OUTLANDER (The Morning After) RECAP: Sassenach

“People disappear all the time…”

Those four words and the lush green of Scotland open the much anticipated debut episode of Outlander, based on the best-selling novel of the same name by author Diana Gabaldon, welcoming the viewer into the world of Claire Beauchamp Randall (series lead Caitriona Balfe), a battlefield nurse during World War II, who is reunited with her beloved husband Frank Randall (series regular Tobias Menzies) after five long years separated by the bloodiest and most terrible war in human history.

As the couple sets off on their second honeymoon before they settle down to work-a-day life, which will include Frank taking up a job as a professor at Oxford, they stay at a small yet quaint inn in Inverness in the Scottish Highlands. They soon venture out into the lush countryside to visit the remains of Castle Leoch as part of Frank’s path of discovery to his ancestors; which happens to include Jonathan Wolverton “Black Jack” Randall, a minor knight in England and a captain of dragoons in the 1740’s.

Their visit to Castle Leoch is foreboding to say the least for those who are aware of the storyline behind Outlander; and given the expression clearly depicted on Claire’s face as they force a door open inside the ruins of the castle, entering into a dank room where Claire joked a troll or two may have lived, this room will hold vital importance to her.

A week later, Claire and Frank spend time in the company of Reverend Wakefield (guest star James Fleet) and his housekeeper Mrs. Graham (guest star Tracey Wilkinson); whereupon Rev. Wakefield helps Frank find evidence of Black Jack Randall while Claire has an interesting conversation with Mrs. Graham that includes getting her tea leaves as well as her palm read. What Claire learns during that conversation, despite her not really believing in superstitions, does have an effect on her and foretells much of what happens to her in the very near future (or is that the past).

The following morning, not that long before sunrise, Frank and Claire traverse to Craigh Na Dun, the site of Stone Circles out beyond Inverness where – supposedly – a group of witches – nee Druids – are said to perform a ritual for Frank would love nothing more than to see with his own eyes. That magical dance easily entrances the couple, but makes the hair on the back of Claire’s neck prickle, warning her that she was trespassing somewhere she did not belong.

NOTE: This is perhaps one of the most beautiful and moving scenes in the episode with captivating choreography, a sense of whimsy and mystery combined with magical lighting from the paper lanterns and the rising sun.

When Claire returns to gather some forget-me-not flowers at Craigh Na Dun, though, she hears an unusual noise and after touching the largest stone in the circle, she is seemingly transported to a different time as the people she encounters are dressed vastly different from her and she meets a man who looks exactly like her husband Frank, but whom is clearly not. She learns that Black Jack Randall is not all what Frank would have hoped since his doppelgänger nearly rapes her.

She is then rescued by a kilt-wearing man speaking a strange language she does not understand, waking up on horseback headed toward a small cottage that is filled with even more of these oddly dressed (not to mention odorous) men; one of who is severely injured: Jamie (series lead Sam Heughan). She provides aid to him after being interrogated by the leader of the men; and then basically being held hostage by these men as they venture back to their home; a journey that takes over two days on horseback, wrapped in Jamie’s plaid.

Coming upon a large outcropping of rocks, known as Cock Nammond Rock, for which Frank had pointed out to her earlier, Claire warns the men of a possible ambush by the dragoon army. Sure enough, her theory is proven solid and her would-be rescuers fight off these men and despite her best effort to get away, Jamie quickly finds her and forces her to return to Dougal and the rest of the men even if that means he has to throw her over his shoulder. She also earns the ire of the leader, Dougal (series regular Graham McTavish) because she provides a flimsy excuse for knowing about the ambush.

During this skirmish Jamie is hurt, once again, and in the dead of night she applies aid to him after he passes out and falls from his horse, earning only a small slice of respect from the men but also their shock over her rather robust use of expletives; something for which they are not accustomed to hearing from the mouth of a mere woman. Claire, of course, puts them in their place and continues with her medical aid of Jamie.

They soon enough arrive at Castle Leoch, the home of the MacKenzie clan, which will be explored more fully in next week’s episode not ironically entitled “Castle Leoch”. Be prepared for Claire to face down Dougal’s brother Colum (series regular Gary Lewis), who is the Laird of Castle Leoch, Mrs. Fitzgibbons (recurring guest star Annette Badland), the kindly head housekeeper at Castle Leoch and Geillis Duncan (series regular Lotte Verbeek), a local village woman who shares a passion for herbs and plants just like Claire.

Best Line of the Episode: “Thank you, Sassenach, truly.” – Jamie to Claire

Most Disturbing Yet Foretelling Line of the Episode: “So far I’d been assaulted, threatened, kidnapped and nearly raped and somehow I knew that my journey had only just begun.” – Claire’s voiceover as they arrived at Castle Leoch

Make sure to put Outlander on your weekly viewing schedule, as the next episode will air on Starz on Saturday, August 16 at 9/8c.