WickedCoolNE

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Wee Cap Episode 810 Series Finale

Title: And the World Was All Around Us

I was out of town from 7-7 today driving about 350 miles so just caught up with the episode at 9 PM.  I'm exhausted so there may be ramblin' ahead.

In the “Previously”, a lot of references to Madam Blanche and the title card had the blue flowers by the stones. A bit too much telegraphing?

We open with the flames of a cross fire burning outside of the Mason’s meeting house.  Jamie turns and looks at his volunteers.  He throws out a Jes Suis Pres while Roger and the MacKenzies Toulach Ard and the rest of the clans follow with various versions of yada yada.

JAMMF narrates his last Will and Testament.  Claire gets all his property and goods.  Bree gets 2000 acres.  Grandchildren get 100 pounds each and his books that Roger will decide how to distribute.  He leaves his mother's silver stag broach to Jenny, his tools and weapons to Ian and  to Marsali he leaves his quills and stationery.  And to William he leaves his Bible and his special whisky, The Sassenach. OK, I'm kidding it's the JFS-close enough.

The dawn comes and Claire wakes to Jamie stroking her cheek. They cannot pretend this is like any other day.   Claire tells him she was talking to the bees last night.  She saw some sleeping in a flower, holding each other.  Claire tells him that the quiet life was never meant for them.  Jamie is grateful that he has lived to see his grandchildren. He seems to have accepted that he’s going to die today. Claire talks about how she and Uncle Lamb traveled so much, she never really had a sense of home.  She tells him the vase in the shop window story on her first trip to Scotland from Season 1.   She didn’t buy it because she went to the stones in search of a “certain blue flower”.   He asks her if she ever regretted touching that stone.

Roger and Bree are looking over the land where their house will be.  He said he will start on it when he returns and she makes him promise he won’t be a hero.  She also asks him to bring her father home.

Claire goes to talk to Fanny who is upset that Claire is going to the battle.  She wants to go with them.  Fanny tries to tell her that she has learned a lot about medical care and could help her.  She tells her that she needs Fanny to stay and look after everyone there.   Fanny is like Geez, Granny I just found you and now I have to lose you?

Jamie finds Bree on the porch and gives her Frank’s book.  He tells her he is grateful for how Frank raised her and taught her.  He tells her how much she looks like her mother whenever she has love in her eyes.

Ian and Rachel are walking hand in hand and stop at the bottom of the hill to the big house.  They kiss and say goodbye without words.  In the meantime, a scared Bree and a sad Claire embrace.  Jamie goes to talk to the bees. They managed to film this on a very bright and sunny day.  He asks the bees to feed and protect Claire if he is killed. He recites a line from a Yeats poem that won’t be written for another 100 years.  Claire must have taught it to him.

The “army” begins their trek and  meets up with Cleveland and his men on the way.  

Cool hat Claire!  It looks more Australian than Colonial.

Scouts said Ferguson was wearing a red checked shirt (aka plaid) riding a white stallion.   It seems they will launch an attack from all sides, which will trap anyone on the mountain.  Jamie hears Frank say that Ferguson had 1000 troops and the colonials had 900.  Jamie finds Claire by a stream and asks if he forgives her for coming here.  She said “only if you die”.   He tells her he was sitting on the porch with Davey and said Mandy showed him a bone coming with mud and asked if she could heal animals.  Mandy said she can “hear” Jem and Claire when they are not there.  She can only feel Jamie.  They can see auras apparently.

Jamie asks three things of Claire if he dies.  (didn’t he ask for three things when they were married?)

Find a priest to say a mass for his soul

He thinks Davey can’t go through the stones since his aura is same color as Jamie’s.  He wants Claire and the others to go through the stones and leave Davey with Ian.  Claire says NOPE.

Remember me

Later in the tent, just as before he sent her back at Culloden, they have one last time of making love.  Poor Sam had to sit through the back prosthetics for that one. He sleeps later but she just stares at him, almost taking a picture with her mind.

Ian is in full war paint.  Jamie comes out of the tent with a serious, determined look on his face.  He tells Roger and Claire to wait until someone needs them, when it is safer. 

This scene gave me a wave of gratefulness to those who fought to make our great country and I pray for someone to come to restore her to something even better than what has been torn from her for the last couple of years.

Jamie gives a pep talk to the troops and Roger blesses them. He sends the troop off and asks Roger to look after Claire.  Jamie bows to Claire before he turns to join them.  Claire can’t stand the idea that she can’t tell what is happening. 

The battle has started, the British have the high ground, the men are coming up the hill.  Reminds me of the battle of Little Round Top at Gettysburg.

Claire packs a pistol to go toward the battle site.  Roger warns her but she’s having none of it.

Bree, Rachel and Izzy are shucking corn talking about how they are worried.  Fanny overhears them and says we must stay strong for them or they might not come back.

Jamie hears the silver whistle from Ferguson just as Frank wrote.  Buck, Ian and one of the Beardsley twins is right with him.  Guns turn to bayonets and swords.  Roger and Claire check the wounded.  The shopkeeper is dead. Claire looks up to see a man who looks a lot like Jamie roll down the hill.  (I actually thought it was Jamie for a second.)

She tries to get up the hill, slips and loses her bag with her supplies and pistol.  He’s almost a goner at one point and the Beardsley boy kills the man with an ax, must have gotten lessons from Ian.   Claire is in the thick of it.

Ferguson is still on his white horse blowing his stupid whistle.   Jamie saves Buck with a good shot.

The battle seems to be slowing down as Claire hides behind a tree.   The colonials take some prisoners.  Jamie is climbing up the mountain and Claire and Jamie lock eyes but Ferguson rides toward him.  Jamie swings his sword and cuts Ferguson’s sword in half.  (I got an Aragorn moment there.)    Jamie tells her the battle is theirs and she needs to attend to the wounded, so she starts to go back down the hill to the medical tent.  The men are celebrating but I have a bad feeling about this.  He asks Ferguson if he will surrender and Ferguson shoots him in the chest.  (Bad job with your prisoner there guys.)  Claire feels a pain in her chest and turns around to run back up the hill.  Jamie is already losing blood through his mouth.  Buck and Ian kill Ferguson.

Jamie tells her he is not afraid.  He looks at Claire and says Forgive me, Sasseenach.  His eyes close.

She is crying and yelling but can barely breathe.  Ian is devastated, Roger kneels as do the others.  It is hours later and the only ones that remain on the hill with Claire holding Jamie are Roger and Ian.  Ian tells her that he’s gone but she does not move.  Roger tries too.  Claire says “he just needs to rest” over and over.

Nightfalls and she still has not left, sobbing over his body.  She calls out “What do I do” as the moon shines on them.  Daybreak brings Roger back to them and she has not left.  This is truly heartbreaking.  He tells her it is time to bury him, time to take him home.

He walks away and Claire says “he is home”.    She closes her eyes and looks to take her last breath.   Is this a Notebook ending or is she sleeping? 

We return to Scotland and a young Jamie looks up at the window of a younger Claire in the rain observed by Frank.  They did a nice job making Sam look 23.   Then he is at the stones, touches the big one and walks away before he disappears like Shoeless Joe Jackson in the corn.  Blue flowers suddenly grow at the base. 

A montage of previous seasons plays.

Then we return to the site of Jamie’s death and Claire is still beside him with full white hair.  They both open their eyes and take a breath.

Are they in North Carolina or heaven?

After the credits, it is present day and DG is signing her books at a book store.  A fan notices an old leather journal on the table and DG says ‘it’s a wee bit of inspiration.” I don't know why but it irritated me that she said "wee".

After I watched the episode, I read an article where MBR says “He wanted the everyone/world to be devastated”.   I watched this series for my love of love.  If I want to be devastated, there are plenty of other shows that provide that.

Thank you Cait, Sam and the cast and crew for giving us your all for these 8 (technically 9) seasons.  There are several episodes over those years that I’ll never forget. This one I will need to rewatch because I'm sure I missed some of the nuances due to fatigue.

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Wee Cap Episode 809

Title Pharos

Trigger warning for suicide

In the Previously summary, we are reminded that Claire warned everyone that Richardson is a spy.

Poor LJG was pistol whipped on this bad eye side and wakes up chained to a floor. Richardson is standing there. Richardson asks him if he's familiar with a Neal Stapleton. John says it's been some time since he's heard that name. Stapleton had given an affidavit of the intimate relationship he had with John. LJG rightly says that Stapleton would not have written that of his own free will. And then he brings in Percy who will also testify to the same thing. They even write it up as incest.

LJG says just tell me what exactly you want with this blackmail. Richardson indicates he has a list of people who could influence the outcome of the war including Hal. Hal is planning on giving a speech in Parliament to withdraw funds from the war at which point the British will both lose the war and cough up the American colonies. John scoffs at the fact that Hal will listen to him but Richardson reminds him that LJG's scandal will have a negative halo on Hal-not to mention sodomy is a hanging offense. Richardson's next step is to send the statements to Hal.

LJG bangs his hand on the wooden jail and dislodges a nail. He debates what to do as his "guards" play cards just outside the door.

What I believe is the next morning, Percy returns to try to persuade him again to meet with Hal. Percy apologizes and confesses his love. He asks Percy to find William and tell him he loves him. He gives him his ring to give to William.

This scene dragged on (because Diana wrote it). I remember being totally bored with it in the book.

Voiceover of Claire talking about she's trying to find hope and that Jamie's fate is not a done deal. Claire, Jamie and Wiliam arrive at LJG house where Amaranthus is there. William mentions that it has been seven weeks since they have heard from John. She said a man dropped off a portfolio for Hal and a message for William (likely Percy). She leaves and Jamie tells William to open the portfolio. The first is a blackmail letter, followed by the two affidavits. "Son of a bitch" is William's first comment. As Jamie notes, at least they know LJG is still alive.

They make their way to Percy's office and William immediately has him by the throat, looking for information on LJG. Jamie and William alternate gut punching him to make him cough up more. Percy claims they blindfolded him whenever he met with LJG. He gives William the ring and Jamie grabs it and holds it up to the light, seeing Pharos scratched on the inside. Apparently, both the Fraser boys read Greek as they immediately know it means lighthouse. William assures Percy that he will kill him if LJG is dead or remains missing. (And once again, the coats in this episode are the best thing so far. Diana's writing here is weak.)

Our trio makes their way to the closest lighthouse via rowboat and Claire sees a boat house. Claire has a spyglass and William sees Richardson walking on the dock after fishing. Jamie and William agree on a plan without even talking.

They swim under and into the boat house (thankfully after removing aforementioned glorious coats). The "guards" are taken care of.

Claire keeps an eye on Richarson who is done fishing. "Fuck". Jamie breaks into the makeshift jail to find a full-bearded LJG. They exchange some classic LJG/JAMMF quips before William comes in and apologetically hands his dad the ring back.

Claire, never one to think first and act later, pulls a gun on Richardson. The three guys are getting ready to leave (how did they get their coats and boots back?) and the door opens. Jamie and William immediately pull their guns but RIchardson walks in with Claire behind him. The look on Jamie's face of WTF, Claire is priceless.

They shackle Richardson and Jamie said they will deliver him for court-martial as a traitor to both sides. LJG is unsure if there were other guards so Jamie gives him a pistol to search while he gets the rowboat-John takes Willliam with him. They leave Claire with Richardson. This can't be good.

She asks him why he switched allegiances and he talks about slavery. His 2X great grandmother was a slave. He tells her King George may sign an act of abolition which would also impact any of the British colonies. He mentions that American slaves won't be free for another 85 years and Claire is thinking Say what? How do you know that? She mentions the Civil War and now he is Say what? She tells him she knows he is a time traveler. Richardson needs to sit down. She tries to tell him that changing history is not that simple. There's a difference between changing history and being a part of it. He asks her to let him go and let him take his part in history. She asks for his word not to harm anyone and she will let him go. She does and he leaves-only to meet LJG's wrath. "For William". Claire says in voiceover History writes itself.

This was another long scene where DG likes the sound of her own voice.

They return to LJG's house and he thanks them for saving his life and his reputation. Jamie said I could not let you die. And I've decided to forgive you but let's never talk about it again. John is Say What? YOU forgive ME? John says, we'll that's all fine and dandy but you treated me like crap for the last two years so I do not forgive you and storms into the next room. Jamie turns to Claire and is Say What? Claire says "Pride goeth before the fall". You love that man and Jamie reluctantly hands her his coat and goes to talk to John. (Jamie has his hair down in this part and Sam looks like Thor.)

John is having a stiff drink and Jamie walks in and says Frasers are stubborn. Jamie confesses that he felt very betrayed by John sleeping with Claire. John tells him it was born from grief. He reminds Jamie that he never meant to hurt him but Jamie did mean to hurt him when he beat him to a pulp. LJG says the bottom line, if you can't forgive me after everything I've done for this friendship, then maybe that ends the friendship. Jamie apologizes, finally. He thanks him for raising William and what he has sacrificed. John reminds him that raising William was no sacrifice, he was a gift. Jamie said what else can I do and LJG rolls up his sleeves to return the "favor". He says I would like to claim my revenge for the last thrashing and points to the chess board. Class act.

William meets up with Claire on the porch and she tells him his two dads are talking. She tells him he is like both of them and explains that Bree had two fathers, Roger did and so does Ian's son. Even she technically had two fathers. William is struggling with what Bree did. Can you love them both without feeling like you betrayed one or the other.

Amaranthus and William talk in the gazebo. He tells her he forgives her but when she presses about their future, he tells her no. Later, Jamie and Claire ride off in the rain with William and John on the porch. Jamie turns to look back at William with a smile, repairing a heartache from years ago.

Claire voiceover talks about returning to the Ridge was a good thing but she's doing the mental countdown of when the battle will start. Enough time has passed that Bree and Roger have Davey. David William Ian Fraser MacKenzie.

Jamie and Bree talk about Kings Mountain. She tells him he does not have to go. He tells her that if he goes and it helps win the war in the back country, he will go. But she reminds him that means her children won't have him in their lives, nor will she. But his mind is made up.

John returns, in full unform, to see Percy. He puts a pistol on the table. He offers him a plan B admitting in writing that he extorted and lied about John. John says sign it in ink or in blood. He does both.

Claire is at the house, writing in a journal. She's writing Outlander. Jamie reads the first paragraph out loud. And the says "it's a helluva beginning." I cannot believe Diana patted herself on the back in the middle of a script.

A man yells and it's Cleveland telling them he has learned Ferguson is on the march. It's time.

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Wee Cap Episode 808

Title: In the Forest

Marsali and Jamie stand at Fergus' grave. She looks like she has not slept in days. They talk of his sense of humor. She tells Jamie she's thinking of trying to claim his St. Germaine inheritance to rebuild the print shop and take up Fergus' cause. Jamie cautions her of the danger. She talks about his reluctance in acknowledging the Count as his father and Jamie assumes it was because he was a bad man. But Marsali scolds him and says no, you dumbass, it was because he always saw you as his father. He told her Fergus would always be his son regardless of what paper is signed. She sends Jamie away to talk to Fergus about her decision to take the money and reveals she is expecting another baby. She says she should be upset but she's happy to have another part of him. The scene was a nice one but seemed to go on a bit long (seven minutes) and got a little sappy at times.

Buck brings a wagon with hidden guns. Bree notes they are old (how does she know this?) Jamie says in Frank's book, he describes a new rifle that Ferguson makes that allows powder and ball to load at the same time, which would give them an advantage of speed in reloading.

Bree says Frank showed her the design once. She said it's smart but complex. She describes another rifle that comes later. Roger says Bree's nickname was Deadeye due to her marksmanship-given to her by Frank. Jamie remembers that the book is dedicated to "My Dearest Deadeye. He and Claire discuss how he wrote the book for her along with teaching her how to shoot and ride. He was preparing Bree so that she could warn Jamie. In the end, he knew that if Bree went back that Jamie would protect her. Claire shares that she was mad at Frank when he knew Jamie survived Culloden but didn't tell her but now she says by staying in Boston, she became a surgeon and those skills could save his life in this war.

In Savannah, Lady Overbite approaches LJG in his study. She has been asking around for William and nobody has seen him in town. LJG says he likely went to Mount Josiah. He tells her that he and William had a bad argument and he's more angry at his father than her.

Jamie is reading the book again, studying the maps Frank included. He hears his voice telling him to prepare for this battle. Jamie and Buck train the men, Bree tries to design the gun while Claire and Fanny create bandages and other medical supplies. In a bit of a rushed montage, we see that Ian, Rachel and baby Hunter have returned.

Buck and Roger are in the barn, sharpening knives and Buick shares that he returned to see Ghellis again, just to spend time with his "mother". Roger raises an eyebrow at that calling it "tricky business". Buck concurs saying Dougal was hanging around and mistook his interest for more romantic reasons-as did Ghellis. Roger says I warned you, Dude. Buck tells how he went back to the stones. He said he let the stones send him where he was needed. He went back to 1980 and saw Rob Cameron buy a gemstone so he followed him home where Cameron fights him with a knife and loses. Buck takes the tricorn hat that Cameron had bought. Bree overhears and says she has a surprise. She, Buick, Roger and Jamie go to the field with apples lined up on a fallen tree where she and Jamie will race to see how many apples they can hit. She has her newly designed rifle and reloads in half the time. Roger is turned on. She thinks she can make more because the books made Bree out to be some combination of Frank Lloyd Wright, Thomas Edison and Oliver Winchester.

A horse rider approaches the Ridge and it is William. Fanny is very happy. Jamie comes out and William is stoic. He asks if Bree is there, he needs some big sister energy to tell her what happened with Ben, Amaranthus, etc. As LJG suspected, he went to Mount Josiah to think and he realized he needed to tell someone and Bree is the only one he trusts.

The family table that night is very full. Wiiliam tells Ian and Rachel how Denny helped him escape. William stands and toasts the family. He is probably absorbing that this is what a family looks like. A full table of all ages and generations.

At the other end of the long table, Claire whispers to Jamie that Wiilliam seems happy and Jamie dryly replies "as long as he's not near me". Claire reminds him that he still showed up there. Roger announces that his application to be ordained has been accepted. A traveling minister will perform the ceremony.

Jamie stands and toasts Roger (to good news), then Ian and Rachel (new beginnings) and then William (joyous arrivals). William goes serious again at that.

The second generation is cleaning up but Bree and Roger give Ian and Rachel clearance to leave by offering to clear the table. William hangs around. Jamie comes in and invites William fishing. He reminds him of the last time when he was a boy. William recalls that Jamie told the Cherokee that he was his son. He said he thought Jamie was lying to protect him and Jamie assures him that he will always try to protect him. William says can't go, Bree is touring the Ridge with me. Since that is a fib, Bree fibs right back and says that she can't be ready until afternoon and Jamie gets up at sunrise. Jamie fibs and says all overnight guests have to contribute to catching supper. All of this to protect a good man who still has the EQ of a boy. Jamie leaves and William tells Bree and Roger, gee thanks guys.

The next morning Jamie and William are fishing. Jamie asks if he fished after Jamie left Hellwater and he said he went with the gamekeeper. They share memories of their favorite fishing hole there. They start to laugh together, bragging about their biggest catches until William says "If you don't believe me, ask my father" and gets serious again. Jamie senses things are not well with William and LJG. He tells Jamie he knows John is a "sodomite" and Jamie confesses he knows. He asks Jamie if they were lovers at Ardsmuir which of course Jamie denies. Jamie tells him LJG is one of the best men he's ever known and his personal business is his business. He reminds William LJG gave him everything. William says "except the truth" and leaves the river.

Later, he is dressed for travel and packing his saddle bag. Claire comes out to ask him if he was just going to leave without saying goodbye. She tries to give him some advice and he is short with her. She basically tells him she has no interest in trading insults. She parents him which is what he needs. She reminds William that this is a war and this could be the last time he sees Jamie alive. She returns into the house. He looks down the hill and sees Jamie leading Mandy around on a small horse, teaching her to ride. We flash back to the same riding lesson from Season 3 and then the good-bye at Hellwater. He remembers the love too.

Rachel finds Fanny sitting my herself. She says some of the town boys read Jane's pamphlet and now tell her she's in hell. Fanny says she hit one of the boys in her anger. Rachel counsels her and suggests she talk to Roger about God's mercy.

Back in Savannah, Lady A brings a letter she found to LJG. It's from Percy and says he found their "mutual acquaintance."

Jamie is training the militia in the woods. William rides up. They talk about the difference of following orders in training vs following orders in the chaos of battle. Whittaker shows up with some men. Whittaker says Ferguson is burning small villages so they and their families fled and are in hiding. He asks to join Jamie's militia. Jamie goes to leave to bring Whittaker's men to the rest and excuses himself from William but as he leaves, William yells out "we should go hunting!" Jamie says ooookay, how about tomorrow morning.

Roger is practicing singing some hymns (lovely voice, Richard) and Fanny comes in slowly. He asks her what she thinks of that hymn and she's ambivalent. The song was about God and his son and she notes "I don't think he cares about his daughters". Roger is like whoah, that's deep. They talk for a bit and he knows there's something more she wants to ask but it appears she's not ready yet.

Jamie and William are hunting a great deer in the woods and Jamie kills with one shot. William watches him bless the fallen deer. He paces behind him. He apologizes for what he said at the river. He tells Jamie he looks up to him at Hellwater because he never treated him like a child, he worshipped him like a hero. "I loved you and you left me. You never looked back when you rode away. How could you leave me?" Jamie said I loved you too but I had nothing to give you and I was a traitor who was distrusted. And William would have been condemned and lost his estate. He did not look back because if he did, he may not have been able to leave. Jame apologizes for the pain he has caused William and finally William lets loose and hugs Jamie with tears flowing.

Roger's ordainment ceremony starts and Fanny enters the church but leaves. Roger finds her later. She says she has no interest in attending a church that condemns her sister. Roger says Presbyterians like him don't believe suicide is a sin but she says Catholics do. He says some rules are made up by men not God. Later, Fanny is at Jane's cairn and she said that Roger gave her hope that she will see her again. She asks Jane to send her a sign. She then goes to the stream to get a rock and finds a green gemstone like rock. It burns her hand and then she hears buzzing. Seems Fanny is a time-traveler.

LJG is at Percy's office. He asks Percy if he's found Richardson and the answer is yes. Richardson knocks out LJG with a pistol whip to the head. (I hated this plot line, it was boring in the book.)

Next week brings the series penultimate episode.

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Hey! Longtime follower here. It’s days like today when I would be interested to know your take on what’s transpired. Although, Maybe today makes you glad you left that behind! I still enjoy your “weecaps”!

Hi anon,

I'm afraid I can't help you there, been skimming once or twice a week to see surface level stuff but Tumblr keeps feeding me a bunch of non-Outlander posts so I doubt I'm even seeing the full surface never mind anything deep. Besides, I was bored with this same old circus a long time ago. It used to be amusing to spot the obvious nonsense- but now it's just nonsense. I am far too busy with real life stuff to have time even if I was interested.

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Wee Cap Episode 807

Title: Evidence of Things Not Seen

Jamie is poking around Kings Mountain hearing Frank read his book in his head. Frank compares it to Culloden.

Later, Jamie tells Claire that everything Frank wrote about the area seems accurate. They try to figure out if what Frank wrote was just to torment either one of them, but Jamie said he felt it was true.

Fergus is teaching his sons how to print. Henri-Christian asks to try and Fergus pulls out a little step ladder with a table-top surface that he made for him. He tells Fergus that he does not want to disappoint him because he's different, but Fergus assures him that will never be the case. He reminds H-C that he too is different with a tap to his wooden hand.

William is staring at the new portrait of Lady Grey and tells her he found Ben. She lies and acts like this is news but he confronts her with the fact that it was her idea. She felt personally betrayed but convinced him to say he was dead to protect Trevor. She was looking for a coward who would avoid battle which William takes personally. William wants to tell his father and uncle the truth. LJG walks in and clocks them standing a little too close. He tells them Hal is coming and still does not know about Ben. William tells him the truth about Ben. LJG does not put two and two together about Lady Grey. She starts to tell him the truth but William stops her-at least for the moment. (is it me or did they not age LJG enough. He looks younger than last season.)

Marsali and Bree are walking through the market and Marsali tells her about Fergus' parentage news. She imagines what it would be like to have that money but Fergus does not want it. Bree tells her they exchange gold for guns the next day. A local throws a tomato at Marsali for what Fergus prints for the rebels.

Fanny and Claire are in the woods by the stream. Fanny is at Jane's cairn. She jokes about Claire's bad cooking but then notices something is missing in the small wrap of Jane's things, it was a square of lace that their grandmother made. She was a lacemaker in Paris and her mother lived there when she was young. You can see the wheels spinning in Claire's head.

Back at the Grey's, Lady Grey reveals all that she knew. LJG is not pleased and mentions that the lie was rather lucrative which offends A. LJG cautions William about his feelings for her. He tells William that Amaranthus did what she did for her son which he understands all too well. William isn't buying it. (I remember in the book that I thought William was a bit of a whiner.)

Fergus returns home to find Marsali washing out the tomato from her shit. He finds another threatening note on the door. (Can I just say I love his boots!) Henri-Christian runs out with his hands full of ink because Germaine has been teaching him clean the bowl. They sneak into their bedroom to see if they can make another little Fraser.

Claire tells Jamie what Fanny said about her Grandmother. Jamie mentions a lacemaker in Paris across from Master Raymond's apothecary. He went their once and heard a child's cry. Faith's theme plays in the background for a second. She tells Jamie that she's scared of what is about to come and losing him.

That night LJG sits on the porch with wine (brandy?), trying to figure out the next steps. Creepy Percy shows up and tells him what he learned about Ferguson and his intent to come to Savannah. Percy makes the moves on John. They kiss and William catches them. William brings up knowing about Hellwater and asks LJG if Jamie was a conquest of his. John assures him it was not the case. Wiliam insults him in every way possible until LJG has had ENOUGH and tells him he is tired of his ingratitude for everything John, Jamie and others have sacrificed for him. He basically tells him to leave and never to speak to his father that way again and William reminds him he has no father. John is crushed.

Jamie comes in with the mail including a letter from Ian who stopped at the Philadelphia brothel and sent the tabloid pamphlet of Jane's murder story. He also had the writer's notes. They show Jane telling the tabloid writer how on her grandmother's deathbed, she told her the story of how a strange little man from the apothecary brought a baby. If he didn't come back, she was to find Lady Broch Tuarach. She went to the winery but learned that she was no longer there. Later they learned that they were in North Carolina and they were on their way there when the pirates killed her parents. She prayed that Fanny would somebody find the Lady.

That evening, one of the Fraser kids smells smoke and wakes his parents. Germaine and H-C are on the roof. Fergus finds them but the fire is preventing an escape. The town shows up with water and Bree and Roger arrive too. Fergus wraps the boys together with a rope so he can lower them down. A double plot twist that I won't spoil here.

Jamie wakes suddenly, he heard cries in his sleep. Jamie may not be able to travel through the stones but he seems to have other gifts.

Roger and Bree are back at LJG's house talking about what happened. She tells Roger that she's pregnant and then goes to talk to Marsali. She tells Bree about all the threatening letters they have been receiving. Lauren and Sophie were good in that scene.

Jamie and Claire share Jane's last notes with Fanny. They tell her who they are. The time Jamie was in her grandmother's shop, he was buying Claire's black veil for Faith's funeral. Fanny is a little overwhelmed with all the news and goes to her room to be alone. Cait had a very long monologue in this scene. Later, they find her at the cairn. Fanny worries that she loses everything and everyone but they ask her to have faith.

Jamie and Claire see that the MacKenzies and Frasers arrive and are happy at firsts but then realize the truth.

A flashback to Paris fills in the gaps.

This was a three-hankie episode.

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Wee Cap Episode 806

Title: Blessed are the Merciful

Cunningham is sweating and still in pain. He's still convinced he cannot die for another five years. He's pissed because something stinks but turns out, it's him. He blames Claire but she tells him that she was able to remove the musket ball, but not before it did some damage. I bet she's biting her tongue.

Mrs. C arrives and feels a mother's pang for his suffering. Claire tells him that he likely will never walk again.

On the porch, Josiah (I think it's Josiah) tells Jamie, Buck and the militia dude (Cleveland) about the last battle. Cleveland killed all the loyalists and is cocky about it, which Buck clearly disapproves of. Even the way Cleveland is sitting at the little porch table, all man spread, no lack of ego there. He tells Jamie to make a show of Cunningham by hanging him. He reminds Jamie that he owes him.

Cleveland leaves and Jamie hears Frank/BJR voice telling him it's his fault for collaborating with him. He goes to see Cunningham and asked where his men are. Cunningham believes Jamie is going to do what Cleveland wants. Jamie said he can't kill him because he's still Claire's patient. Cunningham had imagined a soldier's death for himself in five years. Jamie tells him he will remain at the house under his custody for now.

Ian and Rachel are camped by a river. Ian tells her he was born again at Shadow Lake but died there too. Rachel reminds him he was also married there and to not be afraid to speak of Emily. He tells Rachel he thinks of her now and then. He tells Oggy he loves him in Mohawk and that seems to bother Rachel.

Roger and Bree are back at LJG's house and she's reading the letter he had written before the battle started. He explained that he felt a sense of purpose there. Bree looks like she has not slept in days. He said the canons reminded him of going through the stones. He shares that he wants to be officially ordained. He said when he fell backwards, he remembered when his mother was killed. She had tossed him from the stairs when the blast came and his father caught him. His father, who he had sent through the stones, was now there to catch him.

And then we get Broger sexy time, this intimacy coordinator likes sitting sex. Although there was no helpful angles here, Sophie does not seem to care about going fully nude.

Back at the Continental Camp, Ben is now General Ralph Bleeker (pronounced like Ralph Fiennes). He says that his father would prefer him dead vs a traitor. Ben says he was inspired by Thomas Paine's Common Sense. William is upset and almost wishes he had died. William says-dude what about your wife? Ben says it was her idea that they pretend he is dead. A million things are going through William's mind at the same time. William kind of reveals he thinks she is beautiful and is concerned about her and who do you think has been consoling her. Ben gets the double meaning and punches William in the gut (and then a very badly choreographed punch to the face). Yo, Ben/Ralph, she knows you are alive and she seduced William anyway. They fight until soldiers enter the camp and pull William off of him. Ben tells them he's a traitor and to take him to the makeshift jail Sheesh, Ben. At least just let him go.

In the woods, Ian sees a Mohawk friend. He tells him do not go to the village, it's been burned. The scouts did learn of the attack in time for some to escape. Ian asked about Emily and her children but the friend is unsure.

Jamie is writing notes to banish the traitors and voids their tenancy and they are evicted in ten days. If they return, they will be shot. Claire asks about their wives, they did nothing wrong. She reminds him that not every husband and wife have the same relationship that they do.

Jamie delivers the letter to Hiram Crombie himself. Crombie tells him he regrets what happened, but Cunningham convinced him that it was the only option. Jamie is giving the trading post to the twins. BURN.

Ian and Rachel are at a beautiful house, the home of Joseph Brant. They recognize Rachel as a Quaker and Brant remembers Ian is with the Continentals. Ian explains why they have come. Ian says he did not want to leave the Mohawk, he was told to leave. Rachel clocks that. Brant's wife clocks Rachel's look. (Women get it.) The men throw around war facts and testosterone. Mrs. B says this would not be an issue for women leaders. She tells Ian that Emily is not only alive but she is there with her children. Brant tells him too bad, get out of my house.

Mrs. Crombie and the wives go to the big house to beg for mercy and say they can guarantee good behavior. Jamie says he cannot take back what he said and forgive men who would have hanged him.

Back at their camp, Ian says he sees that this has all been hard for Rachel. She asks if Ian would have left Emily if he had not been sent away. He does not answer. He tells Rachel they will go home, he's just glad to know they are alive.

Denny visits William in the little prison and pretends to tell him he needs a rectal exam for a bowel release. He sends the guard away who is more than happy to go. Denny says he will pretend William has small pox and they will put him in isolation away from the camp.

Bree and Roger visit the French Frasers. Henri-Christian is playing with a frog outside (what a cutie). Fergus has a letter for Roger from Francis Marion. He will help Roger as thanks for seeing him help in the battle.

Rachel returns to Joseph Brant's house to beg him to let Ian see Emily. She wonders if they were both in trouble, would Ian save Emily or Rachel. Brant knows about Ian's son with Emily.

Jamie thinks more about what the wives asked and revokes the letter of banishment. But the contracts as tenants remain void and the wives will be in charge of their land and the contracts. The men must give up their guns. The land belongs to the women but if there are problems, the men must answer to Jamie.

Claire tells him he did the right thing. Mrs. C. hopes he still feels charitable. She wants him to release the Captain so she can take him home in England.

At the Brant home, Joseph brings Emily in. Rachel and Emily say all the right things to each other. Ian and Emily wonder if they recognize each other, there is still love there but it is past love. Unfortunately, Emily's husband was killed. Emily has had terrible dreams about the war. She dreams their son is captured and tortured then killed in battle. She asks Ian to take him to keep him safe. She brings in the boy and a husky looking dog that is the grandson of Rollo. Emily then blesses Oggy with the name Hunter.

Mrs. C leaves with her son. She tells Claire that in another life, they might have been friends. As they drive away, Jamie reminds Claire that Cunningham may be gone but Major Ferguson is not. The war feels ever closer.

[cb4tb]

Wee Cap Episode 805

Title: Send for the Devil Title card is an American drummer, calling the to battle.

We open at the hive. Claire is finishing up her beekeeping duties while Jamie eats honey (that is not a euphemism). She asks if he has anything to say to them, since the family has all gone off on their missions.

Jamie reminds her that not everyone went, as they look over at Uncle Buck playing with the children. Buck promised Jamie he would help him fight at Kings Mountain. He could tell him the details, since Buck is a time traveler and would understand. Claire asked him if Jamie also told him that they killed Dougal, his father. Jamie says no and one ups her with, I also didn't tell him that you killed his mother. (Claire has a high body count given that she's not a soldier.)

Buck hears stirring in the bushes and calmly but forcefully sends the children to the house. Jamie sees this and also senses danger. Buck aims his rifle but it's Aaron Whitaker. He warns Jamie that Cunningham is coming for him.

Aaron says that Cunningham is trying to recruit Cherokee and told them that he would soon be in charge of Frasers Ridge. He heard that Ferguson has been raising redcoat militias who plan on attacking Jamie and hanging him to make a statement. Aaron says he is paying Jamie back for Claire saving his wife.

Bree is painting Lady Gray and Trevor. She is restless holding him and William stops by. The painting is coming along (no way she did that in a day). Bree is unnerved by the French cannon fire and is worried about Roger. Lady Gray leaves to feed the baby and Bree invites William to sit awhile. Bree asks him about Jamie, if he was able to spend any time with him. William says no and then corrects himself by saying Jamie helped him look for Jane. Bree tells him she empathizes as she did not learn Jamie was her father until she was 19. She said she idolized Frank but she was also upset that everyone lied to her all her life and she lost sense of who she was. She was angry at Claire too. William asks how she overcame it and she said she got to know "our father".

Whitaker leaves and Jamie is processing his news. Claire is pissed. Jamie notes they won't attack him at the house, it will be somewhere else. Jamie thinks it will be at the Lodge, nobody will allowed to be armed. Buck says just kill him now. Jamie said he can handle Cunningham but he has to cut off the militia that is coming. His militia is untrained and unorganized never mind spread out around the county. Jamie says he has to make a deal with the devil. He gives Josiah a message to go get the militia.

Roger writes to Bree to apologize that he is fighting but he feels called to be there. He quotes the bible "Here I am, send me." Or Hunger Games "I volunteer as tribute!" He practices his sword fighting in his new Continental Army uniform. He thinks of his father joining the RAF and comments that he is scared as his father might have been. He prays to let him survive the battle. He comforts a nervous young, French drummer boy. The boy replies in French, Je Suis Prest.

The sounds Bree hears are no longer cannons to intimidate, the call to battle has begun. She tells William that Roger is at the Continental camp, but she lies that he was there as a minister. LJG is at the British command but left an American flag to display in case the rebels breach the city.

Roger doesn't know what to do as men are shot and blown up around him. He comforts a solder with a fatal intestinal wound and hears his prayer and last wishes. The soldier dies and Roger notices the little drummer boy wounded against a tree. He carries him a long way to the medical area and Denny is there. Roger doesn't seem to recognize Denny, which makes sense. Denny can save the child who has a bullet in his neck. Roger talks to him and prays for him in French while Denny takes the bullet out. Roger returns to battle and as he goes to help another wounded soldier, he's driven backwards by a cannon blast. (Shades of Angus for me.)

Back at the Ridge, Lizzy appears to leave something under a tree by the Lodge. Claire has sent the younger children to Lizzy's in case the battle comes to the house. Claire begs Jamie not to go but he says don't worry, I have a plan. She reminds him that the best laid schemes of mice and men was written by Robert Burns.

It won't be today, will it? Jamie says I don't think so, but it will be an evil night.

The Ardsmuir men greet Mac Dubh. The men enter the lodge while Claire sterilizes her surgical equipment. Jamie opens the meeting but his finger tapping is on double time.

The men discuss (whine about) their issues and Jamie clocks a man leaving the meeting that was sitting next to Cunningham. One man airs his grievance about his neighbor and wants someone to talk to him. Jamie says he'll go but the man says "You're his friend" and Cunningham says I'll go too. The cat and mouse game has begun. Tomorrow at noon. Cunningham makes a speech about loyalty and talks about how they all must be loyal to the king and country. Politics is not allowed in Lodge but since Cunningham broke that, Jamie takes the opening. Jamie reminds them what Scots have said for 400 years-never shall we be brought under English rule. Fight for Freedom!

In the meantime, Mrs. C has come to visit Claire. She looks like Whistlers Mother in one shot. They both are open about what they know.

The men in the Lodge bow their heads for the final prayer and Jamie sneaks off during the prayer. (Yeah, the big guy with the clunky boots didn't make a sound on the wood floor. oookay.) He's waiting outside behind the tree with what was likely the gun Lizzy hid in the woods. He meets Buck and Kezzie in the woods but no sign of the militia. (Sam runs like he's about to lose his balance whenever he runs downhill, must be hard to run in those boots.) Jamie tells the few men who are there do not shoot to kill.

A thunderstorm rages while Claire and Mrs. C wait. Mrs. C says Cunningham has five more years to live. She believes he cannot die tonight. Things get a little less cordial when Mrs. C says that Jamie has earned his execution as he has fought against the King at every turn of his life.

Jamie comes upon the storekeeper and knocks him out with a whack to the back of the head with his pistol. He looks in the store and finds Cunningham who wants to "talk". Jamie says no talk, and don't let the door hit ya. Cunningham reminds him that he's got five years to live . They fight, Cunningham stabs Jamie in the upper left chest, closer to his shoulder. As they continue to fight, Jamie tries to choke him so Cunningham fights dirty by poking the wound. They end up outside, Jamie with his knife but Cunningham with a pistol. Cunningham asks how he knew they were coming and Jamie says Dude, this is my place. I know you want to have me hanged and Cunningham says Plan B is now in play because Ferguson will take him alive or dead. Jamie quotes Claire about plans changing and then a shot rings out. Buck drops Cunningham with one bullet, but he's not dead.

William comes to Bree at the window. He tells her LJG wrote to his counterpart in the Continental Army. Bree says waiting here is awful, she is going to the camp. William says he will go with her first thing in the morning.

Jamie and Buck bring Cunningham to Claire. Mrs. C slaps Jamie for shooting him in the back and says he wasn't going to kill you. Jamie says guess again, Karen.

Claire checks Jamie and says go see Fanny to clean the wound. Claire assesses Cunningham's ability to move. He cannot move his feet. Claire feels for the bullet and finds which vertebrae appear to be impacted. Fanny stops by and says she treated Jamie-knife just missed his left nipple.

Mrs. C asks if he will live, Claire says likely but he may not be able to walk. Claire begins to remove the bullet, which has not penetrated through his back (good thing or Jamie might be dead).

Lady Gray waits in the gazebo that night and has a smirk as she hears William approaching. She bug flirts with him again. William confesses in a dorky way that he has feelings for her. He says he's been thinking about her idea of getting married and giving their son his title. She offers to have a relationship without getting married right away. This girl gives me the ick. She tries to seduce him and he says they will get married.

Roger prays over the war dead funeral. He looks over his shoulder and sees Bree. He ditches the funeral to run/limp to her. They hug and kiss and then she smacks him for scaring "the shit out of me". Denny comes up and Roger tells Bree that they just figured out how they knew each other. William walks up and Roger is surprised to see him.

Bree reminds William that for a loyalist, he sure has a lot of rebel friends.

William stays behind and talks to Denny. He tells William that Rachel had a baby and William says he is glad for Rachel and Ian. Denny ducks into a tent and comes out with...Ben dressed in a Continental officer uniform. They enter the tent and William hugs him and then punches him.

Claire is tending to Jamie's wound. He asks why Mrs. C was there. Jamie says that he thought he was a goner. He thought the original gunshot he heard was Cunningham's gun fired at him. Jamie asks Claire for a piece of paper and gives her names of the Cunningham men. Jamie wants to kick them off the Ridge.

A dozen men ride up on horseback. It's Josiah with the militia. But he also has the dude who likes to hang loyalists. He tells Jamie "We should talk" and they go into the house. Claire observes "Send for the devil and the devil appears."

[cb4tb]

Wee Cap-Episode 804

Muskets, Liberty and Sauerkraut

Title Card is Bree preparing her painting supplies.

Jamie hands over some of the gold to Roger and Bree after studying Frank's book for when and where the battles are and who can be trusted. Let's hope the Frankipedia is correct. He refers to him as Randall rather than Frank.

They discuss that starting their own militia is a better choice than joining Benjamin Cleveland and his bloodthirsty gang. They don't have time to make the gold into musket balls to hide them.

When Roger and Bree arrive at Fergus', they bring small barrels of smelly sauerkraut. But there's hidden bottom underneath for some whiskey and the gold. This reminds me of when you could not bring cameras into concerts (before smartphones) and we used to put our small camera in a box of tampons and go to a male security guard for bag inspection.)

They ask if they can leave the gold with Fergus and Marsai, to which Marsali agrees right away. Bree is worried about Roger going to the camp in search of Lt. Marion.

Jamie returns to the big house after collecting rent and tells Claire he also gauged where their loyalties lie, and is concerned that they seem to be loyal to the crown. (Memories about bad leaders are short in the 18th century...and the 21st)

Jamie has to be careful about recruiting so that it does not get back to Cunningham. The only ones he can truly count on are his Ardsmuir men. He needs to go farther away and will leave right away with Ian and Josiah. Claire says Cunningham will suspect because Jamie has not answered him and suggests she just toss him out of Fraser's Ridge. Jamie answers her with the keep your enemies closer theory.

Jamie says Frankipedia indicates that Cunningham's Major, Ferguson forms the loyalist militia that fights at Kings Mountain. Claire is still questioning Frank's motives but Jamie reminds her everything he has said so far is happening. Ferguson is ruthless, burning homes, etc.

Marsali questions why a minister and his wife are smuggling guns and Roger and Bree tell her that's why the plan will work, as nobody will suspect them. The Foreshadow knows...

As an aside, Sophia looks way too thin here. Concerning thin.

Fergus tells them that he got the letter from LJG to meet with Beauchamp. Bree says their mother's maiden name is the same. (I like how she said "our mother" to her adoptive brother.) A crash through the window and the Fergus and sons sign is destroyed. Marsali says it is not the first time and they usually come with a note or a dead rat. Marsali says they blame the printer for the news. Fergus explains that publicly they take an impartial approach which pisses off both sides.

Boy, the second unit director likes to shoot men on horseback. Jamie and team's first stop yields one rifle in the whole group. Josiah tells them that more muskets are coming for them and they agree to fight. Ian is concerned that there is a man from Scotland there looking for Roger and Bree. They suspect Cameron. Jamie approaches with gun drawn but it's not Cameron, it's Buck! He says tell them that Cameron won't be bothering them again. Jamie tells his newfound cousin that he reminds him of Dougal.

Bree leaves to paint Lady Gray while Roger heads to the camp. Fergus warns him not to linger there.

Back at the Ridge, it's a bit of a stormy night and the house is making noises that trouble Franny. They talk about what happens when people die. Fanny wishes Jane would haunt her but Claire says the more you speak of her, the more her memory stays. Jane used to whisper in French to her when she went to sleep, words her mother taught her which sound an awful lot like Master Raymond. Claire tries to keep her composure.

Claire closes the banging window and sees Mrs. Cunningham coming up the walk and makes a Wizard of Oz reference under her breath. Mrs. Cunningham comes in and she's not well. She fell and injured her shoulder and her son is "away". Her shoulder is dislocated. Claire performs "the Jamie" and Mrs. C lets out with an 18th century version of Kelly Clarkson!

Fanny accidentally reveals that she lived in a brothel and Claire has an "oh shit" moment. But she and Mrs. C exchange an amusing thought about the skill of getting a man to finish in two minutes.

Mrs. C is getting plastered on the medicinal whiskey.

Bree gets to LJG's home and William is pleased to see her. Lady Gray (and her weird teeth) is surprised the painter is female. She leaves as does LJG (in an obvious escape) so Bree and William can be alone together. William asks about Fanny. Bree breaks the ice quickly by referring to Jamie as our father. (Funny how she's now said our mother and our father to both of her brothers.) William asks if she knew the first time they met and she says yes, and really wants him to meet Roger and the kids. They have a good chat and I think William needs a big sister. The whole I apologize that I did not tell you I was your sister when we first met is dumb and unnecessary.

Fergus meets with Beauchamp who tells him he is the son of St. Germaine. Fergus doesn't believe him. Beauchamp tells him he married into a rich French family. His sister-in-law had an affair with the Comte but he threw her out when she got pregnant and sold her to a brothel where Fergus was born. The Comte's estate is held in trust in Paris. Fergus says yeah but illegitimate children cannot inherit. He calls Fergus Claudel and Fergus tells him don't call me that. Beauchamp shows him a contract of marriage he found in a Bible. Fergus is no dummy and wants to know what this guy wants. They are looking for French settlers in the Old Northwest in America. They will pay big time for land.

Lady Gray is acting jealous of Bree because she noticed the connection. William tells her that Bree is his sister. Oops, big mouth. He confesses all. She compliments William's looks-girl is up to something. He says he would not want Jamie to acknowledge him and he tells Lady G that he told her because he enjoys her company. Zero chemistry between these two. She tells him to marry her and let their first child have the estates. She tells him titles do not impress her because she is the daughter of a book seller. Talking out of both sides of your overbite there, sister.

The next morning Mrs. C is suffering from shoulder pain and a hangover. Claire pokes around with Mrs. C, asking her if she believes the story about her grandson's death and vision. Captain C arrives to grab dear old mum. He tries to intimidate Claire about being alone.

Fergus brings Marsali up to speed on what he learned. He tells her Amalie (his mother) had an air about her that indicated her nobility. He says she detested all the children of the brothel, most of all him. He now gets it. He was 6 when she died and on her deathbed told him to be a good boy. Fergus remembers that St. Germain tried to kill Claire and Marsali says you are not him. Marsali says use his money for good. He tells Marsali that Beauchamp is a different kind of whore. Fergus says we are Patriots, we don't want to trade one king for another. And he would have to publicly declare that St. Germaine was his father. Every orphan longs to hear that they are the son of a great man. But Fergus knows he already is the son of a great man. Some nice scenes here for Lauren and Cesar.

Bree hears cannon fire but LJG says it's just posturing that happens every night and they are not in range. She asks him why he did not tell William she was coming but LJG did not know how he would react. I did not understand what he meant when he said they both discovered Jamie was their father. It implies he knows her whole backstory. Or is it just the lived in Boston part. LJG confesses the portrait painting was a red herring to get her to come to help William. He probes what Roger is doing and suspects correctly. He talks about how all the Frasers are stubborn. He is truly worried about William finding his way.

Claire, Rachel and Lizzy are gardening and talking about their kids. The men return with Buck and Jem and Mandy are happy to see him. Ian notices Rachel is troubled. She tells him she read about an Indian massacre by the Patriots after they helped the British. It's the same area of Ian's former tribe. Ian has to go to find out if his son and former wife are still there. Rachel knows he must but she and Oggy will go with him. Claire tries to get Rachel to stay but she must be with Ian. They will stop in Philly so she can attend a Quaker meeting. Jamie asks Ian to stop at the brothel to find any new information about Jane for Fanny. He tells him about the war information in Frank's book. Ian says he will be home in time to guard his left, just like his father did. Jamie says a Gaelic traveler's prayer as they leave.

Roger finds Colonel Marion and introduces himself as a reverend. (Lt Colonel Francis Marion is a real person in the war.) Marion has an American accent that I can't quite place and it does not feel natural in the same way that Sophie's doesn't. (The actor is Irish.) Roger thinks Jamie's name will help him, but Marion recognizes the name as the one who abandoned his post when Claire was shot. He says if not for Lafayette's good word, he could have been hanged. (Lafeyette!) He refuses to help and then refuses to let Roger leave. He gives Roger the choice to fight or just stay back. Roger says no thanks I'll hide out in the back and then reconsiders if he can get a sword. Bree will not be pleased.

[cb4tb]

Wee Cap Episode 803

Title: Abies Fraseri

Fanny and Bree are at a flea market and Fanny picks up a decorative hair piece. The madam at her brothel used to have one like it. Bree goes to the post office and a creepy guy hits on Fanny. When Bree returns, Fanny tells her that the officers were the worst at the brothel.

Back at the Ridge, Jamie hands Claire a letter from "Her former husband." (which gets a semi eye roll from Claire). She reads the letter from LJG. He would like Bree to come to Savannah to paint a portrait of Benjamin's wife and son. William is in Savannah too. Claire says that she'll see if Bree wants to go but Jamie says "No you won't. Claire, "would you are to rephrase that." Jamie says nope, standing with his arms crossed like a petulant teenager. Claire reminds him this doesn't involve him. That sets him off and he describes how he thinks their one night happened as if it was part of a romance novel. As they argue, Fanny overhears. Jamie reminds her is jealous. Claire should toss out Leghair's name here but she stands with her arms crossed. Sam and Cait probably had fun with that scene.

As he storms out, she reminds him he can't avoid John forever and William is there. He yells, Damn William and slams the door. JAMMF is all in his feels this morning.

Fanny is concerned that William has done something wrong and asks Claire. Why is Jamie so angry? He's Scottish. Fanny said she shouldn't have told Jamie that she slept with LJG. Girl knows too many slang words for sex for a young age. She is worried that because William asked Jamie to take care of her and he's angry at William, then he won't want to take care of her and she'll have to go. Poor child. Overthinking is a terrible thing.

William tells LJG that Ben is not dead because he wasn't in his grave. John thinks it is more than likely that they just missed up the headstones. William thinks it is because he didn't have the tin soldier that he gave him before he deployed. John just thinks he's looking for a purpose and don't tell Ben's wife. John says try Ben's commander if he really did escape he would have gotten word. The commander is in the area, John can get William an invite. William thinks John just is pushing him to get out there and stop moping.

Bree and Claire talk about John's request. Claire tells Bree that the guys aren't speaking. Claire tells her why she married John for protection. Bree says oh, NBD "it's not like you slept together" (Editorial comment: this is LAZY scriptwriting.) Bree finds the whole thing funny.

Jamie goes to town to see Cunningham at the store. He asks him why British officers were there. Cunningham says they returned some of his son's belongings, a gun and sword. Jamie reminds him that's a long way to travel for that. Jamie tells him this is not about politics but basically warns him not to stir up trouble. Cunningham tells him not to be concerned.

Back in Savannah, Lady Gray accidentally walks in on a shirtless William with his hair down. Oops. She brought him an embroidered waist coast she had made for Ben with beetles. She puts it on him with a little too much familiarity. He asked her why beetles and she tells him her father is a naturalist and book seller (not nobility). She's named Amaranthus because her grandfather was a botanist.

Bree is arguing with her father about letting her buy guns in Savannah, so they are prepared for what Frank's book warns about. (Um, didn't Roger or Bree read this book before they traveled?) Roger suggests they use some of the Frenchman's gold since the historian in him knows armies need cash. Jamie is still in his stubborn Taurus mood and says No. Claire tries to talk to him. She reminds him Bree and Roger don't need his permission to go. He says sarcastically that John Gray has taken care of everything.

As they undress for bed, she reminds him she could have just hid the truth from him but he does not think she could lie. Hello, remember the act she put on for your grandfather? She asks for help with her back laces and he asks why she did not lie. She said she promised him honesty. And he asked about Frank. They still argue and he reminds her he didn't really forgive her for the LJG incident. He forgives her and she angrily replies to him there's nothing to forgive. He explains that he tries to get it out of his head but it comes back from time to time. (This is overly dramatic at this point.) He's afraid that he'll think of LJG when they are making love and she says I'll make sure you don't. All this leading up to sex (again, lazy writing and the discussion went on too long).

The next morning, Claire is on the porch with the book. Jamie comes out with coffee. "We go to bed fighting about your third husband and in the morning, I find you gazing at a book written by your first." She reminds him she's only in love with her second.

Claire is still thinking about Frank and why he wrote it. Did her intent for her to read it and know the life she wanted was within reach. She tells him she wanted to torture Black Jack by giving him his death date and wonders if Frank was trying to torture her with the book. She leaves the book and Jamie picks it up, hearing Frank/BJ voice telling him that he knows what is written is the truth.

William approaches Ben's commander and tells him he finds it difficult that he died. Asked when the last time he heard from Ben was and he said just when they were captured. He asked him to speak with a member of his team to talk about the conditions at the prison. He said LJG is also aware of how they work given that he ran Ardsmuir. This seems like news to William. LJG has on a brown wig vs the gray of the others. The creepy LT from last season sits next to him and is looking for Fergus. LJG says he'll consider an intro but he wants him to look for Richardson.

Back at the Ridge, a young black girl approaches Claire looking for a healer. Her mother is in labor in the woods. Claire determines she's having twins. The mother has an "oh shit" look on her face. Babies are entangled, blocking delivery. Her husband arrives shortly after. He thinks they should leave because he's concerned that they will not be treated as the free people they are. Jamie assures him that they won't tell anyone they were there. His name is Aaron Whitaker and I'm trying to remember if he was in Frank's book.

William brings a package to Lady Gray. She thinks it is a present but it's Benjamin's uniform. She goes to put it in a drawer and he sees the tin soldier. Ben had given it to her to give to the baby. (Her dress is very pretty but she has a distracting overbite.) She points to each of the bugs on his coat and explains what they are. It's a weird little mating dance. She kisses him.

Susannah delivers her first twin, a boy. Twin #2 is breech, of course. They make her push hard, but they should watch Call the Midwife, they use gravity. Baby is not crying. Claire is trying infant CPR but it didn't work. She flashes back to Faith's birth. She hears Master Raymond's voice tell her about her blue aura and she heals the baby (without realizing it).

That night she was cleaning the table and Jamie says he knows that baby was dead but she can't explain it. She said she felt something, like when Faith was stillborn, she knew she was also dying with fever. Master Raymond came and put his hands on her and healed her. She felt the pale blue light spread through her. I think they are foreshadowing how she will save Jamie.

They talk about how if Master Raymond could do that for her and she could do that for the Whitaker baby, did he also do that for Faith. Jamie says than why not give Faith back to her but Claire reminds him it was a dangerous time. She asks Jamie what color her hair is and he looks, it is getting whiter along her face.

Jamie takes Franny to a cairn he made for Jane. He tells her to come there when she wants to talk to Jane.

They hear gunshots. Cleveland has shot two men smuggling guns to the Ridge. He wants to hang them. Jamie won't let him until Franny recognizes them as the British officers who were creepy to her. Cleveland says this is all happening right in front of you and you're not paying attention! Jamie examines the bodies and finds a letter. He hides it from Cleveland and says get off my land. Cleveland rides off with the guns.

Jamie confronts Cunningham with the letter from his uncle in England. It's written in code. He takes the pistol from the wall and opens it, finding a cut out template to decipher the code. Cunningham confesses he has been ordered to raise a loyalist militia at Fraser's Ridge. Cunningham says while Jamie was gone, the settlers grew their loyalty to the King. Cunningham says I know you want to put the war behind you, then come fight with him for the King. Jamie leaves, riding home and hears Frank's voice tell him that he was right and the book is true.

[cb4tb]

Wee Cap Episode 802

Title: Prophecies

Directed by one Caitriona Balfe

We begin with a flashback in London with William playing billiards and his cousin Ben comes in to say he's been deployed to Boston.

Title card has a bear eating off of a flowered bush.

Claire is teaching Fanny about medical terms and anatomy while letting her see what's in water under the microscope. Fanny says Jane would have loved this information. She tells Claire a bit more about the brothel and Claire tells her never be afraid to talk to her, Jamie or Bree and Roger but not to discuss her past with anyone on the Ridge.

Roger and Jamie are sawing trees and Roger tells him about Buck's return. Jamie reveals some of what he read in Frank's book. He asks Roger if he has heard of the names of the NC men who win the battle in history. Captain Cunningham rides up to see them and Jamie ascertains that he was a free mason. Cunningham offers to help them cut the trees (likely for Roger and Bree's house).

In Philadelphia, Mercy marries Henry Gray, a biracial marriage that was illegal then. Denzel and William are there and William is supportive. Henry realizes William is keeping something from him. William tries to defer telling him that Ben has died. (Is it me or has Charles' face gotten rounder?)

Bree, Amy, Lizzy and a very pregnant Rachel are in the woods talking about their own pregnancy experiences. A bear runs up and attacks Amy. The screams reach the men. Jamie carries a badly wounded Amy to Claire's surgery. Claire assesses her wounds and sadly shakes her head at Jamie. Amy survives just long enough to see her husband, who lets the children come in too. Roger prays over the family. "Keep her always in the hearts of her children".

Bree is traumatized as well. She's going on the hunt, perhaps to assuage her guilt at not being able to stop it.

Ian arrives and is concerned about Rachel. They are already calling the baby Oggy. Of course the way Ian says it, wounds like Weoggy.

Wicked witch Cunningham arrives to help with the body. She has Amy's shroud and Claire is surprised that Amy had one. Claire admits she has not had her own made. I agree Claire, feels a little morbid.

William arrives on horseback to an American camp. He's not in unform, it is odd that they let him right in to see the Captain. The only information he receives is that Ben died of jail fever.

The men and Bree prepare for the hunt and Jamie gives Amy's son his own rifle. He explains the difference between killing a bear and killing a deer. Bree is concerned he is too young, but Jamie feels avenging his mother will be good for him.

Claire and Mrs. Cunningham clean Amy's body. Claire wants to keep her head covered but Mrs. C asks her to try and make it better. Mrs. C says she's buried three husbands and four children. Claire asks to call Mrs. C by her Christian name, Elsbeth. She solves murders in her spare time while wearing quirky clothes.

The men find Captain Cunningham, who had already killed the bear. Jamie seems to be growing in admiration for him. I hope he's reading this man correctly.

William is at Ben's small grave, not the normal grave for a Gray. He talks to Ben. Claire talks to bees, telling them about Amy.

Later, Claire and the women are making sauerkraut and cabbage stew with Ian not liking the smell. Rachel goes into labor to avoid having to eat it. Ian is very nervous, given his past experience with childbirth. He hands Claire a pelt for the baby, but she assures him he will be able to wrap the baby himself. (For the record, I spelled sauerkraut wrong three times because I agree with Ian.) WeeOggy arrives. Wrapped in the pelt, he kind of looks like a baby from that show Sweet Tooth. They discuss but do not land on an actual baby name.

Fanny is surprised how happy everyone is because nobody wanted a baby at the brothel.

That night, Jamie finds Ian, still on cloud nine. He tells Jamie how wonderful he felt, which was different than his first baby. Ian wishes his father were there and they hope that Jenny will someday come. Ian says he will ask Jamie for advice, but Jamie reminds him he never got to raise Bree, Fergus or William as a baby. You'll get the chance I never had. Damn you, DG.

The next day Claire is cutting up mushrooms outside when a strange man arrives on horseback. He won't tell Claire his name when she asks twice. She tells him he can find Jamie in the woodshed. Sheesh, Claire, how do you know this man has good intentions.

His name is Benjamin Cleveland and he was one of the men in Frank's book. He calls him General Fraser and is asking if he wants to rejoin the army. He says many Scots are in the area and creating a militia to protect their land from Tories and Indians. Jamie asked him about the hanged men he saw in the woods. Cleveland proudly admits he did it. He brings up Cunningham and again offers Jamie to join them. Jamie tells him I turned down George Washington himself, why would I join you? BURN. Jamie basically tells him I have this covered. Roger heard everything and reminds Jamie that this man was in Frank's book.

At the house, Jamie brings Claire up to speed on how Cleveland wants him to kill Cunningham. Cunningham is not in Frank's book. Roger asks if he himself is in there and he is not. They talk about how they will build the freemason lodge and maybe learn something. Roger leaves and Claire asks Jamie how much of Frank's book he revealed. Roger knows about the battle but not the death.

Claire says that Frank never mentioned the book. She tells Jamie that Frank made her promise never to mention Jamie but all that time, he himself was looking for Jamie. She ponders why he never said anything. She thinks Frank was obsessively looking for Jamie, but Jamie offers the theory that maybe he was obsessively looking for her. A couple of keystrokes in ChatGPT or Claude could solve this mystery but alas, the Wi-Fi is not very strong on the Ridge.

I call to order the first meeting of the Fraser's Ridge free mason lodge. Punch and cookies are on the back table. Or whatever Jamie said.

Cunningham acknowledges Amy's husband. He then tells the story of how his own wife had died in childbirth. He was also at Saratoga and how that baby, now an 18-year-old, died in his arms but first predicted his father's death in 7 years. (This does not ring true for me. Is this guy a master manipulator?) Roger and Jamie are not buying it. Jamie thinks a man who doesn't believe he can die is not a good thing.

Under the cover of darkness, William digs up Ben's grave. It's not Ben.

Jamie is reading Frank's book and hears his thoughts in Frank's voice. It spooks him and he reaches for Claire for a quick release. It does not shut off Frank's voice. You're going to die, who will hold her once you're gone. It's an old-school movie trick but effective in this case. Of course, Starz will probably push for an Emmy for Tobias for best guest actor.

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Wee Cap Episode 801

Title: The Soul of a Rebel

Jamie and Claire are looking out of a warehouse. She looks dressed like a Quaker. They are meeting with a smuggler who was the early Epstein. Jamie pretending to look for girls as Mr. Roy. As he tells his horrible story to Jamie of stealing girls, Claire loses it and stabs him. They believe the story he told was when Faith came across the ocean with her husband and two daughters. They are trying to figure out who Faith might be. They weep over what could have been.

Annie Lenox takes us into the last Sky Boat Song. Her voice has aged but she's a million times better than Sinead. The title credits indicate a book is involved.

Jamie and Claire are talking about whether to tell Fanny and decide it's too confusing. They hear children laughing outside the door and Jamie opens it to find the four children of Fergus and Marsali. Marsali shoos them away to tell them coffee is ready. Fergus is there with the fifth.

Fergus shows Jamie his print shop and they discuss how he tries to stay neutral during the war. Jamie finds his secret stash of seditious bulletins and warns him to be careful. The pen is my sword.

They have breakfast with the Fraser brood and Fanny. After the kids leave, Fergus muses what it was like for Fanny to grow up in a brothel as he did.

Jamie, Claire and Fanny take the wagon to the Ridge. They are all happy to be headed home.

Meanwhile at LJG home, William was returned drunk and disheveled by a British soldier. He says he has resigned his commission. LJG is holding a baby, Benjamin Gray's son. William responds by puking on the carpet. But later we find out he's been spying and that Ben is dead. They were very close and William is quite sad. Ben's wife came to LJG and is now staying at the house. William thinks she's lying and Amaranthus turns up to defend herself.

Jamie and Claire look over the site where the big house was. Ian drives up and a happy reunion takes place. Ian surprises them with a new big house with a bright surgery. Jamie shows Franny the room that will be hers. Later that night, Jamie and Claire talk about the first time she said she loved him, at Lallybroch and he said he feels that was the night they conceived Faith.

As an aside, I've always loved the coats in this series.

The next day they visit the Trading Post. They meet Captain Charles Cunningham. Jamie is surprised that he fought for the King. He claims he is happy to be retired from being a soldier, but you can see Jamie's distrust forming.

William is nursing a hangover and LJG invites him to meet with a general. He's trying to get William to take back his commission. William is still blaming himself for Jane's death. LJG suggests a Plan B, return to England and take over the Ellsmere estates. LJG has had enough of his sulking and also tells him to apologize to his cousin's widow.

Lizzy brings a gift of bees and her daughter, Claire. Jamie tells Claire he talks to bees. They kiss and hear Hello the House! (I guess Sam and Cait did not want to run down a hill like in the book.) The MacKenzies have returned. Jem is so tall and Bree looks like she lost too much weight. Mandy, a baby when they left, has no idea who these people are.

Jamie and Bree are in the kitchen and he tells her the story of Fanny. Jamie confirms that William knows the truth of his parentage. Mandy asks Jamie to read her one of the books they brought. Fanny has never seen color print books before. As he reads, the book references modern things. I guess they assume it will go over her head.

Bree brought Claire a Merck Manual and Jamie a copy of Lord of the Rings. She also brought a book by Frank, called The Soul of a Rebel. That night, Jamie asks Roger if he got ordained in the future. He tells Roger to make sure he visits the Ridge people and warns him about Cunningham. They tell Bree about Fanny and Faith.

William finds the new Lady Gray to say that he is sorry for his behavior. He promises to do all he can for her and for the baby.

Jamie and Bree go hunting and she tells him about Rob Cameron. Jamie is concerned he will return for the gold, if he can time travel. Jamie says he will move the gold. They come across three people hanging from the tree, branded as loyalists to the King.

Mandy is playing with her doll on the porch when an old woman in black comes up. She is rude to Mandy, who calls her the wicked witch. She slaps her. Turns out she is Mrs. Cunningham, very religious mother of the Captain.

Jamie is looking at Frank's book and turns to the back to see his picture. He hears Black Jack's voice in his head (the PTSD stirs) and asks Claire why she did not tell him how much they look alike. He asked Claire if Frank was an honest man, could he trust what he has written. Claire assures him that Frank was an historian. Jamie's name has been mentioned 14 times so far and that war is coming to the Ridge where James Fraser dies at the battle of Kings Mountain in a year.

As with most first episodes, this one was mostly table-setting. The one thing about a cliffhanger is don't put it in the trailers because then it lacks punch in the actual episode.

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Wee Cap Episode 110

Title: Something Borrowed written by DG and MBR 126 minutes.

We begin in the US for Claire's 2nd birthday and the birth of the headband. Uncle Lamb is there too and toasts her, predicting many adventures ahead. (He's a ginger and apparently his real name is Quentin Beauchamp and the H/J call him Q.) The wee actress liked that cake!

It's now a church in Scotland with a bride in a thick lace veil covering her face. She's wearing blue. We don't see her face, but assume it's Ellen and then the scene breaks to A day earlier. Brian and Murtagh are figuring out what to do next and who is trying to kill him.

Murtagh tells Brian to think about what Ellen's eyes said when she broke it off, not what her words said. He apologizes to Murtagh, who says that he knows Ellen loves Brian and he's accepted it.

Brian asks Murtagh to ask him to get him into Leoch. They are attacked again and Brian throws an axe like his future grandson and wields a bow like Katniss. They beat the survivor to find out who hired him and the man tells him it was Colum. I suspected that, Colum had already hired these men when he gave his word that he wouldn't do anything in the future. Murtagh took an arrow in his leg and can't go with Brian to Leoch.

Mrs. Fitz and Ellen are checking out the Great Hall's preparations. Mrs. Fitz is impressed but Ellen is still unhappy. They talk about how nice the Grant's home is.

Maura Grant catches Dougal and his latest conquest (her lady in waiting?) going at it and he's rather impressed with Maura. A little bell rings for me and I think I know who is under the veil.

Ellen asks Jocasta for help in running a household. She apologizes to Jocasta for not helping her when their father arranged Jocasta's wedding. Janet/AndPeggy finally speaks and apparently her marriage ain't so bad.

Lord Greasy is still moping about his dressing down by Uncle Malcolm Grant. Julia tries to make him feel better by reminding him of the "prophesy". She encourages him to rest to help him plot his next move. But it backfires a bit when he tells her to come see him later that night.

Brian's stunt double rides fast to Leoch with a beautiful landscape shot behind him. Nice job, Director of Unit 2.

The girls are having a literal hen party. Mrs. Fitz is a little saucy on the sauce. They tell little limericks but Maura finds Ellen's insulting.

Mrs. Porter and Julia plot her next steps but Julia wants to make sure to protect her too in case things go south. Julia finds Henry and they trick Greasy's brute and knock him out with a rock. You mean to tell me a guy that big goes out cold with one rock by an English guy? Oh look, it's the SWAK rock. What a koinky-dink.

Brian knocks out the Grant's guy in the woods and puts on their ugly red and orange tartan. He sneaks into Leoch and fakes a gift. Ellen is in the room with Mrs. Fitz looking at all her wedding gifts including a string of pearls that looks verra familiar. Her dress is lovely but her face is sad.

Brian runs into Jocasta but she recognizes him as a Fraser due to his black hair. He tells her who he is. He asks her to take her to Ellen and then he'll tell her more. Mrs. Fitz and Ellen are shocked to see Brian with Jocasta. He had told Jocasta about Colum's henchmen and she shares that news. He tells her he loves her and they tried for some great shot with the glow of the fire but IMO, it made him look odd. Ellen hugs him and gives him her heart. Mrs. Fitz is freaking out but Ellen says screw Colum, he lied.

Ellen goes to see Colum and he thanks her for doing this for the clan. She gives him an opening to see if he confesses and he lies again. He gives her an expensive writing kit and their father's sword as a symbolic gesture to the Grants. She is not grateful and he is puzzled. "I need to prepare for my future." Colum, you've been CANCELLED.

Julia and Henry ride toward the stones and she thinks back to the day when Henry told her about going on a trip to Scotland as a vacation. It's when she told him she was pregnant with William.

The guests are seated but Ned, Colum, Uncle Malcolm and Malcolm are upset because Ellen is missing. Nice Malcolm is pissed at Colum and threatens him. Uncle Malc says we're not leaving without a head or a hand. Paging Maura?!?

Ned is panicked; Colum tells him to find Dougal. Colum already has an idea, I think.

Back to the wedding and yes, it's Maura Grant. Dougal steps to the alter and the crowd gasps. Malcolm rolls his eyes. Maura is a good fit for Dougal, I think. She says Aye to the vow in record time. I recall the Outlander episode where she dies and he is distraught, despite his affair with Ghellis. They are married in the fastest ceremony ever.

Hours Earlier

Ellen is dressed like a servant. Jocasta tells him Colum is marrying off Dougal to a Grant. Ellen says goodbye to Mrs. Fitz, who feels like she is losing her eldest daughter. Jocasta tells her to go and dinna look back

At the reception, Dougal isn't happy, Colum is congratulating himself on his quick decision. He makes a toast with many Rrrrrs. Maura says thank you for the lovely bouquet but I'm ready for the honeymoon even before I finish my dinner. In the honeymoon suite, Dougal is shy all of a sudden. This chick is a hoot.

Jilted Malcolm is sulking, as he has a right to and Uncle Malcolm gives him a stiff drink and a pep talk, but Malcolm won't let him speak ill of Ellen. Uncle Malc doesn't have a very good Scottish accent. He tells him to get revenge on Ellen.

Maura teaches Dougal that there are other ways to have sex, she climaxes and he asks her if he's hurt her. (Why steal that from Outlander- I hate lazy writing.) Dougal realizes he's married a spitfire.

Uh oh, Malcolm catches Brian and Ellen leaving the castle and first is happy until he realizes he's been jilted for another guy. She tells him she's fond of him but she wasn't the one who made promises. Malcolm was already hurt but to see her with a Fraser bastard hurts even more. He takes out his sword but he's had too much to drink. Brian doesn't fight back, just defends but Malcolm takes it in the gut. Did Jamie tell Claire about this little accident in the book? They have to hide the body. Brian, you should have taken your dirk! They ride off in scenes that switch back and forth to the Beauchamps on their horse.

Brian and Ellen find Murtagh in Frodo's house. He is nursing his leg wound. Brian tells him the bad news and they all realize the situation is serious. Brian is grateful for what she gave up to be with him. She tells him she'll remember the good and close the door on the bad. You go girl, you dance through those lightning strikes.

Lord Greasy is freaking out and Mrs. Porter tells him the agreed upon lie. Mr. Bug shows up to look for Henry. Greasy wants to join them but Bug basically says I don't work for you dude.

Bug spots Henry and Julia camping for the night. Are they that far from the stones? And how will they get back without jewels? Or will they?

Murtagh and Ellen have some time alone and she thanks him. He gives her the tusk bracelets. She says these are beautiful and they weren't even on my wi$h li$t. They have a lovely talk. You're a good egg, Murtah Fitzgibbons Fraser. The next day, he tells Brian he's going hunting and won't be back until Morning, wink wink. Brian gets a JAMMF twinkle in his eye. They mimic part of Jamie and Claire's wedding in phrases and laces. She takes off his kilt and admires his redwood tree. The intimacy coordinator choreographed this with the angles, etc. Apparently, MacKenzie siblings like girls on top.

Later they sit by the fire outside and do vows. Why do Brian's hands look like he worked in Jamie's print shop. They see several fires in the distance representing the Jacobite rebellion. But Brian feels he must go to answer the call or leave the country and Ellen will stand with him. They don't have any good choices but at least it might be a distraction from the dead groom in the basement.

H/J finally get to the stones. Julia and Henry are worried William won't be able to go through the stones. Henry has the dumb idea to have one person go through and the other stays until the one who goes through makes it back. Huh? How will that prove whether WIlliam can time-travel. He sees Bug coming and she says he should go. Just give it a try, both of you dumbasses. He pushes her to the stone with the baby. But the next scene is back in Scotland as they board the train to leave for their vacation. They show her ring-is this to remind us that she won't be able to go back without a stone? Does Julia fry or just get rejected by the stones?

Credits sucking up to DG again.

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Wee Cap BoMB Episode 109

Title: Braemer

Oh goody, we're starting at Leathers. Lord Greasy is polishing his sword...take your mind out of the gutter, I mean his actual sword. Brian and Julia arrive at his request, she's got William too. Greasy is waiting for his magical water bath to kick in but in the meantime, he's got a plan. He wants Brian to attend a hunting and highland games event at Braemer and Brian, who once again should never play poker, glances at Julia and asks if the Grants will be there. Greasy does not know that Ellen was found virginal. He wants Julia to stay at Leathers, but she and Brian try to convince him to let her come with William.

The Grants are on the move to Leoch and Henry is reading in a bouncy carriage. I would have puked reading in that kind of ride. A rider catches up with the carriage and it is Malcolm's uncle (also Malcolm) who says he is there to protect Malcolm. One wonders if he has plans of his own. Bug speaks up like the snot he is and calls Malcom, Mr. Grant and Malcolm corrects him with "my laird". Again, I say somebody nice please marry this dude. Malcolm's uncle wants to meet Ellen so he rides ahead.

Colum and Dougal discuss the tinture at Braemer. Colum is worried that Dougal will do something stupid. Ellen asks them what's up and they shoot her down as a woman or as she notes, a pawn. Uncle Malcolm arrives and sends Colum and Dougal away to talk to Ellen alone. Pretty ballsy in their own castle.

He pretends to be nice to her but pushes her on the rumors. Apparently Scottish FedEx did not get the word out that she passed her clear pee and breakfast hymen test. She uses clever words to answer his questions, she doesn't lie but she knows what she means. But he threatens to kill her if she hurts Malcolm.

She's unnerved and tells Mrs. Fitz. Mrs. Fitz advises her to not make doe-eyes at Brian at Braemer. Mrs. Fitz tells her she knows how to make her look like she's bleeding on her wedding night, that's an old trick women have used for decades.

Ellen and Malcolm walk with her brothers and Ned right behind. They share empathy and sympathy over the death of their fathers. She has good chemistry with Malcolm, they would have made a fine couple. He appreciates her intelligence. He wants to move up their wedding now that he is laird. If not for the creation of one JAMMF, I would be rooting for these two over Brian.

Ned tells the boys to mingle, Dougal has a different idea of mingling. Colum tells him to keep it in his pants.

Murtagh sticks it to Brian but reminding him how hard it is to see someone you love with another man. He tells Brian that Ellen is safe with Malcolm. He's not wrong.

Greasy asks Murtagh to report what he has heard and there's some unexpected guest being rumored.

Henry sees Julia and stupidly walks over to her to see his son. Greasy comes over and calls her his wife and are we going to see Henry pout again? Brian takes note of the exchange.

Bug brings Uncle Malcolm over and tries to get Henry in trouble but UM basically tells him to shut up.

The Earl of Braemer calls a meeting of the clans in the castle. Men are discussing why there are two people in charge of clan MacKenzie and they discuss their strengths and weaknesses within earshot of the brothers. I wonder if Dougal is tired of people saying he's a brawny hothead dumbass.

The Earl and his long curly hair borrowed from Dolly the Countess of Parton invites his special guest in. It's Rob Roy there to rile up the clans in support of the Stuarts. Ned is concerned, Greasy is assessing which way the wind is blowing. He thinks this is all about the "prophesy".

The Earl says they will play today and vote tomorrow but nobody will pay for their vote either way. Greasy says he will bring his heir to meet him tomorrow. Uncle M humiliates him with an admirable turn of several phrases and insults and then tells him Ellen was found pure.

Colum's position is to not go with the Jacobites. Rob Roy stops Dougal looking for money he was promised. Colum is shocked and angry. Dougal tells him he promised some of Ellen's dowry. Colum tells Dougal he cannot be trusted and Dougal reveals his loyalty is to Scotland and Colum threatens him with death. Ned does his best to try to babysit but Colum is rightly PISSED.

The games begin with the sword dance and axe throwing outside which 220 years later becomes a corporate team building exercise. Ellen watches, catches Brian's eyes and these two act like love struck teenagers but you're not at the drive-in here people. They touch hands while watching arm wrestling. People could die with their carelessness . They do not know how to play the long game. They make plans to meet later.

Ellen is called to meet her brothers first. Colum sends Ned and Dougal away. First, Dougal admits her told Colum what he saw between Brian and Ellen. Colum threatens to have Brian killed but she warns him that she'll turn Malcolm against the MacKenzies. She makes him swear he won't hurt Brian directly or indirectly. She gives him her word to end it.

Henry is looking for Julia and runs into Brian. Brian tells him how hard it has been for Julia and gives him background on her "marriage' to Lovat.

Ellen stops to see Julia and thanks her again. Julia tells her about Henry. Julia is worried because she can't tell Henry about what she had to do. Julia talks about great sacrifice for the ones you love. Is losing them forever too great a price to pay? Bree's grandmothers think about that for their own lives.

Brian and Ellen meet in the graveyard. Ellen breaks his heart by reminding him that he has no money and his father is hated. She doesn't mean it but knows it is necessary. She tells him that maybe it wasn't love, just attraction. She runs away in tears, she has broken two hearts with that move.

Greasy is pissed and finds a way to blame Brian for his humiliation. He insults him six ways from Sunday in front of Murtagh. Brian goes to hit his father but Greasy's goons attack him. He has Murtagh represent him in the games and disowns Brian completely.

Ned and Henry continue their bromance under Bug's creepy eye. Brian is disgusted with the Grants for the lie about Julia's death, as is Ned. Brian asks him to help him escape. Ned tells him the best time to leave but it's going to be harder for three people. He asks Ned to deliver a note to Julia. Oh Ned, you're a good man. Can we have a show with Ellen, Julia, Ned and Malcolm?

The games begin, Malcolm thanks Ellen for coming. The Grant tartan is kind of ugly but they have the best broach.

Brian is walking in the woods, upset, banging his drum when arrows fly. The tall goons who are at the event are trying to kill him. Murtagh tackles him and helps him escape. They ride off.

Julia waits by the pond and Henry arrived. He forgives her. The wet nurse is coming with Greasy's goon. They make plans to meet later, again. In a weak bit of writing, the hooker who loves him overheard them behind the tree. How conveeeeenient.

The Earl of lovely locks proclaims James Stuart to be the king of Scotland and the UK. In a bit of foreshadowing, the head ball falls off the pole, silencing the cheers.

Ellen climbs into the carriage to go home and sweet Malcolm says until we meet on our wedding day. She sits in the carriage with Colum and gives him the stink eye he continues to deserve.

The show has not done enough to make me feel that Ellen should choose Brian over Malcolm.

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Wee Cap BomB Episode 108

Title: A Virtuous woman

Ellen is bathing, preparing for her "digital assessment". In the Great Hall, very unsterilized instruments and other torture devices are being laid out. It looks like they are preparing for the Crusades of centuries ago vs a Virginal Review.

The brothers MacKenzie are looking over things and even they think it looks a little barbaric and were told it was used in ancient Roman times. "Canna marry off a dead sister". Oh Colum, you old softie.

They discuss whether Ellen is hiding anything. Dougal is sure she is and his jealousy of their father's attention shows. He also tries to blame Colum since he was "in charge" during this time and Colum reminds him it is because Dougal took off with her dowry. Dougal notes that Ellen usually talks to Colum but he remorsefully tells Dougal she's been ghosting him ever since he used her as collateral for a Grant alliance. They realize Ned was watching her at Beltane and seek him out. The actor playing Colum remains strong, IMO.

Ned assures Colum he was with her at all times, except when she was off with the women preparing for the fairy line and then she was with Jocasta. Uh oh, I don't trust a rejected Jocasta but thankfully she is away at her own home. Colum says Jocasta wants Ellen as miserable as she is. Ned clocks that the MacKenzies are one dysfunctional family and that the siblings are more worried about their power than their sister or family loyalty. He tells them forgiveness will be needed no matter what happens at the examination. This Ned/Colum scene was one of the best of the series, IMO. These two have had a couple of them.

Ned runs into Mrs. Fitz coming out of Ellen's room and she tells him Ellen is prepared. She plays this conversation well. Ned may have the law training but she was a tricky defense lawyer there. It is clear that she loves Ellen and wants to protect her.

Over at Leathers, Lord Greasy tells Julia he is going away for two days to bring back special Viagra water. You can see the escape plot forming in her mind. As his wagon is packed, he tells Brian about what is about to happen to Ellen. Brian tells him that they are handfast and he cares for her. Oh you sweet, summer child, Brian. Greasy doesn't care, all he sees is a disgrace and a new alliance between the Frasers and the Grants. Greasy leaves and Brian decides he needs to get to Leoch. He tells his mother that he's going to rescue his wife and she panics.

Julia stops by and they decide that she can slip him into the castle and she has a way to help Ellen. She asks for sugar and egg whites. I believe I had that at Starbucks today. He tells her that she should escape with Baby William and she tells him about Henry. She and Mrs. Porter share a mother's discussion and each agrees to protect each other's sons. They ride hard and at a fork in the road, he tells her to go to the Grants while he goes to Leoch but she reminds him that only she can walk around the castle freely since she once stayed there. Brian and Julia have far more chemistry than Julia and Henry. And I see rocking the 18th century cloth headband runs in the Beauchamp family.

It is a good thing that she goes to Leoch because Henry is there with Malcolm. Malcolm has no doubts about Ellen's virtue and he likes her as well as respects her. Will somebody nice please marry this man? Henry tells him that the time will come when he has to stop listening to his father. Bug is creeping around as he is spying on Henry after Henry got caught trying to leave. Malcolm tells Bug to stand down and they go into the castle to greet the brothers and Ned.

Ned has prepared a generic contract with a few loopholes in case things go south. Apparently, they left off a must be a virgin clause. A plot twist for them as old man Grant wants their doctor (aka the bladier) to perform the test. That title didn't survive, poor branding.

Henry and Malcolm are upset and Henry steps out into the hallway. He sees Julia or thinks he does and assumes he is hallucinating again. (This part of the plot is weakly written and acted. Claire-your daddy is an annoying character.) Later he and Ned make a deal to help Henry escape again. Bug interrupts them and implies that the physician can be paid off to make this slow and painful.

Mrs. Fitz and Ellen are talking about what's next, which is a test full of ignorance, misogyny and spiritual woo woo. Mrs. Fitz clocks that Ellen has a right to be worried and assumes it was Murtagh but Ellen denies that. She also refuses to say who it was. Julia and Brian have slipped into the castle and she leaves him in the pottery room to see Ellen. She tells her about her idea and they agree they have nothing to lose. One breakfast hymen coming up.

Malcolm stops to see Ellen and is apologetic. He tells her to make them look like the fools that they are. Ellen comes into the Great Hall where there are no less than 10 men there waiting. The physician tells her to take off her robe and some of the men have the decency to look down. They give her what is some sort of diuretic which everyone objects to but Ellen drinks it in defiance. She must stand there, hold her pee until they tell her and then pee on demand. And good for her, she pees like a drunken sailor and it is virginal clear! Thank goodness she skipped the CVS B Vitamin Complex that morning.

Now comes the tough part. She gets on the table and these damn idiots didn't even go to the barn to get stirrups for her. Not even a "slide down please". The doctor does the exam and she's gripping that table with fingers and toes but does some 18th century Lamaze breathing and gets through it. The doctor washes his hands and it is announced that she is Virgo Intacta! Funny, she seems more like an Aries to me.

She walks by Malcolm with a sly smile and then gives her brothers the stink-eye they deserve. Only Ned has the decency to look embarrassed.

Mrs. Fitz and Ellen are grateful to Julia. Ellen sends her off with love and gratitude forevermore. I don't know why but I feel like that sentence will be important. This time Julia sees Henry and they reunite. Here we learn William was Henry's grandfather's name. Brian says enough of this mini reunion, we need to get out of Dodge. She tells Henry he can find her at Leathers.

Henry and Malcolm leave the castle with all smiles, until a courier arrives saying Isaac Grant has died. Mr. Bug looks like he's about to get laid off and he knows it.

Mrs. Fitz catches Julia and Brian sneaking out. She hands Brian the handfast tartan and says if you love her, you'll stay away.

This episode was the best of the series. I was interested the whole time where previous episodes I find I would end up looking at my phone, etc. But as someone noted last week, this series needs a wee bit of levity from time to time.

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Wee Cap BoMB Episode 107

Title: Luceo Non Uro (I shine, not burn)-

Wee-ist of Caps: two woman do what they can to not be married to someone they don't love.

Regular Wee Cap

A man runs into the quad of the Grant castles yelling that there has been a raid. Bug blames the MacKenzies. Malcolm has a calmer head. I still say Julia should run away with Malcolm, he's much more interesting than Henry. Malcolm suspects Murtagh but I think he's paying him back for standing in line for Ellen at the fairy prom.

Castle Leoch is in wedding preparation and Mrs. Fitz is picking out Ellen's bedsheets for embroidery with a less than charming reference what happens to them on the wedding night.

Colum stops by and they argue with how long it is taking to pull together her trousseau. She's stalling and he knows it.

Julia and Brian prepare to name her son-William Henry Beauchamp. Coincidence or cross plot twist for the future? Lord Greasy Hair is in the church for the baptism and the women congratulate Mrs. Porter for the blessing of the household. I'm sure she was thrilled.

Lovat is disappointed in the crowd (or complete lack thereof) and demands Julia but baby William is fussy. She sings Beside the Seaside to calm him and notes it only works for baby Claire. Mrs. Porter is kind to Juia but I don't now how she can be trusted. Murtagh arrives and a naive Brian smile at him and makes room in his pew but Murtagh sits in the back. Poor Murtz. Lovat has him baptized Simon Fraser. He tells Brian that they are in a Protestant kirk because the rule that no Catholic can become a king. He doesn't let the reverend complete the baptismal record.

Ned tells Colum about the Grant cattle raid and he immediately thinks Dougal did it. The rest of the group who had gone to sell cattle for Ellen's dowry has returned but Dougal has not, he has gone to a Jacobite meeting. Colum recognizes the seriousness of this whole situation on multiple fronts. Ned will try to appease the Grants until Dougal returns. Ellen volunteers a plan to try to bring him and her dowry back. Colum is not comfortable about the whole thing.

Brian goes to find Murtagh and Murtagh returns his inquiry with a right hook. Brian tries to explain that when he first fell in love with Ellen, he didn't know who she was. (I wouldn't buy that either, Murtz.) Murtagh said the worst thing was to lose her to his "brother" and then keep it from him. Murtagh's feeling of betrayal weighs on Brian. Lovat has had Murtagh spy on the Jacobite meeting to see which side Lovat should lean toward. He has no convictions, just self-preservation. Lovat's body man clocks that they are on the outs. Lovat threatens to punish Mrs. Porter if Brian refuses to go.

They are trying to make Lovat this series' BJR but Lovat is just a typical creepy bad guy, BJR was a multi-faceted nuanced character.

Ned goes to see Henry but Henry knows that the MacKenzies did not do the raid. Rob Roy McGregor is the suspect. Henry confides that now that he believes Julia is dead, he wants to leave the Grants but Ned warns him if he does, he must disappear. If Ned only knew. Henry goes back to his hooker friend, breaks her heart and retrieves his necklace. He grieves again and says goodbye. He knows he has to get back to Claire. (Side note: Still not good acting here.)

Ellen goes to visit Lady Nairne who may know where Dougal is. I wonder if she looks at this modern, clean house and gets tired of a cold, leaky castle. That would be the main advantage of marrying Malcolm. Ellen hands her a flower to represent the Jacobite cause. She ends up at the same meeting with Brian, Murtagh and Dougal. Girl, you should not play poker.

Mrs. Porter and Julia conspire to give Lovat some anti-Viagra complete with a limp prop.

Rob Roy, who could pose on a box of Lucky Charms (I know, I know, wrong country) riles up the Jacobite crowd. Dougal pledges their men and money. Murtagh chats with Ellen but Malcolm and Bug arrive and confront her. She uses her cover story to explain. Red coats arrive to arrest Rob Roy but Malcolm stops them.

I will say Jamie Roy/Brian stands out in a crowd due to his coloring as much as his height. The character of Brian is growing on me, although he touches her affectionately within eyesight of Dougal-these two have no chill (or smarts). Dougal rides off with her on Murtagh's horse. He refuses help from Brian and steals another horse. He's still PISSED and hurt.

Henry is riding hard on a horse but Bug's men intercept him (broken hearted hooker turned on him) just as Lovat has the reverend forge the wrong dates in the marriage certificate. Lovat finds his evening meal extra spicy and Julia/Mrs. Porter connect eyes and a smirk.

Mrs. Fitz finds Fraser tartan in Ellen's things and mistakenly thinks she was handfast to Murtagh. She tells her to hide it. Colum calls Ellen to the great hall with Dougal. Ned and Henry are there talking about a letter they received about Ellen's virginity. They want to check her. Henry apologizes. You can see Ellen plotting as her brothers breathe down her neck.

Brian returns and Lovat tells him he's aware of his relationship with Ellen, so this triggered Lovat to send the letter. Later that night, the anti-Viagra worked, do we really need to see his greasy ass again? (I can't believe this actor is only in his mid-fifties.) I need some of the beautiful wide shots of Scotland in this episode to cleanse my eyes. Lovat has had the most nude scenes of any character in this series. Talk about missing the point/plot.

Julia finds a letter from Henry and realizes he is alive and working for the Grants.

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Wee Cap Episode 106 Birthright

Julia wakes up with broken waters and tells Brian it's time. He's still pissed at her, but she tells him the truth and the reasoning behind what she did.

Henry is still moping around the Grants and Bug follows him. Henry is sick of this "dark shadow' so he confronts him and tells Bug the truth about the woman he seeks. Bug admits that his son was stillborn, so he agrees to gather the local midwives to see if they have heard anything about Julia. Even though Bug is an annoying, nasty, greasy pole of a human being for his whole life, but he clearly loves his wife.

Lovat is dreaming of Julia and whispers her name as Mrs. Porter attends his morning fire. She thinks about the time when he first whispered her name and then we are subjected to a scene that clearly shows Matt doesn't care that the fandom has rape fatigue. Also Lovat is a three-pump chump. Lovat tells Mrs. Porter that he will marry Julia today, but she convinces him that now is not the right time.

They prepare the great hall as a birthing chamber. Brian talks with his mother and asks if she loved his father. She dodges the question. It's clear that the motivation for Mrs. Porter turning turncoat on Julia is to protect Brian's legacy as the heir. Hence, the title of the episode.

Henry is interviewing midwives, but none have heard anything. Back at Leathers, the local women gather in solidarity to help Julia because every single one of them knows that birth can be a deadly proposition. They have heard the rumors about the seer's prediction for the baby. At first, they bless her until Mrs. Porter trashes Julia's reputation as a slut who wants Lovat and Brian. The women turn into the worst kind of TV evangelist and tell her to repent. Ain't nothing worse than a judgmental religious zealot. They cry to mourn the death of her innocence. It's creepy. Julia threatens them with retribution of her "future king" son. Julia tries to reason with Mrs. Porter. She thinks back to when she was pregnant and for FFS, it's rape x2. I.am.disgusted.

Lovat has a chat with Brian and tells him that he's not a good leader because he cares too much about right and wrong. He wanted a warrior.

Henry is still interviewing midwives, and one tells him Julia and her child died in childbirth. But she was lying because she said Julia was taken in by another couple. Henry doesn't believe her and he's right, Bug paid off the woman. Henry begins to have a panic attack.

Julia is calling out in pain. She calls for Henry on a contraction and the women think she's trying to name the baby. Mrs. Porter thinks back to her own labor and she got the same lecture from the Karens of the 18th century. She sends the judgy women away.

Lovat breaks into the birthing chamber with a minister. Mrs. Porter tells Lovat everything she's ever wanted to say to him. He slaps her and Brian pulls him off of his mother. The minister leaves this crazy scene. Julia is in the last stages of labor and thinks back to Claire's birth at their flat with a midwife in attendance, while Mrs. Porter recalls holding baby Brian in her arms.

Henry, not realizing he's been lied to, is grieving in the woods. He hears her voice in the letters she used to write to him. He's kind of lost his mind and goes to the brothel where the prostitute he's befriended is there. He sees Julia's face, not hers in their lovemaking.

Brian is about to pay for attacking Lovat, with the lash. He goes to visit Julia and the baby after it's over. He tells her it wasn't the first time he was punished like that, but it will be the last.

Aaaand she just happens to have chocolate cake on her bureau?

One thing I have realized with this series is I have no desire to rewatch any of the episodes. Sometimes with Outlander, I will literally rewatch as soon as it ends.

And the rape scenes were totally unnecessary to show in their entirety.

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Wee Cap BoMB Ep 105 Needfire

Ellen is either getting fitted for her wedding or she's going as Mother Nature for Halloween.

Julia's beginning to show. She and Henri (tm/ Gastairfad) are plotting to leave for Beltane ceremony. She's worried he will get punished when she doesn't return. His hair is pushed back to show he has a five-head. It's a better look for him and he really does look like he could be Jamie/Sam's father. Mrs. Porter warns them that Lovat's seer is coming to have a reading for Julia's baby. Brian is upset to learn that Julia's pregnant with his sibling and says she can't come with him.

Ellen and Jocasta talk about marriage in the carriage. Janet/AndPeggy is nowhere to be found. They snip at each other until Ned tells them to knock it off. The actress playing Jocasta has MDK's mannerisms.

Murtagh is plotting to try to draw Ellen away from Malcolm and puts some ideas into Brian's head.

At Beltane, Jocasta continues to be kind of bitchy and you can tell Malcolm doesn't like her. Henree overhears them talking about the stone circle and is most interested. He asks Ned what it all means. He also tells him that Lovat is spreading rumors about Ellen's reputation. I'm sorry, this actor who plays Henreey is terrible. Ned holds this show together.

Ellen and Malcolm start as part of a line dance and Brian slips in. Murtagh watches with a melancholy look on his face. He starts to dance with Jocasta even though she's (unhappily) married. Ellen is crowned Prom Queen. The men are told to step forward and Murtagh joins Malcolm as do others so Brian gets in line for the garter toss, I mean Prom King. She chooses Malcolm which is smart... for now.

The "seer" says Julia's baby will be a boy, a man who will unite Scotland. She tells Julia to name him Mel Gibson. Interestingly, she talks about two children, the other being a curly haired girl with blue eyes.

Jocasta agrees to cover for Ellen while she goes off to find Brian. She wants the necklace that their mother left to her in return. She connects with Brian nearby. They kiss in the woods only to be discovered by... Murtagh. He leaves, disappointed and likely betrayed.

They slip into a kirk and whisper sweet nothings but it's hard to make out while they make out. He gives her the usual "if we keep going, I can't stop" nonsense that men have used for centuries. But first, he puts a ring on it or at least he tears his tartan to handfast with her.

I think I figured out why I don't see the chemistry. He looks very early 18th century but she looks like a modern woman playing dress up. Best thing about their honeymoon scene was the music.

He tells her that Murtagh is his cousin but more like a brother. She asks about how bad his father is and he confirms that he's worse than the rumors. He tells her how he left Scotland for a while to figure out his purpose in life. He mentions something about St. James but he speaks so low and tries to do the Sam growl that I missed some of it.

Back at the Prom, Bug and Murtagh get in a fight because Murtagh got in the Prom King line and Murtagh takes a bad beating. Poor Murtagh, doesn't get the girl but gets his ass kicked anyway.

Mrs. Porter turns out to be a double-crosser and tells Lovat that Julia cannot be trusted and that she was already pregnant. It backfires on her when he asks her if she's told anyone else and tells her to start doing Julia's work too to protect her. He would rather everyone think that little Braveheart is his. He threatens her with death if she tells anyone.

Henroo pouts again and talks of love with Ned. Ned tells him that he had one true love and but tragedy intervened. He said he had two choices, wallow in it or start anew which he did with the MacKenzies. He tells Hen of Ree that he's in the wallow stage and that's not good. But Henwee says he is wrong.

Malcolm stops and gives Ellen a small gift he made when they were children. He's very sweet. She's breaking hearts all over Inverness.

Murtagh is in a tent cleaning up his wounds and Jocasta finds him. Jocasta wipes the blood from his face. She flirts but he says all he wants is to be wanted. She relates and he kisses her. But he calls her Ellen. Uh oh, she's going to rat out Ellen , I can feel it.

Here come the ladies in the flowing white nightgowns and the long lanterns. Sing me a song...

Ellen and Malcolm walk in front of the crowd, I think this is the fertility ceremony. She looks like a bride, he looks like Oberon. He kisses her while Brian and Murtagh both are forced to watch but Brian does not look upset, more like he knows who Ellen really belongs to. Meanwhile Julia and Henry pout and poem.

This episode was better than the last, but I still could not care less about Claire's parents. I find I'm mostly care about secondary characters at this point and I think Julia should run off with Malcolm.