User Reviews

While Episode 3 may not be particularly memorable, it is nonetheless, largely satisfying. The main plot of the episode, Claire's battle to heal Thomas Baxter against the wishes of Father Bain, who believes his soul is cursed to hell, is a largely predictable endeavor that ends how you would expect, Claire's medical expertise saves the boy's life, and Father Bain, angered that a woman usurped his authority, makes a not so subtle threat of revenge.

Yet the main strength of this episode, surprise, surprise, is the amazing chemistry between Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan, which continues to be the strong point of the show since Claire's journey to the past began. Once again, they just have an amazing on screen connection that is understated, believably portraying friends who are slowly but surely growing closer the more time they spend together. Indeed, the highlights of this episode were the times that they worked together to complete their goals, having an inside knowledge between themselves that enabled them to both avoid Ms. Duncan's questions regarding Claire and allow the boy to be rescued from the pillory. It was a sort of juxtaposition to the last episode where Claire was clearly the outsider and isolated by Colum and Dougal.

I also found some of the secondary relationships to be interesting. I don't know what to make of Claire and Colum's relationship. It is a difficult one to figure out since in some sense, Claire is Colum's prisoner, there at his leisure, and presumably, he could do what he wants with her. Yet, there is also a certain measure of respect Colum has for her, and a certain sympathy she has for him as a result of his condition that is sweet in some way. Perhaps Colum has some understanding for Claire's difficulties as an outsider since he is looked upon poorly as a result of his legs.

And of course, there is Claire's meeting with Laghorie, which all things considered, is just sort of tragic in a certain sense. Laghorie is clearly in love with Jamie, but as Murtagh said, she'll be a lassie until she's 50. Jamie clearly favors Claire's attention and it's easy to see why; they have a shared connection that's slowly being built on a foundation more than childish love and passion. With each episode, Claire and Jaime growing to enjoy each other's company more and are able to work together as partners, something you wouldn't expect Laghorie to be able to accomplish. In fact, for any fans of the Office, Jaime and Claire's relationship is slowly beginning to resemble Jim and Pam's relationship, one that's built less on blind passion and more on shared personal attachment and enjoyment of each other's company.

Episode 103 of Outlander features several departures from the original text--but they serve the same purposes as the books, so they work quite well.

As a book fan, I enjoy these differences because it means I don't know exactly what is going to happen and I can watch with a virgin's eye. I appreciate this.

I every much enjoyed the "what if" scene as Claire imagined how confiding in Mrs. Fitz might play out.

The changes involving the children "possessed by demons" made a better for a better episode plot than the changeling baby that Claire encounters on a faerie hill, and the Black Kirk made a more visually compelling scene. The writers did a great job of incorporating something that allowed Claire to demonstrate her medical knowledge, resolve several problems, and yet mire herself even further into her status as semi-captive by proving herself invaluable as a healer.

I enjoyed the added scene in which Colum demonstrates his strength of command as The MacKenzie and his growing respect for Claire.

Father Bain was well cast--he is even worse than I envisioned him in the book but he worked well with the revised storyline. I was happy to see Mrs. Fitz support Claire and her abilities. It is nice to see our time traveler gaining regard in this new time.

The chemistry between Caitriona Bale and Sam Heughan is quite intense. I loved the interchange in the skulkery when he asked her to change his bandages as an excuse to get her alone. When she removed his neck-cloth to check his wound I thought she might swoon. The looks passing between the two were quite believable.

Lotte Verbeek did a great jog with Geillis--working her feminine wiles on her hapless and flatulent husband, Arthur.

Murtagh, delivering what in the book was Old Alec's line, did a great job. Though it makes him seem quite disapproving of Claire. When Old Alec did it, Claire had an opportunity to redeem herself and get in his very good graces, but I don't know what might have the same impact on Murtagh. It was still well done.

I think that I would have renamed the episode from The Way Out to Superstition 17th Century Style. Since we are all "educated" individuals from the 21st century, you need to step back and realize that Claire is in a world far different from her own in more ways than dress. It's a world where people are governed by beliefs to explain the unexplained. Everything that happens either comes from God or Satan.

The episode begins with a short flashback (or is that flash forward in time-travel lingo?) of Claire and her husband saying goodbye to each other. She's off to the front lines, strong and stubborn Claire, to do her bit, while Frank is left behind is a more cushy military job. He woefully begs, "Promise you will return to me." She promises.

Flashing back 200 years, Claire quickly gets to work in her new surgery as the nurse aka healer at Leoch. While she's mending people left and right, she is still watched and followed. In her imagination she plays the scene of what it would be like to tell Mrs. FitzGibbons that she's really 200 years from the future. Of course, when she concludes that her tall tale would probably get her a slap in the face and the term of "witch," she comes back to reality. Just when everyone was thinking Mrs. FitzGibbons was going to turn out a meany toward Claire, we were all just fooled in the previews by Starz.

We see that Claire tries her best to get into Colum's good graces. An opportunity presents itself when Colum requests that she massage his legs. She knows that rubbing his lower back would be far more effective. Well, to get to the back, he exposes his ass. Of course, nothing shocks nurse Claire as she goes to work easing his pain while he blames the devil for his affliction in life.

There are some entertaining scenes between Jamie and Claire that include smoldering looks from the Scot and dreamy-eyed, drunken gazes from Claire. She sure loves the laird's private stock of castle booze. Her emotions are stirred toward jealousy when she catches Jamie kissing Laoghaire, but she blames it on missing intimacy with Frank. Honestly, I doubt that's the reason.

However, the majority of the episode is heavily laced with religion versus superstition, and Claire's knowledge of what really is occurring in their world. What they think is demon possession is merely a case of poison. Everything that happens good or bad is attributed to heaven or hell, and everybody is making the sign of the cross multiple times to ward off the evil spirits. When she heals a young boy thought to be possessed, she's now the miracle worker. The priest, of course, has other ideas.

The character, Geillis Duncan, is in Episode 3 quite a bit, as well as the scene of the poor young lad and the Scottish barbaric ways of nailing his ear to the pillory for stealing. There will be no six months in juvenile detention for this guy, but Jamie does help with the removal of the nail and his fine statement, "Ye wouldna expect me to be less bold than a wee Sassenach lassie, now would ye?"

At the end, we see Jamie translating for Claire the folk tale that sounds strikingly similar to her travel through time. She knows that she must get back, or die trying. At this point, I think I would want to get back to Frank, too, after watching exorcism and nailing of ears. A hot bath would feel really good, compared to Claire's bucket dunks. I thought was a very timely scene since this past week we've seen nothing but ice-water bucket challenges on social media.

The scenes from Starz versus the book are a bit out of order here and there, but nothing of consequence. I will admit that some of Jamie's accent is really hard to understand. I'll probably watch it again to pick up what I missed. Again, it's another excellent episode.

Most tender moment: Claire massaging Colum's back. (Not all tenderness needs to be with Jamie, lasses.)

Most humorous statement: Colum to Claire, "Don't tell me my ass offends you too?"

Most disturbing moment: Nailing a boy's ear to the pillory.

The chemistry Claire-Jamie becomes so obvious, that I dont want Claire to go back to her time. The scene where she teases Jamie confirms great acting skills of Cait Balfe. Also, exceptional symbolism in the scene at the surgery, where tipsy Claire sits on the same table she had Frank go down on her only a few "days" earlier - the lusty look on her face is priceless.