#outlander 01x05

[gotham-ruaidh]

Outlander 31 Day Challenge: Day 7

Welcome to the Outlander 31 Day Challenge!

Today is Day 7: Scene that made you laugh the most

Well this was easy. The immortal exchange between Rupert and Claire in 01x05 "Rent":

Rupert: So there I am, in bed, Harelip Chrissie on my left, and Sweaty Nettie the butcher’s daughter on my right. They get jealous of each other, and start arguing over who I’m going to swive first. Can ye believe it?

Claire: I believe your left hand gets jealous of your right. That’s about all I believe

**Jamie emerges from behind the horse, smirking, making heart eyes at Claire**

**Tense pause**

Rupert: *Laughs hysterically* I’ve never heard a woman make a joke!!

[gotham-ruaidh]

I miss this adorable tartan goofball

I *love* how in Season 1 we saw Rupert and Angus really come to life - their bumbling cuteness remind me of Laurel and Hardy. Intelligent comic relief is verra hard to come by these days.

So I’ll pick my absolutely favorite Claire and Rupert exchange in 01x05 “Rent”:

Rupert: So there I am, in bed, Harelip Chrissie on my left, and Sweaty Nettie the butcher’s daughter on my right. They get jealous of each other, and start arguing over who I’m going to swive first. Can ye believe it? Claire: I believe your left hand gets jealous of your right. That’s about all I believe **Jamie emerges from behind the horse, smirking, making heart eyes at Claire** **Tense pause** Rupert: *Laughs hysterically* I’ve never heard a woman make a joke!!

**Bonus (seen in the screencap below) - Murtagh (AKA #1 Jamie/Claire shipper) approves!!

[gotham-ruaidh]

What about the hand motion over the shoulder angus done after making the sign of the cross?

Anon, I couldn’t remember any instances where Angus does this. But I do remember that Jamie does this in 01x05 “Rent,” when the rent party comes upon two men executed on the moor - Jamie makes the Sign of the Cross, and then quickly makes a motion over his right shoulder.

I wonder if this is related to a motion that some people make, when they spill salt - to throw it over their shoulder, to hit the devil in the eye.

To be honest, I can’t think of a logical explanation for this motion (other than that Sam Heughan didn’t know how to correctly cross himself, which we do see in other episodes...)

Paging my Catholic Outlander friend @saint-hildegard-of-bingen...what say you?

[gotham-ruaidh]

You can see how flat and open and boggy it is.

The highland army was completely exposed, and they then charged into the teeth of musket fire, cannons, mortars with nothing more than their broadswords, for the most part.

It was very, very quick and very bloody.The whole thing took less than an hour.

Jacobites lost something in the region of 2,000 men.

But the interesting thing is that in the years following Culloden, the estates of the Clan Chieftains were plundered, sold.

The government banned the wearing of tartan.

They banned the carrying of swords, even the Gaelic language.

In effect, Culloden marked the end of the clans,

and the end of the highlander way of life.

[gotham-ruaidh]

Dearest wise and wonderful Gotham, This may be my first ever question sent to you outside of DM! I have been discussing with some of our friends the significance of the "Nemo me impune lacessit" flag shown during the trailer. Latin nerd that I am, I know the translation - No one provokes me with impunity - or - No one can harm me unpunished. But how do you think it relate to "our" story? As far as I know, it does now show up in the books. I have a few theories but am curious for your take on it.

Hiya Hildy!

You’re right in that this is not in the Books at all - which makes it that much more interesting.

You may not remember that we have seen this flag before - on the wall of Reverend Wakefield’s manse in 02x01 (thanks to @bonnie-wee-swordsman for the sleuthing help!)

...as well as this gorgeous shot of the flag during a flashback (flashforward?) in 01x05:

Now, we know that the Reverend is an amateur historian - and has the best collection of Jacobite books in the Highlands.

So - what does it all mean?

Well - I did some research and turns out “Nemo me impune lacessit” was the Stuart motto.

(I’ll ignore how I don’t think this motto applies to Bonnie Prince Chuck in the slightest, or at least in the version of him portrayed in Outlander. Because he certainly harmed plenty of people...and didn’t quite get punished for it...)

But it’s also a motto for Jamie. Nobody can harm him, or those he loves, and get away with it. He exacts revenge - and enjoys himself while doing it. c.f. Claire’s rescue in ABOSAA, the duel with BJR in DiA, what he does for Claire at the end of MOBY, etc.

And of course it’s a motto for Claire. Nobody harms her and goes unpunished. Not Frank, for emotional unavailability. Not Jamie, for forcing her back through the stones and living as half a person for 20 years as a consequence. Not any of the men who make advances on her throughout the Books. Not time itself.

More than anything - it’s the motto of who Jamie and Claire are together. Scotland is such a core part of who they are as individuals, and who they are together. Moreover, they protect and defend each other. They do literally *anything* for each other: lie, cheat, steal, kill, give their bodies to others, starve, withstand unimaginable emotional anguish -- all for the sake of the other person. Nothing can harm their union - their love - and all things that try to damage it undergo severe consequences.

I so enjoy knowing that the flag is in the Reverend’s manse as a backdrop while Claire (and Roger, and Brianna) search for Jamie. A physical reminder of what once was, and what will be again.

[gotham-ruaidh]

not really a question, but i always wondered about the significance of jamie telling randall "you owe me a debt," and claire shortly afterwards telling jamie "you owe me a life." xx

Remember that when Jamie wakes up in Wentworth Prison - in the first haunting, heart-crushing scene of 01x16 “To Ransom A Man’s Soul” - he croaks, “You owe me a debt.”

That’s because Randall had promised to kill Jamie when the night was over. Knowing that he wouldn’t have to live with the pain - and the shame - of what he had allowed Randall to do to him (even though he did it out of love for Claire) undoubtedly keeps Jamie going during that hellish experience.

So - because Randall does not kill him (though I’m certain he intended to - after all, we see him unsheath his sword right before the Great Highland Coo Charge), and because Randall is a man of honor (despite everything, he *did* let Claire go), Randall owes something to Jamie.

Jamie calls in that debt when he meets Randall in Paris. He can ask Randall to do something, and Randall (perversely) must acquiesce. So Jamie challenges him to a duel.

Now - there is a similar type of understanding between Jamie and Claire. Claire owes her life several times over to Jamie - and Jamie owes his life several times over to Claire. Because she saved Jamie’s life after Wentworth, he owes her a service. A favor, so to speak. So she calls in this favor by asking Jamie to spare Randall. And because Jamie is a man of honor (he even says so to Claire) who honors his debts, Jamie has no choice but to do what Claire asks.

It’s an odd turn of circumstances that Jamie is both the creditor and debtor of two very different - and yet hauntingly similar - oaths of honor. And in my opinion, he is a tad hypocritical - easily claiming a debt with Randall despite knowing that Claire will be angry with him, while becoming extremely angry and emotional when taking a debt with Claire.

They are both being selfish in how they claim their debts - and wound each other so deeply in doing so.

To me, this is the widest gulf we ever see between them. It’s even worse than when they weren’t fully communicating in 02x01-02x04 - because after enduring so much together, they know *exactly* how to hurt each other. Made even worse by the knowledge of cataclysmic events that are just around the corner.

[gotham-ruaidh]

So I've done an outlander rewatch recently and I'd had some strange feels, in need of your opinion So in the first few eps in S1 Jamie is meant to have the hots for our girl C right? In rent when Claire was (tbh being a little antsy to everyone) Jamie is kinda like "suck it up" and I've realised that like she is being kept there against her will?? Basically she wants to leave and should have that right. Jamie seems to not have an opinion on her being kinda held hostage. Does he know?

Hi anon,

Claire knows she is there against her will. Jamie also knows that Claire is there against her will - remember, he caught her when she tried to escape during 01x04 “The Gathering.”

Now consider Jamie’s situation. He’s also at Leoch somewhat against his will - for he knows that Colum and Dougal will give him protection against the price on his head. But he also knows that “as long as [his] feet rest on the lands of Clan MacKenzie,” he must do what his uncles wish him to do - whether that’s show his scarred back (in the case of 01x05 “Rent”) or go off with Dougal (in the case of 01x09 “The Reckoning”).

So both Jamie and Claire are in positions that they do not choose to be in. And as such, it’s inaccurate to say that Jamie doesn’t have an opinion about Claire’s situation. Of course he does - he completely understands where she is, because it’s very similar to his own situation.

In fact, it’s their common situation that brings them closer together. For when they are forced to marry - again, against what both of them want - they immediately form a very strong bond. For now, as a united unit, they have power - they are not alone. They give each other the strength to challenge their situation (in whatever way they can), and try to find a stronger position.

That aspect of their relationship is beautifully explored in 01x05, during their conversation by the fire (after Jamie and Dougal argue). For it’s then that they realize they’re in the same boat - and they’re not afraid to admit it to each other. I think it’s when they both realize this for the first time - and see just how powerful their friendship - and partnership - and ultimate love for each other could be, in the face of larger obstacles.

[gotham-ruaidh]

Hey Gotham! Need your wise insight!! If someone (male) wanted to see what Outlander was all about, but they only wanted to watch one episode, which one would you choose? It should showcase the show, acting, story, characters, as much as possible, making them want more. Oh and it has to be from the first season. Anyone else want to throw their $.02 in?

Well for Season 1 - I’d say 01x05 “Rent” for the wonderful mix of action, scenery, political intrigue, and will-they-or-won’t-they romance.

And for Season 2, I’d say either 02x09 “Je Suis Prest” or 02x10 “Prestonpans.” For the perfect combination of the same aspects mentioned above - plus, action/military stuff.

Other thoughts?