S01.E02: Castle Leoch

[Athena]

Claire is taken to meet the Laird and befriends the mysterious Geillis Duncan; the clan decides to keep Claire as a prisoner after they learn of her medical skills.

 

Please remember there is a speculation topic and book topics for speculation too. No book talk in episode topics please.

[ihartcoffee]

So excited! Can't wait for tonight's show.

[WatchrTina]

Well, I've watched once.  I'm going to watch again with closed captions on.  But right now I'm really pissed at Dougal & Colum and I think Mrs. Fitz is kind of creepy.

[SonofaBiscuit]

Poor Jamie.  As if seeing his sister half-naked wasn't bad enough, then he had to be punished by flogging as well.  Poor guy can't catch a break.

 

Jamie's got it bad for Claire.  Two seconds after finding out that her husband is dead, he's trying to put the moves on her.  I am hoping that he keeps getting injured, though, so we can have scenes of Claire tending to his wounds in every episode.

 

I like Geillis and I'm glad that she was there to translate the Gaelic for us.  That scene would have been a difficult one to figure out what was going on, I think.

 

SO much happened in this episode.  Man, that hour went by fast.

[JennyMominFL]

Well, I've watched once.  I'm going to watch again with closed captions on.  But right now I'm really pissed at Dougal & Colum and I think Mrs. Fitz is kind of creepy.

I was waiting for her to unzip her head and show her alien self

Points to anyone who gets the reference.

I actually had a conversation with the actress in Feb. I liked that more than episode one. Love the flash forwards.

Edited August 17, 2014 by JennyMominFL

[Fuzzy Logic]

This episode worked better for me than the last, likely because the narration was less intrusive.  Still, though...the creators presumably hired Caitriona Balfe because they think she can handle the demands of the part.  Why then must we hear how much Claire likes hanging out with the plants?  Let Claire's face tell us that.  Use more of Frank's flashback instruction, as in the scene where Claire is being questioned at dinner.  That was a clever way to give us a window into Claire's thoughts without the maddening commentary.  My hope is that the commentary can be done away with in its entirety, the sooner the better.

[Petunia846]

I was a little shocked to see *ahem* so much of Jenny, but other than that I thought they worked in flashbacks and flashforwards very well.

 

Jamie is crazy hot and funny and sensitive? If you weren't sold on him in the first episode you will be now.

 

So is Claire locked in the basement surgery? Does she have to sleep there?

 

I agree, Mrs. Fitz is pretty out there.

[SanLynn]

Since I started seeing trailers I always wondered how they'd fit the "Frank finds the abandoned car" clip into the narrative of the series. Well played Outlander.

 

I thought the flashbacks and flash forwards worked extraordinarily well. And the narration seemed less intrusive for the most part.

 

For all that it seemed like not much happened this episode a lot happened this episode and I was very disappointed to see the hour end. It goes by so fast!

 

And Jamie, especially in the scene with them eating lunch and him recounting his first meeting with the dastardly Capt. Jack Black, really began to come to his own as a character.

 

I think I liked this more than episode 1. And I really liked episode 1. Hope they let Claire out of the surgery for dinner!

 

Agreed on Mrs Fitz. I'm not sure about her.

Edited August 17, 2014 by SanLynn

[Enigma X]

I liked this episode way more then episode one, and I did like episode one.

 

Flashbacks were integrated seamlessly, I thought.

 

One thing that I did not care for is the Colum's legs. I know they are supposed to look twisted but they look phony to me.

 

Jamie is red hot.

[Nidratime]

I am so loving this show! (Sorry, will get back to you with more detailed commentary, but I must say I loved how they incorporated 1940's music into Claire's time travel to the past. I can imagine my own cultural references would intrude onto any time traveling I did.) By the way, knowing that Geilis knew something about "medicine" -- i.e., aborting unwanted pregnancies -- you'd think the clan would've latched onto her as a healer. Why Claire and not Geillis?

Edited August 17, 2014 by Nidratime

[GenieinTX]

Oh my.  Gorgeous, Sweet, Funny, Perfect Jamie.  Young Jamie.  ::sigh::    Yeah, he took the beating for the girl to save her the shame and embarassment, but I he totally also did it to get Claire to doctor him again.   I cringed watching Black Jack flog him and enjoy it.  That was painful to watch, I had to avert my eyes. 

 

I didn't like Collum's legs either, they looked too CGI. 

[WatchrTina]

 

So is Claire locked in the basement surgery? Does she have to sleep there?

I'm fairly certain she's not locked in.  They'll just continue to watch her.  Without the tinker to guide her and his wagon to ride in, where could she go?

 

Well, I rather liked Geillis and that came as a surprise.  Her narration of the "Hall" conversations was great.  And I can see how Claire and Jamie will be drawn together through shared adversity.  Neither is in the good graces of the brothers MacKenzie.  Did you pick up on that line about Dougal not wanting Jamie within the castle walls?  And then that extended beating -- when Angus punched him in the shoulder I just cringed.  I'm pretty sure Angus was on the road with them in episode 101 so he saw the dislocated joint and knew about the gunshot.  That was brutal!  He didn't look like he wanted to do it, but he did it.

 

I'm glad that Rupert, Murtaugh and Angus have all been named now -- easier to keep them straight when we talk about them.

 

Can I just brag that I called it last week on Claire explaining her odd undergarments away as being "French."  That was NOT in the book -- I just guessed right.

 

It's interesting to me how different Sam looks from scene to scene.  In the paddock scenes he could totally pass for early 20s.  His cock-sure attitude in the Hall likewise came across as youthful cockiness (at first).  But the man in front of the fireplace, whose wounds Claire dressed -- he seemed much more mature.  That makes perfect sense given the dark story he was telling.  And yet Jamie's sense of humor still came through.

 

So . . . am I the only one who though Colum's accent sounded odd?  Is the actor a Scot?  I could swear his accent drifted into something rather Slavic at times -- like he was channeling Count Dracula.

Edited August 17, 2014 by WatchrTina

[Door]

I am so loving this show! (Sorry, will get back to you with more detailed commentary, but I must say I loved how they incorporated 1940's music into Claire's time travel to the past. I can imagine my own cultural references would intrude onto any time traveling I did.) By the way, knowing that Geilis knew something about "medicine" -- i.e., aborting unwanted pregnancies -- you'd think the clan would've latched onto her as a healer. Why Claire and not Geillis?

 

I assume Geillis' reputation for witchcraft is what keeps her from being the healer. Knowledge of abortificants wasn't exactly well-regarded in those days. Claire, with her proven knowledge of "useful" medicine would be a good choice. And making her a healer assures that people will always be seeking her out, which will greatly impede her spy career. lol. 

 

I, too, was thrown by the CGI legs. They appear too twisted and thin at the ankle to support any weight. Seems if Colum's legs were to that point, he wouldn't be walking around at all. That said, I'm no medical doctor. Hell, I'm not even a witch. :)

 

Aww, why all the Mrs. Fitz hate? I loved her mother-hen attitude.

 

And Jamie... Jamie. We got to see more of his humor this episode AND more of his physique. Win all around!

[WatchrTina]

 

I assume Geillis' reputation for witchcraft is what keeps her from being the healer.

Also Geillis lives in the village and probably has the tending of all the people there, to the extent that she dispenses herb-lore.  Castle Leoch has a large number of people in it so it would be helpful to have a skilled healer on-site.  And Claire's healing skills (to the extent that they have been seen ) are of the more physical kind -- adjusting Jamie's shoulder and bandaging wounds.  In other words, Claire is more of a trauma specialist than an herbalist.  

 

Speaking of trauma -- do we think someone (Sam's stunt double maybe?) was actually beaten on camera or was that some very good CGI magic, making those welts rise up on that back when Black Jack was caning Jamie?

Edited August 17, 2014 by WatchrTina

[ganesh]

Use more of Frank's flashback instruction, as in the scene where Claire is being questioned at dinner.

 

I don't need the show to show me a letter dated 1743 and then have her say, "It's 1743." If you feel the need to say something, then just start with "decades before the Revolutionary War, with a Hannover on the throne. But which one?" I mean, come on. I kind of get you need some v/o because she is isolated and who is she going to say, "I wonder if her found the car yet?" 

 

The flashback instruction is a much better device.

 

So is Claire locked in the basement surgery? Does she have to sleep there?

I'm fairly certain she's not locked in.  They'll just continue to watch her.  Without the tinker to guide her and his wagon to ride in, where could she go?

 

The door also opened into the room, so they'd have to post a guard there to keep her in, and that probably wouldn't be good. Where indeed could she go? As far as the village? Her only goal is to get back to the stones and she can't do that alone. If she went anywhere, no doubt she'd be seen.

 

Sorry, but when they showed the table and Claire looked at it I was hoping for a v/o about her missing her missed undergarments. 

 

Claire, with her proven knowledge of "useful" medicine would be a good choice.

 

And reliable since the men saw her work effectively in the field. 

 

I had some good laughs in this one. Just because Claire was so hot headed at times. 

[WatchrTina]

 

I had some good laughs in this one. Just because Claire was so hot headed at times.

I laughed a bit at Jamie's resistance to Claire's insistence on cleaning his wounds when they get to Leoch (you can tell he just wants to go get some sleep) and the bit of an eye roll he gives when Claire announces she's going to strap down his arm.

Edited August 17, 2014 by WatchrTina

[magdalene]

I don't understand why they were so mean to Jamie and made the beating he took for the girl so much more nasty than it had to be. I thought the man who punched him in his bad shoulder was his friend. With friends like these who needs enemies.

 

I took an instant liking to Cillis (spelling?) The actress is so beautiful and I remember her fondly from The Borgias.

[WatchrTina]

 

I don't understand why they were so mean to Jamie

I don't think we're supposed to understand it yet.  Even Jamie seems surprised, though I'm sure he has a inkling of why they did it.  But we heard a hint at the dinner scene when Dougal tells Colum that he sent Jamie to work in the stables since they would not want him living within the castle walls  And Jamie tells Claire that Dougal and Colum are his uncles.  So why are they so hostile?  As Murtaugh says to Jamie, they're "up to something."

[ganesh]

I took an instant liking to Cillis (spelling?) The actress is so beautiful and I remember her fondly from The Borgias.

 

Giulia Farnese! I'm saying how the Pope did. 

 

I don't understand why they were so mean to Jamie and made the beating he took for the girl so much more nasty than it had to be.

 

I think there was something going on with he and Dougal too. Because his friend who was punching him was surprised Dougal told him to do it again once blood was drawn. Uh, Dougal = bald guy with the thick beard, right?

 

Upon reflection, I like that there aren't any subtitles when it's from Claire's pov. I'm enjoying figuring out what's going on. 

 

It's different. It's like TPTBs for the show, oh, what's the word? *respects* the audience. 

[Ariah]

Good second episode. I enjoyed all Claire's fish-out-of-temporal water moments and her blunders ("Hello, Hamish, how's your father!" "Widow from Oxfordshire... family in France... Actually never been there... What was the question again?...").

 

I'm glad Claire's got her faults and that she broke down in the beginning, thinking of Frank. She's human. Naturally, she's also showing off too much of her modern attitude, like with her talk with Dougal. Women of the time were not as outspoken, unless they were Ms Fitz's age.

 

I liked Gellis, witchy-witch. She kind of revels in the air of mystery ad she enjoys every moment of it. Looking forward to more of her scenes in the future episodes.

[RachelKM]

Aww, why all the Mrs. Fitz hate? I loved her mother-hen attitude.

Because Slitheen are scary.  Seriously, i don't think there has been any reason within the show to find her creepy.  Sometimes stuff just gets stuck in your head. 

 

Claire was a bit careless with the interrogation from the start.  She gave Beauchamp as her married name then spoke of it as her own family name (which it is). It would have been her husband's family who chose the pronunciation and she would have a reason not to know why they used the English.  Assuming it was intentional with the plying with alcohol bit, it was clever.  But it seemed she made the mistake rather early in the conversation when she would not have been so drunk. 

[Petunia846]

I for one didn't really like the way Mrs. Fitz greeted Claire when she first saw her in the courtyard. It was very suspicious and stiff. Then the way she was screaming or whatever when she woke up Claire in the evening to get dressed was just an odd tone of voice. Then of course there was the preview for next week, but I won't get into that.

 

One thing I remembered over night that I really loved was Claire humming that song about the rabbit to herself while she was getting dressed, the one that was playing during her last scene with Frank in the previous episode. I thought that was a nice touch. I've lived in foreign places alone, by myself, and even when you've immersed yourself in your surroundings and are feeling very much like a native, random little things like that will pop in your head from time to time. It just made me smile.

[Pestilentia]

I'm thinking that Colum's CGI legs were exaggerated so that non-bookies would see the full extent of his disability.

Anvilicious to be sure but I understand why they did it.

[SuzWhat]

@WatchrTina - I read somewhere (wish I could cite source, but can't remember) that during the Cold War Scotsman were recruited to pose as Russians as it was easy for them to fake accent as a Scottish accent is supposed to sound like a Russian accent. Something in how certain sounds (Rs, other) sounds.

I keep listening for it during these shows as I remember doubting it when I read it. It is interesting that you picked up on it. You must have a better ear than me.

[peacefrog]

I thought this episode was so much better than the first!

I am in love with those arm warmer things!

[Constantinople]

I don't need the show to show me a letter dated 1743 and then have her say, "It's 1743." If you feel the need to say something, then just start with "decades before the Revolutionary War, with a Hannover on the throne. But which one?"

I don't know why Claire felt the need to name the specific king. Why not just say the soldiers of the King?

Or given that the first 4 Hanoverian kings were conveniently named George I, George II, George III and George IV, why not just say the soldiers of King George? Did she really think they would quiz her on which George was sitting on the throne?

 

 

Claire was a bit careless with the interrogation from the start.  She gave Beauchamp as her married name then spoke of it as her own family name (which it is). It would have been her husband's family who chose the pronunciation and she would have a reason not to know why they used the English.  Assuming it was intentional with the plying with alcohol bit, it was clever.  But it seemed she made the mistake rather early in the conversation when she would not have been so drunk.

I was a little puzzled about why Claire would be expected to know why her family -- her own or her husband's -- changed the pronunciation of their name. Was Colum suggesting that her family was French Huguenot, and thus relatively recent arrivals to England, and thus Claire might know, and might be expected to know how her relatives were?

As a result of the Norman Conquest, there would be a number of people in England with Anglicized "French" names, who would have no idea from where their French ancestors came. Beauchamp, pronounced Beachem, goes back for centuries, even relative to 1743. See, for example, the story of Kibworth, including the village of Kibworth Beauchamp (pronounced Beachem) in the program Michael Woods Story of England. Not that Claire would know about Kibworth Beauchamp, but the idea of an English pronunciation of a French name isn't new, even in 1743.

[absnow54]

As a result of the Norman Conquest, there would be a number of people in England with Anglicized "French" names, who would have no idea from where their French ancestors came. Beauchamp, pronounced Beachem, goes back for centuries, even relative to 1743. See, for example, the story of Kibworth, including the village of Kibworth Beauchamp (pronounced Beachem) in the program Michael Woods Story of England. Not that Claire would know about Kibworth Beauchamp, but the idea of an English pronunciation of a French name isn't new, even in 1743.

I think they were trying to work out where her loyalties lie. Someone with a French last name pronounced the English way is probably far more English than they are French, so if you're in the midst of a rebellion where the French are your friends and the English are your enemies, and an English woman who comes off as super English is all "er, I'm totes with the French, haven't you heard my last name? Please let me go back to Iverness where you ran into a bunch of hostile Red Coats... er, I mean so I can get to France..." you'd probably be asking a lot of questions to trip them up and get the truth out of them.  Which they did... sort of.

Edited August 17, 2014 by absnow54

[nodorothyparker]

I don't know why Claire felt the need to name the specific king. Why not just say the soldiers of the King?

 

Or given that the first 4 Hanoverian kings were conveniently named George I, George II, George III and George IV, why not just say the soldiers of King George? Did she really think they would quiz her on which George was sitting on the throne?

 

Yeah, there was that. It was also a total giveaway that this was made primarily for American audiences with her offhand "decades before the American revolution" comment despite the fact that there are no American characters in the story at this point and it would have had nothing to do with Scottish-English politics at the time.  Because we apparently have no concept of anything that happened in Britain at this time despite so many of our ancestors coming from there.

[ihartcoffee]

I'm thinking that Colum's CGI legs were exaggerated so that non-bookies would see the full extent of his disability.

Anvilicious to be sure but I understand why they did it.

He was reminding me of the half goat character in the animated Hercules (played by Danny Devito).  I also get that they want it to be obvious.

[maraleia]

I'm still trying to figure out all of the secondary male characters as well. What struck me the most in this episode was Claire getting used to the clothes. I can't imagine having to wear a corset and all those layers.

Lotte Verbeek is doing fantastic work as Geillis. So different from the way she portrayed Giulia Farnese. I'm going to like her a lot.

I do hope that the narration is a little less heavy handed as time goes on though.

 

I was waiting for her to unzip her head and show her alien self

Points to anyone who gets the reference.

I actually had a conversation with the actress in Feb. I liked that more than episode one. Love the flash forwards.

 

So cool and until you mentioned this upthread I had forgotten that the actress was in Doctor Who. I agree that Slitheen are scary.

[ganesh]

I don't know why Claire felt the need to name the specific king. Why not just say the soldiers of the King?

 

My only guess was that she was presenting herself as a Lady and that's what a Lady would say.

 

I don't mind that Claire fucked up the whole interrogation. They clearly showed a lot of wine being poured, so it could have hit her harder than she thought. Plus, she's got to be super freaked out about somehow *traveling through time*. Not everyone is James Bond under pressure. And at the end of the scene, she admit she fucked up and they got the better of her. She doesn't seem one to hold her tongue, so I'm wondering if this a character trait that's being shown which will keep biting her dealings at the castle. 

 

The cutting to the scene with Frank explaining the techniques made this overall a very good scene. Basically, this led the lord to keep her there. So, it's her own fault. Given the circumstances though, they effectively cornered her and other than telling the *lord of the castle* to stfu, there wasn't much she could do. I think she figured the lord bought her story earlier when they were talking one on one and it didn't occur to her until too late that they were still suspicious. 

 

I didn't have a problem with any of it. I'm still shocked how good this show is after 2 episodes. The summer shows have been pretty shitty this year. I have a huge peeve about world building, and I'm amazed, even without the v/o, how real this world is. Then again, the starz shows have all been pretty unique, but really fully formed. 

[WatchrTina]

When Jamie is volunteering to take the beating for Laoghaire, did anyone else hear him say "Haggis!" twice?  The way he said it, it made me think that calling something haggis in Gaelic is like saying "rubbish!" in British English.  Or "Codswallop" if you're Hagrid in Harry Potter.

 

Then again, I thought Scots like haggis.

[Ariah]

When Jamie is volunteering to take the beating for Laoghaire, did anyone else hear him say "Haggis!" twice?  The way he said it, it made me think that calling something haggis in Gaelic is like saying "rubbish!" in British English.  Or "Codswallop" if you're Hagrid in Harry Potter.

 

Then again, I thought Scots like haggis.

I also heard him say "hooooor", but that may be because I'm listening for that particular pronunciation of this little gem.

[Jamoche]

In its second episode, Outlander continues to impress. But how does it stack up against the only other time-travel story ever told?

http://previously.tv/outlander/bagpipes-to-the-future/"> Read the story

Typo in the article: "Is it Jamie or Frank who will be Claire's density?"

 

 

(And yes, that is the gold standard of accidental time travel story against which all others must be compared. :) )

[CatMack]

 

I don't need the show to show me a letter dated 1743 and then have her say, "It's 1743."

 

You may not, but viewers with visual or reading impairments probably appreciate that pretty important detail being made clear.  In general I thought the voiceovers were better this episode.  There were still a few spots where they probably weren't necessary, but I have a pretty high tolerance for voiceovers, being a Veronica Mars fan (granted, that was noir, a genre that lends itself to voiceover, but still). 

 

I instantly adored Geillis, whereas I was pretty indifferent to her in the book.  The actress just brought her to life in a very amusing and slightly unsettling way. 

 

Dear god the sexual tension is killing me already.  I'm so glad they succeeded in bringing out Jamie's sense of humor.  Sam's delivery of certain lines just slayed me. 

[ganesh]

Excepting the saying of "1743," She said, "decades before the Revolution, and King George II on the throne." It seemed fairly well covered. Even if we didn't know explicitly what year it is by looking at the screen, it seems that the Revolution comment was inserted for that purpose as well. It's a minor nit. 

[Pestilentia]

Excepting the saying of "1743," She said, "decades before the Revolution, and King George II on the throne." It seemed fairly well covered. Even if we didn't know explicitly what year it is by looking at the screen, it seems that the Revolution comment was inserted for that purpose as well. It's a minor nit. 

Still, I'd just about guarantee that there exist people who came away from this episode (or the first two even) asking "so what year does this take place?"

People don't pay attention anymore. They watch TV while web surfing, reading, putting kids to bed, talking, etc.

Not everyone hangs on every word and expression like we do!! So the shows have to beat us to death with relevant facts.

I just shake my head to myself and move on.

Especially as Mr. Pestilentia will likely ask me the same thing when he gets his viewing later tonight.

As he has not read the books I tend to try and view it through his eyes to try and see what JQP sees, and I can tell you they miss a lot.

[attica]

One of my mom's best friends was nicknamed by us kids as McTavish, so it makes me smile every time I hear Jamie called with that name.

 

Gary Lewis, the actor playing Colum, was Billy Elliot's dad. He's Scottish, but I know I'm used to hear him doing various Northern England accents. (I had to look him up to check.)  

[ihartcoffee]

You may not, but viewers with visual or reading impairments probably appreciate that pretty important detail being made clear.  In general I thought the voiceovers were better this episode.  There were still a few spots where they probably weren't necessary, but I have a pretty high tolerance for voiceovers, being a Veronica Mars fan (granted, that was noir, a genre that lends itself to voiceover, but still). 

 

I instantly adored Geillis, whereas I was pretty indifferent to her in the book.  The actress just brought her to life in a very amusing and slightly unsettling way. 

 

Dear god the sexual tension is killing me already.  I'm so glad they succeeded in bringing out Jamie's sense of humor.  Sam's delivery of certain lines just slayed me. 

 

I appreciate anything they do to make the show easier to follow, so the voice overs don't bother me.  

 

I love the actress portraying Geillis, loved her in the Borgias.  She has the right look for the role. 

 

The sexual tension is killing me too, just kiss all ready!!!  lol

[HistoryGirl]

Did I miss what happened to Jamie's sister after he was flogged?  Did she survive?  Was she raped by Black Jack? 

 

As soon as Jamie revealed that she was his sister I did a face/palm and was immediately thinking that he should've said it was his wife or the wife of someone else. 

[Athena]

This show is incredibly well made all around. I love the music, cinematography, costumes, set design, locations, and casting. The first half went by very quick for me.

 

Lotte Verbeek, Giulia Farnese from The Borgias, is another great addition to this cast. She was known in that show as the most beautiful woman in Rome, and she is a knockout on here too. She has the kind of old world beauty that I don't think people appreciate anymore. Knowing that is Dutch, I wasn't completely convinced by her accent, but she is still a great presence. Witchy looking woman indeed.

 

The scene where Mrs Fitz dresses Claire is rather nice too. Claire is hot headed, but in that moment, she was shy and had to helped into the 18th century outfit. I always like that kind of detailing in historical dramas. In the study scene, they shot it so her face gets the full light. Caitriona is lovely.

 

Jamie, on the other hand, is really doing the hot male lead thing. Sam Heugan is really making the role his own. All the moments between Claire and Jamie are just right. I love this slow burn of their chemistry. It's not surprising at all why either of them would be attracted to each other. 

 

I'm falling in love with this show. Darn. 

 

Did I miss what happened to Jamie's sister after he was flogged?  Did she survive?  Was she raped by Black Jack? 

 

As soon as Jamie revealed that she was his sister I did a face/palm and was immediately thinking that he should've said it was his wife or the wife of someone else. 

 

Jamie said she did go with Randall so yes, she was raped because she was coerced out of fear of her brother's life. I think she survived because I think Jamie would have been a lot more angry or revengey if that happened. 

 

I don't know if saying she was his wife would have made anything better. Randall is a despicable human being. It's actually jarring switching between scenes with him and then back to "Flashforwards"/"Flashbacks" of Frank. 

[bluebonnet]

The cinematography is so beautiful it makes me want to cry.  I really wasn't expecting this show to have been anything more than some substandard bodice ripper.  I thought this because those I know who have read the books portrayed it as such.  I didn't realize how much I was missing out until I saw the pilot and then decided I needed to at least read a summary of what the books and show were about.

 

The dialogue and quality of acting far surpasses another great genre show, Game of Thrones.  I'm not all that fond of the voiceover, but as someone only vaguely familiar with the time period, it is nice to be reminded of other events that happened or were to happen so that I can connect things I already know about the time period and find myself easier immersed in Claire's world.  Though I do hope the voiceovers become less frequent over time.  The actors are so great and the flashbacks so well done that once the world is firmly established, the voiceovers will only serve to weaken the show.  

 

I think my favorite part of this episode was the undressing and redressing.  The nudity didn't feel gratuitous at all.  It seemed more designed to make the audience feel a bit of what Claire was feeling - fear and vulnerability - rather than just a bit of titilation.   Then the whole process of the undressing and dressing was so well done.  Takes only minutes to remove 1940s clothing, much like it took little time to place her hand on that rock and get sucked through time and then a long process to building the layers of 1740s clothing, which sort of paints the picture that her time there will be lengthy and take a while for her to build herself into a person who isn't in constant danger.  

 

Anyway, damn, such a lovely show.  

[peacefrog]

Just watched again and boy the lighting is gorgeous! Claire on top of the castle wall looking down into the courtyard is stunning.

The costumes are outstanding. How pretty was that velvet dress Claire wore with the fur cape-neck thingy?

I love how every time Jamie says "Randall" she gives a start, it's subtle but there.

[attica]

How pretty was that velvet dress Claire wore with the fur cape-neck thingy?

 

If I owned such a thing, I'd instantly move somewhere cold so I'd never want to take it off. Covet!

[Glaze Crazy]

This was a good episode.  I liked the scenery, Scotland in fall colors is beautiful.  I liked the bit of intrigue between the MacKenzie brothers and between each of them and Claire.  Jamie steps up and gallantly tries to save 3 different women, in 3 different situations, in one episode.  I'm glad they focused a bit on Gellis and her growing friendship with Claire, she needs an ally.  I like the flashbacks to Frank, both the ones we've seen and the different ones to give some background to Claire's strategy in how to navigate her current situation.  Despite that suspicious preview scene, I think they are doing a great job bringing this to the screen.

Edited August 17, 2014 by Glaze Crazy

[Petunia846]

Does anyone know how to get to Ron Moore's podcast for this episode? Or has it not come out yet? Someone linked to the last one here and it just popped up as something to download, so I didn't get a website to bookmark. Can't find it on iTunes either.

[WatchrTina]

@Petunia846 I just tweeted @Outlander_Starz reminding them to post it (I'm sure they'll get right on it, right?)  I really enjoyed the last one and am looking forward to hearing it each week.  You can find the last one on the Starz Outlander website at the very bottom under Extras.  Last week's is anchored with an image of Ron and the words "A Chat With Ron Moore."  But it hasn't been updated as of my typing this.

[CatMack]

Don't know about Ron's podcast, but Bear McCreary is doing weekly blog posts about the music, for anyone like me who is obsessed with his work. 

[Door]

Because Slitheen are scary.  Seriously, i don't think there has been any reason within the show to find her creepy.  Sometimes stuff just gets stuck in your head. 

 

OHMYGOSH. That explains everything! Thank you - I was wondering why I found Mrs. Fitz so familiar. Everything leads back to Doctor Who. :)

 

 

Typo in the article: "Is it Jamie or Frank who will be Claire's density?"

 

 

(And yes, that is the gold standard of accidental time travel story against which all others must be compared. :) )

 

That isn't a typo, that's a reference to a George McFly malapropism in BttF, I believe! Unless you mean some other typo, in which case I humbly apologize. 

 

I watched the episode again today and just love the attention to detail. I, too, thought I heard Jamie say "haggis" a few times while negotiating the punishment. Maybe there is a Gaelic word for fighting or bravery that SOUNDS like haggis? Maybe Jamie and YoungBeard were only planning to meet up after the beating to hug it out over haggis. 

Edited August 17, 2014 by Door

[WatchrTina]

So I've been trying to figure out why Mrs. Fitz creeped me out.  It's wasn't the Doctor Who connection -- it had to do with the way she was directed in her first scene (or how she chose to play it.)  I just didn't get it.  She stares at Claire like she's seeing an apparition, almost like she's scared of her.  Why would she be scared?

 

Later on she warms up.  It's nice when she tells Claire that "Everyone calls me Mrs. Fitz.  You may do the same."  The "even though you are a sassenach" is implied but I liked it.  And of course she's totally a fan of Claire's by the final scene.  But that first scene plays weird to me.  

 

I've tried to fan-wank my way around it by supposing that she must initially think that Claire is a whore (who else would be traipsing around with a bunch of men in naught but her shift -- and a dirty torn one at that?)  And then Jamie introduces her and her name is clearly English (shock number two).  Then she reveals herself to have healing skills, which you don't typically find in a whore, English or no.  So I'm going to chalk up Mrs. Fitz' weird demeanor in that first scene to her profound confusion as to who Claire is.  But I still think it's a false note in an otherwise terrific episode.