#outlander 03x09

[gotham-ruaidh]

In Outlander Season 3, Jamie and Claire dream of their Brianna on the deck of the Artemis. They look at the moon together and Claire recites "Goodnight Moon" to Jamie.

In Outlander Season 8, Brianna brings "Goodnight Moon" back with her to Fraser's Ridge, and Jamie reads the book to his granddaughter Mandy.

🤩🥰😧😭❤️

[sobeit-sobeit]

The Doldrums

'If you were to say that in the twentieth century, you'd be the king of all men'.

I see what you did there. Ha ha hahahahahahhaha *laughs hysterically*

Also, they've done a great job aging both Caitriona and Sam, though may I ask, how did Claire's hair grow so much in, say, a month or so? The grey streaks are at least 10 cm long (Edit: not in all scenes apparently). Unless the black dye was semi-permanent, which I highly doubt was the case. Ach well.

[gotham-ruaidh]

intoxicated by the sight of her

[gotham-ruaidh]

Frank burned Claire’s old clothes. Jamie kept them.

That, friends, is all you need to know about these two men and their relationships with Claire.

(hat tip to @suhailauniverse for pointing this out - it’s such a monumental parallel that it deserves its own post!)

[gotham-ruaidh]

white dove

In 03x09, after their frantic (adorable, desperate, melting) encounter during the rainstorm, Jamie strokes Claire’s hair, and once again calls her “white dove” - caiman geal - for the silver in her hair.

A beautiful callback to not only the scene in 01x07 “The Wedding” where he explains why he calls her mo nighean donn - but also, of course, the gorgeous “white dove” prayer in 02x11 “Vengeance Is Mine.”

So - looking through the script for 03x09, I smiled to see that the original script did not call for Jamie to use this gorgeous name for Claire:

Whoever made the decision to add it in - thank you!!

[gotham-ruaidh]

marriage

“I knew you belonged here, with me. Almost since the first time I laid eyes on you. That was one of the reasons I agreed to marry you - though not the main one.”

“Well, what was the main one?”

“Because I wanted you more than I ever wanted anything in my life…”

- Jamie and Claire, 01x12 “Lallybroch”

–

“I don’t think I can have children…I should have told you, before we were married - but I never counted on loving you, much less having children with you.”

- Claire, 01x13 “The Watch”

–

“I should have told you [my father was a bastard] before we wed…I’m sorry, it was cowardly of me.”

- Jamie, 02x08 “The Fox’s Lair”

–

“You and I - we know each other less now than we did when we were first wed.”

- Jamie, 03x06 “A. Malcolm”

–

“I don’t think they’ve thought through what it means to spend a lifetime together. But neither did we, when we were first married.”

“That’s because our marriage was arranged.”

- Jamie and Claire, 03x09 “The Doldrums”

–

“You hardly know her.”

“You didn’t know Milady long at all before *you* were married.”

“That was different - we were forced to marry.”

*Scoffs* “Milord you forget - I *know* your story. If you were forced to marry Milady, then I am forced to breathe. My heart - it is forced to beat. You yourself have told me you wanted her more than life from the moment you saw her. You didn’t need time. Nor do I.”

- Jamie and Fergus, 03x09 “The Doldrums”

—–

Were Jamie and Claire truly forced to marry?

Did they even have time to tell each other things - critical, important things - before they married?

Did it matter that they didn’t truly know each other, when they married? Or, when they found each other again?

I think the answer to these three questions is No.

They may have had limited options - but they chose each other.

They did not have time to share anything before the wedding - and to be honest, they likely did not care to share those things. Secrets, but not lies.

And the fact that they didn’t know each other means that they chose to share, at a timing of their choosing. They give each other information about themselves only in a way that makes them feel comfortable. They open up more as the trust, and respect, and mutual love grows between them.

That is a true gift.

And it’s a circumstance that Fergus clearly draws from in his own life. Jamie found a woman, grabbed on to her with both hands, let her be herself - but didn’t let her go. Why wouldn’t Fergus want to do the same?

[gotham-ruaidh]

“I took an oath,” I said. “When I became a physician.” Both eyebrows went up. “An oath?” he echoed. “What sort of oath?” 

...“Ye hold yourself bound to help whoever calls for it, even an enemy?”

“It doesn’t make a great difference, you know, if they’re ill or hurt.” I looked up, searching his face for understanding.

“Aye, well,” he said slowly. “I’ve taken an oath now and then, myself — and none of them lightly.” He reached out and took my right hand, his fingers resting on my silver ring.

-- Voyager

[gotham-ruaidh]

The story that Mr. Willoughby tells about his life was so beautifully written(and superbly acted). TV show watcher only here. Is that passage in the book?

It actually is, for the most part! It’s condensed in the show, of course, and takes place at a different point in the overall narrative - but they key (and most poignant) points are kept in the adaptation.

And let me take the opportunity to say that I just adore Show!Willoughby and would gladly take him over Book!Willoughby any day.