That is one of my favorite lines from the books. Can we all go "awwwwww" together?
So the big freaking surprise news is that our Fergus is the son of the infamous Comte St. Germain. This plot feels like those old novels where our foundling hero discovers in the end that he's the long lost son of a rich nobleman. Fergus pretty much brushed it off with that comment about Jamie, and honestly, I don't think he cares. Beauchamp's proposed deal about the land for a French colony sounded like a swindle, too.
(Isn't it an amazing coincidence that Fergus and Marsali named their first child Germain? And that Amelie, Fergus' biological mother, is a Beauchamp? Are Fergus and Claire distantly related?)
What just happened to Fergus was like the reverse of what happened to William. But William got the best of the deal. Back in the brothel, Fergus' mother Amelie didn't acknowledge him and treated him like crap, while William's adopted parents John and Isabel were terrific. Lord John even just gently schemed to bring William and Bree together so they could get acquainted as siblings, which is just lovely. At least William is now smiling when he talks about Jamie Fraser.
Interesting that Amaranthus reacted so negatively to Bree, though, and to William wanting to renounce his title. Amaranthus actually proposed marriage to William while stating he could abdicate in favor of their firstborn. How can we possibly trust her?
I feel much the same about Elspeth Cunningham, who showed up at Claire's door with a dislocated shoulder. (Reminding us all about how Claire initially met Jamie back in the pilot episode.) While Elspeth's swearing was delightful ("Grass combing son of a buggering sod!"), it's still impossible to tell if she is good or evil. And when Cunningham came to pick up his mum, it felt very much like he was going to hurt Claire, and that maybe he didn't only because his mother and Fanny were there.
The lack of electric lights and light colors in the new big house made it feel creepy at night. So did all the talk of death. Of course, everyone is in danger in a time of war; the rock through the window of the printshop in Savannah, the news that Cunningham's boss Major Ferguson is burning the houses of rebels.
And the Siege of Savannah is approaching. Roger just inadvertently joined up with the Continentals amassing outside of town.
There may have been a massacre at Shadow Lake, so Ian and Rachel and baby Oggy took off to the north. Ian promised to return in time to stand with Jamie during his predicted demise next October at Kings Mountain. One of several awwws in this episode.
In one bit of good news, I was so glad when Buck showed up, and Buck and Jamie met for the first time. They're actually first cousins. I wish we'd gotten more of Buck's story. Next episode, I hope?
Bits:
— Great title. And perfectly descriptive of the episode.
– The post-credits vignette was of Bree packing her painting supplies.
— Fanny's mother spoke some French. Claire so obviously wanted any tidbits about Faith, but didn't want to push Fanny.
— Lord John heard a story from Isabel about William lost and alone at Helwater when he was only three years old. I remember that story from one of Diana Gabaldon's Lord John books. Jamie was the one who found William.
— Amaranthus mentioned her father's name and profession: F. Cowden, Bookseller.
— I thought Colonel Marion's uniform was particularly striking, especially the hat, or whatever it was he was wearing on his head. Turns out Francis Marion was a real person.
— Ian has a whole new look. Although with him heading for Shadow Lake, he might have to break out the buckskins again.
Quotes:
Fanny: "Do you think houses are alive?"
Claire: "That was the wind. But yes. I think places that people live in for a time absorb a little bit of them. I often think that houses affect the people living in them. So why wouldn't it work both ways?"
Claire: (seeing Elspeth approaching) "...and your little dog, too."
Claire: "I believe you shocked Fanny. Not with the actual language, but that it came from a respectable woman such as you."
Elspeth: "Women tend to be freer in their speech when there aren't any men present."
Claire likes Elspeth and so do I. Let's hope she isn't evil.
Amaranthus: "We could retire into private life and breed dachshunds."
Dachshunds? That was out of left field, wasn't it?
Buck: "Claire Fraser. Your reputation precedes you."
Claire: "As does yours."
Claire: "Is there really nothing I can say to convince you and Oggy to stay?"
Rachel: "I thank thee, Claire, but no. Would thee let thy husband travel alone 700 miles to rescue his first wife?"
I enjoyed this episode. There were moving moments, heavy-duty dramatic moments, possibly some unbelievable moments. Three out of four barrels of gold-laced sauerkraut,
Billie
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Billie Doux loves good television and spends way too much time writing about it.
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