Outlander Recap: “Prestonpans”

Last night’s new episode of Outlander opened with the heads of each of the Highlander clans meeting with the Bonnie Prince, along with his Quartermaster and Lord General, discussing the few options available to them against the British forces.

The Lord General and the Quartermaster cannot agree on their next move while the commanders of the Highlander clans are basically chomping at the bit to give orders to all of their men. The situation isn’t any better in the encampments as the Highlander clans are sitting around their campfires or tending to the camp itself, waiting for action to take place.

The biggest problem was finding a way to get at the British Forces, as they were divided by a very wide bog that – once tested by Jamie’s Uncle Dougal – was determined to be too unstable to handle even just one Highlander horse and its rider.

So, what were they to do: Sit and wait for the British to make a move [somehow] or find another way around? Find another way around it is – and finding that way around was provided thanks to the knowledge of a local young man whose father owns the very ground on which the Jacobites and the British now trod.

The evening before their planned trek down the hidden path that led to the British encampment, some of the men made promises to each other – “what’s mine is yours” should they be one of the fallen [except Rupert refused to make that promise to Angus]. And, Angus, Rupert and Murtagh all came to bid Claire goodbye with the hope (or belief) that each would return. As usual, Angus expected a kiss from Claire, Rupert refused to say goodbye [he’s a stubborn one, isn’t he?] and Murtagh and Claire simply shared words. But it was the goodbye [yet another one] between Jamie and Claire that was most moving albeit short-lived. They not only shared a passionate kiss but they, once again, shared a lingering look deep into each other’s eyes that said more than any words could.

Once they were led down the path by the young man and Jamie dropped his arm which he had raised with his sword held strong, the men raced at the British, storming in like a raging mass of horses with their Highlander yell, taking their enemy by great surprise. The battle was bloody and harsh, lasting no more than 15 minutes with many of the British retreating while many on both sides lost their lives on that land.

Meanwhile back at the field hospital that was being led by Claire and assisted by the handful of women in the encampment, the wounded (Jacobite and British both) flowed heavily through the doors. Among the wounded was Rupert, who suffered a severe wound to his stomach and later Angus, who had been wounded by a canon blast – an injury that went undetected until it was too late for Claire to save him. I must admit that while Angus had never been a favorite character it was a sad ending to his life.

The next new episode of Outlander will air on Starz on Saturday, June 18 at 9/8c.