Outlander
Season 2 Episode 5: “Untimely Resurrections”
Directed by Douglas Mackinnon
Written by Richard Kahan
Created by Ronald D. Moore
Based on the books by Diana Galbadon
Starring Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Duncan Lacroix, Graham McTavish, Tobias Menzies, Grant O’Rourke, Stephen Walters, Robert Cavanah, Stanley Weber
Starz
Air Date: Saturday, May 7th, 2016, 9:00pm

Last week on Outlander, Claire (Caitriona Balfe) became sick but was meant to die. Master Raymond (Dominique Pinon) gave her a stone that can detect poison. The Frasers bring their cat and mouse game home, as they plan a dinner party to make political moves. On the way home, Claire, Murtagh, and Mary (Balfe, Duncan Lacroix, and Rosie Day) are attacked, and poor Mary is raped. Claire is saved when they scream, “La Dame Blanche.” They hide Mary away with Alex (Laurence Dobiesz) taking care of her, and go to the party pretending nothing is amiss. Claire gets seated next to the Comte St. Germain (Stanley Weber) who mentions the stone. Louise (Claire Sermonne) announces her pregnancy in front of the prince. Mary flips out, resulting in a giant brawl at the party where everyone is arrested.

Spoilers below.

Outlander 2.5 “Untimely Resurrections” review: Claire and Fergus waited up all night for Jamie to come back after being arrested. Luckily, Duverney got him and Murtagh released. Alex is stuck though, for Silas said he saw him rape Mary. Claire wants to help him. “He’s not his brother.” Atta girl. He is a sweet guy. They talk about the attack. “How did you escape?” Claire said they thought she was someone called La Dame Blanche – the white witch. That is all Jamie’s fault. He may have said that to get the whores to leave him alone. Claire is pissed because of the almost burned-as-a-witch thing back in Scotland.

Murtagh can’t forgive himself for what happened to Claire and that “wee English lassie.” Jamie’s only comfort to him is to charge him with finding the proof so thy can get revenge.

Claire goes to visit Mary to examine her and make her understand that what happened was not her fault. Mary wrote a letter exonerating Alex and she knows he will come for her. Claire is torn. She wants to throw the letter into the fire, because Mary is supposed to have a baby with Jack Randall, not Alex. But we all know the truth of that future. Claire takes the slightly kinder approach. She helps Alex get free, but then guilts him into breaking up with Mary.

Jamie is not happy that the Prince left with St Germain that night, and with good reason. The Prince (Andrew Gower) has good news – he and Jamie are now in business with St Germain. to secure the confidence of Duverney. Jamie and St Germain have a seethingly polite business exchange loaded with veiled threats. Claire may make fake smallpox to stop the shipment.

Jamie has to suffer the Duke of Sandringham (Simon Callow) while he shops for horses at Versailles. Jamie examines the horses while the Duke examines Jamie. I do enjoy the Duke.

Annalise (Jamie’s ex) asks Claire to take a walk with her. Awkward! Her eyes are up there, Claire.

My own heart leapt into my throat, as Claire came face to face with BlackJack Randall, who sauntered in slow motion towards her. Tobias Menzies owns the screen, and every moment of this scene is slowly and deliberately intense. I felt like I was there. His performance is so subtly hungry, that I almost think he’s in love with Claire too, as he talks of fate. I never want him to be off the screen. The king shows up and completely humiliates Randall, making him get on his knees until everyone, including Jamie (who showed up a few minutes later) is laughing at him. When the king leaves, Jamie goes back and challenges BlackJack to a duel. Claire has to stop him. She falsely accuses Randall of the attack and gets him thrown in the Bastille. Jamie is livid and refuses to back down. She says he owes her a life. He’ll pay his debt, but their marriage is in a spot of trouble now. “Don’t touch me!”

Every episode is dripping in excellence, especially when Menzies appears.

Outlander airs Saturday nights at 9:00pm ET on Starz.

Image Gallery

Video

Outlander | Ep. 205 Clip: The White Witch | STARZ

Claire finds out where the label of “La Dame Blanche” comes from in this clip from Episode 205.

Outlander | Episode 205 Preview | STARZ

On “Untimely Resurrection”: Reunited, Jamie and Claire attempt to extinguish the fires their dinner party ignited; however, Claire is set off on an unexpected change of course.