Our Outlander roundtable has some love for Ian and Fergus and some strong words for Claire!
Outlander 3×07 was here and setting up storylines in future episodes. Claire got out of her almost assault from the end of 3×06 and by scuffling with Barton and him falling and cracking his skull on the stone fireplace. But in typical Claire fashion she’s got to save him. She heads to the apothecary and meets Archibald Campbell who’s got a sister who is either clairvoyant or mentally deranged. Or both. Alas for Claire she can’t save her would-be murderer and so she moves on to hauranging Jamie instead.
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Since Jamie knows the excisemen led by Sir Percival are on his tail he moves all his smuggling product quickly by tasking it to Young Ian. After Fergus and Young Ian successfully sell it Fergus hooks him up with his first sexual experience, as you do. Meanwhile Ian’s dad comes looking for him and Jamie lies about having seen him. This causes a massive row between Jamie and Claire that’s only broken up by news of a fire in the print shop. Seems Sir Percival set a one-eyed dude to search the print shop and he tussles with Young Ian. Jamie saves Young Ian but Ian tells him he’s seen Jamie’s seditious materials. They agree to reconvene at Lallybroch and afterwards Fergus asks Jamie if Claire knows about his other wife yet.
The madness! Let’s get to it!
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – I’m Jamie. The book and show should stand on their own. If one more person tells me I should read the book, which I have, I might just burn my copy of Voyager.
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – An NYC TV/Film Professional but above all Outlander addict. Check out my fan blog/vlog here!
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – Unlikely fan girl, co-admin for TheRankAndFile @RRankinFans. Loves a burrito.
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – Jenni really does have a lot of freckles. She’s still in mourning for Frank.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – Costumer, teacher, admin for Outlander Forever. I make use of my excessive tv watching by being an obsessive knitter.
1) Claire defended herself. Then she went above and beyond to save her would-be rapist. Should she have?
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – What a waste of time it was seeing Claire trying to save her would-be rapist. I get that it was a way to show Claire’s respect for life and that she can’t and won’t shut off being a doctor no matter the situation, there’s just so much story to tell and I didn’t think it was a good use of time.
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – Her Hippocratic Oath demands she does! I would’ve been the first to throw him in the Creme de Menthe. MD be damned!
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – She was nearly raped and probably very nearly murdered. Then turns around and tries to save him? I guess that’s part of the Hippocratic oath but I’m not so sure I could do what she did.
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – I felt her devotion to saving the douche bag’s life was a bit over the top. Claire climbed up onto that soap box fast and had major verbal diarrhea about how she’s the most devout doctor ever. My eyes *might* have gotten stuck on my head from the rolling of them.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – I get that Claire has taken the oath to save lives but I’m with Jamie with this one. Why save this low life who has assaulted you? I think sometimes Claire just doesn’t think things through. But this is going to be echoed in the book A Breath of Snow and Ashes [the sixth book in the Outlander series].
2) Willoughby seems to have taken Joe Abernathy’s place as Claire’s medical buddy. Thoughts?
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – Never thought I would say this, but I’m enjoying Mr. Willoughby so far. Claire needs a buddy and I’m guessing they’ll learn a lot from each other as the story continues because we still don’t know THAT much about Mr. Willoughby.
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – The writers have humanized him and I’m curious to see where else they take him this season. Also, Claire needs a fellow outsider to fill the hole that Geillis and Joe left behind.
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – They seemed to have formed a mutual respect for each other and of Claire is going to continue being a healer, she certainly going to need a trustworthy non-squeamish assistant.
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – He was much more charismatic in the books. On screen he’s a snore. Just another one of Himself’s minions. Claire’s going to have fun ordering him all over Edinburgh.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – I like Willoughby, I’m glad that the show has kept him and brought his character into a much more dignified shape. I don’t see yet Willoughby being a medical buddy but he seems to give Claire a better emotional footing in the 18th century world.
3) Bless Fergus and Young Ian! These two have a proper brotherly relationship. What did you think of this dynamic duo?
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – Best part of the whole episode was watching Fergus and Young Ian interact. I absolutely adore Fergus and I think that César is doing such a great job. I wasn’t completely sold on Young Ian at first, but he’s starting to grow on me.
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – They’re adorable with their Scottishness and Frenchy-ness.I would like a spin-off where they teach the world The Art of Seducing Zee Lassy.
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – These two, aside from Roger, are my very favorite. I absolutely adore every single thing about them.. I love how they both seem worldly yet at the same time there is a sweet innocence about them, especially Fergus.
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – They’re going to be a cute team. Fergus giving him sexy time advice was awesome. What a good friend!
Carole (@cbraunnj) – I love these two! A real Bromance! Although Fergus is almost double Young Ian’s age, you definitely get the feeling they are close are really count on each other.
4) What did you think of our glimpse of Ian and Brighid? He is only 16. Creepy or cute?
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – It’s was funny watching Fergus give Ian advice about how to get with the ladies. What I didn’t need to see was the actual act of Ian getting with a lady. Eww, no thank you.
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – Cute! This is how it was done in the 18th century: You flirt with the barmaid, lose your virginity at your uncle’s shop, and then try to stop a thief from indicting your uncle for treason. Very coming-of-age for the time.
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – I really try to view Outlander as what would be appropriate for that time period. If this were a relationship going on in 2017 I’m not so sure I would have the same feelings and I would definitely think it was creepy.
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – They’re cute together. It’s a shame Ian’s first romantic experience was cut short with a standard fist fight and burning down of the shop, but there’s always tomorrow.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – Not creepy at all. Yes, Brighid is a bit of an older woman but people got married at the age of 16 back then. Also, many teenagers discover sex at 16 or younger.
5) Jamie and Claire’s conversations start out guarded, but slightly strained. They get progressively more strained until Claire takes issue with Jamie lying to Ian and he lets his resentment of Frank bubble over into a fight that only the fire ends. Talk to us about this fight. What did you think of the writing, their attitudes towards each other and the new way they’re relating here?
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – I get that things aren’t going to be all rainbows and butterflies for Claire and Jamie right away, but to just have one brief moment of affection between the two while the rest of the time it was tense and weird just felt off to me. I have gone 20+ years wondering if I would ever see a loved one again. I have experienced seeing that person after so long and the rush of emotions that comes along with that are incredibly intense. Obviously, every situation is its own, mine was a father-daughter reunion and this is a husband-wife reuniting, but I can tell you that the high didn’t wear off in less than 24 hours and things weren’t immediately weird and tense AF. Anyway, the dynamic between Claire and Jamie just wasn’t what I had hoped it would be, but I understand that they have many years and feelings they need to work through if they want to have any kind of happy future together.
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – Since this episode is post reunion, they can’t just slide right into who they were 20 years ago. Their experiences apart influence how they are in this new relationship. There is tension, resentment, bitterness but the love is still there! I think the tension they had reflects a more accurate portrayal of how two people reconnect after a long time apart.
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – To me, they seem like they slipped right back into where they were 20 years prior. And I really liked how snarky Jamie was with Claire
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – Super strange. Claire comes back and just starts barking orders and is shocked when Jamie stands up to her. Lady Claire needs to get used to not being boss lady anymore. Thank gawd Himself is taking her down a few pegs. She’s getting on my nerves.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – There’s definitely awkward tension between the two of them. I really think during the 20 years apart they practically put each other on the level of sainthood in their minds. Now they are together again and mind blowing sex isn’t going to make their relationship work. They both have had lives apart from each other, have become very self sufficient people who haven’t had to rely on people for emotional support. I think the writing shows that they are having a realistic time of dealing with trying to be together again.
6) Jamie didn’t do a very good job of hiding his seditious pamphlets. Tell us what you thought of secret agent Jamie jumping off the balcony to save Young Ian from the fire?
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – I thought the slow-mo shot of Jamie jumping off the balcony was so cheesy! But I’m happy he saved Young Ian. 😉
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – It may be 20 years but he’s still got it!
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – This tweet perfectly describes that moment for me.
Na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na, na … Batman!#StartingAgain #Outlander @Outlander_STARZ @SamHeughan @Heughligans pic.twitter.com/H4Fe3pXdzZ
— The Rank and File (@RRankinFans) October 30, 2017
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – I wouldn’t expect anything less from Super Jamie. The guy does EVERYTHING. I’m surprised he didn’t conjure a rain cloud and have it pour over the shop to put out the fire.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – I was ready to cue up the Batman music! Yes Jamie needed to be the one to save Young Ian, he knew the inner layout of the shop.
7) Well another bombshell at the end of the episode! Tell us what you thought of the ending, and no spoilers for non-book readers, please!!!
Jamie (@jamiesrule) – Half of me is looking forward to next week and seeing Jamie’s other wife revealed, but the other half isn’t looking forward to more weirdness between Claire and Jamie. Can we not have anything nice around here?!? Haha!
Jordyn (@urbanoutlander) – Jamie’s got a second whaaat?!? Looking forward to seeing who it is and what Claire will do. Jamie seems a little too confident that things will work out. I smell The Real Housewives of Lallybroch coming next week but WAY classier. They’re wearing corsets and dresses, ya know?
Michelle (@mad_maxxie) – How very dare he!
Jenni (@freckledjenni) – As much as we want Jamie to be practically perfect in every way you HAD to know he was going to move on with his life one way or another. Why she isn’t with him in Edinburgh is the big question.
Carole (@cbraunnj) – I really felt Jamie’s pain of seeing what he worked for literally go up in smoke. He’s lost his legitimate livelihood and probably his smuggling operation as well. Now we know Jamie is holding something back from Claire and it’s not a welcome home gift. I’m hoping we get to see the wonderful Ned Gowan, since his name has been dropped a few times.
Final Verdict: We’re split right down the middle on a few things (ahem, Claire) but everyone agrees we can’t wait to see where we go from here
What impact does twenty years on a relationship? Claire and Jamie’s personalities have taken on a hardened quality that they’re just discovering about each other in this week’s Outlander. Some of us loved it and some thought Claire was being a little much given Jamie is just starting to feel the full force of this new Claire.
And we’re all in agreement that Claire took an oath but watching her trying to save someone who was hell bent on killing her was kind of painful! Assert yourself elsewhere, doctor Claire! Then maybe Jamie wouldn’t be so confused by your mood swings.
Bless Young Ian and Fergus. We’re definitely hoping this bromance continues and that Fergus will continue to corrupt innocent Young Ian. He seems so easily led astray! And really he was so sweet and had a lot of care with Brighid so keep your 21st century sensibilities to yourself, most of us could totally handle it.
Fergus really let the cat out of the bag this week, didn’t he? Claire’s definitely going to find out about the “other wife” and then boy are the fireworks going to ensue! All we know is that we’ll be on the edge of our seats!
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