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February 2020

Fraser's Ridge Outlander North Carolina Pre-Revolutionary War Period Season 5 The Fiery Cross Uncategorized

ONC Admin Choice Awards–“Between Two Fires”

February 28, 2020

Welcome back to the ONC Administrators’ Choice Awards for season five!  Now until the end of Season 5, (we refuse to think about it), some of the ONC administrators and myself will be voting on our “Bests” from the latest Outlander episode.  We enjoyed this fun way to briefly recap each episode last season, and hope you enjoy it as we do! This week’s voting contributors are Dawn Woo, Mitzie Munroe, Harmony Tersanschi, Traci Thompson, Stephanie Bryant and Nancy Roach. So, without further ado, the winners for episode 2, Between Two Fires are…

Mitzie – Bree teaching Roger how to shoot by adjusting his stance, leaning in close and laying her head on his shoulder, breathlessly telling him to breathe.

Stephanie– How happy Bree is when she’s with Jemmy. Glad to see that she still can have some happiness even after she heard Bonnet was alive. I was afraid the terror we saw on her face and in her drawings would linger throughout the episode.

Harmony – I really enjoyed the interaction between Claire & Marsali when she was speaking to her about becoming her apprentice.

Dawn W.- I really liked the moment when Claire And Marsali looked at each other when Marsali was processing/butchering  the goat. It was a moment where you knew that they were comfortable in their relationship with each other. 

Nancy– I have to agree with Marsali’s reaction to Claire’ corpse and invitation to assist her. 

Mitzie – Marsali “Don’t make me say it, Claire. Don’t make me say it. Was she right, my mom, was she?” And Claire’s response, “I’m not a witch”! I laughed out loud during that exchange!

Stephanie– Mr. Fanning “It’s getting worse and worse, this country is going to the dogs”
Scary to hear a line like that, very apropos to modern day, in my opinion.

Harmony – I’m with Mitzie on this one, “Don’t make me say it Claire. Don’t make me say it”. That had me cracking up!

Dawn W.– I think I liked what Murtagh said toward the end when they were back in the Regulator camp. He corrected one of the men who said that Jamie was fighting for the Redcoats. Murtagh said that Jamie was fighting with his his men just like he was fighting the Regulators. (They were both standing with their men.)

Traci – both Marsali’s “Don’t make me say it” and Fanning’s “this country is going to the dogs.” One was funny & hilariously acted, and the other puts things in perspective – someone’s always thought the country was going to the dogs in one way or another!

Nancy– All Marsali’s lines when she walked in on Claire and the corpse.

Mitzie – Lauren Lyle has my vote this week. I am really liking her character development these last couple seasons. She was so funny acting all shocked and affronted when Claire showed her the body still in her surgery, but then she looked excited about jumping in and learning all she can from Claire.

Stephanie– Have to agree with Mitzie, Lauren is so good as Marsali! I like the way the she responded to Claire’s offer to help… from outraged,to suspicious to the beginnings of acceptance.

Harmony – Yup, Lauren Lyle for me as well. I love that we’re seeing more of her this season!

Dawn W.– Lauren Lyle

Traci – Yes, Lauren shone in this episode! I find myself liking her more and more.

Nancy– I have to agree Lauren Lyle stole the show in this one. I think her acting talent has inspired the writers to write more lines for her this season and make her part bigger.

Mitzie – Bonnet not yielding mercy and instead going in and cutting the bridge of the nose/eyes of that man. Not that I expected anything less from him, but he had no qualms to do that in front of a crowd and so it shocked me that he felt safe enough in that company to not suffer any repercussions from his actions. He feels like he can do absolutely anything and get away with it. It’s going to make psychopathic Bonnet even more dangerous and unpredictable.

Stephanie– Bonnet mentioning he was a father. Who would think he cared? I’m not sure he’d really say that but I guess it’s a set-up for the future plot line.

Harmony – Bonnet being so close & mentioning being a father.

Dawn W.– Bonnet “….after all, I’m a father now.”

Traci – Murtagh still hanging around (wasn’t he supposed to “be hard to find?”) and Marsali becoming the surgery sidekick – but I like it, it works!

Nancy– The realistic tar and feathering scene. I have seen this portrayed in movies, but don’t think they showed the aftermath of burnt flesh. My dog even barked during the act of tar and feathering. Also Claire hiding a corpse in the surgery and deceiving a family by burying a coffin full of rocks. (See more info on this in my answer to least liked overall award.)

Mitzie – Roger and Bree’s exchange during target shooting practice about Tufty Fluffytail. Brought back memories from when I was a kid, obsessively reading Ranger Rick.

Stephanie– Marsali asking in a roundabout way if Claire was really a witch. I mean I’m sure Laoghaire pounded it into her head growing up so she was bound to think it at some point, with Claire practicing her 20th century medicine.

Harmony – Marsali and Claire’s whole dialogue when they were there with the body. That was such a great & well acted scene!

Dawn W.– The whole autopsy scene with Marsali And Claire. Marsali’s facial expressions…her dialogue…her body language. Don’t make me say it Claire!

Traci – Far and away the Claire & Marsali scene!

Nancy– Again Marsali, Claire and the corpse.

Mitzie – Overall I liked seeing Roger and Bree trying to still adjust to their new life here in the past. Bree is having an easier time with finding her niches but Roger is struggling. He’s always bringing in modern references; Tufty, Nancy Drew, Jeremiah was a Bullfrog. It’s as if he is desperate to not forget or it helps to ground him in such an unfamiliar circumstance.

Stephanie-Jamie…trying to keep his emotions in check. I really felt his dilemma being caught “between two fires”. His expressions said it all, no words necessary!

Harmony – I really loved the candle making and seeing more of the day to day activities on the Ridge.

Dawn W.– So many different scenes with Roger and with everyone he stood out. His delivery is so natural…..his singing added so much to the episode…his facial expressions.

Traci – the overall harmony of everyone being “caught between two fires” – Claire with her medicine, Bree/Roger between two time periods, Jamie between two political groups & all that goes along with that, even Murtagh between Jamie and the Regulators and Marsali torn between what to think of Claire.

Nancy-Again Marsali, Claire and the corpse. I’m always partial to humor in the show.

Mitzie – Jamie being forced to hunt down Murtagh, and in turn he is crossing paths with people he knows. Good people who are fighting for what they know is right and seeing Jamie longing to stand by their side, but can’t because of his oath. It worked out this time that he could secretly save the two caught regulators, but I don’t think he will be so lucky again.

Stephanie– I didn’t like all that gore in one episode. Claire and the autopsy,the tar and feather scene,the killing of the Regulator and Bonnet in the brutal fight scene was just too much to handle in one hour.

Harmony – Murtagh and the whole tarring and feathering. I had to close my eyes for half of it, and I’m usually not that squeamish.

Dawn W.– I can’t put a finger on anything that I did not like.

Traci – Roger finding the pictures of Bonnet and then trying to pretend everything is okay instead of saying something. I could have done without some of the gore, too – while tar & feathering was appropriate for the time period in general, I would have been happier had the Hillsborough riots been depicted closer to reality.

Nancy– Claire hiding a corpse in the surgery. I know the writers put it in this episode because they couldn’t put in later, but how could Claire hide a smelly bloody corpse from people? I worked in a hospital before I retired. We had a situation where a corpse in the morgue created a stinch throughout the main floor of the hospital where my office was located. Maintenance brought in fans to help blow the smell out the nearest door to the outside, but it didn’t help. I know people in the 18th century stank, but even they would cover their noses at that smell. I also find it hard to believe Claire would deceive someone by burying a coffin full of rocks. It just seemed out of character for her.

So, now that we’ve voted, it’s your turn! Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments who or what gets your vote for “Best” Awards for Episode 502, Between Two Fires. Leave it in the comments!

Fraser's Ridge Outlander North Carolina Season 5 The Fiery Cross Uncategorized

ONC Admin Choice Awards–The Best of Outlander Episode 501, The Fiery Cross

February 21, 2020

Welcome back to the ONC Administrators’ Choice Awards for season five!  Now until the end of Season 5, (we refuse to think about it), some of the ONC administrators and myself will be voting on our “Bests” from the latest Outlander episode.  We enjoyed this fun way to briefly recap each episode last season, and hope you enjoy it as we do! This week’s voting contributors are Tara Heller, Cameron Hogg, Carolyn Baker, Dawn Woo, Mitzie Munroe, Dawn Matthews, and Nancy Roach. So, without further ado, the winners are…

Tara– When Jamie put on his kilt and marched out to round up the Ridge residents.

Cameron- The scene when Roger and Jocasta talk about her plans for who will inherit her estate.

Carolyn – When Jamie prepares and then presents the wedding gifts to Bree.  

Traci – Roger pledging his loyalty to Jamie (and of course Jamie in kilt regalia) 

Dawn W.- Roger claiming Jeremiah as his own….cutting his hand and putting the blood on Wee Jimmie’s forehead and claiming him Blood of my blood and bone of my bone. 

Mitzie – Watching Jamie put his mother’s pearls around Brianna’s neck. Such a touching father, daughter moment.

Nancy– Two moments 1–the flashback to Jamie and Claire’s wedding and the look they gave one another; 2–Jamie’s address to fellow Scott’s to stand by his side.

Dawn M.- Claire and Bree’s time together before the wedding. 

Tara– ‘If Governor Tryon wants a Scot, I will give him a Scot.’ (Traci too, along with background music.) 

Cameron– Jocasta’s response when Ulysses asks if the conversation with Roger went as planned, “even better than I had hoped.”

Carolyn – When Jamie and Bree go outside to begin the wedding ceremony and Jamie exclaims “The Fraser’s of the Ridge are here!”

Dawn W.-Jamie’s speech when he was basically asking his “clan” to pledge fealty. He asked them to stand by his side and he would do the same. Loved it! He molded it to fit their new surroundings…their new way of life.

Mitzie – It’s a toss-up between “The Frasers Are Here”! and “Tryon wants a Scot, I’ll give him a Scot”!

Nancy– I have to agree with Mitzie.

Dawn M.- “If Tryon wants a Scot, I’ll give him a Scot!”

Cameron– I thought Sam and Duncan saying goodbye in the woods was great. Both playing it tough together, but Sam breaking down once Duncan left was poignant without being melodramatic, and seemed very much in character for Jamie. I also thought his pre-wedding rituals and time with Bree were fabulous, so Sam was my pick.

Carolyn – Sam was my pick as well. He did a great job with showing his emotions both with giving his daughter away and in parting with Duncan. Also, with the way he lovingly looked at his wife at the wedding, remembering their own and his love for her.

Traci – Brianna overhearing the Bonnet discussion.

Dawn W. – Sam when Jamie told Murtagh to please be hard to find.

Tara– Sam and his eye acting

Mitzie – I’m going to have to give this one to Sam. Once again we got to see a gauntlet of emotions from him; suspicion, excitement, awe, joyful tears and sorrowful tears, pride, nervous apprehension (did you catch Jamie’s finger tapping), anger, loving admiration, strong confidence and also soul crushing grief.

Nancy– Sam – He became the leader we all have been longing to see!

Dawn M.- Sam. As usual his facial expressions get me every time.

Tara– Seeing Governor Tryon at the wedding.

Carolyn – I loved the look of surprise on both Fergus’ and Marsali’s faces when Jamie called him to pledge his allegiance.

Traci – either Jocasta & Ulysses smugly agreeing that all had gone as planned, or the mention of Duncan Innes’ proposal – wasn’t sure if he would be mentioned or appear at all.

Dawn W. -Jamie calling Fergus…son of my name and of my heart.

Mitzie – When Roger told Jocasta to take her money and “cram it up your hole, aye?”! And she laughs! Those are some Mackenzie’s for you, sizing each up; dishing it and taking it.

Nancy– Roger’s rebuff to Jocasta about her money, “Cram it up your hole!”

Dawn M.- That Roger had taken some time to manscape his back and he and Bree weren’t hard to watch in the bed scene?!

Tara– I cracked up when Germaine said, “Grand-Pere says all Presbyterians have hair ticks.”

Carolyn – I loved Ulysses’ reaction and laughter when he turned to Jocasta to ask if she was pleased with her conversation with Roger, as Roger stomped off.

Traci – “Hair-ticks” too, but Roger’s face as he is being shaved by Jamie gets honorable mention!

Dawn W.-The tongue twister contest….Marsali’s pheasant plucking twister and then LJG and his Shakespeare

Mitzie – During the tongue twister game, poor LJG just couldn’t relate: “Some Shakespeare, anyone”?

Nancy– John Quincy Myers falling down drunk. I was so glad they represented his comical antics.

Dawn M.- “Cram it up yer hole, aye?”

Tara– I enjoyed the whole wedding/wedding after party. Marsali during the drinking game cracked me up. I want to sit at her table.

Carolyn – The feel of the entire episode was heart-warming. The “Big House” and surroundings felt just like home.

Traci – The gathering: seeing the Scottish community coming together, celebrating, and making their new homes in NC.
Dawn W.-the gathering as a whole…the dancing and “community” after the wedding

Mitzie – When Jamie dons his kilt and sets the cross ablaze, setting the stage for a rallying speech to draw loyalty from the Ridge residents. The musical accompaniment was perfect as it brought memories back from when Jamie was rallying and training his troops during the Jacobite rebellion.

Nancy– This episode. When we start ranking them, this will be my favorite.

Dawn M.– The fact that Jaime and Claire have their groove back.

Tara– Governor Tryon and his wedding crashers

Carolyn – That Murtagh had to part ways with Jocasta and she let go of his hand, and with Jamie, and how it pained him to do both.

Traci – the “bigger-than-big” big house, the Spanish moss, and redcoats that have to ruin everything.

Dawn W. -when Jamie came out dressed in his kilt and he nodded to Claire and she nodded….I thought that was hokey. There should’ve been some dialogue. I just don’t think Claire would not have had something to say.

Mitzie – Watching Murtagh’s fate unfold more and more with each episode. I hated seeing Jamie release him from his vow. With that bond verbally broken, I’m scared to see if their emotional bond will withstand.

Nancy– I have to speak for the Outlanimals. Where were they? I expected to at least hear Clarence welcoming the visitors to the Ridge. Lol! However, I’m sure that would have been too noisy and distracting. I do hope we eventually hear the White Sow making unholy sounds underneath the big house.

Dawn M.– I loved the episode that Starz made, but it strayed so far from the book. Since the opening of book 5 is my favorite of all the scenes, I was really disappointed that it was just a wedding, and not a true gathering. Sigh

So, now that we’ve voted, it’s your turn? Agree? Disagree? Tell us in the comments who or what gets your vote for “Best” Awards for Episode 501, The Fiery Cross. Leave it in the comments!

Fraser's Ridge Outlander North Carolina The Homecoming Uncategorized

A Special Invitation, All the Way From Scotland

February 3, 2020

Gary Lewis invites you to the Ridge, October 8-11, 2020! He, along with Annette Badland and Graham McTavish, will be our extra-special guests this year! Our celebrity guests are just a wee part of what makes Fraser’s Ridge Homecoming such a special event. The military encampments with the Mecklenberg Militia and the 71st Highlanders, the historical activities, Cherokee culture with The Warriors of AniKituwha, the workshops, great food, traditional NC and Celtic music, combined with Outlander–not to mention the Blue-Ridge-Mountains-in-Autumn atmosphere–create a magical and truly unforgettable long weekend!  We want you to join us! Please take advantage of our $99 reservation offer–it runs through February 7, 2020! Click/tap here for terms and more info! 

Learn more about the Homecoming, join the Outlander North Carolina group on Facebook, and like the Girl on the Ridge page for a bit of North Carolina history as well as historical events around the state, as they relate to the Fraser’s time in North Carolina.