Two Takes: Outlander “Not in Scotland Anymore” 

Outlander‘s Jamie and Claire Fraser are definitely “Not in Scotland Anymore.” Oh no. Life in Paris is decidedly different. They’re meeting new people. Going to new places. They are also learning new ways of doing things. Some things take adjustment. Some are kind of shocking. Some are things we wish we could un-see (re: a certain pre-party ritual involving the King of France).

What’s really exciting is that it’s only the second episode of Season 2 and our favorite couple already wrangled themselves an invite to Versailles, where the husband and wife encountered old “friends,” gave the King of France some much needed advice, and turned what could have been a disaster into an excellent networking opportunity. Plus, Claire discovered something she wishes she could un-hear while wearing the most stunning of red dresses. She’s beyond fierce.

Tina: Okay, Kara. There’s so much to talk about with this week’s episode. But before we start at the beginning, I need to jump ahead to the end because I don’t want to bury the lead. Black Jack Randall is alive. I’m not surprised. Because 1. I know a lot of what happens in Dragonfly in Amber. And 2. You can’t keep evil like that down for long. You need to make sure he doesn’t get up or he’ll rise from the ashes. Now the question becomes: When is Claire going to tell Jamie this news? She knows her husband can’t shake what happened to him. He’s understandably having nightmares. Nightmares that start out sexy and end bloody.

Kara: And Claire’s afraid her husband’s need for vengeance will jeopardize their plans to stop the Jacobite uprising. I understand why she’s conflicted, but I need Claire to come clean with Jamie immediately. If she keeps this secret and Jamie finds out she lied to him? No good can come of that.

Tina: I totally agree. I suspect she’ll tell him right away. How awful was it that Claire found out in front of that nasty Duke of Sandringham from Season 1?

Kara: How many times can this man betray them? Although, I guess that’s too harsh. But he’s always bad news where Black Jack Randall is concerned. I don’t want to give him any more attention than he deserves (which is none), let’s go back to those nightmares for a second. So, we’ve got Jamie with a serious case of PTSD. He’s been traumatized by what Black Jack did to him at Wentworth Prison, that it’s seriously cutting into his sexy times with his wife. In fact, it seems like they haven’t had sex at all since he was raped, right? Considering how passionate these two have been in the past, I’m sure that’s an adjustment for both of them. But Claire understands what Jamie’s grappling with and I just hope Jamie is able to get past this — in his own time and in his own way. I have to say I did enjoy all the pomp and circumstance of Claire meeting the apothecary, Master Raymond. Because St. Germain is also his enemy, she’s got at least one true friend in Paris.

Tina: Claire is going to help Jamie and his PTSD as much as she possibly can, which is why she initially goes to the apothecary. She needs something to help her hubby sleep a dreamless sleep. She and Raymond bond instantly and it’s made better by the fact they do share a common enemy. I think you can definitely count him as a true friend. Another new friend Claire spends time with is Louise de la Tour. We meet her while she’s having her body waxed — well, her legs and her “honeypot” as Jamie calls it. She’s definitely someone to keep your eye on. I can’t quite recall if she’s always a decent force in Claire’s life. All I do know is that — Spoiler Alert — she does have her secrets. I do like how she teaches Claire new tricks. Although, I’m not sure Jamie’s as pleased. Shaved legs is one thing. Bare honeypots are totally something else. So many un-ladylike topics are discussed in this episode. It’s hilarious.

Kara: And kind of refreshing, right? I mean it’s funny that it’s 1745 and my 2016 self is shocked by some of this talk and some of these actions, right?

I think one of the most shocking things for me, though, is how the King has an audience while he’s trying to have a bowel movement. Is this how the royal court worked in these days? I mean, I know it was tradition for certain members of the court to watch a King bed his new Queen, but to watch someone go to the toilet on his royal throne? Yikes. I’ll pass on that.

Tina: Dildos and honeypot waxing and constipated kings, oh my! Sorry. I’ve been dying to say that since I finished watching the episode.

Kara: Hahahaha. I’ll allow it! I also have to say I am LOVING how much of a crotchety old man Paris is turning Murtagh into. When he and Jamie are “dueling” in the park, they draw quite a crowd. It’s been outlawed, but Murtagh makes it worse by insulting those who watch. He also gets into a bit of trouble when he and Jamie go to meet Prince Charles in that brothel. Murtagh had better learn to keep his tongue in check or it will truly get him and the Frasers in trouble one day.

Tina: Cranky Murtagh is one of my favorite parts of the whole hour. That is when he’s not getting his temporary flirt on with one of the King’s ladies-in-waiting or whoever that woman is. By the way, I’m not a fan of that Charles Stewart. Not on first meeting, anyway. Once the brothel talk gives way to political chatter, I did what I thought I was going to do. I started tuning out. It’s a really long scene. A little too long for my tastes.

Kara: I feel like putting that scene in a brothel made it more palatable? Because of the dildo talk and some of the tension we see between Jamie, Murtagh and the prince, it held my interest until we started talking about “divine right.” Anytime anyone starts talking God at me, I lose interest.

Tina: I rather veer on back to what went down in Versailles, where Jamie and Claire didn’t need Murtagh’s help to find trouble. They did all right on their own.

Two cases in point: 1. Jamie runs into an — ex-flame? Is that what Annalise de Marillac is? She knows Jamie. I mean, KNOWS Jamie. She refers to him as strong and passionate. It’s an awkward moment I rather enjoyed. She better keep her decolletage off Jamie, however.

2. Claire wants to meet the Minister of Finance, Monsieur Duverney. She doesn’t expect him to be so slimy and lascivious. He hits on her. Thankfully Jamie’s around to shove him into the river. I do love how they don’t let this shady beginning get in the way of forging a new friendship.

Kara: Yes to everything you’re saying about Annalise. I mean, we know Jamie was a virgin when he married Claire, but he also told her he was no monk. So we know something went down between these two. Annalise could not keep her hands off Jamie. I thought Claire showed remarkable restraint. It would’ve done them no favors for Claire to slap that woman silly with so many people around, but Annalise was much too familiar. Meanwhile, I loved everything about their encounter with Duverney. It all ended well though, as they’re friends now and hopefully that friendship will help the Frasers keep France’s money out of Prince Charles’ war chest.

I feel like I need to take a moment to be shallow and talk about Claire’s red dress. The neckline was a bit risque — it had Murtagh doing a double take, but it really suits her. That bustle! I loved that she had to enter rooms sideways because it was just that wide. And that red dress caught Duverney’s attention, so it did its job.

Tina: Kudos to wardrobe for cooking that baby up. I mentioned how stunning Claire looked in the intro. I meant it. Not since Tricia Helfer on Battlestar Galactica has a woman on TV worn the s–t out of a red dress. And guess what? That was a Ron Moore show as well. Does he have a red dress fetish? Inquiring minds want to know.

Also, I want to say we need to keep an eye on Mary Hawkins — we first meet her at Louise de la Tour’s. She’s sweet and naive and in an impossible situation. She also flirts with Black Jack Randall’s brother, Alex. We should be seeing her again.

Outlander airs Saturday nights at 9/8c on Starz.