too to deliver a message to the man’s loved ones. The next wounded Roger sees is the young boy, who has been shot through the neck. Taking the young boy into his arms, Roger carries him back to the camp, where the doctor in residence is none other than Denzell Hunter. Roger implores Denzel to see that the boy does not die, as he had promised him that God was with them.
“He is,” Denzel says with as much reassurance as possible.
As Denzel begins his painful work, the boy, Christophe, asks for Roger to pray, which he does, in French, naming the boy as his friend and referring to him as a good and courageous man. Christophe passes out, but Denzell assures Roger that the bullet has thankfully missed major arteries. Confident that the boy will survive, Roger heads back out onto the battlefield, but an explosion knocks him off his feet. As he falls backwards, we see a brief flash forward to the second world war, where a young Roger is also thrown backwards from an explosion, into the waiting arms of his father. It is a nice touch and we hope that this memory is for Roger’s benefit as much as for the viewer’s!
Richard Rankin does a great job in this episode of portraying this more assured version of Roger, both on the battlefield and as a minister. He is emerging from the shadow of Jamie, Ian and others at the Ridge to be a true leader himself.
Preparations are under way. Lizzie is wandering with a basket and we see her glance around furtively before leaving the basket under a tree. She takes something from under her skirts and adds it to the basket before she leaves. Claire has sent Jem and Mandy to stay with Lizzie and tells Jamie, who is dressed in full kilt and cuts an imposing figure, that she knows where the guns are - even though Jamie assures her that both she and the children would be safe from Cunningham. She asks him not to go to Lodge, but this is not an option. Jamie tells her not to worry: they have a plan. But this is cold comfort to Claire, who reminds him that plans fail. Together they quote Robert Burns’ yet-to-be-written poem, ""The best-laid schemes o' mice an' men gang aft agley” but Jamie reminds her that there are some positives from the situation: Cunningham doesn’t want Jamie dead, nor does he know that Jamie is aware of the attack. He will have the Ardsmuir men, along with Buck and Kezzie watching for the other expected militia. Despite all this, Jamie admits that he believes it will still be an evil night ahead.
In full Mac Dubh glory, Jamie is greeted by the Ardsmuir men outside Lodge. Cunningham steps forward and addresses him formally as Worshipful Master. Jamie wastes no time in sweeping past and suggesting that they begin the meeting. Back at the Ridge, Claire prepares her instruments, expecting wounded before the night is out. A figure is walking towards the house: it is Elspeth Cunningham.
Jamie recites the Lodge oath and the meeting begins. It is business as usual at first, with men asking for help for other occupants of the Ridge. But Jamie is distracted, watching Cunningham intently.
Elspeth and Claire begin an uneasy conversation. Elspeth says that she had to come, but is soon taken aback to learn that Claire and Jamie are aware of Cunningham’s plans. While neither woman thinks that the men will kill each other, there really is nothing left to do but wait - and pray.
Towards the end of the meeting, Cunningham stands to make a speech about loyalty, using his son as an example of someone who was loyal until death. “As we all must be,” he adds.
Jamie asks what has brought this particular topic to mind and the mood shifts. Politics is not usually spoken of in lodge, yet beliefs have been raised, and so Jamie addresses them. What they are fighting for is simple, he says: for freedom. It is something that no honest man will give up but for life itself. He calls upon Evan Lindsay to recite the closing prayer. It is during this time, with every man’s eyes closed, that Jamie slips outside and retrieves the pistol from Lizzie’s basket of wildflowers.
Cunningham and his men emerge from the shed, Cunningham calling, “Where is he?”
By now, Jamie has made his way further into the woods, meeting Buck and Kezzie. There is no sign yet of the expected extra militia, nor of Josiah, with an answer to Jamie’s letter. The Ardsmuir men arrive next, now armed with names of the men from the Ridge who have shown their allegiance with Cunningham. Jamie gives his instructions: “Draw them into the trees. Mark their names and capture those you can. Any man in these woods is a traitor to me.” But he adds a word of caution: since Cunningham only plans to capture Jamie, not kill him, they are not to kill either. Jamie refuses to be the one to bring death to the Ridge.
It is indeed an evil night. Claire and Elspeth sit as thunder rumbles and a storm approaches. Elspeth begins to speak of her grandson’s prophecy: that he would see his father again in seven years. If this is true, then Cunningham will not be killed by Jamie, something that Claire remarks must be a comfort to the older woman. Elspeth says that Cunningham only intends to hand Jamie over to Ferguson.
“To be hanged!” Claire says.
The uneasy truce broken, Elspeth says that Jamie is a pardoned traitor and has broken the grace of the pardon, so has earned his execution. Before they begin to argue further, Elspeth sighs.
“We were going to pray, weren’t we?” she says.
Crombie is patrolling out the front of the trading post, when Jamie comes up from behind. Crombie tries to explain, but Jamie knocks him unconscious and heads inside. It is not long before Cunningham shows himself. He makes a show of putting his weapon down and suggesting that they talk. Jamie responds that there is nothing to talk about except for Cunningham to leave his land, either on foot or in a box. Cunningham responds that he has a box waiting for him, but not for five more years. With that, he grabs a knife from his belt and lunges at Jamie.
“How did you know it was coming?” he asks.
“It’s my Ridge. I know everything,” Jamie snarls in response. He tells Cunningham he knows of the plan to take him to Ferguson for hanging. Cunningham responds that the plan has changed. Ferguson would take Jamie either alive or dead, and that dead would save him a lot of bother.
‘I never wanted it to come to this, Mr Fraser,” he says, raising the pistol.
A gunshot rings out, but it is not Jamie who falls. Buck has appeared from behind and shot Cunningham in the back.
Brianna is standing at the window, looking out into the night, as William approaches to tell her that Lord John has written to his counterpart in the Continental camp and that they hope to have news in the next day or so. But the sound of battle has stopped, so Brianna knows that the fighting is over. She can no longer wait for news and intends to visit the camp herself. William immediately volunteers to accompany her the next morning.
Buck bursts through the door of the Big House with a man on a stretcher. Claire rushes over, but it is Cunningham who is injured. Jamie is close behind and she asks if he is hurt. He assures her that his injuries can wait, but that Cunningham has been shot in the back. At that, Elspeth walks over and slaps Jamie across the face, branding him a coward and adding that Cunningham had had no intention of killing him. Thunderously, Jamie suggests that she ask her son about his true intentions.
Claire sends Jamie in search of Fanny, who will dress his wound, while she turns her attention to Cunningham’s injury. The wound is low and Cunningham can move his fingers, but not his feet. Elspeth pulls Claire aside and asks if Cunningham will live.
“I think so,” Claire replies, “but he might not be able to walk.” She explains that she needs to remove the bullet and that Elspeth should stay to help.
Meanwhile, Fanny has reported on Jamie’s injury: a serious gash across the chest. She has applied a compress and administered honey water, but is seeking Claire’s permission to grant Jamie whisky. This Claire gives : as long as he can stand upright and count to thirty first.
Amaranthus and William meet outside in the garden. The sounds of battle over, Trevor is finally asleep. After a bit of flirtatious small talk about the beetle waistcoat and how Amaranthus would like to see William wear it again, the conversation turns serious. William admits that he has developed feelings for her and that he has been considering her earlier suggestion of marriage.
But Amaranthus has a different plan. They could perhaps just “give it a go”. Her meaning is clear, but William is still a bit taken aback. He states again that they will get married, and this seems to remove any last remaining reticence. Amaranthus climbs into his lap and they begin to “enjoy the try.”
There is something about this relationship that doesn’t add up and many fans have speculated as to Amaranthus’ motives and who or what she might know. Book readers have a pretty good idea - but it remains to be seen if this part of the storyline will emerge untouched from the pages of the novel!
At the continental camp, Roger is praying over the bodies of the dead soldiers. He turns around to see Brianna and relieved, they run towards each other. Tearfully, Brianna admonishes him for worrying her and he apologises. Their reunion is interrupted by Denzell, who asks after Roger’s knee and then assures him that Christophe is doing well. Roger introduces them and Brianna, each expressing pleasure at meeting the other. William appears too, happy to see Denzell again. While Roger and Brianna are leaving the camp, still able to travel under the safe passage of Lord John’s letter, William has decided to stay at the camp for a bit to catch up with his friend.
“You know, for a loyalist you have a lot of rebel friends,” Brianna remarks.
As they walk, Denzell updates William on Rachel and the news of the baby. Denzell has to report to General Bleeker and William waits outside the tent. But a man soon appears that William didn’t expect: it is Ben. William follows his cousin into the tent and at first embraces him warmly. But slowly, realisation dawns. Ben is now wearing the uniform of the opposite side, and has allowed his family to believe him dead. And so, the embrace turns into a punch.
Claire is bandaging Jamie’s chest and he asks why Elspeth had been in the house. Claire explains that as unlikely as it may seem, Elspeth had come to pray with her and that both women had been scared. Jamie admits that he had thought he was done for, and that he hadn’t realised Buck was there until he saw Cunningham fall. Claire asks about the rest of Cunningham’s men and Buck appears with whisky for them all, informing Claire that the men concerned had been stripped of their weapons and sent home in disgrace. Jamie asks Claire for paper and reels off a list of names. If he isn’t around, he tells Claire, she must get rid of the men listed. He has no intention of keeping them as tenants.
This episode was often a white knuckle ride, with lots of suspense and danger for the main characters. Loyalty, both true and misplaced, was certainly on display. Large chunks of the book were used, which no doubt contributed to the successful creation of the atmospheric tension which persisted throughout the hour. Diana Gabaldon herself has branded this episode as one of her favourites, also drawing attention to the fact that 90% of the dialogue came from the book.
We are now halfway through the final season. What is in store for us next?
This recap was written by Susie Brown, a writer and teacher-librarian who lives in Australia. After their actions this week, she wouldn’t mind having Roger and Buck on hand in a crisis!
