
The title of the latest Outlander is “Je Suis Prest,” which in (old) French means, “I am ready.” Well, we wouldn’t quite call Clan Fraser ready. Not yet, anyway. Jamie knows he’s facing an uphill battle. Claire’s told him the history of what happens in the Jacobite rebellion. Despite those seemingly insurmountable odds, he knows he can’t stop history. What he wants to do is change it.
But first, he has some work to do. He and Claire have not only reunited with Murtagh and Fergus. Three faces from Season 1 are back: Rupert, Angus and, yes, Dougal MacKenzie. It’s a happy-ish reunion for all but things quickly transition into a time of training. Jamie has to make soldiers out of the men who will wage a war for Scotland.

Meanwhile, Claire deals with her own issues. Being around a camp where men are training for war triggers something in her. She has flashes of when she was a nurse in World War II, a time that turned out to really affect her psyche. Will her bout with PTSD break her? Or will it simply make her stronger?
Tina: Kara, even though this feels like a transition episode, I really liked seeing the preparations for war and Jamie really taking on the leadership role. I can’t believe I’m saying this but I was super happy to see Angus, Rupert and Dougal. Remember when there was no love for Claire last season? To see them hug her now was cool. But I’m also glad that they didn’t drop the drama that exists between both Dougal and Jamie, and more importantly, Dougal and Claire. That Dougal can be downright narcissistic…or so Claire diagnosed, anyway.

Kara: I love that Claire educates Dougal on the story of Narcissus. I, too, am glad to see Rupert, Angus and Dougal. With the Frasers back in Scotland — and Colum making an appearance in last week’s episode — I knew it was just a matter of time before we’d see them as well. But since Claire and Dougal have such a complicated history, their interactions will always be interesting to me. I love that Claire speaks her mind and doesn’t hold back, when it comes to Dougal. But I have to admit, I don’t think I realized how committed Dougal is to this cause. Last season he used Jamie’s back as a way to raise money for the Jacobite cause. Now he’s ready, willing and able to lay down his life. I didn’t think anything mattered to Dougal more than his own self-interest. Turns out, he’s even more loyal to Scotland.
Tina: This Dougal/Claire scene where she let him know what’s what with him and what she thinks of him is possibly my favorite scene of the entire episode, actually. Yes, he’s selfish. Yes, he’s a downright bastard. He loves himself but he’s loyal to Scotland above all. I’m with you. I didn’t realize that about him. Maybe it’s because we haven’t seen him in such a long time. I guess I’m like Claire when she says something like:
“If I ever thought of you, then I might hold a grudge for all the things that you have done to me. But I don’t.”
I haven’t thought of Dougal since last we saw him. But I adore Graham McTavish. His scenes with both Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan were stellar in this episode. I, for one, am beyond happy Jamie wouldn’t let Dougal have his way. He showed he could be a leader.
Kara: Dougal’s used to being in charge and he tries to assert himself as the alpha more than once. He doesn’t seem to think Lovat’s men need training. He wants to join up with all the other Scots joining the uprising as quickly as possible. Dougal’s worried that by delaying, he won’t get a good leadership position. But making sure the men are trained and actually ready to fight is much more important to Jamie. When Dougal takes it upon himself to recruit more men — men who desert immediately when given the chance — armed men who were given access to the camp without any resistance — Jamie’s had it. It’s time to show Dougal who’s really in charge.
I have to say, again, how surprised I was by Dougal. I really didn’t think he’d take orders from Jamie. But he does and when Jamie makes a mistake, Jamie knows he needs to lead by example and punish both him and his uncle. So Jamie takes his lashes. If these men weren’t fully committed before, they are now.

Tina: It pained me to see Jamie take those lashes. You’d think he’d try and avoid those at any cost. There’s no more room on his back, Kara! But I get it. He wants to set a good example for the men so he takes the lashes and then some. It wasn’t just six of them like the others had faced a little earlier. He piled on the lashes. Man, he is so noble. He holds himself up to a higher standard. Anything to get his men ready for what lays ahead. He did get them ready or at the very least, as ready as they’re going to be.
Before we get to Claire’s issues, can we talk about that British boy that infiltrated the camp? The brave stupid kid wouldn’t talk. So Claire stepped in which meant more acting for Jamie and Claire. What did you think of what went down?

Kara: I think Claire sees an opportunity to get the kid to talk and she takes it. And I love that their pseudo-struggle turns a little too real when Claire lands a well-placed kick? Shove? I’m not exactly sure what she did, but she got him. That kiss was pretty sweet, too.
Do I think Jamie would’ve actually tortured the boy to get the information? I don’t. But Claire’s calculated move is really a win for both sides. Jamie gets the information he needs and William Grey gets to keep his honor by helping an English lady in distress. And because Jamie doesn’t kill him, Grey now thinks he’s indebted to Jamie. Once that debt is repaid, Grey says he’s going to kill Jamie. Prophetic? I certainly hope not.
Once Jamie gets the location of the British troops and their armaments, he takes a raiding party to go and steal the wheels off their canons. It’s smart. What can the King do with a bunch of canons that are stranded out in the woods? And hopefully the delay in getting those weapons delivered will give an advantage to Stuart’s army.

Tina: Once again, Jamie shows how smart of a leader he is — he gets to be teacher and mentor and gives the pep talks and comes up with competent schemes and all that jazz. It’s nice to see. At the same time, he knows something is up with his wife. She’s not acting herself. She’s too quiet.
We know that this training camp has triggered some painful memories for her from when she was a nurse in World War II. The part that comes to mind the most is when she spots Angus’ dirty feet. She gets so angry at him. It was intense. I thought she was going to hit him or something. She kept seeing the American soldier that died. They were in the same car and then there was an explosion. The soldier died.
The miracle worker that Claire thinks she is blames herself for not being able to save him. She was lying there scared. She heard the soldier’s screams. She couldn’t get to him. She couldn’t move. It’s always interesting to see a flash of Claire’s other life when she lives in this completely different era. It should be jarring but it isn’t. It paints even more of a picture of Claire and that’s welcome. It’s easy to forget that Claire is not of this time. Her experiencing PTSD in this scenario makes sense and reminds her that she’s traveled through time.

Kara: When the flashbacks started, I liked them. Because they were happy at first. Or, not necessarily happy but all was well in them. She met two Yanks and kind of bonded with them. But with each progressive flashback things got worse. And for that final flashback, she had to cover her ears as she listened to her almost-friend cry out as he died. I mean, there’s so much that happens in war that isn’t talked about and we can’t imagine. War is ugly. Some people die quickly, but others die slowly and in extreme pain. I know Claire wants to save everybody, but she can’t. She’s gotta focus on doing what she can to help turn the tide of this Jacobite rebellion now.
Outlander airs Saturday nights at 9/8c on Starz.
Related posts
Classics
George R. Olson, Tim Rozon, and Sarah Levy Talk the SurrealEstate S2 Finale
[Spoilers for the SurrealEstate Season 2 finale.] How’s everyone doing after the finale? As we close out the second season of SurrealEstate, some of our merry band of misfits are scattering to the winds–Zooey to law school, Phil to the Vatican, and Augie back to his think tank with Rochelle,…
Previewing SurrealEstate Season 2 Finale + Revisiting the Season with George R. Olson
[Warning; General spoilers ahead.] Strap in, SurrealEstate fam, because we’ve arrived at the Season 2 finale, and it’s a doozy. As we saw in the closing moments of last week’s episode, Susan is back. But because we have one more episode left, it’s not as simple as all that, as…
Tyler Hynes Talks Through His Eight-Film Hallmark Holiday Library
Things you realize when you have to re-record your shows on a new DVR – just how many Hallmark movies your people have done. Fan favorite – and one of ours – Tyler Hynes has done eight Christmas movies for Hallmark Channel and Hallmark Movies & Mysteries since 2018. Alongside…
Spencer Creaghan Talks About Creating SurrealEstate’s Signature Sound
SurrealEstate is winding down its second season, with two episodes left, and just as in Season 1, Spencer Creaghan’s music continues to be a character unto itself. And every week, he shares tidbits with the fans via his s social media channels, something he started to help give them an…
Andrew Walker Talks Christmas Island and the Magical Hallmark Community
[Warning: Spoilers for Christmas Island.] Now that the Screen Actors Guild strike has been resolved, we’re able to resume regularly scheduled programming and interview our favorites and yours. Up first, earlier today, I spoke with Andrew Walker about Christmas Island, which premiered last weekend and encores tonight and through the…
George Olson and Danishka Esterhazy Talk SurrealEstate “I Put a Spell on You”
[Warning: Spoilers for the episode.] Tonight’s fun new SurrealEstate found Luke caught up in an especially bewitching woman, Kay, played by Tara Yelland, Susan trapped in her house, and Zooey learning the ropes. In the next part of my conversation with showrunner George R. Olson and producing director Danishka Esterhazy,…
Danishka Esterhazy Talks SurrealEstate: “The Butler Didn’t”
[Warning: General spoilers for the episode]. Tonight’s new SurrealEstate, “The Butler Didn’t,” follows the team as they investigate the years-earlier mysterious death of a woman whose ghost now reenacts her hanging by dropping over the banister from the second floor to terrify anyone on the landing or at the bottom…
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk the From Season 2 finale
[Warning: Spoilers for the season finale.] How’s everyone doing after that finale? While we wait and wonder and hope for a third season announcement, soon, here’s what Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders had to say about their parts of the finale, and where they hope they get to go next….
Scott McCord and Elizabeth Saunders Talk From Season 2 + A Season Finale Preview
[Warning: General spoilers ahead.] It all comes down this, #FROMily. As Sunday’s episode wraps up Season 2, we begin with the aftermath of the terrifying onset of seemingly simultaneous attacks on Julie, Marielle, and Randall, which accelerate the “We gotta get out of this place” of it all. Sara comes…
Alison Sweeney Talks About What’s Next for Hannah and Mike After Carrot Cake Murder: A Hannah Swensen Mystery
[Warning: Spoilers for Carrot Cake Murder.] Everybody OK after that Hannah Swensen Mystery twist? Thankfully, our favorite crime-solving couple is still on speaking term, even if they’re on a break (hopefully not that kind of break). Most importantly, we already know this isn’t the last film in the series. No…
What They Said: Three Revealing Conversations from Survivor’s Remorse “Closure”
WARNING: Spoilers for Survivor’s Remorse “Closure” The latest episode of Starz’s Survivor’s Remorse featured conversations that showed characters really digging deep into their thoughts, emotions and motivations.
Two Takes: The Catch “The Knock-Off”
Who can you trust? If this episode of The Catch was any indication, the answer is just about nobody. Betrayal was running rampant as Felicity (Shivani Ghai) arose from the dead to seduce-con Margot, Gretchen (Maria Thayer, Gotham, The Mindy Project) played gold-hearted Alice 2.0 before swindling Ethan, Tessa jumped…
What They Said: Top 3 Quotable Moments from Preacher “El Valero”
Both Quincannon and Jesse refuse to give up on what they each think is rightfully theirs. While Jesse is struggling to face the consequences of his actions, Quincannon has laid his past demons to rest and is hellbent on moving forward and putting Annville on the map again. Despite a…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Supergirl “Worlds Finest”
Oh, Supergirl. That ending was cold. But I can’t hate on you because the latest episode has quickly become one of my favorites.
What They Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Black Sails “XXIII”
The dialogue in “XXIII” is phenomenal. It’s always a fun ride when Black Sails carries its viewers along without giving them the chance to catch their breath. When an episode moves at this unforgiving pace, there is no chance for a breather nor is there a respite from the information…
What Lucifer Said: Favorite quotes from Supernatural “O Brother, Where Art Thou?”
Supernatural episodes are almost always funny but thanks to the dialogue and a certain man speaking said dialogue, I laughed a lot during “O Brother, Where Art Thou?” You know, when I wasn’t busy fearing for Sam’s life or wondering what in the world was going on with Dean and…
What They Said: The Flash, “Legends Of Today” and Arrow, “Legends Of Yesterday”
Two nights of Arrow + The Flash = what more could we ask for?! I don’t know what it is about blending these shows, but I can’t help but feel that every time they come together, they somehow become greater than the sum of their parts. And that’s saying a lot…
What they Said: Top 4 Quotable Moments from Graceland “Little Bo Bleep”
Shoot outs. Fake outs. And long-awaited revelations. “Little Bo Bleep” was a jam-packed episode that wrapped up some loose ends and totally frayed others. Â It finally gave us one Sarkissian in jail and pulled back the curtain on Briggs’ master plan, but it also set up Jakes for a world…
What They Said: Favorite Quotes from Poldark “Part 4”
“What have I told you, I don’t require my wife to crochet and sip tea, but I do require her to remember she’s not a beast of burden.†No, I’m not talking about The Rolling Stones! I have to admit though, just for a second, the lyrics popped into my…
3 Moments of Goodness from Brooklyn Nine-Nine “Johnny and Dora”
The most satisfying part of this season’s finale has to the Jake and Amy kiss. Well, they kiss three times but the last one is the best one — and it means something. The Charles and Rosa dynamic was also great. I love how she’s convinced he doesn’t know anything…