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November 2017

Outlander North Carolina Season 3

Ten Must See Moments, Episode 310, Heaven & Earth

November 16, 2017

Episode 309, The Doldrums, was a bit doldrumey for me. Is that a word?  Wait, don’t beat me up yet! I’m not saying I didn’t like it.

I did like it, Jamie.

 

Ooops! Sorry, I forgot who I was talking to.  (I’ve watched The Wedding maybe ten x 1000 too many times. I hear the lines in my head. Do you?) Yes, I did like the episode but I guess after First Wife almost anything that follows would be somewhat of a letdown – unless it’s a repeat of The Wedding episode, of course.  There were some moments I truly loved.  The Man in the Moon scene was wonderful, Jamie’s comments about Claire’s silver hair and her reply that he would be considered the King of All Men in the 20th century for saying such things made me giggle and then Mr. Willoughby’s tale was great! You know, I didn’t like Willoughby in the book but I really like his character in the show.  The show has done for Willoughby what it did for Murtagh – made his character layered,  lovable and sympathetic.  I went back to last week’s blog post for my Top Ten Must See Moments for Episode 309 and I didn’t include Willoughby’s tale.  In the book, it just wasn’t something I cared about seeing on screen but the way it was adapted into this episode was a nice touch. Speaking of last week’s post, I have gathered my statistics and six of my top ten “must see moments” were included – #’s 2, 4, 5, 7, 9 and 10 – although maybe not exactly as written in the books.  I’m pretty excited about that and hope I can continue with my better than 50 percent streak in Episode 310, Heaven & Earth. It’s getting more difficult as we go along because I have to guess where the episode may be going in relation to the book. There’s a lot of material to cover and not a lot of time to do it in.

Just so you know, I’ve tried to figure out the meaning of the title of Episode 310, Heaven & Earth. Last week I could give you a pretty sure guess on The Doldrums. I can’t do that for this upcoming episode.  Of course, we’ve all heard the expression “move heaven and earth” to do something.  Maybe it will be a line? Or perhaps a scene or scenes? Or perhaps it has a more literal meaning.  I guess we will see.  Do you have any ideas? If so, please share. If not, we will find out soon enough as Season 3 seems to be going by at warp speed.  Nooooooooo!!!!  I can’t believe we only have four more episodes!!!  Let’s not talk about it because I will slip into the doldrums!

OK, now it’s time for me to get on with listing my Top Ten Must See Moments for Episode 310, Heaven & Earth.

Number One: The Gunner’s Wife

In Mrs. Johansen, the gunner’s wife, I had found an unexpected ally. An intelligent woman in her thirties, she had understood—despite her having only a few words of broken English, and my having no Swedish at all—what I wanted done, and had done it.

If Elias was my right hand, Annekje Johansen was the left. She had single-handedly taken over the responsibility of scalding the goats’ milk, patiently pounding hard biscuit—removing the weevils as she did so—to be mixed with it, and feeding the resulting mixture to those hands strong enough to digest it.

Just as I said last week about Aloysius O’Shaughnessy Murphy, the cook for the Artemis, I’m not sure the role of Annekje Johansen has been cast.  I love her in the books and it would be nice to see her in the show. She is such a key character for Claire (and Jamie) on board The Porpoise and I would love to hear her broken English! Ja?

Number Two: The One-Eyed Man From Edinburgh

He knew who I was, all right; I had seen it in his face when I opened the door. There was a great deal of tension in the leg under my hand. The injury was gory, but not serious, given suitable care; a deep gash scored down the calf of the leg. It had bled substantially, but there were no deep arteries cut; it had been well-wrapped with a piece of someone’s shirt, and the bleeding had nearly stopped when I unwound the homemade bandage.

“How did you do this, Mr. Tompkins?” I asked, standing up and reaching for the bottle of alcohol. He glanced up, his single eye alert and wary.

“Splinter wound, ma’am,” he answered, in the nasal tones I had heard once before. “A spar broke as I was a-standing on it.” The tip of his tongue stole out, furtively wetting his lower lip.

“I see.” I turned and flipped open the lid of my empty medicine box, pretending to survey the available remedies. I studied him out of the corner of one eye, while I tried to think how best to approach him. He was on his guard; tricking him into revelations or winning his trust were clearly out of the question.

My eyes flicked over the tabletop, seeking inspiration. And found it. With a mental apology to the shade of Aesculapius the physician, I picked up the late surgeon’s bone-saw, a wicked thing some eighteen inches long, a rust-flecked steel. I looked at this thoughtfully, turned, and laid the toothed edge of the instrument gently against the injured leg, just above the knee. I smiled charmingly into the seaman’s terrified single eye.

“Mr. Tompkins,” I said, “let us talk frankly.”

He’s back!!! Remember Sir Percival’s sidekick in Episode 307, Creme De Menthe? He was in the Print Shop when Young Ian and Brighid were, ah, let’s say getting better acquainted.  After the fire started, he made off with Jamie’s stash of seditious pamphlets putting Jamie at risk of being hangit – again.

Since it would be terribly tragic to subject that gorgeous neck to a hanging, Claire is loaded for bear – well, actually, she is loaded with a bone-saw. In the book, that’s enough to get Tompkins talking about everything and everybody, especially Sir Percival.

Number Three: The Moment of Grace

As I came up from the galley, the sun was going down into the ocean in a blaze that paved the western sea with gold like the streets of Heaven. I stopped for a moment, just a moment, transfixed by the sight.

It had happened many times before, but it always took me by surprise. Always in the midst of great stress, wading waist-deep in trouble and sorrow, as doctors do, I would glance out a window, open a door, look into a face, and there it would be, unexpected and unmistakable. A moment of peace.

The light spread from the sky to the ship, and the great horizon was no longer a blank threat of emptiness, but the habitation of joy. For a moment, I lived in the center of the sun, warmed and cleansed, and the smell and sight of sickness fell away; the bitterness lifted from my heart.

I never looked for it, gave it no name; yet I knew it always, when the gift of peace came. I stood quite still for the moment that it lasted, thinking it strange and not strange that grace should find me here, too.

Beautifully written by Diana.  Is this where the “Heaven” reference in the episode title comes into play, I wonder? This would be a wonderful scene with a voice over by Claire, in my opinion.

Number Four: The Death of a Friend

It was a virulent infection; he came to the sickbay heavy-eyed with fever and wincing at the light; six hours later he was delirious and unable to rise. The next dawn he pressed his cropped round head against my bosom, called me “Mother,” and died in my arms.

I did what had to be done throughout the day, and stood by Captain Leonard at sunset, when he read the burial service.

I don’t really want this to happen but it happens in the book. It is such a moving and emotional moment for Claire and leads her out onto the deck for the meeting with…

Number Five: The Governor

“Stop that!” a voice spoke behind me, and a hand seized my wrist, preventing me from slapping the rail yet again.

“Let go!” I struggled, but his grip was too strong.

“Stop,” he said again, firmly. His other arm came around my waist, and he pulled me back, away from the rail. “You mustn’t do that,” he said. “You’ll hurt yourself.”

“I don’t bloody care!” I wrenched against his grasp, but then slumped, defeated. What did it matter?

He let go of me then, and I turned to find myself facing a man I had never seen before. He wasn’t a sailor; while his clothes were crumpled and stale with long wear, they had originally been very fine; the dove-gray coat and waistcoat had been tailored to flatter his slender frame, and the wilted lace at his throat had come from Brussels.

“Who the hell are you?” I said in astonishment. I brushed at my wet cheeks, sniffed, and made an instinctive effort to smooth down my hair. I hoped the shadows hid my face.

He smiled slightly, and handed me a handkerchief, crumpled, but clean.

and this…

“I hear you,” he said quietly. “You shame me, Madam. I had kept to my cabin at the Captain’s orders, but I had no idea that the circumstances were such as you describe, or I assure you that I should have come to help, in spite of them.”

“Why?” I said blankly. “It isn’t your job.”

“Is it yours?” He swung around to face me, and I saw that he was handsome, in his late thirties, perhaps, with sensitive, fine-cut features, and large blue eyes, open in astonishment.

“Yes,” I said. He studied my face for a moment, and his own expression changed, fading from surprise to thoughtfulness.

That’s right. His expression changed, fading from surprise. Claire doesn’t recognize him but he sure recognizes her….and should!

“What it comes to, I think, is the knowledge that you are not God.” He paused, then added, softly, “And the very real regret that you cannot be.”

I sighed, feeling some of the tension drain out of me. The cool wind lifted the weight of my hair from my neck, and the curling ends drifted across my face, gentle as a touch.

“Yes,” I said.

He hesitated a moment, as though not knowing what to say next, then bent, picked up my hand, and kissed it, very simply, without affectation.

“Good night, Mrs. Malcolm,” he said, and turned away, the sound of his footsteps loud on the deck.

Good night, Governor. We’ll see you again soon!

Number Six: The Escape Plan

“We come to land?” I asked, and she nodded, with a wide, happy smile. She waved expansively upward, where sunlight fell through the grating overhead.

“Ja. Smell?” she said, sniffing vigorously in illustration. She beamed. “Land, ja! Water, grass. Is goot, goot!”

“I need to go to land,” I said, watching her carefully. “Go quiet. Secret. Not tell.”

“Ah?” Annekje’s eyes widened, and she looked at me speculatively. “Not tell Captain, ja?”

“Not tell anyone,” I said, nodding hard. “You can help?”

She was quiet for a moment, thinking. A big, placid woman, she reminded me of her own goats, adapting cheerfully to the queer life of shipboard, enjoying the pleasures of hay and warm company, thriving despite the lurching deck and stuffy shadows of the hold.

With that same air of capable adaptation, she looked up at me and nodded calmly.

“Ja, I help.”

Ja, I love Annekje! How do you pronounce her name anyway?  It sounds like this in my North Carolina brain – Ank-e-gee.  I am quite sure that is not correct.  Help!!!

Number Seven: The Disclosure

Captain Leonard bit his lip, then looked up.

“I had not meant to say anything to you, ma’am. But I—really I cannot in honor keep silence. Mrs. Fraser, I know your name, and I know what your husband is.”

“Really?” I said, trying to keep control of my own emotions. “What is he?”

The boy looked surprised at that. “Why, ma’am, he is a criminal.” He paled a little. “You mean—you did not know?”

“Yes, I knew that,” I said dryly. “Why are you telling me, though?”

He licked his lips, but met my eyes bravely enough. “When I discovered your husband’s identity, I wrote it in the ship’s log. I regret that action now, but it is too late; the information is official. Once I reach Jamaica, I must report his name and destination to the authorities there, and likewise to the commander at the naval barracks on Antigua. He will be taken when the Artemis docks.” He swallowed. “And if he is taken—”

“He’ll be hanged,” I said, finishing what he could not.

Captain Leonard, do you want Claire to take the bone-saw to you too? You might want to talk to Harry Tompkins, then just take your quill and mark through your entry in the log.  Mistakes happen, dude. You’ll thank me later, believe me!

Number Eight: The Foiled Escape

Standing just out of sight, I watched as she went on arguing, thrusting her goatling urgently in his face, forcing him a step back, a step to the side, maneuvering him artfully just far enough that I could slip past behind him. No more than a moment, now; he was almost in place. When she had drawn him away from the head of the gangplank, she would drop the goat and cause sufficient confusion in the catching of it that I would have a minute or two to make my escape.

I shifted nervously from foot to foot. My feet were bare; it would be easier to run on the sandy beach. The sentry moved, his red-coated back fully turned to me. A foot more, I thought, just a foot more.

Run for it, Claire!

Directly before him stood Annekje Johansen and her goat, still in heated conversation with the sentry.

“What is this?” Captain Leonard demanded angrily. “Remove this animal from the deck at once! Mr. Holford, what are you thinking of?”

Annekje’s eyes flicked from the captain to my face, instantly divining what had gone wrong. She stood still, head bowed to the captain’s scolding, then marched away toward the hatchway to the goats’ hold, clutching her yearling. As she passed, one big blue eye winked solemnly. We would try again. But how?

Dang! Captain Leonard is such a spoilsport but I shall not give up on Annekje!

Number Nine: The Leap

“Jump,” she said simply.

“You’re crazy!” I said in horror.

She chuckled in deep satisfaction at my understanding. “Ja,” she said. “But it vork. Vater move you.” She pointed to the end of the Mouchoir Passage, to the coast of Hispaniola, and stirred the water in the pan once more. We stood side by side, watching the ripples of her manufactured current die away.

Annekje glanced thoughtfully sideways at me. “You try not drown, ja?”

I took a deep breath and brushed the hair out of my eyes.

“Ja,” I said. “I’ll try.”

Ja, ja, Claire! It vill vork. Vhat vould be vorse than drowning? Living vithout Jamie, you silly voman!

Number Ten: The Search

“Tell me where my wife is!” he said, in a tone that had made stronger men than Harry Tompkins fall over their feet to obey.

“She’s lost!” the man blurted. “Gone overboard!” “What!” He was so stunned that he let go his hold. Overboard. Gone overboard. Lost.

“When?” he demanded. “How? Damn you, tell me what happened!” He advanced on the seaman, fists clenched.

The seaman was backing away, rubbing his arm and panting, a look of furtive satisfaction in his one eye.

“Don’t worry, your honor,” he said, a queer, jeering tone in his voice. “You won’t be lonesome long. You’ll join her in hell in a few days—dancing from the yardarm over Kingston Harbor!”

Too late, Jamie heard the footfall on the boards behind him. He had no time even to turn his head before the blow fell.

Somebody just stepped into a big pile of doo doo and don’t blame the goat! There will be a price to pay for that!

There was the sound of a door opening, and bright light struck him in the eyes with the force of a blow.He winced, closing his eyes against the glare of the lantern.

“Mr. Fraser,” a soft, well-bred voice said. “I am—truly sorry. I wish you to know that, at least.”

Through a cracked eyelid, he saw the drawn, harried face of young Leonard—the man who had taken Claire. The man wore a look of regret. Regret! Regret, for killing her.

Fury pulled him up against the weakness, and sent him lunging across the slanted deck in an instant. There was an outcry as he hit Leonard and bore him backward into the passage, and a good, juicy thunk! as the bugger’s head hit the boards. People were shouting, and shadows leapt crazily all round him as the lanterns swayed, but he paid no attention.

He smashed Leonard’s jaw with one great blow, his nose with the next. The weakness mattered nothing. He would spend all his strength and die here glad, but let him batter and maim now, feel the bones crack and the blood hot and slick on his fists. Blessed Michael, let him avenge her first!

There were hands on him, snatching and jerking, but they didn’t matter. They would kill him now, he thought dimly, and that didn’t matter, either. The body under him jerked and twitched between his legs, and lay still.

Sorry about your nose, Captain, but obviously you only thought you knew who Jamie Fraser was.  See, if you had only just taken your quill as I suggested earlier and scratched out that log entry then Claire wouldn’t have been forced to jump overboard and Jamie wouldn’t have had to beat you to a pulp.

He had been nearly unconscious, in fact, when the door to his prison had opened, and a strong smell of goat assailed his nostrils. He had no idea how the woman had got him up the ladder to the afterdeck, or why. He had only a confused memory of her babbling urgently to him in broken English as she pulled him along, half-supporting his weight as he stumbled and slid on the rain-wet decking.

He remembered the last thing she had said, though, as she pushed him toward the tilting taffrail.

“She is not dead,” the woman had said. “She go there”—pointing at the rolling sea—“you go, too. Find her!” and then she had bent, got a hand in his crutch and a sturdy shoulder under his rump, and heaved him neatly over the rail and into the churning water.

Hummmm….according to Merriam-Webster, crutch is defined as follows:

Vell, Annekje, you sly voman! It’s all goot, right? Vink, Vink!

So, there you have my ten moments of Outlander Must See TV for Episode 310, Heaven & Earth. What’s your thoughts about the upcoming episode? If you are book reader, what are the moments you most want to see?  If you’re not a book reader, I hope I haven’t spoiled too much for you and would love to hear what you think might happen in the episode.

I’ll be taking a break from the blog next week to celebrate Thanksgiving with my family. I have so many things to be thankful for this year and I am especially thankful for the people this blog has brought into my life and for the new friendships I have made.  Yes, I am talking about you, my dear readers. I am very humbled by the support I have received. Thank you so much for allowing me into your lives and for taking time out of your busy day to read my crazy ramblings. I do not take it for granted and I pray all of you who will be celebrating Thanksgiving (I know all of you don’t live in the US) have a wonderful holiday with family, friends and loved ones.

By the way and speaking of family, if you haven’t joined the Outlander North Carolina Facebook group, you’re missing out! The group is a great Outlander family!  Being a resident of North Carolina is not a requirement to join the group and we’d love to have you! Click here to join:  Outlander North Carolina Facebook Group.

Until next time, Je Suis Prest! Are you?

All quotes used in this article are from Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. Photo credits: STARZ

Season 3

Ten Must See Moments, Episode 309, The Doldrums

November 10, 2017

Last week’s episode, First Wife, was GREAT! I loved every second of it and have rewatched several times – as any good obsessed Outlander fan should do! I loved how so much of the dialogue was used from the book even though the scenes in which that dialogue occurred may have been presented differently and sometimes not in the same order.  The adaption was wonderful, the acting by Sam, Caitriona and the whole cast was amazing. I loved Jamie’s flashback to Hogmanay at Lallybroch. I could actually feel his loneliness and see why he fell into the wicked clutches of that woman I can now call by name, Laoghaire.  Overall, it was simply a phenomenal episode and ranks as one of my favorites of the three seasons.  There was so much of the magic I felt from Season 1 in this episode. I just loved it and as you’ll recall from last week’s post, I had ten must see moments for Episode 308.  I’ve looked and it appears I got 6.5 right! Not too shabby and certainly better than I expected especially given there was only an hour to work with.  Now, I have my sights set on Episode 309, The Doldrums.

As I just mentioned Episode 309 is named The Doldrums. Well, I’ve always associated the doldrums with being in a bored or depressed state.  Kind of like, we say down here in North Carolina, “She’s done an’ got herself all down in the doldrums.”  Translation:  “She is depressed.” Anyway, I decided to look the word up because what could doldrums have to do with Outlander.  I never get the doldrums when I’m watching Outlander.  I do get the doldrums when we’re in that dreaded worse-than-a-four-letter word, Droughtlander.  So, what a strange title for an episode.  I did a Google search because we all know you can trust Google and everything you read on the internet (wink, wink).  And I was right! I found two meanings and one of them is actually nautical:

Doldrums:

  1. A spell of listlessness or despondency.
  2. Between the tradewinds of the northern and southern hemisphere lies an area of calm winds, close to the equator, called the doldrums.  Since sailing vessels rely upon the wind, a trip through the doldrums is often long, hot and boring. However, on the flip side, strong thunderstorms or squalls can appear without warning with high wind gusts.

My prediction for what this means for Episode 309? I have no idea but I thought you might like to know what the word means.  No, seriously, my prediction is that the episode may take on both meanings, i.e., the passengers and crew of the Artemis may emotionally experience the doldrums as they literally try to sail through the doldrums. Now that I have educated you on the meaning of the word and without any further ado, here are my Top Ten Must See Moments for Episode 309, The Doldrums.

Number One – The Return To France:

The grave was set in the small cemetery reserved for the convent, under the buttresses of the nearby cathedral. Even though the air from the Seine was damp and cold, and the day cloudy, the walled cemetery held a soft light, reflected from the blocks of pale limestone that sheltered the small plot from wind.  In the winter, there were no shrubs or flowers growing, but leafless aspens and larches spread a delicate tracery against the sky, and a deep green moss cradled the stones, thriving despite the cold.

It was a small stone, made of a soft white marble. A pair of cherub’s wings spread out across the top, sheltering the single word that was the stone’s only other decoration. “Faith,” it read.

To include this scene would mean that the show would have to go where the book goes – back to France.  I’m not sure that will happen but I love this scene and to see Mother Hildegarde again would be awesome.

I took a deep breath and wiped my cheeks with a corner of my cloak. “It was a long time ago, though.” I rose slowly to my feet and turned to find Mother Hildegarde watching me with an expression of deep sympathy and interest.

“I have noticed,” she said slowly, “that time does not really exist for mothers, with regard to their children. It does not matter greatly how old the child is—in the blink of an eye, the mother can see the child again as it was when it was born, when it learned to walk, as it was at any age—at any time, even when the child is fully grown and a parent itself.”

I know, I know.  There’s probably not enough time for this scene as written in the book but is it a tear jerker or what?

Number Two – The Unexpected Passenger:

I whirled to look, and saw what had caused him to break off.  Fergus was on deck, reaching up to help down a girl perched awkwardly above him on the railing, her long blond hair whipping in the wind.

“What in the name of hold God d’ye mean by this, ye wee coofs?” he was demanding, by the time I made my way into earshot through the obstacle course of lines and seamen. He loomed menacingly over the pair, a foot taller than either of them.

“We are married” Fergus said…”

Oh, I think Jamie is going to explode over this! I also don’t think Claire’s going to be too happy about it considering who Fergus married.  Plus, if you are book reader, you know the final result of this scene means a long, long, looooong boat ride for Jamie & Claire – if you know what I mean.  I am beginning to see why they are calling this episode, The Doldrums.

Number Three – The Cook:

“Out,” he said.

“Good morning,” I said, as cordially as possible. “My name is Claire Fraser.

“Out,” he repeated in the same graveled tones.

“I am Mrs. Fraser, the wife of the supercargo, and ship’s surgeon for this voyage,” I said, giving him eyeball for eyeball. “I require six gallons of boiling water, when convenient, for cleaning of the head.”

His small bright blue eyes grew somewhat smaller and brighter, the black pupils of them training on me like gunbarrels.

“I am Aloysius O’Shaughnessy Murphy,” he said. “Ship’s cook. And I require ye to take yer feet off my fresh-washed deck. I do not allow women in my galley.”

I have no idea if they even cast the role of Murphy.  If you know, please chime in in the comments.  I love his character in the books and I can see this standoff with our strong-willed, 20th century Claire and Mr. Murphy, can’t you? I think he might be the Mrs. Fitz of Season 1.

Number Four – The Seasickness:

“Let’s think of something pleasant,” I said, pitching my voice to be as low and soothing as possible. “Think of Lallybroch, of the hillside above the house. Think of the pine trees there – can you smell the needles? Think of the smoke coming up from the kitchen chimney on a clear day, and an apple in your hand. Think about how it feels in your hand, all hard and smooth, and then- “

“Sassenach?” Both Jamie’s eyes were open, and fixed on me in intense concentration. Sweat gleamed in the hollow of his temples.

“Yes?”

“Go away.”

“What?”

Go away,” he repeated, very gently, “or I shall break your neck. Go away now.”

I rose with dignity and went out.

Really, Claire? Jamie is throwing his guts up and you want to try to alleviate it by talking to him about the smell of pine trees, smoke and apples? Yes, go away, Claire. Don’t go away mad – just go away.

Number Five – The Needles:

Hearing approaching footsteps, Fergus glanced back over his shoulder. Then he gasped, whirled round, and crossed himself, eyes bulging.

“Not … one … word, if ye please,” Jamie said between clenched teeth.

Fergus opened his mouth, but nothing came out.

And this….

The obvious fright and concern in her face stopped Jamie from whatever acerbic remark he had been about to make. His face relaxed slightly, making the slender gold needles that protruded from behind his ears twitch like ant’s feelers.

“It’s all right,” he said gruffly. “It’s only some rubbish of the Chinee’s, to cure the puking.”

Jamie’s mouth twitched, his normal sense of humor beginning to reassert itself. “I feel like a bloody ill-wish doll that someone’s been poking full o’ pins,” he said. “But then I havena vomited in the last quarter-hour, so I suppose it must work.”

Hee, hee, hee! I so want to see Sam with these needles sticking out everywhere. All I can say is this will be a hilarious scene – if included!

Number Six – The Pictures (Again):

He laughed, then evidently reminded by the word “pictures,” reached into his coat and drew out the little packet of photographs. He was cautious about them, never taking them out where they might be seen by anyone, even Fergus, but we were alone back here, with little chance of interruption.

The moon was bright enough to see Brianna’s face, glowing and mutable, as he thumbed slowly through the pictures. The edges were becoming frayed, I saw.

Sigh! Might we get a second chance at the pictures?

He thumbed through the pictures slowly, absorbed as he always was by the sight of his daughter’s face, so like his own. I watched him quietly, sharing his silent joy at this promise of our immortality.

And maybe this?

Jamie’s shoulders shook as he leaned against the rail, whether with laughter or some other emotion, I couldn’t tell. His linen glowed white with moonlight, and his head was dark against the moon. At last he turned and pulled me to him.

“I think she will do verra well,” he whispered. “For no matter what poor gowk has fathered her, no lass has ever had a better mother. Kiss me, Sassenach, for believe me—I wouldna change ye for the world.”

Number Seven – The Really, Really, Really Dumb Decision:

“I,” said Jamie, “am a fool.” He spoke broodingly, watching Fergus and (Fergus’ unexpected passenger), who were absorbed in close conversation by the rail on the opposite side of the ship.

“What makes you think so?” I asked, though I had a reasonably good idea. The fact that all four of the married persons aboard were living in unwilling celibacy had given rise to a certain air of suppressed amusement among the members of the crew, whose celibacy was involuntary.

“I have spent twenty years longing to have ye in my bed,” he said, verifying my assumption, “and within a month of having ye back again, I’ve arranged matters so that I canna even kiss ye without sneakin’ behind a hatch cover, and even then, half the time I look round to find Fergus looking cross-eyed down his nose at me, the little bastard! And no one to blame for it but my own foolishness. What did I think I was doing?” he demanded rhetorically, glaring at the pair across the way, who were nuzzling each other with open affection.

Oh yeah, I’d say the doldrums are definitely setting in here! And I think this may be the beginning of the lusty build up towards that wonderful, much anticipated Turtle Soup episode!

Number Eight – The Rescue:

I hadn’t seen him jump from the rail; no one had, with all eyes fixed on the hunt. But there he was, some distance away from the melee surrounding the boat, his shaven head glistening like a fishing float as he wrestled in the water with an enormous bird, its wings churning the water like an eggbeater.

Alerted by my cry, Jamie tore his eyes from the hunt, goggled for an instant, and before I could move or speak, was perched on the rail himself.

My shout of horror coincided with a surprised roar from Murphy, but Jamie was gone, too, lancing into the water near the Chinaman with barely a splash.

Well, there goes Willoughby with Jamie right in behind him! Jamie, if you want to make it to Turtle Soup, you better get on back in the boat. Sometimes, I wonder why you do what you do!

Number Nine – The Quickie:

“Aye, well, perhaps it’s only he wants the feathers to make quills of. Come along below, Sassenach. Ye can help me dry my back.” He had spoken jokingly, but as soon as the words were out of his mouth, his face went blank. He glanced quickly to port, where the crew was arguing and jostling over the remains of the shark, while Fergus and (his unexpected passenger) cautiously examined the severed head, lying gape-jawed on the deck. Then his eyes met mine, with a perfect understanding.

Thirty seconds later, we were below in his cabin. Cold drops from his wet hair rained over my shoulders and slid down my bosom, but his mouth was hot and urgent. The hard curves of his back glowed warm through the soaked fabric of the shirt that stuck to them.

Though not exactly the Turtle Soup scene, it still has its own humorous and passionate merits.  Although I’d love to see it, I have my doubts that we will.  My prediction is that they are going to make us wait until Turtle Soup to see Jamie & Claire “together”. Still, I predict the sexual tension in this episode will be pretty intense.

Number Ten – The Oath :

“Aye, well,” he said slowly. “I’ve taken an oath now and then, myself—and none of them lightly.” He reached out and took my right hand, his fingers resting on my silver ring. “Some weigh heavier than others, though,” he said, watching my face in turn.

He was very close to me, the sun from the hatchway overhead striping the linen of his sleeve, the skin of his hand a deep ruddy bronze where it cradled my own white fingers, and the glinting silver of my wedding ring.

“It does,” I said softly, speaking to his thought. “You know it does.” I laid my other hand against his chest, its gold ring glowing in a bar of sunlight. “But where one vow can be kept, without damage to another …?”

He sighed, deeply enough to move the hand on my chest, then bent and kissed me, very gently.

There’s no need to argue, Jamie. Claire’s a stubborn one and you know it.  In fact, you said it in Episode 307, Crème De Menthe. Still as stubborn as ever! And maybe we needed that episode to remind us of Claire’s devotion to her oath and her patients in preparation for this episode?

So, there you have my ten moments of Outlander Must See TV for Episode 309. What’s your thoughts about the upcoming episode? If you are book reader, what are the moments you most want to see?  If you’re not a book reader, I hope I haven’t spoiled too much for you and would love to hear what you think might happen in the episode.  And regardless of how you have come to love Outlander, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading Outlander North Carolina where suffering from obsession to Outlander is a daily thing. By the way, if you haven’t joined the Outlander North Carolina Facebook group, you’re missing out! Being a resident of North Carolina is not a requirement and we’d love to have you! Click here to join:  Outlander North Carolina Facebook Group.

Until next week, Je Suis Prest! Are you?

All quotes used in this article are from Voyager by Diana Gabaldon. Photo credits: STARZ

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Outlander North Carolina

Ten Must See Moments, Episode 308, First Wife

November 3, 2017

One of the most memorable passages from the book is what I believe may be coming in Episode 308, First Wife.  We’ve just experienced this wonderful reunion we’ve been longing for. Now, Jamie and Claire are on the way back to Lallybroch with Young Ian in tow.  All is bliss, all is wonderful, all will live happily ever after, all is …. what the freaking heck just happened?!?! Yes, as I sailed along happily into that next passage in the book, my whole world got turned upside down and backwards. How could this happen?  How could Jamie be so stupid? How could he?!?! I think I probably threw the book on the floor again.  If you’re a book reader, you know what I mean. If you’re not a book reader, I think you will have the same reaction to the adaption of this passage if it’s done somewhat according to the book.  So, for me, this has been an episode I’ve been looking forward to for a lot of different reasons.  There should be a lot, I say a lot, of emotions all over the place in this episode and I can’t wait to see it play out onscreen.  Here are my Ten MUST SEE moments for Episode 308, First Wife.

Number 1: The Reception (or Lack of One) at Lallybroch.

I caught a quick glance passing between Ian and Jenny; and a longer stare, unreadable, exchanged between Jenny and Jamie. A stranger here in more ways than one, I kept my own eyes cast down, observing under the shelter of my lashes.  Jamie sat to my left; I could feel the tiny movement between us as the two stiff fingers of his right hand drummed their small tattoo against his thigh.

The conversation, what there was of it, petered out, and the room fell into an uncomfortable silence.

Yeah, Jamie, you should be worried.  And, Jenny, this whole mess is your fault so don’t take it out on Claire.

Number 2: The Thrashing (Part One) and The Thrashing (Part Two).

“Well,” said Ian slowly, “as I’ve told the lad he’s going to be thrashed, and he kens verra well he’s earned it.  I can’t just go back on my word. But as for me doing it – no, I dinna think I will.” A faint gleam of humor showed in the soft brown eyes. He reached into a drawer of the sideboard, drew out a thick leather strap, and thrust it into Jamie’s hand. “You do it.”

Well, Jamie, I must say that kind of serves you right.

 “Finally Jamie dropped his arm, and wiped his brow. He held out a hand to Ian, slumped over the fence. “All right, lad?” Young Ian straightened up, with a little difficulty this time, and pulled up his breeks. “Aye, Uncle. Thank ye.” The boy’s voice was a little thick, but calm and steady. He took Jamie’s outstretched hand. To my surprise, though, instead of leading the boy back to the house, Jamie thrust the strap into Ian’s other hand.

“Your turn,” he announced, striding over to the gate and bending over.

Will Jamie drop his britches again? This could prove to be interesting! (Diana writes breeches in the book. Britches, on the other hand, is what we call breeches here in North Carolina, i.e., Boy, you’re gettin’ too big for your britches!)

Number 3: The Retelling of the Story of the Frenchman’s Gold.

“Well, it was and it wasn’t, Sassenach.” He answered, neatly sucking in his stomach. “I’d been expecting gold bullion; that’s what the rumor said that Louis would send. And thirty thousand pounds’ worth of gold bullion would make a good-sized hoard. But all there was in the hollow was a box, less than a foot long, and a small leather pouch. The box did have gold in it, though – and silver, too.”

All season long I’ve been wondering what happened to that little clip from the Season 3 trailer where Jamie is calling out for Claire.

When I saw that clipped, it tore my guts out (sorry, another Jamie-ism) and then when I thought it would happen in Episode 303, All Debts Paid, it didn’t. Could this be the episode when we see it as Jamie recounts the event to Claire and his search for the gold . . . and for her?  P.S.  How does one neatly suck in their stomach? Enquiring minds really need to know.

Number 4: The BIG Reveal.

“He was interrupted by a sudden bang as the door flew open and rebounded from the wall.  Startled, we turned to look. In the doorway stood a young girl I had never seen before. She was perhaps fifteen or sixteen, with long flaxen hair and big blue eyes. The eyes were somewhat bigger than normal, and filled with an expression of horrified shock as she stared at me. Her gaze moved slowly from my tangled hair to my bare breasts, and down the slopes of my naked body, until it encountered Jamie, lying prone between my thighs, white-faced with a shock equal to hers.”

“Daddy!” She said in tones of total outrage. “Who is that woman!”

See why my stomach got all in an uproar when I got to this part!  Oh good grief, Jamie!

Number 5: The ONE We Shall Not Speak Of.

He had barely pulled them on when another female figure burst into the room skidded to a halt, and stood staring, bug-eyed, at the bed.

“It’s true!” She whirled toward Jamie, fists clenched against the cloak she still wore. “It’s true! It’s the Sassenach witch! How could you do such a thing to me, Jamie Fraser?”

Holy Moly, Good Golly, Geez Louise and Katie, bar the door! That’ll jerk the rug right out from under your feet. At this point, I was ready to kill myself one very handsome James Alexander Malcolm MacKenzie Fraser! This was not working out at all as I had planned!

Number 6: The BIG Knock-Down, Drag-Out.

I lurched toward the door, but he caught me by the waist, yanking me back.

He whirled me toward himself and kissed me again, hard enough to leave a quicksilver taste of blood in my mouth.  It was neither affection nor desire, but a blind passion, a determination to possess me.  He was through talking.

So was I. I pulled my mouth away and slapped him hard across the face, fingers curved to rake his flesh.

He jerked back, cheek scraped raw, then twisted his fingers tight in my hair, bent and took my mouth again, deliberate and savage, ignoring the kicks and blows I rained on him.

And this….

We were doing our level best to kill each other, fueled by the rage of years apart – mine for his sending me away, his for my going, mine for (the one we shall not speak of), his for Frank.

Remember in Season 1, The Reckoning, when Jamie & Claire have that wee stramash down by the river?

I think it will pale in comparison to the one in this Episode 308. I can’t look! Just let me know when it’s is over!

Number 7: The Betrayal by Jenny

I didn’t ask. Jenny had found a dress for me – one of the elder girls’ – and there was no conversation beyond the necessary as she helped me into it.

When I was dressed and shod, my hair combed and put up, I turned to her.

“I want to go “ I said. “Now.”

She didn’t argue, but only looked me over, to see that I was strong enough.  She nodded then, dark lashes covering the slanted blue eyes so like her brother’s.

“I think that’s best,” she said quietly.

Jenny, this is the moment I began hating you. Dang, girl!  To love your brother so much, you could have at least found him a better match. And then, to so quickly dismiss the love of his life right out of his life? Are you serious?  Did you forget what the two of you went through together?  You’ll be glad to know, Jenny, that I started to like you better later in your life.  Like only five books later!

Number 8: The Shot Heard Round the World.

“Let go!”

“But Auntie Claire, it’s not that!”

“What’s not that?” Caught by his tone of desperation, I glanced up.  His long, narrow face was tight with the anguished need to make me understand.

“Uncle Jamie didna stay to tend (the one we shall not speak of)!”

“Then why did he send you?”

He took a deep breath, renewing his grip on my reins.

“She shot him. He sent me to find ye, because he’s dying.”

I know, Claire.  What he did was unforgivable but get your butt on back to Lallybroch. Jamie needs you! You’ll thank me later!

The Explanation.

“I was here,” he said softly, “but not home.”

I could feel the pull of it around me – the house, the family, the place itself. I, who couldn’t remember a childhood home, felt the urge to sit down here and stay forever, enmeshed in the thousand strands of daily life, bound securely to this bit of earth. What would it have meant to him, who had lived all his life in the strength of that bond, endured his exile in the hope of coming back to it, and then arrived to find himself still rootless?

“And I suppose I was lonely,” he said quietly.  He lay still on the pillow, eyes closed.

Break, please. Sob!!! He missed Claire so much! Continuing on…

“So…there she was, a widow wi’ two bairns. She needed a man, that was plain enough. I needed . . . something.” He gazed into the fire, where the low flame glimmered through the red mass of the peat; heat without much light. “I supposed that we might help each other.”

That’s honorable, Jamie, but her? What were you thinking?  By the way, did you know if you leave out that comma in the line “She needed a man, that was plain enough.”, you get this “She needed a man that was plain enough.”  I read it that way the first time and thought, “Hey, there ain’t nothing plain about Jamie Fraser!”

Number Ten: The Man with No Name.

“For so many years,” he said, “for so long. I have been so many things, so many different men.” I felt him swallow, and he shifted slightly, the linen of his nightshirt rustling with starch.

“I was Uncle to Jenny’s children, and Brother to her and Ian. ‘Milord’ to Fergus and ‘Sir’ to my tenants. ‘Mac Dubh’ to the men of Ardsmuir and ‘MacKenzie’ to the other servants at Helwater. ‘Malcolm the printer’, then ‘Jamie Roy’ at the docks.” The hand stroked my hair, slowly, with a whispering sound like the wind outside. “But here,” he said, so softly I could barely hear him, “here in the dark, with you . . . I have no name.”

I lifted my face toward his, and took the warm breath of him between my own lips.

“I love you,” I said, and did not need to tell him how much I meant it.

Swoon!!! Jamie Fraser, you say the most hopelessly, gloriously, wonderful romantic things. Can we clone you?  Gosh, I love this story – the love shared and the relationship between Jamie & Claire just stirs my heart!!! I am hopelessly addicted!

There you have my ten moments of Outlander Must See TV for Episode 308. If you are book reader, what are the moments you most want to see?  If you’re not a book reader, I hope I haven’t spoiled too much for you plus I’d love to know what you expect?  And regardless of how you have come to love Outlander, I’d love to hear from you in the comments below.

As always, thanks for reading Outlander North Carolina where suffering from obsession to Outlander is a daily thing. By the way, if you haven’t joined the Outlander North Carolina Facebook group, you’re missing out! Being a resident of North Carolina is not a requirement and we’d love to have you! Click here to join:  Outlander North Carolina Facebook Group.

Until next week, Je Suis Prest! Are you?

 

Outlander North Carolina Quotes Season 3

What The Outlander World Needs Now -10 Things To Make You Smile

November 1, 2017

Remember this song from the sixties – What The World Needs Now Is Love, Sweet Love? Yes, I know I’ve just seriously dated myself and some of you youngins (that’s what we North Carolinians call a young person) have probably never heard of this particular song. If you haven’t, the song is really good and has a great message and you should listen to it. Ahem…rambling. Where was I? Oh yes. On a very serious note, it’s been a rough few days for the Outlander community. Things have gotten pretty nasty in some arenas. I’m not here to discuss any of that. I’m also not going to critique the last two episodes (A. Malcolm & Crème De Menthe) which have caused so much controversy in our fandom. Nope, the purpose of this post is to bring a little lightheartedness to all of you Outlander fans – book readers and non-book readers, show watchers and non-show watchers. I think we all need a little laughter as well as a good dose of love. Don’t you?

Hoping that you would say yes to that question, I went ahead and picked out a few humorous quotes from Outlander, Book 1, to share with you. I narrowed it down to 10 which was really hard. Diana’s characters make me laugh – well, some of them anyway since there are those we shall not speak of. (In honor of Halloween, I watched M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Village” and that line just kind of stuck with me. Sorry, I digress again.) I hope these quotes brighten your day as they did mine. While looking these up, I was also reminded of why I fell in love with Outlander to begin with – the books and the show. I hope they do the same for you! Love, hugs and laughter, Outlander family!!!

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Do you have a favorite humorous quote from the book or the show? Share it in the comments!

As always, thanks for reading Outlander North Carolina where suffering from obsession to Outlander is a daily thing. By the way, if you haven’t joined the Outlander North Carolina Facebook group, you’re missing out! Being a resident of North Carolina is not a requirement and we’d love to have you around! Click here to join:  Outlander North Carolina Facebook Group.

(All quotes are from Outlander by Diana Gabaldon. Copyright© 1991 by Diana Gabaldon. All rights reserved.)