Outlander
Season 1 Episode 9: “The Reckoning”
Directed by Richard Clark
Written by Matthew B. Roberts
Starring Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Duncan Lacroix, Graham McTavish, Tobias Menzies, Grant O’Rourke, Gary Lewis, and Stephen Walters
Starz
Air Date: Saturday, April 4th, 2015, 9:00pm

Let’s recap what’s come before for our lovely time traveling WWII nurse, and her love, the strapping Highlander, before reviewing last night’s episode. Spoiler alert!

Outlander is back! This time traveling, romantic, multiperiod series, based on Diana Galbadon’s multibook collection (she is currently working on book 9!), had us sighing in our plaids. When we last left our favorite couple way back in September, James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser (Sam Heughan) and Claire Elizabeth Beauchamp Randall Fraser (Caitriona Balfe) were in a bit of a pickle, as Claire had run away in an effort to get back to the magic stone formations of Craigh na Dun and back to her 1940s husband, Frank Randall (Tobias Menzies). And she almost made it. We had seen Frank try to find Claire and go to the other side of time at the rocks. They almost heard each other and found each other when she was captured by Black Jack Randall’s men. Black Jack had just readied himself to force himself on Claire when…

“I’ll thank you to take your hands off my wife.”

Jaime arrived just in the nick of timer to save Claire from being raped by Black Jack Randall (also played by Tobias Menzies). We were then shown just how harrowing a rescue it was. Claire did not realize at all the danger she put Jaime and the men in, and after a pretty delightful screaming match (seriously – I wasn’t sure who would come out the victor), all was forgiven. Not so fast, Claire. This is still 18th Century Scotland, where a wife is still a husband’s property, and his men will want to see you properly punished – with a belt – on the ass. How do you imagine that played out?

On top of that, adorable Laoghaire (Nell Hudson) is hot for Jaime and tries to jump in there. Will he give in to temptation?

There is also still political machinations happening seemingly under Colum’s (Gary Lewis) nose which cannot be good for both the cause and the strength and leadership of the clan.

A sex scene in this episode made me blush and think the show was on Skinemax, except with excellent acting, costumes, and landscapes.

The show has done a great job, thus far of giving us the Claire we know from the novels – headstrong, stubborn, fiercely loyal, 1940s feminist that doesn’t take shit from anyone. That she has to compromise because of the time and patriarchy is played believably, as is Jamie’s progressive ability to let his shining love for Claire overpower any thoughts of proper behavior.

Must give props to Tobias Menzies for giving us a Black Jack Randall that leapt out of the pages of the book. He is exactly how I pictured him. And kudos to the series writers for making Menzies as Frank Randall more appealing to give us the same confusion that Claire feels.

Outlander airs Saturdays at 9pm ET on Starz.

Starz synopsis:

“The Reckoning” Jamie and the Highlanders rescue Claire from Black Jack Randall. Back at the castle, politics threaten to tear Clan MacKenzie apart and Jamie’s scorned lover, Laoghaire, attempts to win him back.

Videos

Outlander 1×09 Promo – The Reckoning [HD] Season 1 Episode 9

Outlander 1×09 Promo {HD} ‘Mid Season Finale’ Season 1 Episode 9 Promo