Outlander Recap: “Better to Marry Than Burn”

Sunday night’s episode of Outlander received some harsh criticism from bloggers, writers and the author of the tale on which the show is based. That’s right Diana Gabaldon herself judged Sunday night’s episode quite harshly specifically the sex scene between our beloved couple Jamie and Claire. Truth be told, I have to agree. The scene played out against type for our two lovers and while the post-coital was tender, the act itself was just poorly executed (no pun intended).

Let’s take a look at what happened during the episode:

Going to the Chapel

It was time for Jocasta Cameron, Jamie’s aunt, to marry once again (to Duncan Innes NOT Mutragh Fitzgibbon Fraser) with lavish festivities held at her grand plantation River Run. But before the ceremony – which we didn’t even get to see! – could take place, Jamie gathered to witness his aunt signing a document – put together by Gerald Forbes (the guy who almost proposed marriage to Brianna) – that named her and Roger’s son Jeremiah as the benefactor of her estate. When he comes of age, he will be the laird (if you will) of River Run.

Jocasta was later surprised by an unexpected visitor on the eve of her marriage to a man who she clearly has no really feelings for. That visitor, of course, was Murtagh, who realized too late how much he loved her. He even begged her to wait for him, but given that the British government basically wants to see his body swinging from a rafter, he can’t be the man she deserves.

What’s more when Jocasta came to America 30 years prior, with her then husband Hector Cameron, after the tragic death of their daughter Morna, she vowed she would never have another man in her life who valued his cause over his family. Sadly, Murtagh’s dedication to the Regulators is the giant stepping-stone in the way of their love. It was a sweet albeit sad reunion that ended in Jocasta’s gasp of tears when Murtagh confessed his love for her.

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Locust, Locust and More Locust

While Jamie and Claire were 10 days ride from Fraser’s Ridge because of Jocasta’s wedding, Roger was left in charge of the homestead. It should also be noted that he refused to attend Jocasta’s wedding because of the harsh words they shared after his wedding to Brianna.

Unfortunately, what could have been a nice respite (of sorts), was turned into something far more menacing (so to speak). Adso, the kitten adopted by Jamie, brought a dead locust into the cabin. At first Brianna thought the cat was merely bringing them an unpleasant gift, but upon quick survey, it was clear that Fraser’s Ridge was going to soon be overrun by a swarm of the creatures.

Even worse, Roger – as the man in charge – did not readily have a resolution for the imminent problem. Until he recalled a story his adopted father – Reverend Wakefield – told him. For once Roger’s upbringing and education was going to pay off. He and Brianna devised a plan to smoke out the fields of Fraser’s Ridge in the hopes that if the locust couldn’t see to land, they would on to greener pasture elsewhere. At first it seemed uncertain if their plan would work, but thankfully the, literal, smokescreen worked, and the massive swarm of locust bypassed the homestead and surrounding settlement.

Dealing with a Rake

Aristocrat Philip Wylie, who Jamie and Claire met back in the premiere episode of season four, reappeared, as a guest at the wedding. Being forewarned by Governor Tryon’s wife, Claire learned that Wylie was not only a rake (as if his painted face and fake birthmark weren’t even evidence) but he was also a nearly penniless gambler.

As you can guess it, Wylie was enamored of Claire, making unwanted advances toward her. She turned the tables on him – after realizing that he could very well be linked to Stephen Bonnet – by trying to sell him on the idea of Jamie’s whiskey making; but, of course, Wylie took her intentions the wrong way. After making a move on her in the stables – he was showing her his price winning thoroughbred, Claire pushed him into a bin of manure and then Jamie showed up to scare the proverbial sh*t out of the man too.

Unfortunately, they couldn’t have Wylie on their bad side IF they wanted to use him to get at Bonnet. After all, both Jamie and Claire want to exact revenge on the rogue bastard because of what he did to them last season but also for his brutal rape of Brianna. Jamie took a gigantic risk by asking Claire for Frank’s wedding ring to use as collateral in a game of chance with Wylie. She was so angry that she slammed both of her rings into his hands, marching away in anger.

Later in the episode, an inebriated Jamie revealed that he bet Wylie at his own game, managing to retain both of her wedding rings. While Jamie may have kept the rings, he angered his fiery-spirited wife, but that fire quickly turned into a sexual flame – and the aforementioned, berated sex scene. The end result of that game of chance earned Jamie a meeting – as Alexander Malcolm, the seller of the best whiskey in North Carolina – with Stephen Bonnet. Let the games begin between the Scotsman and the Irishman.

Speaking of Bonnet, we caught a glimpse of the brute at a tea house with Gerald Forbes, who informed the murderous smuggler that “his son” had just become the heir to River Run. The look on Bonnet’s face had to send shivers down the spine of many a viewer because that revelation will spell trouble for the Fraser-MacKenzie clan.

Trouble A-brewing

In the end, Jamie paid a visit to Governor Tryon, who not informed Jamie that not a single one of the Regulators accepted the pardon he was offering, because those pardons would mean that Murtagh alone would receive the full punishment of the British government but also that Jamie was to reassemble his militia and prepare for war.

What did you think of Sunday’s episode of Outlander? Please share your comments below.

The next new episode of Outlander will air on Starz on Sunday, March 29 at 8/7c.

[Photo Credit: Starz]