SassAndSnacks

I'll take it. Mold is important, as Claire has reminded us. I heard the new song, too, and it was a hard no from me. I love him so much. The show could use more of him and should have incorporated him more in Season 3. My favorite part of this entire exchange was that it reminde me of Season 1's "The Watch". Jamie had killed Horrocks, the Watch was hanging around Lallybroch and looking for Horrocks. At breakfast, Jamie is confronted about killing him. Jamie casually sits back in his chair, butters his bannock, and is like "Yup, I killed him, and?" This scene with Knox had a very similar vibe. Jamie leans back in his chair and casually throws out the truth. Loved it.

Hooray! I thought of you as I watched the opening credits here. When they get to "billowing breeze, islands and seas..." Lump in my throat. This episode, more than any other we've had for a long time, showcases the feels between these two. The portrayal here was just a little different and more on point - longer glances, small smiles, open displays of affection - it felt a lot more like Season I, which appears to be a common thread through many of the comments on this episode. Similarly, some of the dialogue here was A+. I feel like it has been bordering on cheesy lately, but there were some major gems here from Jamie's snark at Roger to Fergus' "Congratulations, Milady. You work fast, Milord!" to Fergus and Lionel Brown discussing champagne. I didn't look back to see who wrote this episode, but I'm a fan. Bring it!! Clairsali all the way!

This is a really great point. Jamie already told him to cool his jets a bit. He's only ever been passionate about things centered around Jamie. Here's Jamie telling him that this time is different, and it'll all work out, but Murts is like "Nah...I've got a pot of boiling tar here that I don't want to waste." He's never gone against Jamie before. Why now?

I think I mentioned in the S5.1 thread that this house really bothers me. It is beautiful, but completely unrealistic for this stage in their lives on the Ridge. I know, I'm complaining about something being unrealistic in a show that is slightly about time travel. I'm not sure if I caught this the first time around, but I definitely noted this time that she smelled the rotting body. As a surgeon, she would have been familiar with that smell and it would have provoked her to go take a closer look. Not that Claire needs much provoking to be impulsive... Gross stuff aside, I did really like this one. Loved seeing Marsali starting to "get it" and take an active role in the healing of the Ridge. Loved seeing Roger Mac settle in with the group of men. Most of all, I really appreciated Jamie and Claire working together to help someone, which was so reminiscent of Season 1. They make a great team, and that's why I'm here. It was also touching to me that Jamie put the pieces together from his father's death, so at the end we have a further understanding of why he's so unsettled by what happened in the cabin. Added bonus, this one reminded me a lot of The Garrison Commander from Season 1, in that it was largely set in one location, full of tension, and well-acted.

As I watched this, I was thinking "Is that really OUR Murtaugh? Would OUR Murtaugh do this?" I initially felt like they'd butchered his character and it wasn't believable. But then, I remembered that he did cut off Sandringham's head, so yeah...I guess our Murtaugh could go this route. It's ok! I like folky music. The purity of the choir... It just gets to me. YES!! I need so much more of her. I find her so much more appealing than Bree. What caught my attention the most in this episode was Jamie trying to play both sides. In particular, I thought the non-verbal communication with the Scottish Regulator prisoners was really good, as though Jamie was willing them to understand and bide their time. Aside from that, this one dragged a bit for me.

Oh my goodness! Yes!!

This is my smiling face 😃 and so happy for Season 5. Ok. Stop right there. Stop. It. Right. There. Season 5's theme is my favorite of all of the seasons. The choir. THE CHOIR. It actually makes me weep. I wept! I hate the set design of this house. This is so unbelievable. In a show where I do a lot of hand-waving, even this is too far for me. And how much time has passed? Wee Jem is still a babe and they've built this massive house in a matter of months? Nope. I canna do it. YES! As I was watching, the word "Hokey" kept flashing in my brain like a neon sign. I did appreciate the flashback to J&C's nuptials, because chemistry. And then compare that to Bri and Rog at the alter and the complete lack of chemistry. The entire wedding itself felt very anachronistic, which I guess is ok, given that two people from the 1960s are getting married. Speaking of cringe, hated the music montage. Some context, this whole episode is a poorly done mash-up of some poorly written events in Book 5. Typically the show improves upon the poorly written elements, but not here. The actual fiery cross moment here makes absolutely no sense given how they set it up because they didn't give you all of the other information you need to go with it. Instead, you're left wondering why the f is he doing this? Things I Did Like Because I'm Not Always Grumpy: - I love Marsali. Please sign me up for more of her. The drinking game riddles were so fun, and if Covid ever ends, I'm hosting the biggest bonfire riddling drinking game since Bri and Rog's wedding. Everyone is invited. "How about a little Shakespeare?!" - Claire as a healer. I enjoy watching her in action, and I appreciate the people lined up to see her. - Germaine is a cutie.

Agree, and I feel like that is where a huge swath of this book belongs - in the LJG novellas.

Agree. They were an unexpected treat for me. I don't particularly care for them so much by themselves, but I really enjoyed them together. Wish there would have been more of that. YES! The ending was so..."Ok, now what? We're stopping here?!" It's like she closes her Word file and is like, ok, that's it for today. Here's the book. The plot twist was a little silly as it was and needed more development. And then they just suddenly receive with the deed and letter later? She just sort of threw that in at the end. YESSSSSSS!!!!! It's a tired plot point, and frankly, I don't think Jamie would stand for it. She could have cut out all of the Cunningham nonsense and made it about Ferguson's militia stirring up loyalists and burning out rebels. I'm going to try this one again in a few weeks, and maybe it will grow on me.

This is EXACTLY how I felt at this point. I mentioned to someone else that I felt like she tied in every plotline from every LJG book. I never read those, and I don't care about those stories. It really took me out of this book. This is really a perfect summation. I finished this one in the wee hours of this morning, and I have to say, I'm sad about it. - I'm sad that I've finished it. - I'm sad that we waited so long and this is what we got. - I'm sad that she is freaking all over the place with this story. Clearly, there is some really interesting underlying stuff going on here, particularly at the Ridge, and she just blows right through it to focus on people that IDGAF about. - I'm sad that she completely sidelined the heroine of this story, and more importantly, the actual STORY itself. - I'm sad that I feel depressed about the last 10% of this book, including that BS she tried to pull on us at 93% of the way through. I don't know. I think this was my least favorite of the series. I keep thinking, "That was it?"

Interestingly, and by some cosmic intervention, hubs and I saw this listed on Netflix last night, and we watched it. The beginning is super cringe cheesy. The action is ok. Overall, the movie is meh. Sam, while incredibly dreamy throughout, can do better and deserves better than this.

I think I saw that it has a different name in the US. A quick Google search tells me that it is called SAS: Rise of the Black Swan here. Also not a great name.

I'm so close! 71%! (Ok, so in Gabaldon terms that's not really that close.)

My favorite part of this is the announcement of a new show. I hope each episode has a longer run time than Season 1. My second favorite part of this is the giant piece of fuzz in Sam's hair. Reminds me of a loooooongggg Team's session I had for work, where I was sharing my screen and presenting and no one bothered to tell me that my headset made a piece of my hair stick straight out at the side, as though I was being impaled. The joy of virtual meetings. Glad to see celebs struggle with them, too.

I'm 35% of the way through and really liking it so far. I've laughed, cried, and gasped in surprise, and I still have so much more to read. The pacing of this one feels much more in line with ABOSAA and MOBY and is a huge improvement over Echo. Enjoy!

Mine downloaded to my Kindle at midnight. It was so exciting to wake up and see the alert in app that a new book was there. Excited to start on it tonight.

An Ian/Rollo spinoff is what the world needs right now. Admittedly, this area of my knowledge of history is fuzzy, but I do think that the Iroquois often "adopted" others into their communities and I don't think race, nationality, etc. was a factor. I may be confusing the Iroquois with another nation, but I believe they welcomed the Tuscarora into their communities when that population was dwindling, so I don't think it was completely out of the ordinary, but I do see your point. I always thought that was the importance of the gauntlet they made Roger and then Ian run - it was to prove their prowess or worthiness in joining the Mohawk. Roger didn't make it = he wasn't worthy or suited to join them. Ian made it so he was. 100% agree. The Jenny I ken would have flipped her freaking lid and hopped on the first boat out of Inverness to come to upstate NY and find her boy. Also, you mercifully didn't touch on this and I thank you for that, but I'll do it just for argument's sake. I hated the cheeseball ending of Brianna running to Roger. Gag-inducing. The really juvenile, blah writing of this season was specially highlighted in that one final scene of her running to him. Outlander Season 4 - bad wigs and bad writing. But at least we have Jotaugh (Murcasta?) to love and adore.

Pre-ordered my Kindle copy of this yesterday, and I'm so excited for the auto download at midnight on 11/23. Yay!

Oh my goodness. Am I hate watching now? Is this hate watching? I think it is both. But, the writers have improved upon poor book storylines before, so they could have/should have done that here, too. Ok, yes. You're right. I guess I'm not hate watching now, because I'm still looking forward to the next episode. Yes to both of these comments. At first, I was kind of like "I'm not going to judge the healing process of a rape victim because she needs to do what she needs to do." Her telling Bonnet that this is his baby makes zero sense for the reasons you pointed out, and it also diminishes Roger's role in this and that he could also be the father.

AGREEEEEEEEE!!! I profusely love your entire comment. The whole shebang. I'm here for Jamie and Claire and if you don't give me Jamie and Claire, then why am I here? Additionally, if you aren't going to give me Jamie and Claire, then freaking give me Ian. This episode had a whole lot of nothing in it for me. I hated it. Honestly, I struggle with every single Bri scene. I can't take it. I think it is one of the main struggles of the season, where they are departing large portions of the story from Jamie and Claire and focusing on other characters. I think that would be fine if the actors had the same chops and chemistry, but these folks do not. (Now Marsali and Fergus...different opinion there.) Some of these people look like they are trying SO hard, and it is painful to watch. Yes, this storyline is just flat-out stupid and embarrassing. It induces me to sobbing "WHY! WHY! WHY!" (insert Nancy Kerrigan voice) Rewatching this season further confirms for me why I never rewatch this season.

I'm enjoying the Jocasta/Bree exchanges as well, mostly because it shows that while Brianna has a lot of Fraser, she also has a whole lot of Mackenzie in her, too.

I spat my coffee!! YES! Absolutely. LOVE Lauren Lyle. She really makes Marsali for me. I loathed Marsali at first, too, but you could see even then there was a little something special about her. She is such a gem. I'm not a big interview-watcher, but during a recent procrastination session, I checked out a panel with the actors for Marsali, Fergus, and Young Ian. They were incredibly funny and charming. They need a reality show or a podcast or something. I need so much more of these three. He is the only thing that makes these scenes tolerable. I'm super fortunate to be one-half of a hugely supportive, loving marriage, but even we get off-kilter. I thought the portrayal of this was spot on. Sometimes, when you are angry or frustrated or even just trying to sort out a situation with your partner, it can be so hard to simply break the silence. And the longer the silence goes on, the harder it is to break for so many reasons - you don't want to hurt their feelings, you want to be sure you are being reasonable, it doesn't matter anymore. In what was a relatively weak episode, those long looks J&C were giving each other felt so familiar and real. When this show gets things right, it gets them very right.

Breaking the No Book Talk rules here, but both the time travel and the culture shock are covered in much more detail in the source material. Both are annoyingly glossed over in the show.

Yes, you writing out the dialogue is so helpful in processing these feelings (my feelings, that is). I agree that Jamie now has the great benefit of time to heal him, and not only just time, but the reunion with Claire and now his daughter. I do think Jamie was relieved to have killed BJR. Devastating as Culloden was to Jamie...ending the clans, his way of life, death of his men, etc...the worst loss that day was Claire, and I think that was the main agony he felt. Ugh, yes. This was so awkward. I'm guessing maybe it was her delivery, because I don't necessarily disagree with the words, per se, but it potency of it didn't feel right.

Apologies in advance - I struggle to get behind the Brianna+Roger = One True Love. It's all a little "meh" for me. I watch it/read it but only to get to the next part of the story. I am loving the chemistry between these two. Hear hear!! This perfectly encapsulates the nonsense.