#outlander 01x06

[gotham-ruaidh]

I just LOVE how the same actor plays Brian Fraser in 7x09 as waaaay back in 1x06!!

I loved so dearly how we "met" Brian in that episode, way back when I first saw it in 2014. Because in Book 1 we only hear Jamie tell the story, we don't actually "see" Brian in real time.

It still floors me every time.

And seeing it in 7x09 reminded me that I'm soooo excited to see Brian and Ellen's story in "Blood of my Blood"!!

[gotham-ruaidh]

We had to endure the brutality of 01x06 “The Garrison Commander” to get to the point of the story that we all *really* wanted to see…

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Dougal: I can only legally refuse to hand you back to Randall if I change you from an Englishwoman…into a Scot.

[[GOTHAM, ON FIRST VIEWING: OH JEEZ. HERE IT COMES!!]]

Claire: Into a Scot?

[[GOTHAM: OH MY GOD **HYPERVENTILATES** **PTERODACTYL SCREECH**]]

Dougal: And the only way I could do that is for you to marry one.

[[GOTHAM: **CRIES** IT’S REALLY HAPPENING. OH MY GOD IT’S REALLY HAPPENING]]

Claire: No. Absolutely not. I cannot do that!

Dougal: Would ye rather go to an English prison?

Claire: So I’m to marry you?

[[GOTHAM: NO, YOU SILLY GOOSE. JAMIE!!]]

Dougal: *smirks* Well, I must admit the idea of grinding your corn does tickle me. But it’s not myself I’d be nominating for the position.

[[GOTHAM: SCREAMS. PAUSES VIDEO. RE-WATCHES. SCREAMS AGAIN]]

Claire: Then who?

[Beautiful shot of Claire reading the marriage contract before the camera pans back. And we see Jamie’s red head cresting the hill]

[[GOTHAM: OH MY GOD! IT’S JAMIE! THERE HE IS! CLAIRE! CLAIRE! WHAT ARE YOU WORRIED ABOUT?!?]]

[gotham-ruaidh]

Claire shaving her first husband:

Claire telling her second husband to not shave:

Why?

It befits their characters.

Frank: Smooth, polished, proper. And Claire in her role as the dutiful wife, helping him maintain the face he presents to the world.

Jamie: Rough, earthy, a touch feral. Natural. Claire relishes that about him - doesn’t want him to change it - and is confident enough in herself (and in his love for her) that she’s not shy to tell him what to do. And Jamie is so very happy to listen.

[gotham-ruaidh]

A hundred lashes is fatiguing to the arm.

Jonathan “Black Jack” Randall, Outlander 01x06 “The Garrison Commander”

[gotham-ruaidh]

Where have we heard that music on the closing credits before??

Oh yes, at the end of 01x06 -- right after Jamie delivers the iconic line "Reckon one of us should ken what we're doing" and Claire mentally prepares herself for the upcoming wedding.

THE WEDDING PARALLELS HAVE ALREADY ARRIVED

[gotham-ruaidh]

Twenty three years apart -

Jamie brings Claire a bottle of liquor...

...as they discuss a last-minute wedding.

[gotham-ruaidh]

01x06 Re-Watch

Recently I re-watched 01x06 “The Garrison Commander,” for the first time in a long time.

I was struck anew with the same feelings I had, back when it first aired in September 2014. At that time, I - and everyone else - eagerly anticipated 01x07 “The Wedding.” And I didn’t know what to expect from an episode that focused almost solely on Claire and Black Jack Randall, drawing out into an entire episode what took only a few paragraphs in the book.

But upon re-watching it, I was reminded at how brilliant of an episode it is.

First: to hear all those English voices, after nothing but Scottish accents for the past 4.5 episodes, was jarring. As it must have been to Claire.

Second: to see the soldiers’ true distaste for the Scots - and their contempt for the Highland culture, which they saw as rude, backward, heathen. A perfect backdrop for all future encounters with the redcoats in subsequent episodes.

If I stay here long enough, I could become a laird. Laird Thomas. What do you think, all? Only then I supposed I'd have to wear one of those woolen skirts.

Third: Claire’s almost stupid bravery in speaking out against these terrible attitudes. Every time she opens her mouth, trouble ensues. She doesn’t yet fully appreciate just how dangerous that is for her.

It is *their* land, and we are occupying it!

Fourth: actually seeing Randall flog Jamie - and with Dougal and Brian Fraser in attendance - made my heart stop. Not just at the brutality - but because I realized that if the production team wouldn’t hesitate at showing something as violent as Jamie’s flogging, that meant that there would be no holding back with the Wentworth scenes.

A hundred lashes is fatiguing to the arm.

Fifth: only here, only now - only when Randall abuses Claire, reveals his ugly self to her - Claire realizes just how dangerous of a time this is. How it’s become impossible for her to continue to be on her own. How crucial it is for someone to protect her. How - like it or not - she needs Jamie to survive.

[gotham-ruaidh]

Day 6 - 01x06 “The Garrison Commander”

The 16 Days of Outlander continues…

I’ll pick 2 moments today - both of which show Jamie being so brave in the face of terror and the unknown.

First - we learn everything we need to know about Jamie in one line:

“You’re shaking. Are you scared?”

“I’m just afraid I’ll freeze stiff afore you’re done talking.”

Look at him - in the face of terror, pain, and perhaps death - he is strong. Defiant. Amid Black Jack’s voiceover - showing how he remembers this scene - these are the only words we hear Jamie speak. Proof that despite the horror, he is above it all. He will be above it all. This terror will not hold him down.

Second - the moment my excited little heart just about stopped.

“Then who?” Claire asks.

Cut to her reading the marriage contract - and Jamie, hesitating as he comes over the hill, whisky in hand. He is taking a big risk - and knows it - and undoubtedly fears the unknown. But he is brave, and he is above whatever machinations his uncle has in mind. He is above it all. His fear will not hold him down - will not prevent him from doing everything he can to protect Claire, the woman he already loves more than he is brave enough to say.