Outlander
Season 3 Episode 3: “All Debts Paid”
Directed by Brendan Maher
Written by Matthew B. Roberts
Created by Ronald D. Moore
Based on the books by Diana Galbadon
Starring Caitriona Balfe, Sam Heughan, Tobias Menzies, Duncan Lacroix, Richard Rankin, Sophie Skelton, Grant O’Rourke, Romann Berrux, John Bell, Steven Cree, Laura Donnelly, Greg Esplin
Starz
Air Date: Sunday, September 24th, 2017, 8:00pm

Warning! Spoilers below for Sunday night’s episode of Outlander!

Last time on Outlander, Jamie (Sam Heughan) was a wild man living in a cave near Lallybroch while his family covered for him. He grunted more than he spoke. The British harassed them often. The soldiers cut off Fergus’s (Romann Berrux) hand after he taunted them into chasing him. Jamie saved Fergus and finally allowed himself to feel emotion at all he had lost. Jamie decided to have Jenny (Laura Donnelly) turn him in to stop the madness. They took him away. Claire and Frank (Caitriona Balfe, Tobias Menzies) navigated their tension filled marriage, Frank knowing Claire thought of Jamie when they were intimate. The only real bonding occurred over baby Brianna. Claire went to her first day in medical school and faced resentment and anger from the white males. The only kindness was extended from the only black male in her class.

Spoilers below.

Outlander 3.3 “All Debts Paid” review: Claire and Frank have breakfast and when Claire asks Frank to go see a movie, he has already seen them. Frank feels bad, but they have an agreement.

John Grey (David Berry) arrives at Ardsmuir prison. While given a tour, he is told of Red Jamie, called the MacDubh, the leader of the prison, who keeps them all in line. He says to dine with him once a week. He seems familiar to Jamie, and he talks of it with Murtagh (Duncan Lacroix), who is very ill. He is reminded of Claire, even in the prison. Grey sends for Jamie. They stand eye to eye, taking the measure of each other.

Claire graduates from medical school. At her party, she accidentally meets one of Frank’s indiscretions, when the girl comes to the door after Claire was already supposed to be gone. Where’s a good cell phone when you need one? He comes home drunk and they argue. Menzies is brilliant in this scene, “I think our bedroom is far too crowded already. Wouldn’t you agree?” She tells him to divorce her. He won’t because of Brianna.

The British find a man talking crazy about cursed gold. Grey wants Jamie to translate. He declines but Grey says he’ll take the chains off. Jamie negotiates for medicine for Murtagh. The man confesses all, and it doesn’t make much sense, but raves about the White Witch. Murtagh and he talk of Claire and the stones. Jamie dines with Grey and he brings up his wife again. They dine pleasantly and Jamie describes it to the prisoners. He is able to secure permission for the men to set out snares for their own food. While they are out, Jamie escapes and swims for the island to “see for himself” about Claire. There is a search but Jamie comes back, taking Grey unawares, reminding him of a promise to kill him. Grey refuses to Jamie’s dismay. He explains why he left – to see about the white witch.

Grey sends a doctor for Murtagh and he and Jamie play chess. He indirectly confesses his sexuality to Jamie, and holds his hand. Jamie freaks out. “Take your hand off me or I will kill you.”

Brianna graduates from high school and her parents are immensely proud. Frank wants to take Brianna to England without Claire. Oh, and by the way… he also wants a divorce.

Claire: “You’ve been waiting for the clock to run out.” It’s true.

Jamie is separated from Murtagh and the other prisoners by John Grey. Grey takes him to work for a family, where he will check in on him, basically gifting him with his freedom.

Frank was in a car accident. We see her say goodbye to him. “If you are still close enough to hear me, I did love you very much.”

The obvious running theme in “All Debts Paid,” is just that, as John Grey and Jamie are finally square, as are Frank and Claire. And at the end he asks for a divorce, his deal done. Then he dies – Claire is free as well.

Frank Randall is perhaps one of the most tragic characters on television. Born with an evil face, he never had a chance at regaining his wife’s love after she returned physically, but not emotionally. He loved his daughter (his daughter in every single way except physically) completely, and she in turn, loved him best as well. He was confident she would choose to live in England with him. He was not wrong. Frank was finally going to be free from his obligation, and divorce Claire and remarry a wife who could love him, when he died of a car accident (alcohol a probable cause). Claire said her goodbyes to him, but alas, poor Frank.

Although watching this story unfold on television does have some differences than the novels, I feel like it only enhances the story, and makes one analyze the story choices as compared to the previous ones.

This episode was wonderful. I enjoyed the budding friendship between John Grey and Jamie this time around as well. And Balfe and Menzies played marital strain to perfection.

Outlander airs Sunday nights at 8:00pm ET on Starz.

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Outlander | Season 3, Episode 3 Preview | STARZ

In prison, Jamie discovers that an old foe has become the warden – and now has the power to make his life a living hell. Over the years, Claire and Frank both put their best foot forward to share a harmonious marriage, but an uninvited guest shatters this illusion, bringing their differences to light.

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