Anothermi

Here we agree. I, too, get it, but it really DID go on waaaaay too long. AND Roger's recovery from barely being able to walk was nothing short of a miracle. Perhaps it was Claire's life force he stole while she was propping him up during the madcap 🙄 escape? But I understood why Roger was able to beat the hell out of Jamie. It was because Jamie barely fought back at all. He knew Roger had to fight to regain his honour, his manhood. He knew he wanted to do the same thing to BJR, and Roger's only experience with Jamie was not completely dissimilar to Jamie's 1st experience with BJR (except that Jamie is not a sadist power tripper). Also, remember Murtagh belting Jamie in France after being told the time-travel story about Claire? It's expected. You always make me rewatch! Luckily this bit was only 3.5 minutes in. Jamie is scouting. He hears a sound but sees nothing (he is being watched) so he returns to Claire and Ian who are loading the black horse with the goods they plan to trade for Roger. For a very brief shot you can see the two white horses tied to the trees behind them. They left those horses there. Why? No idea. I can only guess they expected to walk out of there with Roger on the one horse—should he need it. 🤪 What was surprising to me was that after the R & J fight ended there was a shot of not 3 but 4 horses at their camp. Two white, one black and one brown!!! I don't plan to go back and review previous episodes, but it actually makes sense that they'd have 4 horses. They expected to bring Roger on the months long trek back with them. I was glad we—finally—got to learn about the mysterious time traveller who led her back to Jamie when she was lost in the woods. We only got a very brief glimpse of him in the future—right after the opening credits. From the woman's clothing in that snippet I'd say he was coming from some time in the 1960's. Like Geillis Duncan. I just reviewed that to see if I could find a date—but nada. This time, however, I noticed the stone pendant he was wearing. I kept wracking my brain to remember where Claire got that pendant because I don't remember her wearing it recently and I missed it on the guy in "our" time first viewing. Of course it WAS covered by Claire's scarf so that might explain why I didn't see it. Show sure expects us to retain minute bits of information for a very long time. When did that time traveller actually first appear? I don't agree that Claire should have revealed herself as a traveller from the future. She doesn't know enough about these people and their beliefs. Her destiny is to live to be a great—and old—healer. Or that's what I think right now. Besides, from her own attempts to change the past she knew it would be futile to inform them of what was coming for them. I can't help but believe that DG would have written a bit more about him than we got in show. The story the Mohawk told about him, and his clear Geillis-like mission to change the past, don't make sense in relation to his spirit guiding Claire back to Jamie. However, due to the rewatch @gingerella made me do 😜, I noted the conversation between Claire and the woman who followed "Otter Tooth" and his prophesies. Makes more sense in hindsight: Wahkatiiosta: It is said that one who possesses the stone has the power to see how my people's story will end and that Otter Tooth's ghost walks with whoever carries it. Has he appeared to you? (my question: does that stone have anything to do with travelling through the stones on this side of the Atlantic? Or was that the implication regarding why it was Claire who found both the skull and the stone?) Claire: Yes. I was lost in a storm, and I took cover under a fallen tree. That is when he came to me. I believe that ghosts only exist when there is something to be remembered, a story worth telling, or a message... worth relaying. Do you believe this Otter Tooth to be right? Wahkatiiosta: Yes. I believe he came to warn my people and the stone will enable us to see what is coming. Claire: If you help us... rescue the man that we came to take back... Then we will help you preserve the memory of the man who fought for your future. Help us. The stone will be yours. So, Claire didn't tell any of them about time-travel, but that told us that she finally understood why "Otter Tooth" appeared to her to help her. (see bolded passage) So, Ging. Thanks for getting me to rewatch. 100% agree with this. (As if it even needs to be said. ) Finally something to 🥰.

I can't let this pass—if only to defend my country's honour. 😉 I was very happy when I saw that Canadian, Tom Jackson, was cast as the Mohawk Chieftain in this show (which was during the previous episode where he 1st appeared). He is a well known singer as well as an actor. (Perhaps best know for his version—at least in Canada—of the Huron Carol. see below) I will admit that he is not an actor skilled in a variety of ways of portraying characters, but he seems to have become an actor because of that one persona. The late, witty Dorothy Parker quipped, regarding Kathrine Hepburn's acting skill, "(she runs) the gamut of emotions from A to B." This can be applied to Mr. Jackson as well. But it is his style and most likely why he was chosen to portray the Mohawk Chief. You are, of course, entitled to hate him as much as I love him. Keeps our discussions lively.

One more thing I forgot to mention about Ian being adopted into the Mohawk tribe: The Mohawk (for the most part) fought on the side of the British in the up coming Revolutionary War. One of the last things we see in this Season Final is Jamie being ordered to muster troops on behalf of the British. Something tells me neither of them are going to be OK with that. 🤣🤣

Seeing as this is the current topic, this is what I found on a website called Iroquois Confederacy - History, Relations with Non-Native Americans. https://www.everyculture.com/multi/Ha-La/Iroquois-Confederacy.html What was missing from the show was identifying that there was a need to adopt someone. Either when Roger arrived or when Ian made his pitch. Actually I think some character or other DID mention the practice of adoption but it was never clear why. What I did like about this "adoption" was that the trope of Jamie sacrificing himself for someone he loves was turned on its head by Young Ian who 1) actually spoke the language; and 2) actually wanted to learn to live like an Indian. Jamie and Claire were so used to Ian following their instructions that they were blindsided when they realized that Ian had bargained his own prisoner swap. Ian was the obvious choice and he knew it. He was more prepared than either Roger or Jamie to "win" the gauntlet game. He understood the goal. He didn't need to kill anyone—which Jamie would have thought he'd have to do—he just had to survive reaching the chief. I'm sure having badass Rollo as his familiar was another thing in his favour.

Something I miss this season is the changing intro segments and the amuse bouche (as @gingerella calls the opening teasers). Wonder why they stopped making them? So, we have been given a glimpse of Brianna as an artist. I wonder if there was supposed to be a link back to when she had her conversation with Roger about her interest in architecture (or was that engineering?). Anyway, drawing skills would come in handy for either of those callings. But I think the main reason Brianna's ability to draw has been highlighted NOW is so that Aunt Jocasta and tell us more about Grandmother Ellen, and how much she and Brianna are alike. The conversation with Lizzie over the darkness of the drawing of Roger was pretty much redundant, in my view, because we already knew Bri had forgiven Lizzie. Still I'm not complaining about the exchange. I liked that Brianna was able to turn Lizzie's “you've been possessed!” into the more reasonable “no, I'm just very hurt and angry”. That's educating Lizzie on the fly, from where I sit, that there doesn't have to be some supernatural explanation for dark words, thoughts or images. It was also helpful to be reminded that Bri is angry at Jamie because he accused her of lying about being raped (“the words he said”). I was a little taken aback (now that I think of it) that on the one hand, the show writers had Jamie deliberately provoke Brianna about lying about the rape to get her to realize she could not have fought back, and then go on to have him repeat the words (or words to that effect) in earnest a short while later. I was grateful to Aunt Jocasta for the sprinkling of details about Jamie's mother. Claire didn't even know that about Ellen. And hopefully we'll get more—since Jocasta hinted that there were more stories to get into—but I won't be holding my breath for them to be told. Jocasta is a canny woman and knew just how to get Bri to agree to the “social engagement”. Young Ian, once again, gets to be a chip off the old block (Old Ian) and speak to the wall going up between Claire and Jamie. His character is so likeable. I even liked how he threw in the information that the Cherokee wouldn't guide them because they had no reason to enter Mohawk lands—meaning they had mutual respect for each other's boundaries. Next on the list of likeable characters comes Fergus and Marsali. Agree with the rest of you that she has grown on me and they are a very likeable couple. Fergus isn't completely diminished by how he is treated due to missing a hand—he knows that Jamie sees him as a whole man. But Marsali can see that it is bothering him. She's got her mother's wiles, but she utilizes them for more positive goals. I realized she expected that Fergus would decline when Murtagh asked him to fight beside him, but that the request would build him back up. Poor Brianna, only finding out when she comes down to the dinner that she's being paraded before eligible bachelors. At least I enjoyed seeing the pompous Lieutenant Wolff—from back when Clair and Jamie arrived who had been fawning all over Jocasta—getting one upped by the other, equally smarmy, guy. I have to admit that when I heard that one of the guests was a Lord, I never gave it a though. Must be the amount of time we've allowed to elapse between episodes because I didn't suspect it would be Lord John until I saw him. I was pleased anyway. I also liked how much maneuvering Jocasta had to do to downplay Brianna's casual remark about drawing the “slave” Phaerdre. And Brianna blithely continuing the conversation in spite of that. One exchange between Jocasta and Brianna that I really enjoyed was later after Brianna pretended to faint so she wouldn't have to go out to walk with one of the suitors. Brianna sent Ulysses away so she could talk with Jocasta alone and started “May I speak frankly?” Jocasta's reply was a sardonic “Of course. Ye've been doing so all evening.” I just laughed out loud. I expected a bit more of a double take from Lord John when he saw Brianna, but perhaps he knew she would be there in advance—I don't remember if we were told—and knew from Willie to expect how much Brianna would resemble Jamie. I did find the parlour game Brianna devised was a long and heavy handed way to alert Lord John to the other gay man in the room and to lead to Brianna learning about Lord Johns sexual preferences. The only interesting thing to come of it—from my perspective—was to see Brianna's “modern” view on homosexuality get knocked over when Lord John explained to her he was quite capable of carrying out his husbandly duties. She wasn't expecting that. Otherwise this part was a bit of blah, blah, blah to me except that—where Lord John is concerned—everyone close to Jamie ends up having a uniquely personal relationship with him. I did like seeing him stride to the rescue at the last minute. Lord John is alway's charming and reliable. Plus he gave the keynote speech on having hope. I doubt they will marry in haste. And for a change I loved Jamie and Claire making up to each other. (probably because I didn't feel like such a voyeur). I'm going to treat Roger's last scene like Roger's first scene—I'm going to consider it a fake out.

That's what I think as well. When Claire told Brianna she (Claire) couldn't be sure that if the time travel was made with a babe in arms rather than a fetus in the womb that they would go together. She never quite said the babe might end up somewhere else, but I understood it to include a Craigh na Dun at another point in time.

While I'm not that bothered by the plethora of accents that pop up, I did find the question intriguing. For instance there has been quite a bit of discussion and debate regarding how George Washington would have sounded (by scholars). I found this quite interesting because it recognizes his parents were English, but that he would likely have adopted a speaking style that reflected his contemporaries in the Colonies: Research offers many clues to how Washington sounded. As to the question of whether or not Washington had an English accent, there are many possibilities. Washington was born on February 22, 1732 in Westmoreland Count, Virginia. His parents, Augustine and Mary Ball Washington, were part of the gentry class and of English descent. Since the newly formed United States was physically separate from England, different dialects formed within the early colonies. Likely they would influence the accents of those around Washington in rural Virginia. Further, newer elements of the English language, adapting itself across the Atlantic, may not have made it to the areas with less contact to England. Washington’s accent may have been more influenced by the rural setting of his younger years than it was by his exposure to people with English accents. Considering all of this and his farmer upbringing, it is safe to speculate that Washington’s natural accent was, as Morse portrays it, predominantly American with a detectable English influence. Source: https://www.mountvernon.org/george-washington/facts/washingtons-voice/ I'm sure there is a rabbit hole of other sources, but I'm not prepared to go there. Brianna has been introduced as coming from Boston (considered a big city back in the 1700s). This article https://www.bizjournals.com/boston/inno/stories/news/2012/02/28/pahk-the-cah-in-hahvahd-yahd-researchers-locate.html suggests that the accent that we most associate with Boston now (the dropped or added Rs) actually came into being back in the 1700s and was only later adopted by the English. However, Brianna doesn't have either an English nor a Boston accent. Given that in the more remote areas of the Colonies there would be quite a variety of accents and less of an awareness of regional distinctions—unless the person was well travelled— most folks might just figure she talked funny and leave it at that. Language morphs over time. Within our lifetimes there has been a great deal of change and it reaches wider than regionally. It was reading that article about how George Washington might have sounded that led me to this laissez faire attitude. I used to think that the English accent would have been more robust at this point in the Colonies. Seems not.

Yes, @Camera One. That's what I'm seeing too. It's very frustrating—the time travel aspect—because there is just enough to get you interested but it goes nowhere.

This is becoming the big question. In the opening credits for this Season we saw men dressed in furs and skins piling stones in a circle around a standing stone and then the ritual being enacted with the women dancing around the Standing Stone, fires lit at the base of all the stones (both the standing one and the piles) and the full moon. Claire gave us a voice over at that time: CLAIRE: For centuries humans have held an endless fascination with circles, attributing meaning where they are found. CLAIRE: From the eternal rotation of the planets around the sun to the movement of clock hands, to a simple wedding band. CLAIRE: And I more than most know full well just how a circle can affect one's life. Or death. That last phrase "Or death." was basically a segue to an empty noose and the lead in to the hanging of Hayes and the introduction of Bonnet. I'm failing to link that last bit with the rest of the voice over. Mostly because it doesn't really link the two events together in any clear way. It seemed to exist just to be a segue. But the voice over suggests a through-line between the time travel and the circles and the ancientness of the rituals. I'm just not convinced the show or the books will satisfy our need-to-know how they come together. It's 10 episodes in and we finally get connected back to that New World Portal (as I've named it). The Standing Stone is there although the piled up pillars are stunted versions of what we first saw. But the power is still present. I do hope we get answers to your questions.

Below I what I based my thoughts on. I bolded the part I hadn't really taken in the first time I watched. I got this from closed captioning: Bri: Did you kill him finally? Jamie: Why are ye asking, lass? Bri: I've been wondering if it would help if I killed the man who did this to me. Jamie: And ye'll have killed a man before? Bri: Think I can't, don't you? Jamie: And what will ye get back? Bri: Mama told me you tried to kill Jack Randall in Paris in a duel. What did you try to get back? Jamie: My honor. Bri: You don't think my honor is worth trying to get back? Jamie: I think ye would get yerself killed if ye tried to do something foolish like that. Bri: At least I'd take him with me. Jamie: I did kill Randall, finally, at Culloden. I awoke on the moor wi' his corpse on top of me. Bri: Did it help? Jamie: Vengeance didna seem so important then. There were hundreds dead upon the moor and I thought I'd be one of them. But he was. So... I left him to God. Bri: I keep thinking, if he was dead, maybe I could forget. Jamie: Ye wilna forget, but time will let you heal. I mentioned that we'd seen the fight between Jamie and Black Jack back in whatever Season that was. At THAT time I posted that Jamie had achieved his goals. He'd got his vengeance and that is what we saw. What was important to me in the above version is that it shows how Jamie felt about it after he survived Culloden. I drew my conclusion from those bolded words. Now that I've got it written out I can see the point you were making.

My. It HAS been a long time since I viewed this. I had to rewatch just to remind myself of what happened. Re-watching does have it upside. I think I appreciate this episode more because I wasn't blindsided by the twists and turns the dialog took. I could grasp what the writers were trying to convey. Right off the top, my favourite few seconds were of the goat kid leaping beside its mother. Put a big smile on my face and calmed my spirit. For the most part I am fine with how the show runners (and writers) decided to give us each character's reactions. Jamie trying so hard to give support to Brianna and deciding to show (not tell) her why she shouldn't beat herself up for not fighting back. You could see the decision to take that approach on his face before he said those vile words to her. And you could see how difficult it was for him to find the words to talk to her about Black Jack Randal's abuse. But the discussion about whether killing your abuser made the feelings go away? That was important to me. To know that by that time, getting his honour back was nothing to Jamie in contrast to the devastation Culloden unleashed. Black Jack Randal was just another casualty to him in this telling. We saw the fight where Jamie killed BJR, but at this point in Jamie's life—and even when he woke up NOT!dead—it was no longer registering as important. I liked that Claire's entire attention and support was focused on her daughter. I even likeD Jamie's discomfort at hearing that he'd acted too hastily (defending his daughter's honour indeed!)—and the very human (but transparent) attempts at dodging responsibility for what he'd done! But all in all I found those parts to be the weakest for Jamie's actor, Sam H. He rarely gives a bad performance, but I found this section a little... weak? Never mind. He'll be back on form by next episode I'm sure. The only other part I felt fell flat—and one the writer's gave Brianna—was the declaration that Jamie didn't get to be more angry/upset than she was. While it rings true as a feeling/reaction. It felt clunky to just say it. I loved that Murtagh got out of the way as soon as he realized what had occurred. And he tried to take Young Ian with him, but Brianna was right about making Ian stay. I liked the nightmare parallel: Brianna's with Roger's face morphing into Bonnet's face—just like Jamie's with Claire's face morphing into BJRs. I think Brianna and Claire's goodbye might have been a parallel too, but can't remember what Claire said to Brianna before she left to find Jamie. Does anyone remember what Claire said? Brianna said to Claire this time: Bree: I'm so sorry, Mama. Claire: For what? Bree: For making you leave me. When I heard this bit I received it as Brianna giving Claire the good-bye she would have wanted to hear. Now I'm not sure that she didn't receive it. I was happy with the scene at River Run. And to see Jocasta and Murtagh interact. But the show had to end on a cliff hanger (sorry for my part in prolonging it's resolution, @gingerella). Will Roger go back? I doubt it. I think the point was to show us that he still had the two stones and remind him they were for both Brianna and himself. Oddly, I'd completely forgotten about the New World Portal so when I heard the buzzing sound I though "Oh good! Roger's going to get honey to eat! (plus a few stings) 🤣🤣. D'oh. The other cliff hanger is that Roger's escape will make finding him a lot more difficult! Of course, it could be misdirection and he get's captured again, but now he (and we) know there IS a time portal in the New World so they can quickly get out of whatever danger presents itself at-or-near the end of this Season. (burning down the house?)

I. Am. Devastated! Normally I make predictions or suggest directions the show might go knowing perfectly well that I will be wrong. WHY, Show, did you make this one right—and even worse than I imagined it? Last episode I wrote: So there is no Who's The Daddy complication, just everybody not talking—and jumping to individual conclusions anyway—and poor Roger paying the penalty. ROGER! Without whom Jamie would never have been reunited with his one true love!!! (🤬🤬🤬) No more talk about the ending... The rest of the show was back to sweet moments and character building. Although I feel a bit grudging about them now, I loved it until the ending. Sweet moments: The first one that really got me was Lizzie trying to help Brianna and laying her hand by Brianna's head says “Ye have my hand here... and my ear if ye need it.” That completely endeared her to me. Too bad Brianna didn't accept the offer. 😢 Next was Lizzie again; so full of her good news about the stir the wife of a Scotsman had made acting as a surgeon and saving a man's life at the theatre. And finding out the Scotsman was one Mr. Fraser who was still in town. She was so excited she could hardly get it out. Then the first meeting of Brianna and Jamie. Jamie rebuffing her advances—because he's used to having to do that. (giggle) And that Brianna found him taking a piss! (I engaged my internal mental hand waving mechanism for everything that happened directly after that 🙄) Historical realism—or is that hysterical realism? But then Jamie getting all teary-eyed when he realized it was her. (sniffle. I'm a sucker for this kind of thing.) Jamie's reaction to seeing their obituary: "Smudged date. Unforgivable mistake by the printer." Young Ian's reaction to meeting his new cousin: "When it comes to ye, Auntie Claire, I've learned it's better not to ask too many questions." Brianna telling Jamie about Daniel Boone and Claire explaining that “he's used to it”. Murtagh and Jamie's greeting where we learn that he “eliminated” the spy in their midst... And then met his... god-Granddaughter? At least he knew she existed and didn't need a “story”. He was sooooooo happy. LOVE Murtagh! Brianna being told she'd learn about all her cousins at one point (wonder if there'll be a test?). Seemed very authentic to me. Like adopted kids learning about their other family. And then the joking after Brianna delivers the message that Jenny would like more letters from Ian. Murtagh telling Jamie that Brianna reminds him of his mother and that he deserved the good family feelings after all he'd been through. And Jamie sharing that he worried she might always feel like a stranger. Then, later, Murtagh telling the story of Jamie's first kiss—by one of Dougal's daughters—and the calm and effective way Dougal warned him off (call back to S01). And later still, Murtagh being the one to explain the meaning of Bree—the Gaelic word —to her. Claire & Brianna preparing herbs together and Claire letting Brianna know that she, too, was overwhelmed by being 200 years in the past. This is good character building to me. Claire carefully raising a subject tangentially but gave Brianna a way to ask any questions she might have. Not to mention Claire carefully taking in every aspect of Brianna's body language. At this point, it appears, I don't have to worry if Claire has learned how to handle not being able to phyically protect her child from life. It looks like she has learned that. Roger asking for gems as wages instead of coin. Thinking of Brianna without a wedding ring? Or travelling back to their own time together? All the Brianna, Jamie, Frank stuff. This seems to me to be the crux of both her and Jamie's connection dilemma. Frank raised her—loved her as a child. Jamie had that with Willie for a while, but with Brianna he doesn't know what he has to give her as a father. Frank did a good job raising her. Seems it was one that partially prepared her for a life in the past. 😮 This exchange: BRIANNA: So does everyone always call you "Young" Ian? YOUNG IAN: When I was a bairn, it was "Wee" Ian. Followed by the corresponding exchange about her nickname – Bree. Jamie relating so personally to how Brianna must feel at the loss of “this Roger”. (Although now I feel kind of set-up-for-a-fall by this.) Jamie and Bree going bee hunting. Reminded me of Jamie taking Willie deer hunting when John Grey was sick. He didn't want to repeat that—especially because of Bree associating hunting with Frank—so hunting bees was something different he could teach her. And there was plenty of time for them to just bond. I also loved Jamie using his Gaelic words of endearment for his own child and her interest in understanding them. a leannan – my darling, and. M' annsachd - my blessing. (or that's what closed captioning tells me) I've always enjoyed Jamie-talking-to-bairns and he's getting his fill before it's too late. Creating a new family memory back at home—eating the honey right from the comb together. And, of course, I liked the way talking about moving the bees to a new and strange environment was also a metaphor for Brianna being out of her “proper place” as well. Not to mention being an opening for her to talk about her inner conflict between loving her father Frank, but appreciating her biological father as well. And for Jamie to share his positive feelings about Frank so she wouldn't have to feel she had to choose. Then later Claire having to be the voice of reason to prepare Jamie—who was already “fash”-ing about Brianna leaving again—for that inevitable event (as she sees it). And he shares that he's seen her smile in her sleep—just like Jenny and Claire told him he did. So many call backs— as I'd expect there to be. That was a LOT of stuff that I really enjoyed. Too bad “good” TV stories have to mess all that up. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯. Other moments-of-note Young Ian telling Brianna about the horrible encounter with Stephen Bonnet. He was clearly the best person to hear it from, but I was unprepared for her reaction—which we learned of later—that she felt she couldn't add her own trauma to their pain from that event. 🤨 Especially since she'd seen Claire with a silver wedding ring on her finger and must have concluded that she'd miss-remembered it and thought that everything she'd endured to get it was completely futile—only to find the truth was even worse. Topped off by Young Ian trying to console her with: I'm sure 'tis only in our nightmares he can trouble us now, eh? So tragic. Brianna letting Claire know that Frank knew she would return to Jamie because that is where she first saw the article about their death in the house fire. This exchange between Claire and Jamie in reaction to Brianna's news about the fire: CLAIRE: We could make sure we're never in the cabin the Sunday before January 21st. JAMIE: Every year for a decade? CLAIRE:We'll make a holiday out of it. JAMIE: I dinna believe it'll be as simple as that. We havena had much luck changing history in the past, Claire. I'm glad to hear they learned something from their attempt to subvert the Culloden disaster. They still appear to be trying to process the news and I liked that. Realistic. Claire and Brianna finally speaking about what happened to Bree. This was not a “sweet” moment for me because Brianna was waiting for her mother to read her mind and that—while not uncommon—is such an unreliable way to seek help. We never saw Claire “reading Brianna's mind” in the gallop through their lives together back in S03. I felt it was a little too much tell and not enough show for me. I just can't be going over the end part. I absolutely HATE watching bad things happen when people don't tell each other what they are thinking and feeling. Even though it is common enough in real life—in THIS story it's an ill wind and ALWAYS bodes no good. I'll just sum up with my pessimistic thought that Young Ian—because he's not supposed to kill (Roger)—will do the next best thing and leave him on Indian Land as though he'd trespassed—for them to kill him. That's as f**ked up a solution to Young Ian's dilemma as I can come up with. (May IT be my usual miss.)

Well, you forced me to google the population of Wilmington around that time. Closest that Wikipedia comes is for 1820 - Population: 2,633. That's at least 50 years after the time depicted in this episode. I grew up in a town of under 2500 people—and it wasn't a port town so it wouldn't have as many "Inns"—but it had 2 hotels (both with bars) and one Main Street. If someone new showed up? Everyone would know about it by the end of the day! I expect Wilmington had less permanent residents than that and more transient visitors in the form of sailors, so probably more bars and lodgings but they'd all be located pretty close to the docks. The number of transient visitors might mean strangers wouldn't stand out—like they did in my town. We saw Roger showing Brianna's picture around and getting no lead from that. I think we are supposed to think he'd been doing that for a while at least. As for arriving at the same time despite leaving a couple of weeks apart? Brianna was on foot from Craig na Dun and had a worse-than-useless map to get her close to Lallybroch. And didn't Jamie say it was a couple of hours to get to Leery's home from Lallybroch? Anyway. Brianna didn't have a horse nor a wagon. She walked—and we were shown at least one night she spent outside. Then, we don't actually know how many days she spent with Leery and Joanie. But I wouldn't be surprised if just that ate up most of the time difference between her arrival in the 18th century and Roger's. Plus, Roger was more prepared and clearly had thought about how to get to the nearest port town (that had ships bound across the Atlantic) from Craig na Dun. With all of that to consider? I think them finding each other within a day is not so far fetched. Could have even been two days. But if they didn't up and leave the town, they were bound to find each other sooner or later.

Yes. That is what I meant about having era adjustment problems. You've fleshed out the issues fully. Thank you. Plus, in 1968 it was even MORE common for women to expect to go to bars, or parties or get lifts to their destinations, without being molested. The fact that Claire wasn't ravished was the GOOD LUCK Claire had by looking and sounding like an upper class woman, the story she told about how she came to be there—indicating she HAD a man—and the willingness of Dougal to give her the benefit of the doubt (and his men respected his decision). Brianna didn't have any of those things going for her and was likely a great deal more naive than Claire was (due to her war experience and her unusual upbringing). Plus, although she was surrounded by a lot of men, all of them believed what happened to her was what she deserved. (Certainly nothing she should be protected from.) Perhaps the show wasn't trying to make the point that upset me, but even now, woman who get attacked are often judged as "asking for it" because they dared to believe it wouldn't/ couldn't happen to them or because, like Brianna, they were preoccupied with some other emotional issue and not as vigilant as women are expected to be. (and viewed this way by other women as much as men) The Accused shone a light on that—opening some eyes—but it still exists.

As @gingerella mentioned. We were expecting a change for the worse either this episode or the next one. Show didn't prove us wrong. I'm having trouble dividing things into what I liked and didn't like because they are often part of the same scene! - Agree that it was good to get an update on Fergus, Marsali and baby "Germain" (or so closed captions tell me). I couldn't make a name out of what I heard them say on the show! They DO look like they are doing very well for themselves, and - Marsali serving notice to the world (when talking with Claire) that she's ready to kill anyone who might do her baby harm! Time for them to move to a more dangerous location? That scene was slightly marred by being reminded that Claire and Jamie haven't told Fergus and Marsali that they actually had a child - and Claire only remembering that fact at the last minute by tacking on an "I'm sure." to her own affirmation of that protective maternal feeling before she imparted the wisdom she'd gained after 20 years of motherhood—you can't always protect your children from life. (guess we'll see how she handles Brianna's rape.) Roger & Brianna: I enjoyed seeing Roger & Brianna reunited BUT: I wondered why we got so much of what's-her-name from Roger's ship if we won't be seeing her again, and I wondered what kind of blacksmith has a smithy that can be turned into a romantic hideaway, but doesn't come to work or get drop-in repair requests! 🙄 And has a pile of clean blankets that turns the floor into a slightly raised bed!?! 🙄🙄 AND, of course, these two have a chronic Failure-of-Communication disease. Neither of them is a "Jamie" (who did the heavy emotional lifting between him and Claire.) Blech. 🙄🙄🙄 (and of course though Roger knows that a Hand Fast marriage is a legal marriage in the era they are currently in—I doubt Brianna sees it as such.) Brianna: The sins of the mother are borne by the child? (if Claire hadn't fallen in love with a man from two hundred years ago, Brianna wouldn't have encountered the brigand. Uh, I guess Brianna wouldn't exist to encounter him so there's that.) Or it's a generational thing. Claire is independent but grew up with plenty of examples of women depending on men for protection while Brianna, in particular, is of a generation that didn't see that as necessary and she hadn't yet had any experience that would make her suspicious of what Bonnet was implying with his knowing looks (nod, nod, wink, wink). Like Claire did, she is having era adjustment problems—but Claire was lucky in that she was "captured" by men with some semblance of honourable conduct. And the positioning of this event after her blowup with Roger smacks of implying she was getting her just desserts. Did. Not. Appreciate. This. At. All. I have to agree with @gingerella that there's bound to be a Who's The Daddy storyline—Plus it couldn't be more obvious that Roger will be set up to be accused of the rape. Gah! But will Jamie try to kill Roger (because he doesn't know him like Claire does) and will Claire have to save Roger from Jamie? It's possible isn't it? Claire and Jamie: The only bit of this segment I could tolerate was watching Jamie work out how he could get away to warn Murtagh and Claire owning the governor and physicians with her superior stitching skillz. (not to mention diagnostic skillz). Not even the presence of George and Martha Washington (and Claire fan-girling over HIM). But at least the show introduced them as "the woman who could fill as many ships as she wanted with tobacco"—meaning shrewd business woman—and her husband, Colonel Washington. I enjoyed that because Claire was rolling her eyes at having to join the "wives" only to discover they weren't the nobodies she thought they were. Murtagh: At least his storyline was allowed to reach a non-perilous conclusion. I loved that he was miffed that Jamie didn't come to warn him himself! Plus any amount of Murtagh is better than no Murtagh. Jamie: Keeping his mouth shut about the Governor et al blaming George Washington for warning the Regulators of the trap. Guess he decided it was just assisting George toward the side he was supposed to be on. 🤣

Source of quote below: https://www.battlefields.org/learn/articles/medicine-has-scarcely-entered-its-threshold-medicine-1700s This—along with the points Scarlett45 mentioned above regarding the reception that Claire, a woman, would receive if introduced as a "surgeon"—would be reason enough. The timeframes of this episode would still be the early 1770s and "the colonies" had only recently established medical schools. (Quote from same source) The other point that has to be taken into account is the cost of consulting a doctor. Most rural folk would not have access to a doctor, nor would they be able to afford the treatment. I expect most people would know what a surgeon is but would not have kept up with surgical advances. This episode was set in a "big city" and among the upper class so they would be more accepting of medical professionals because they could afford them. Claire uses a lot of medical words but I expect it was her tone and her confidence (that she learned during WW2) that created acceptance of her ability under the circumstances presented. As Jamie would not be expecting a surgical situation at a play there would be no reason to use the term "surgeon". He did use it when both he and Claire realized that she could save the man's life.

Yes! I forgot this bit, but it stood out when I was watching it. Always love parallels. That was definitely a heart tugger. We got to see how important Frank was to Brianna and that "appearance" on the dock as she was setting out for America was her inner confirmation that he approved. The whole scene was striking because he appeared in his modern day clothes with everyone around him dressed in 18th century garb. Well Done!

This season seems to have allowed itself to slow down enough to give us character development. Bree first and foremost, Fiona, Frank, Leery!?!! and even Marsali's younger sister, Joanie as well. Fiona has turned out to be a true friend to Roger. Too bad they didn't show why that changed because she was sure giving off Leery vibes when we first met her. AND it is confirmed that the buzzing or humming sounds that Claire, Brianna and Roger could hear—but Jamie and Fiona could not—are related to the ability to time travel. Jamie Can Not Time Travel. This conclusion was extrapolated from this: Roger: Do you hear that? Fiona: The stones dinna call to me. The Good Frank: So the show decides NOW—4 seasons in— to show us that Frank could be a good, loving man? Why not when we 1st met him in S01? Hrrumph. 😡 I really enjoyed seeing Frank giving the love that he possessed to someone who embraced it and returned it. I suppose that—because he never knew what Jamie Fraser looked like—he didn't look at Brianna and see Jamie...just the child he wanted, with Claire, but could not create. He fully accepted the next best thing. And I can understand why he wouldn't divorce Claire as well. Because he needed Brianna in his life and would not jeopardize that. When she was old enough to legally make her own decisions he allowed himself to take the steps needed to give himself the life he wanted. But WAIT!—now that I come to think of it... the first Brianna/ Frank-living-in-his-office scene expands where the news clipping—that propelled Bree to go through the stones—came from. Frank had just received it and had, therefore, learned that Claire would go back to Jamie and die in the past. That had to play a big part in his decision to divorce Claire and go back to England. He'd finally had to let go of his last, futile hope that things would ever be better between Claire and himself. That's what I get from that scene anyway. And as a parallel, Leery seemed to be a decent human being. She's kind and generous to strange young women. She just has that ONE spot of crazy when it comes to Claire and Jamie. Still, even her daughter, Joanie, isn't buying what Leery's selling regarding Joanie's “Da” (Jamie). I think Marsali took a bit more convincing than Joanie but came around pretty damn quick also. Leery manages to remember those few times that were good and forgets why Jamie moved to Edinburgh and lived apart from her mere months after they were married. Roger's and Brianna's stories seem set to be separate for quite some time. He'll get the hard road (with evil pirate guy) and she'll get the... less hard road. Judging by the time spent on Morag Mackenzie she could become a rival love interest for Roger? Methinks I'll be on the look out for a parallel one for Brianna. And it looks like Brianna's decision to help out another young woman (Elizabeth) has given us a new character. Hope she isn't killed off in the next episode! Shout out to the Show for being thoughtful enough to give us more Ian. I relished even the tiny glimpse we were given. He is still the best man in what ever room he inhabits! 😊 Two good episodes in a row, show. What's going on?

Yes, this is the problem. I tried a google search for the deleted scene before you posted it @Cdh20 but only found one where the show runner—Ron Moore—talked about deleted scenes from A. Malcolm (sorry, I didn't save it and don't know if I could find it again). He started out explaining that they packed so much into that one episode that it was longer than one hour and felt it could survive a bit of pruning (my word, not his). Regarding the scene you've provided for us, he said that it just repeated information we already knew (i.e. were actually shown as their own scenes) so they felt they didn't need to prolong the episode repeating that information. What they didn't take into account was the fact that us viewers would want to know that Jamie DID tell Claire fully about why he lay with Geneva and got her with child. Hell, I was suspicious about the fact that he said he'd told no one else except her about being Willie's father—leading her to believe no one else KNEW! We knew that both Isabel and Lord John knew. There were specific scenes with each of them with Jamie in the relevant episode. Isabel told him Geneva told her and Lord John told him anyone with eyes could see the resemblance when Jamie and Willie were together. @gingerella I didn't find Claire's carefully controlled reaction to Jamie's explanation (in the deleted scene) out of character, though. She had told him that she knew that he would have had a life (without her) during the 20 years that they were apart. What she didn't know was how she would react—even though I am sure she would have entertained the idea that he'd found someone else. I know Claire tended to give her emotions free reign when they first got together, but she's older and has more life experience now so it made sense to me that she kept herself in control and tried to just listen to him. He'd done that for her before—i.e. after the spanking thingy—so she seems to have learned something over those 20 years. 😇

Yes, I think this explains the discomfort Claire felt about Lord John since she first met him. SHE may not have realized it then—or even at the beginning of her interactions with him while he was sick—but by the time that conversation was over she understood well enough. I saw the Claire/ Lord John scenes here as mirroring the Claire/ Murtagh exchange in S01. There will be a bond between Claire and Lord John as well—regardless of whether they meet again. They understand each other now and no longer feel threatened.

I'd suggest that the purpose was more to establish Lord John's character as a man of principle. Yes, he was attracted to Jamie's body, but also to the person he'd come to know through their visits at Ardsmiur prison—up until he made the mistake of expressing his feelings by the touch of Jamie's hand. So, his response to Jamie's proposal was to be indignant—to show that Jamie's friendship was the greater value to him. And he said as much to Claire—he wouldn't want to "take" Jamie under those circumstances. John is romantically in love with Jamie. His desire to possess him is no different than Jamie's desire to possess Claire. But Jamie is not for him. I also suggest that Claire's shock may have been her understanding the depth of Jamie's pain at having to abandon his son—given that he thought he'd never see Claire again nor his other child—and the lengths he felt he had to go to keep him safe. Further, the depth of gratitude Jamie would have felt toward Lord John who cared enough to accept the responsibility without Jamie's sacrifice. Claire could not be there for Jamie, but John was there for him. And, as she pointed out, Jamie had given John his son—the most precious gift he had to give.

Now THIS is my kind of episode. Raise a glass to character development! See show? It's not that painful. Great opening with just Jamie and John. Poor John. He's looking old, but Jamie looks younger every time I see him. 🙄 I also liked that Claire and Murtagh got to see young Willie..iam before Jamie did. I think it was important for Claire to establish her personality to the young mind before she got slotted into the "wife of" role. She was kind, motherly and could solve the young lad's problem quickly—yet put it in perspective for him by teaching him the value of the "vile creatures". He definitely came across as entitled, but he had been exhibiting those traits around the time that Jamie realized he was going to have to leave him. He was born with a title so it's no surprise he exhibits entitlement. What is interesting is that he is still young enough to be willing to learn to do things for himself. And, of course, everything that Murtagh did was perfect (as far as I am concerned). He's starting to settle back into himself since we first encountered him. Grumpy? Check, but less of the curmudgeon that he was with Ian. Supportive of Claire? Check. Suspicious of, and grudging towards Lord John? Check. Barely able to contain his contempt for Lord John's friend the Governor? Check. Quick to decipher why Jamie cared about Master William? Check. I particularly loved that he put Jamie on notice that he expected to know more about Willie's mother. As @gingerella pointed out. He's protective of Claire as well. But also, he's known all of Jamie's secrets since Jamie was a wee lad—and kept them safe—so he has a right to know. Jamie's interactions with his son deserve closer inspection, but not right now. I'll just say that the writer did a great job doling out the bits of recognition (giving the boy credit for his memories, and the emotions he felt when he knew Jamie). I loved those. And Jamie's quiet satisfaction at being remembered. And the difficulty he had trying to answer Willie's (justified) questions truthfully without exposing the whole truth. Also his pride in being able to teach his son skills needed to be self sufficient instead of dependant on others to do the tough things for him. We've seen Jamie "parent" Ian, but Ian was mostly grown by that time, so this is really the first time we get to see what kind of a father Jamie would have been. (And through that we get to see what Jamie learned from his father's parenting.) PLUS the only "peril" served to show the integrity and bravery inherent in William—be it by genetics or by Lord John's example—to take responsibility for his actions. It was almost as though—by seeing Jamie sacrifice himself to save Willie—he understood that he should be strong enough to take responsibility for his own mistakes. I think Jamie's declaration that William is his son will return at some future point. If Willie processed it—at the time—as a lie Jamie told to keep him safe; further rumination on why he chose THAT lie and used the words "his blood is my blood, take mine instead" is bound to occur to William. No? I also loved the no-holds-barred exchanges between Claire and Lord John. She intuits he is hiding something and plans to find out what it is. We know from S03 that she was suspicious of him from the first time she met him. First she challenges him to declare if he is a spy for the governor. Then, even though he is sick, she refused to play the upper class polite—or as Lord John says: circumspect and circuitous—word games and forces both Lord John and herself to examine their inner-most feelings. I loved that whole exchange as well. Each of them exposing their most private fears and ending with a deeper and more empathetic understanding of each other. So much that Claire can—with sincerity—encourage John to continue to seek for the love he deserves. I have not been Claire's biggest fan, but I've certainly come to appreciate her with this episode. AND I loved how they ended William and Lord John's visit. After William learned why Jamie would not look back at him when he left Helwater—"I didn't want to give ye false hope. I never expected to see you again."—we are shown William riding away, but choosing to turn and look back. A message. He does expect to see Jamie again. <sigh> Excuse me while I go clean up the puddles I've made singing the praises of this episode.

So far, these last few (couple?) episodes are more my pace. And to my liking. I agree with you @gingerella that it would have been nice to see a bit more of the everyday toil of building a homestead. It could be done in just a few minutes with a kind of time-lapse series of scenes that incorporate the character/plot bits while subtly inserting the gradual build up of improvements and furnishings . It would be like a Coles Notes version of relationships—so we wouldn't feel blindsided. But... that's not the way this show does things. The Meullers were mentioned by Jamie and/or Claire in the opening scene and one named Gerhard was mentioned comparing him unfavourably to Clarence the mule 🥰—Clarence being less stubborn and exhibiting more sense. I have to assume they were talking about Herr Mueller. BUT I didn't catch it until I reviewed the beginning a second time! And after reading your responses. I loved the scene with Claire and Adawehi. And I felt totally cheated by the end of the episode because I'd assumed we'd see more than one scene of them together. At least we know what Adawehi was referring to regarding there being deaths but they would not be Claire's fault. I believe when Adawehi first met Claire she <prophesied> that Claire would possess even greater skills than herself. Ah. Here it is: Giduhwa: This is my husband's grandmother, Adawehi. I'm Claire. Giduhwa: She had a dream about you. Adawehi (translated by Giduhwa): The moon was in the water, and you became a white raven. You flew over the water and swallowed the moon. The white raven flew back and laid an egg in the palm of her hand. The egg split open, and there was a shining stone inside. She knew this was great magic, that the stone could heal sickness. She's a healer. A very powerful healer. My husband's grandmother says that you have medicine now, but you will have more. When your hair is white like snow, you will have wisdom beyond time. You must not be troubled. Death is sent from the gods. It will not be your fault. So my next favourite thing was THE RETURN OF MURTAUGH!!! 💗 I was no longer expecting to see him. He's aged impressively! Well said my friend. Thanks for highlighting how much leadership Murtaugh has grown into. HE is a man of substance. But he has been Jamie's God Father since... forever... so I'd expect some of what we see in Jamie he learned by the example of both his father AND Murtagh. Next notable item on my list: ^^*THIS*^^ I don't get it yet—except that there is a tie-in with Brianna deciding to time travel—but I'll be watching for (hopefully) a little more from Jamie than just a hunky protector—who knows how to talk to women. (miraculous as that is) Then comes: I particularly enjoyed Miss Baird's description comparing Brianna to Ali MacGraw who starred in Love Story—a movie released in 1970. Although Ali's hair was black, it was styled in a way similar to Brianna's. Long and straight. So in that one reference we got the year Brianna went through the stones and a possible nod to her and Roger's relationship. Although, on second thought, I hope that is not the case because Ali's character dies at the end of the movie! ^^This.^^ Again! This stuff is frustrating. Not to mention Claire is not even using the veg that the human's discard... but fresh—practically right out of the market—produce. The farmers that I grew up around had a slop bucket by the stove for the pigs. Everything the humans didn't eat went in there. NOTHING resembled fresh vegetables! Still—I was able to enjoy most of the episode. I won't forgive them for Adawehi though. 🤬

IIRC Claire went to the cemetery where she thought Jamie would be buried. She believed he had died at Culloden. She knew where those men were buried and she finally went there to say her good-byes to him. I think that is why she never checked the burial plot at Lallybroch. Not to mention she was awash with memories while sitting on those stairs, and none of those memories were as mundane as visiting the family plot where she would have seen Brian, Ellen and Willie's graves. She was in Boston when Roger brought the news about Jamie being alive and running a print shop in Edinburgh wasn't she? Having said that, there is nothing to prevent anyone else (calling Roger!) from taking a meander through the Fraser family plot at Lallybroch. 😉

Sorry to @gingerella that I am so late posting. I viewed the episode when I said I would and then got caught up with an unexpected visit from old friends. I did like this episode for many of the same reasons already stated. A bit more focus on what it is like to exist in the wilds; Ian's reactions to this new adventure. I noted that Jamie was very cagey in that meeting. That particular reply could have more than one meaning but I suspect Jamie was relying on the fact the the Governor said it to HIM first when he offered Jamie land back in the first (?) episode. At the time Jamie pointed out there was a big fee legally attached to the offer and that is when that phrase was first uttered. So he was quoting the Governor which could be read as implying he was "on side". Usually I'd be right there with you, but I'd totally forgotten about him in this episode. I think because he was associated with "piracy" rather than inland pillaging. I completely get the unable-to-communicate-on-the-same-wavelength dilemma. I think it is a very human problem. Roger—unlike either Frank nor Jamie—is not confident that the woman he loves actually loves him back. A lot of that is tied up with his vision of what "being together" means and the words he chooses to convey that vision. We saw both Roger and Brianna wanting to be together but being unable to find a common language to express it. Brianna's pigheadedness results in exactly the same dilemma for her. 😆 I love this! Yet I assumed that phrase: "I'll speak to JQM's in the morning" told us he had to be relatively near by. Having said that, I think we've seen that taking half a day—or even a full day—to get from one inhabited place to another is just the time frames they operated in. Not just this! I appreciated that Claire didn't do something stupid AT ALL this episode. I'm going to have to mark that in a diary! It's a rare event. 💕💕 Completely Agree! 🦴 Here boy.... I was happy to see that—as I hoped—John Quincy Myer is a new important secondary character. Show had me on pins and needles with the severity of the injuries he appeared to sustain. Still, he bounced back PDQ. I'd like to see JQM teaching the rest of them important Cherokee phrases because 1) we already know that Jamie is fast at learning languages (magical even); but 2) both Ian and Claire are going to need to know how to communicate with them (Claire for gaining more "healer" knowledge and Ian for his implied amorous pursuits. 😉) Well. Somebody had to do the stupid thing! Jamie just lost the draw this time. That's how Claire came to end up looking so good this episode. 🤪 I was looking forward to seeing who Tantoo Cardinal was to portray. She is a well known Canadian actor—with a long resume. I can remember when she played much younger characters! (👵) Loved this character as soon as I saw her face. Glad they didn't make her a "baddy". Of course the trope of the inscrutable "seer/ healer" making vague and incomprehensible pronouncements ticked you off. I, too, wonder why they wasted the ink. But now I'm going to expect every character that I really like to die a horrible death because history demands it. That is one way Claire won't be "at fault". You are right about the fact that almost everybody associated with Claire and Jamie is in danger of meeting a terrible, violent end. That's why I think it's got to be a broader context being referred to. Bolded part #1: I'm with you that it means Brianna has decided to go to the past to find them. But as someone upthread pointed out: what a long route she'll have to take! Go to Scotland to get to the past and then use the old, slow, dangerous methods of crossing the Atlantic to get to North Carolina and then over the mountains to get to where Fraser's Ridge is located! Plus it's NOT the era for a young woman to be travelling alone!!! So, yes, Roger will have to go after her. Because he can and because he can't stop himself. I think you've got something with assuming Roger will share news of their future death so they can plan to use it as an escape. (might this be what the Cherokee healer/ seer was alluding to? It's possible that unexpected deaths could occur with this kind of plan.) Glad you talked yourself out of Jamie going to the future. I just can't—and don't want (at this point)—Jamie to go to the future. I've explained it before so I won't repeat myself. I can see that Claire might outlive Jamie because his body has endured a lot of physical abuse over his life. Those things come home to roost as you get older (OK, we know that Jamie is going to look like he 35 even when he is 75! Just start waving your hands about this now.). But Claire has avoided the worst health hazards endured by women in the 1700s by giving birth and raising Brianna in the future. I can see her outliving Jamie even though she's 5 years older. So your theory is possible.