Look what my bestie gave me for my birthday.
Oh, I’m ready now?
Let’s Go
Hey guys it’s Marcia and welcome to Really Seriously For Real
And welcome to the first episode review for
Outlanders season 4 return.
Just a quick thank you to Starz cause they may not have known it, but Outlander returning
on the 4th is like a late birthday gift so thank you Starz….I forgive you and humbly
accept your gift {Laughter}
And now, let’s switch to our Outlander friends in the new world.
We get a Cold Open introducing us first to the rough construction of the stone formations
in the American wilderness.
Claire’s voiceover giving a clever walkthrough depicting the symbolism of the circle in our
culture.
Noting the infinite structure and natural repetitiveness.
A stone formation a clock… a hangman’s noose.
A proper segway to Jamie’s friend Hayes.
You might remember he was the one we saw Jamie talk down from the massive sails in last season’s
episode 9, The Doldrums.
Now he sits awaiting his demise for relieving a man of his life, in self-defense.
Well, I guess that’s a circle…
This is where we also get our first glimpse at Stephen Bonnet as he waits for his turn
at the gallows, asking to share a final drink of liquor.
The two men will have two very different fates.
Where Hayes loses his life and Stephen manages to slither away after a disturbance
in the crowd.
Jaimie, Claire and family regroup at a tavern where they reveal they are unable to bury
Hayes in a church’s cemetery since he was a criminal-even though the church would look
the other way for a large bribe, so they instead decide to bury him under the cloak of night
in the cemetery anyway.
Jamie and Ian proceed to dig Hayes final resting place, when poor Ian has a bout of PTSD and
we’re reminded of his time with Gaelis.
He painfully tells Jaime how she took advantage of him.
He was ashamed and hated it, but at the same time, it was pleasing-Jaimie tells young Ian
that he too was taken advantage of obviously referring to his unfortunate time with
Black Jack Randall.
He empathizes with Ian and tells him his privates don’t have a conscious, you do.
They go back to the carriage to retrieve Hayes body only to find out they have a stowaway
by the name of Stephen Bonnet.
Begging for their assistance in smuggling him out of there to which they agree citing
his friendship with Hayes.
This had me frustrated though.
I was yelling at the TV.
I mean they had been talking about jewels and money while Bonnet was in hiding.
Jamie interrogated him a bit.
Asking him why he was on death row.
But right there is where everything should’ve ended cause Bonnet confessed he was a thief.
You’re traveling with priceless jewels and the guy is a thief.
Jewels, thief, jewels thief-shall I go on?
Anywho.
Jamie and Claire take Bonnet, disguising him as a body awaiting burial and when they reach
a checkpoint with English officers, they poke at the body with a bayonet…just to make
sure.
Talk about taking a chance…cause there’s a lot of places they could’ve poked.
But not even a flinch, so they’re allowed to proceed.
Once far enough away Claire tends to Bonnet’s leg which was nicked slightly though lucky
for him the venison bore the brunt of the sword.
----ahhhh, Stephen.
It’s clear even then that he’s in the business of using anything as long as he reaps
the reward.
I’m looking at you venison
Moving on
Bonnet takes note of Claire’s rings.
She offers the info of her previous marriage.
Bonnet studies her as she tends to him.
He shares his fear of drowning with her.
A recurring dream he’s had for many years.
Claire reciprocates with her story of almost drowning.
It’s easy to see how disarming that could be.
They send him on his way with hopes of good luck and he humbly thanks them for their help
and cautions them to be weary in the woods as you’ll find many thieves and outlaws.
You mean YOU right Bonnet?
Anyone else wanted to toss that leg of venison at him?
Claire and Jamie decide it’s best to camp in the woods so as to not arouse the suspicions
of the English with an early return to the checkpoint.
Cut to some sexy, sexy time in the Carolina woods.
Just you me and the trees. {Laughter}
[point to the camera} Ya’ll so bad.—alright…one more look
The next morning, Claire romantically explains the American dream as they overlook the majestic
mountains set before them, citing how many people would make the journey in hopes of
a better life.
It was Jaimie’s realistic response that had the most gravitas.
“What about those already here?
the natives?”
I originally thought it was so weird that Claire would romanticize the American dream
when she was from the future and saw the perils of war and segregation of all types, yet Jamie’s
initial thought would be instead to the natives.
The causalities of progress, so it was a nice and important touch to show that it wasn’t
a dream to all but instead could be a nightmare.
One that Claire admitted was not unlike what the English did to the Highlanders.
There goes that circle again.
The Frasers attend a dinner that evening in hopes of finding someone to purchase their
ruby.
This way they can have enough money to get their life started. {Laughter}
Get their life started-{Laughter} ok They’re like 50.
I guess the 1700s are not unlike 2000 and now-{Laughter}Times are hard for a lot of people.
Forget he American dream….we call that bills, taxes and debt.
Moving on
So Claire shows off her goods --and get your
mind out the gutter I meant her ruby necklace {laughter} --and finds a buyer and Jaime receives an
offer from the Governor after some talk and acknowledgement that he’s the nephew of
Jocasta Cameron.
The governor suggests to relax some provisions required for a land grant if Jaimie would
settle there and encourage other immigrants to settle on that land.
He only needs to pledge allegiance to the king.
Well, later that night Claire expressed to Jaimie that she would actually find the idea
pleasing, except for the little fact that several years from then, a major war will break out
and they will be on the losing side….AGAIN.
And by Jaimie pledging loyalty to the king, they would be branded loyalists and all their
land would be taken away…oh boy.
So, yeah, they decide it’s a great idea and a risk worth taking.
Cut to the next day.
we meet our four-legged friend, Rollo which Ian won after gambling with dice.
I love how Claire questions whether it’s a dog or wolf…I would go further and ask
if it were a dire wolf??
oh Sorry, wrong show.
I love how much they reference Jenny in these scenes.
Your mother’s not gonna like this or your mother will have my head, etc.
She’s such a great character and you know she’ll turn Jamie over her knee if she had
the chance should her son go the illegal path. Once inside, Claire and Jaime share that they'll
be sticking a flag in the North Carolina territory and calling this home.
Ian is encouraged to go on back to Lallybroch while Fergus and Marseille unveil the news
that they are with child so they too will stay in North Carolina, though they’ll wait
in the current town that they're in and find the Frasier’s later.
So that leaves Leslie.
He decides to stay as well, though as a continued protection in this unknown new world.
No truer a statement would be said.
But, I’m getting ahead of myself.
Fergus and Marseille stay behind as the rest board a riverboat headed towards the direction
of Aunt Jocasta.
Claire sternly points out to the river captain however that this elderly slave shouldn’t
be on his feet so long.
Which in reply he lets Claire know that this man actually receives a fair wage and is actually free
after he saved the life of his captain during a fire.
His heroism helped the captain make the decision to petition his freedom easily.
A nice touch.
Later during a riverboat steering lesson, Jamie asks Claire for a moment and presents
her with a gift.
A med kit, complete with microscope.
I mean that was such an emotional moment and an emotional and thoughtful gift complete
with the sentiment that he would love to be able to shower her with jewels but states
the most he’s done is to offer her the wedding band and his mother’s pearls to which Claire
replies—You’ve already given me so much.
Brianna for one.
A touching reminder.
Jamie says, 24 years ago I asked you to marry me Sassenach, I hope I haven’t given you
cause to regret it.
Not for a single day Claire replies.
ok Let’s all let out a big ole hearty AWWWWWWW…like I did when while I was watching and now let
me douse the flames and cut to Claire saying, “I’m not sure if we belong together anymore.”
On the cliffs before Ian was taken.
watch the video, I would be remiss if I didn’t bring it up.
listen Don’t worry guys, I know those were tense and extreme circumstances back then ,
hardly fair to bring it up---but I’m watching…
Alright this is getting to be a long one, but we’re almost done, we're almost done
Up to this point, we saw the loss of a friend, but growth of family and bond.
Hope, Discovery and peace.
But this is a circle, so how would you see the loop closed?
The Frasers, Ian, Leslie, all asleep in their cabin.
Calm and seemingly content.
So were we as the viewer.
Lulled into a sense of calm that the episode might end on a high note.
Up to this point it had been an hour already.
They had been speaking about hope for so long, why not an uplifting end….. and then the
music.
That out of place and time piano music that snapped me awake and shook me.
I thought I was watching a bad copy of the show for a second because I was so confused.
A minute ago, I was in bliss and now I was on edge….do you get it?
Just like the Frasier’s.
They were first jolted awake by Rollo lunging at an intruder who was none other than that
conniving Stephen Bonnet and his band of evil cohorts.
Separating our friends in a classic divide and conquer all the while the melodic, soulful
tone of Ray Charles 1976 rendition of America the Beautiful played over the turmoil only
further enhanced by their visual acting as nary a sound is heard over the music.
An excellent artistic choice that wasn’t necessarily the biggest hit with some, but
then I invite you to rewatch the episode again and weigh the contrast of the beginning to
the end scene.
It was a tough scene to watch.
That was the point.
We lost Leslie to Bonnets blade after Leslie successfully aided Claire.
Unfortunately Bonnet forced Claire to give up her rings, not before she tried to swallow
them.
Bonnet managed to dislodge one…Jamie’s ring.
Yes, yes Jamie’s ring…calm down I know there were a lot of people mad he took THAT ring
instead of Frank's ring like he did in the book.
But you gotta remember it’s the show, not the books and they have to whittle a whole
bunch of content down to a manageable amount while still keeping to the integrity of the
books.
And that also means they may take some artistic liberties.
Look, I’m good.
I was satisfied with the episode.
A nice way to ease us into the new season and a powerful message on a controversial
topic.
Oh my God, that was a long one.
So if you made it to the end, thank you.
This is the point where I ask the question of the day:
What was your most memorable scene?
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As always, thanks for watching.
Until next time guys.