Despite some emotional moments, odd pacing and occasional lack of development make Outlander’s “The Surrender” hit or miss

When we return to Outlander we’re with Jamie in the 18th century. Though he’s got family all around him they’re getting harassed by some loser Scotsman named MacGregor working for the redcoats and Jamie (Sam Heughan) is living a half life. Still relentlessly pursued by the British, barely speaking and living in a cave in the woods, it’s pretty clear Jamie isn’t currently living his best life. So emo Jamie is all quiet and sad, and when Jenny goes into labor and he happens to be there, Fergus (Romann Berrux) and the other lads try to shoot a raven to ward evil away from the new baby. After an awkward brother-sister conversation about the last time Jamie got laid, redcoats swarm the house looking for the gun. Thank goodness for a quick thinking Mary McNab (Emma Campbell-Jones). The family pseudo-servant gives them a “my bad” for the gun and saves the day.

RELATED | Outlander Review 3×01 “The Battle Joined”

Incensed by the vile behavior of the redcoats, Fergus goes full brat and taunts the redcoats. Apparently MacGregor is wound pretty tight because that is all it takes for him to lop Fergus’ hand right off. But that does lead to a touching scene between Jamie and Fergus which snaps Jamie out of his stupor and he comes up with a plan for his sister Jenny (Laura Donnelly) to turn him into the redcoats for some reward money. But not before Mary McNab gives him a shave and a haircut (and two of her bits!). The next day Jamie arrives at Lallybroch and gets arrested as planned.
As for Claire (Caitriona Balfe), she’s back in Boston having sexy thoughts about Jamie while she has some “alone time”, right in bed next to her current husband. The next time Claire can’t take being alone, and she wakes up Frank (Tobias Menzies) for the two of them to be together, but it’s pretty cold. We next see Frank and Claire when they have the wonderful (read: hideous) Millie Nelson and her husband Jerry over for dinner. They’re crude as all get out but at least it puts Claire in the mood, because she does a little striptease with her garters. But in the middle of their escapades Frank wants Claire to open her eyes and look at him. Unfortunately she can’t, and the moment is gone.
Claire’s life ambitions aren’t motherhood, cooking, and cleaning, so with more voiceover we know she goes to Harvard medical school. Frank’s tuition waiver must be super helpful. She’s the only lady and Joe Abernathy is the only black guy, so they’re obviously destined to be best friends. Back at home, Claire gets ready for bed and says goodnight to Frank and the camera pulls back to reveal separate beds Lucy and Ricky style. Bummer.
Time to consult the roundtablers!!!
Andee (@andeesings) – Writer for TV After Dark. Ginger, lover of all things nerdy, always up for a Renaissance Faire and a quick flight to anywhere.
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – I’m Jamie! I think I’m funny. I’ll probably need a lot of vodka to get through a season of Outlander.
Michelle (@mad_maxxie)- Unlikely fan girl. Co-Admin of The Rank and File. Loves a burrito.
Jenni (@freckledjenni)– Jenni has freckles and really likes Frank.
Christine (@SassenachSJ)- Co-Admin of “Sassenach Society of South Jersey” South Jersey Girl loving all things Outlander! #PlaidIsTheNewBlack
Dawn ( @7_polk)- Mom of 3 men, wife, habitual volunteer, WCCUSA Ambassador, JDRF supporter, Medical Office Manager & Outlander Addict books & series
Kyra (@emrld_eyes76)- Fan of the show and books, more so the books. Special love for Jamie Fraser. Armchair critic.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

1. Jamie has a… new look this episode. What are your thoughts on his mountain man chic styling?

Andee (@andeesings): This was a poor choice. And then to have the soldier explain that he wore the hat to cover his hair made me actually facepalm myself. Hard pass on the long hair that was in no way hidden by anything.

Jamie (@jamiesrule): I don’t think there are enough eyeroll gifs out there to describe how I feel about Jamie’s look in Surrender. What the pumpkin spiced f*ck is happening here?! He’s supposed to be hiding and be inconspicuous! But no, we got a mix of Cousin It and Merida from Brave. Captain Lewis literally mentions how Jamie’s hat covers his “distinct red hair.” I barely noticed the hat because of all the freaking hair! The only reason I can think of as to why they decided to give Jamie all that hair was to show the audience that a lot of time has passed and because they constantly dumb sh*t down. Jenny says he has been gone for 6 years, a few different times, but I guess that wasn’t good enough. One of the worst hair decisions they’ve made on the show and that includes Jamie’s pube beard from Faith in season 2.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): When I first saw Jamie with all of the hair and all of that beard, I immediately thought “Wow! Jamie has a… new look this episode.” What are your thoughts on his mountain man chic styling?! He’s definitely not “Jamie” anymore. He looks wild and unkempt..exactly as you would imagine someone living in a cave for 6 years would look. I was beyond thrilled that television Dunbonnet looked much better than the Dunbonnet we saw in print [in the first released image].

Jenni (@freckledjenni): He definitely looks like a man that crawled out of a cave. If I passed him on the street I’d assume he was homeless, lived in a cave or was trying to look like a claymation Santa.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): My first reaction was OMG I’m going to have to watch through my hands to get past that fake beard again. However after my initial cautious look between my fingers I was happy to admit Jamie’s rugged look with the long locks and beard fit perfectly him with hiding out in the woods and cave and looked au natural this time!!

Dawn ( @7_polk): Not my favorite Jamie look, but I understand why they went this way. Jamie is literally hidden under all that hair it not only serves to obscure our view of him, but also visually weighs him down. He appears to have the weight of the world on his shoulders, it must have been a heavy wig.

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): Yikes! The hair is ok, better than his wigs from prior seasons. But, I just can’t with that beard and cartoon villain mustache. I don’t blame Sam for saying it was uncomfortable, because it looks uncomfortable. But more importantly, the importance of the dunbonnet was to cover his bright red hair. Could Terry {Dresbach] and team not find a cap to actually cover all that hair???

[wp_ad_camp_2]

2. From pleasuring herself with her sleeping husband right next to her to the super aggressive way she indicates she wants sex with Frank, Claire seems to have gotten her sexual groove back. But are these sexcapades ultimately at the expense of her relationship?

Andee (@andeesings): It struck me that when Claire first propositions Frank for sex, when she says, “I want my husband back,” she might not even be talking about Frank. It’s really weird that Frank really liked Claire’s aggressiveness at first but ultimately realized that despite the satisfactory sex they weren’t really connecting at all. Was Claire trying or just satisfying her sexual self? Probably the latter.

Jamie (@jamiesrule): Claire believes that she will never see the love of her life and the father of her child ever again. She’s made a pretty big sacrifice for the sake of her child and Frank’s feelings, so I’m totally on board with her trying to find sexual satisfaction where she can. If that’s pleasuring herself while she’s in the same bed as a sleeping Frank or keeping her eyes closed so it’s easier to imagine Frank as Jamie, I’m okay with it and was happy to see a woman having sex the way SHE wants. Of course, this is all at the expense of her marriage to Frank, but so what. Frank knowingly took on the role of father to a child who isn’t his and that’s commendable, but he also agreed to stay in a marriage with a woman who he knew deep down would never love him the way she loves the man she left behind. Frank doesn’t get to have it all and neither does Claire, so he should be happy with what he can get.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): I mean, I’m glad Claire got her groove back but I really felt she was alienating her husband and really continued to live in her own world. I feel far more sympathetic for TV Frank then I did the book Frank. It must be as hard for Frank to live with a ghost as it is for Claire.

Jenni (@freckledjenni): She’s missing her red bearded love muffin and needs some lovin! But seriously I do think she’s trying but Frank knows she’s just trying & her heart is in the past with Jamie.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): Claire’s sexual groove is still there but it’s because of Jamie. Her comment, “I missed my husband” seems to be not because she missed having sex with Frank but because she missed the intimacy and passion with Jamie; her soulmate; her husband.

Dawn ( @7_polk): I think Claire is trying to get her sexual groove back. Who can blame her for trying? Claire’s sexuality has always been a huge part of her identity. I don’t think she actually ever does find it though. When she said, “I miss my husband” to me she meant Jamie and who could honestly blame her? (Did you see her memory of Jaime walking to the fireplace?) Well maybe Frank could blame her, poor Frank. Is Claire only keeping her eyes closed to visualize Jamie or is it also so she doesn’t visualize Black Jack? Let’s just say it certainly didn’t help their relationship.

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): Claire may have tried to get her sexual groove back but it’s not Frank she wants. When she says “I miss my husband”, I don’t think it’s Frank she’s referring to. And the second time, I think it was a reaction to seeing their neighbors basically making out at the dinner table. At the dinner table! And the way she had her eyes squeezed shut makes me think she really didn’t want to be there with him but had needs. I can’t believe that I’m even remotely about to defend Frank, but it was crazy for her to get defensive and angry at him for stopping. It was obvious from her face she wasn’t enjoying herself. I think that this thinking of Jamie while with Frank is the last straw. I wonder how many times that’s happened before this moment. And the twin beds were hilarious.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

3. Jenny seems awfully casual chatting about the lack of sex her brother is having. …That was awkward. And a lot was made of the talk that Jamie wasn’t really “present” with his family. This is especially true with his practically adopted son Fergus. What do you think about this phase of Jamie’s post-rising life? Did it look that difficult for him and his family? Did it seem like enough motivation for him to get Jenny to turn him in for the reward money?

Andee (@andeesings): I always talk about my sex life with my brother, he totally likes it (not at all). I mean Jenny is nosy but even this felt like a little too much. What I didn’t really get was that they didn’t seem hungry and Jenny actually seemed sincere when she asked Jamie to go over the books for the estate. Shouldn’t Jamie feel really superfluous, like nobody needs him, adding to his feelings of loneliness? I don’t blame Jenny for trying to break Jamie out of his funk, but surely there was another way.

Jamie (@jamiesrule): Jenny talking to Jamie about having sex and babies right after she’s given birth and while he’s holding wee Ian was a moment I could have done without. So f*cking awkward. Jamie looked absolutely miserable but him living in a cave that was bigger than my first studio apartment was the reason. He is heartbroken beyond repair at this point it doesn’t matter where he is physically, he’s in an emotional prison cell. There isn’t any place he can be that’s worse than where he’s living in his head. I don’t think they played up how Jenny and Ian may have been struggling financially enough for that to be what motivated Jamie the most to turn himself in. After poor Fergus had his hand cut off, I think that was it for Jamie. The harassment from the red coats wasn’t going to stop and Jamie turning himself will not stop that harassment all together but it’ll definitely help reduce the frequency of the visits.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): The casual conversation that Jenny and Jamie had about sex didn’t really seem to strike me as that odd since Jenny is pretty up front about a lot of things. I think in her own way, she’s just trying to make her brother whole again. He’s a shell of the man that he once was and I think seeing his adopted son in pain suffering the consequences of Red Jamie, that is when he decides that it is time for him to sacrifice himself for the sake of his family.
Jenni (@freckledjenni): I think Jenny forgot that the dude LIVES IN A CAVE! No sh*t he’s not that present. If I lived in a cave I’d be depressed too. Jenny turning in Jamie was a smart move. He can’t live like a caveman forever & he’s consistently putting Jenny & Ian’s family in danger. At least in prison he’ll get 3 hits & a cot… hopefully.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): Jamie’s post-rising life had to be so hard for him; however he seems to have given up on the family he has in the present. His motivation for giving himself up to the Redcoats was out of fear of seeing Fergus get hurt and that trickling down to Jenny, Ian & the rest of his family and he could not deal with that.

Dawn ( @7_polk): Jenny always speaks her mind, and she’s worried for him. Sex is a natural part of life and Jenny doesn’t ever hold her tongue. Jamie has been hiding in the shadows for so long that he seems to have become a shadow of himself. He barely even speaks anymore, he’s lost Claire, he’s been stripped of his identity, he’s unable to help while Ian has been arrested countless times, the redcoats have harassed his family, damaged their property, and ultimately maimed Fergus. I believe that was definitely enough motivation to make him sacrifice his so called freedom for his family.

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): Jenny is one of those people who have no self-awareness. She’s always throwing out her opinions without thinking how it would affect Jamie. Does she not realize how much Jamie loves Claire? How would she feel if Jamie told her to stop popping out babies? Claire was the love of his life and one of the things that he really wanted to do with her was to have kids. After Faith, they were given another chance only to have that taken from him. He lost his wife, his unborn child, and his way of life all within a few hours. Maybe he should have taken Murtagh’s suggestion back in Paris and had Prince Charles taken out. With the redcoats harassing his family, he had to spend a lot of time in a dank cave away from everyone. Spending so much time alone thinking about your “failures” would make the Pope broody. After Fergus lost his hand and the only thing he could do was watch, I think he had had enough. It was sufficient in his mind to get the reward money and turn him in. There are a lot of people at Lallybroch and the surrounding area to support. Plus, I’m not sure he doesn’t still want to die.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

4. Frank seems to have decided Claire wasn’t trying to his satisfaction to really leave the past behind her and re-commit to him and their marriage, and they’re in twins beds awfully quickly. What do you think? Did Claire give up too easily, or is Frank not giving her enough credit?

Andee (@andeesings): After all that talk about whatever Claire did Frank would always love her- he seemed to be over it pretty quickly. I’m not really sure either one of them gave the other a fair shake after she comes back. In Claire’s defense It must be hard to sleep with a man who looks like the man that raped your other husband, but at the same time if someone asks you to open your eyes, I mean. Can’t you do it for a few seconds, even?

Jamie (@jamiesrule): Frank wanted all or nothing from Claire in very little time and that’s pretty selfish of him. Claire had to come to terms with not ever seeing Jamie again, move to a different country where the only person she knew was Frank, and had a baby all while trying to being present in her marriage to Frank. I’ll say it again, Frank should be happy with what he can get from Claire.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): I think this can also tie into question number two. The jump from fireside sucks and it’s subsequent argument to sleeping in separate beds seemed a little drastic. I felt like I missed something. I’m not sure that I saw Claire being any less distant then she had been in the past. In fact I feel like maybe she was making more of an effort. Albeit a “self serving” one. Neither one of them are happy and it’s just such a sad situation.

Jenni (@freckledjenni): They looked like they were Lucy & Ricky in the separate beds. Claire and Frank tried but they are both in different worlds. A deep connection will never happen with Claire missing her furry-faced ginger.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): Frank and Claire both are in such difficult positions. Frank is trying to stay with Claire and have the family they both so disparately wanted so badly when they were first married. They are both two different people now living in a different world. I think by the time we see them at the end of the episode sleeping in separate twin beds it’s just what they have to do to survive the circumstance they are in right now. The twin beds represents their separate mentalities.

Dawn ( @7_polk): I think Frank may have come to the realization that he can’t compete with Jamie’s ghost and that he doesn’t want to. Claire tried to move forward, but who among us could truly move forward completely and forget Jamie? Did you see him walking to the fireplace? Who would want to forget him? She doesn’t need Frank in her bed there’s really no room for him. Twin beds it is!

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): Ugh, Frank! When are you going to go away? I don’t think Claire gave up too easily. Actually, I don’t think she ever really cared. She stayed because that’s what Jamie wanted for her and Bree. Frank was being unreasonable to expect her to just forget her experiences in the past and just jump right back into things with him. He didn’t even want to hear what she had to say. Whenever she tried to talk about what happened to her, his immediate response is, “It doesn’t matter.” Way to be supportive. Not! Plus, it was ok for him to reminisce about how things used to be. After the war, Claire was never going to be the “little wife” that he wanted. I wonder who wanted the twin beds? That’s definitely one way to put the kibosh on any future romantic attempts.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

5. After watching an entire episode where Claire has sex with Frank several times, watching Jamie be so awfully lonely was almost painful. It’s just as painful when he turns away Mary McNab towards the end of the episode. What do you think ultimately makes him accept her “comfort”, and what did you think about it?

Andee (@andeesings): Much like Frank reached the end of his rope with Claire’s lack of connection to him I think we just reached a point where Jamie just couldn’t take it anymore. He needed something. I think when Mary mentioned how she knew how special Claire was to him it was definitely tacit permission for him that he wasn’t betraying her memory. After Claire was with Frank the whole episode I was actually really grateful Jamie slept with Mary! The scene was really sweet and Heughan was pretty amazing in it.

Jamie (@jamiesrule): I’m one of very few people who was NOT jealous of Mary getting to have that moment with Jamie. Jamie doesn’t do much for me and it’s weird lusting after someone who has my name. Haha! Anyway, I thought it was tender and real what happened between the two of them. I think Jamie accepted Mary’s proposition after she made it clear she wasn’t trying to replace Claire and as she said, “…something to keeps us whole, as we move forward in this life.” I’m happy they didn’t show the actual comfort happening, because I think that would’ve cheapened the moment.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): This scene came across really well in the show. It was tender and heartbreaking to watch two broken people try to mend themselves together. It didn’t seemed forced or awkward but more like a basic human need to feel the touch of another person.

Jenni (@freckledjenni): I think he accepted the “comfort” for Mary’s sake & his. You could see his struggle to stay faithful to Claire but he also realized she’s gone. He also did it to get Jenny off his back about his sex life.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): The scene with Jamie and Mary McNab was so well done with Mary telling Jamie she knew how lonely he was and that she didn’t want to spoil what he had with his lady Claire. Then Jamie being hesitant in accepting what Mary was offering, but knowing his body and soul ached for comfort that only a woman can provide. His tear as he kissed her showed how much he still was in so much despair over losing Claire and how much it hurt him to give in to what his body needed.

Dawn ( @7_polk): It was so sad. The haircut and shave were a welcome sight not only because Jamie’s face is finally revealed, but because Jamie’s burden has been lifted. All of that hair he was hiding behind was a physical manifestation of the extreme guilt Jamie was carrying for putting his family in danger for so long. His decision to give up hiding and allow his own capture has lightened his burden as now he knows or hopes his family will be safe. I think he just needed to be touched to have human physical contact. It’s been too long without it and the drive for physical intimacy is a basic primal part of the human condition. I loved the mimicking of eyes his being closed, who is Jaime thinking of?

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): I could have done without the Claire and Frank sex, especially since they only had 1 ¼ sex scenes between Claire and Jamie all of last season. I didn’t particularly care to see Jamie and Mary either. But, at least they didn’t show the actual sex. I think he ultimately accepted her because she said she didn’t want to replace Claire. She knew how much he loved her and was trying to give him something they both needed. I did notice on second watch that she keeps popping up every time he was at the house. I guess she was taking Jennie’s words to heart, looking for a husband. The tears running down his face as he kept his eyes closed was so heartbreaking.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

6. Jamie and Frank are clearly having a really difficult time making connections this episode. What does the way they each react say about them?

Andee (@andeesings): Jamie’s lack of connection I think causes him to withdraw further and further. Lack of leadership in his life makes Jamie feel useless and impotent. Frank’s lack of connection causes him to lash out at Claire and sort of give up his commitment to making that work. Whereas Jamie steps it up at the end of his isolation, Frank withdraws.

Jamie (@jamiesrule): Jamie doesn’t want any attention and has a hard accepting any attention that is shown to him because he’s a selfless man. Frank wants all the attention but when it’s not to his standards he blames the other person for trying hard enough because he’s a selfish man.
Michelle (@mad_maxxie): I think Jamie and Frank are both suffering and they’re both terribly lonely living this existence without the woman they both love. Jamie, true to his nature, really retreats inside himself but has a very hard time crawling out of his figurative cave. Frank is a bit more of a hot head and in order to control his emotions, he locks himself away from Claire to avoid being hurt any further.

Jenni (@freckledjenni): They are both in love with a woman that is unattainable. Jamie wants Claire but she’s in the future so he’s out of luck. Frank has her physical presence but her heart is in the past.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): Jamie and Frank both seem to be out of touch with those around them. Jamie is still so lost without Claire and knowing if she made it safely back to her own time with their unborn child; plus having lost so many friends at the Battle of Culloden. Frank just can’t seem to understand where Claire is coming from and why she can’t just get back to loving him and get over the past and move on happily ever after. Similar parallels for the characters in my mind.

Dawn ( @7_polk): Jamie isn’t really trying to connect during most of the episode he’s living a very solitary type of existence, just trying to provide what he can for those he loves that are still there. I think Frank has pretty much come to grips with the fact that he can’t compete with Jamie’s ghost and doesn’t really want to try anymore, both men are just going through the motions. Jamie’s true character begins to surface when he decides to once again give his loved ones the protection of his body, by having himself turned over to the British. Frank appears to have just given up trying.

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): Frank is a selfish bastard who thinks everything should be about what he wants and how he wants them. He immediately dismisses anything that Claire wants if it doesn’t line up with his views. Jamie just shut himself off from everything after losing the love of his life. He is only doing the bare minimum in terms of human interaction.

[wp_ad_camp_2]

7. It’s the return of the voiceover! Claire decides to change her life and become one of the first women at Harvard medical school, along with Joe Abernathy. Where does Claire go from here?

Andee (@andeesings): I’m just not a fan of the voiceover. What, we didn’t realize that Claire didn’t fit in where she was and needed to be fulfilled in a way that didn’t involve a house, husband and baby? I sometimes feel the show doesn’t give the audience enough credit. I definitely think the lack of sexual energy in Claire’s life is going to be focused entirely on her job. And that poor adorable little baby isn’t going to get very much Mommy & Me time.

Jamie (@jamiesrule): Thank you Outlander for ruining a perfectly good scene with Claire’s useless voice over. That scene would have played out beautifully without it. We’re all smart enough to pick up on the fact that Claire wants more. Also! The audience already knows she becomes a surgeon we don’t need to have spoon fed to us.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): Episode 301 was far more emotional for me. It was much harder to watch because we know that this battle actually took place. Not discounting episode 302’s heart break because there were definitely some moments that I openly cried. One of the moments that sticks out for me the most still a day after watching it is the scene with Fergus and Jamie after his hand has been cut off. When Fergus looks at Jamie and says “There you are, Milord,” it broke me. You realize at that moment that Fergus too has been missing the Jamie he knows and loves.

Jenni (@freckledjenni): Now we’ll see Claire gain control of her life & find her confidence. I’m really looking forward to this part of the story. I’m NOT looking forward to a white streak hair style though.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): I think at the end of the episode when she decides to go to medical school Claire has decided that she can’t just sit back and let life pass her by. Medical school offers her the opportunity to bury herself into something to help her try to “forget” the past.

Dawn ( @7_polk): I love the voice over. Claire is such a strong character, she can’t have Jamie, but she will find a way to fulfill her calling. She’s going to focus on being the best doctor she can be. She & Joe will be allies facing society’s prejudices head on together. Claire finally finds a friend in her own time.

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): I actually liked this little voiceover. I think her marriage with Frank is essentially dead and now she’s going to do something that has always come naturally to her – healing people. I love that she and Joe Abernathy become fast and long lasting friends.

[wp_ad_camp_2

8. There was a lot in this episode that tried to go for our heartstrings just like the premiere. Did anything get you this week? Do you have any predictions or hopes about next week?

Andee (@andeesings): Jamie crying when he starts touching Mary McNab almost got me. It was a close call, but I managed to keep it in. I’m looking forward to seeing David Berry as Lord John Grey most. He’s one of my favorite characters!

Jamie (@jamiesrule): Last week I said I was dead inside and that’s still mostly true but Jenny got me this week. Damn her! That look of sadness, worry, love and anger on her face when she’s yelling at Jamie as he’s being taken away made my eyes start leaking. Laura was brilliant! For next week, I’m most looking forward to Jamie making a new friend in prison. I haven’t read all the books, but Lord John Grey was someone I always enjoyed when he popped up in the story, so I’m excited to see how David Berry does in that role. Also excited to see more Joe Abernathy! He was one of my favorites from the books as well.

Michelle (@mad_maxxie): Ah! Joe Abernathy! Finally Claire has a comrade in arms. I cannot wait to see how this friendship plays out on screen.
Jenni (@freckledjenni): My heartstrings were pulled hard when Frank cuddled Bree after his shower. I’m also looking forward to see Frank start to resemble his angry & drunk book persona.

Christine (@SassenachSJ): The scene that pulled at my heartstrings this week was the scene with Fergus and Jamie in the bedroom after his hand was cut off by the Redcoat. Such unspoken love and truth between the two. Can’t wait to see Fergus and Jamie’s relationship continue to grow throughout.

Dawn ( @7_polk): I have to admit, heartstrings pulled. My 4 top heartbreaking moments: Jamie falling to pieces in Jenny’s arms. Fergus saying “There you are, milord” (Great job Romann Berrux! ) Jamie with his eyes closed (mimicking Claire) while kissing Mary McNab that one tear rolling down his cheek. Claire walking past the bagpiper. It’s so sad watching them both trying to move forward without the other, constantly feeling a tug on that invisible thread that connects them even through time and space. I predict the distance between Claire & Frank will grow maybe those twin beds will be pushed further apart, Jamie will find purpose in prison and an unsuspected friend of his own and I’m going to need more whisky and tissues. I can’t wait!

Kyra (@emrld_eyes76): Jamie falling to his knees and crying after almost losing Fergus and Jamie crying in the cave with Mary. Too much of Jamie sad and crying. I want him to be happy! Oh, and baby Bree in the carriage smiling with her squishy little cheeks! So stinking cute! My hope for next week is we finally see the end of Frank!

[wp_ad_camp_2]

Final Verdict: Outlander episode two gives us a lot to love, but an equal amount to roll our eyes at.

There were a lot of moments in episode two that just felt superfluous. Yes, we get it, Jamie is sad. Claire isn’t getting what she wants out of life. And some of the situations they found themselves in just seemed so odd and out of place. But there was still that emotional core that we love from Outlander. Really fine acting moments even transcended lousy beards! Sometimes an episode gets you from point A to point B and this one absolutely does so with some really beautiful moments but just didn’t really gel effectively as a cohesive whole to put it over the top into A+ territory.

Outlander returns next Sunday, September 24th at 8/7c on Starz!