‘Outlander’ Season 1 Episode 9 Recap – The Reckoning

By
LRShive
-
Outlander Season 1 Episode 9 Recap - The Reckoning
Caitriona Balfe and Sam Heughan in ‘Outlander’ (Photo © 2014 Sony Pictures Television Inc)

WE MADE IT THROUGH THE DROUGHTLANDER, Slainte!!! Yes, that is right…. April has arrived and that means Outlander is back. Let the second half of the first season begin!! Tulach Ard!! I have to ask it… Did anyone else feel like an 8 year old waiting for Christmas…or was that just me?

Well the wait is over!! “The Reckoning” opens in a similar starting format to the first episode, “Sassenach.” The amazing views of the Scottish landscape take us right back to that enchanting country. A substantial deviation from the book immediately welcomes us with the commentary being given by Jamie (Sam Heughan) instead of Claire (Caitriona Balfe). He even starts with the same opening line, “Strange the things you remember.”

This episode is all done through Jamie’s perspective. He is musing about choices, much as Claire was doing as she was looking in a window at the start of the series. We then find ourselves watchers as Jamie prepares to go into Ft. William after Claire. He gets inside and works his way down to the window where we left him six months ago. Pistol poised to shoot, with all politeness; he interrupts Black Jack Randall (Tobias Menzies) in his enjoyments of harming our heroine. Are you sitting on the edge of your seat yet??

The grin that BJR gives Jamie at seeing him in the flesh is nothing short of a cat looking at a mouse they are about to enjoy torturing. BJR has the nerve to ask to see his original handiwork of the flogging scars on Jamie’s back. All this as Jamie points a gun right at him and steps into the room. As the scene unfolds Claire, hands still tied and BJRs knife at her throat, just cussing away at Jack. Loved the line that she would cut off his balls, certainly still that 20th-century woman we love. I say it is fair; after all, he was attempting to cut off her nipple at the start of this! Jamie is made to put down the pistol and Jack picks it up. He then proceeds to point it at Jamie, taunting him all the time. BJR was going to proceed with raping Claire so he puts down the knife while still pointing the pistol at Jamie. Jack fires the pistol and discovers, to his profound surprise, it is not loaded. Our dashing hero could beat any card shark with the poker face he has had all this time, a master of the bluff.

Jamie bashes BJR’s head into the table to knock him out, and they leave the office. They head to the roof so they can jump into the water to escape. A massive highlander-planned explosion and our couple is on their way. One might think all is well at this point. Jamie has Claire back and riding away when they stop to water the horses. Enter a more modern-day husband and wife spat mixed with a good healthy dose of 18th-century husbandry opinion. Jamie was raised a certain way of course, like all highlanders of that time. The wife was to mind the husband without question. Claire comes from a time when independence in a woman is starting to be more accepted in society, but she is still much more independent than most. She is about to get a major lesson in 18th-century culture as well as wifely duties.

They make it to the tavern where they meet up with the rest of the MacKenzie men. Of course, none of them talk to Claire. She tries to talk to them, but they act as if she is not even in the room. She goes up to bed and Jamie gets the point from the men. He will have to ensure justice is served for the sake of the men. Her ignorance of the time and their ways is about to be corrected. Enter the famous ‘spanking’ scene long-awaited by all readers of the book. Like a good modern woman she does fight back, but he does accomplish his task. And then of course the men are nicer to her the next morning, she is rightly still extremely angry.

As they return to Castle Leoch the events of the trip to gather rents provides a substantial rift between the MacKenzie brothers. Laoghaire is also upset by the news of the wedding of Jamie and Claire. The clan politics show themselves very clearly as the episode unfolds. The show pulls it into sharper relief than the book; because of course Claire wasn’t involved in any of those discussions in the book. Jamie helps to sort out the immediate issues within the clan. He continues to show his political prowess, as he did during “The Gathering” episode. He then has to soothe the conflict between himself and Claire as well.

Jamie decides that he will have to deviate from his upbringing of how husbands and wives interact. He promises to Claire to never raise his hand to her again. He does this also in the book, but only after a very long explanation of his upbringing so that Claire understands his point of view. In the show, he handles it a bit differently. He sets aside his ridged point of view in the same way that Colum has to do to bring peace to their respective situations.

Claire is moved by his gesture, and they reconcile. But in this encounter, she takes full charge to start. By the end, they both finally give themselves over fully. Make-up sex is some of the best stuff ever!! Afterward they are talking and discover an ‘ill wish’ placed under the bed. It is a bundle of dried flowers, sticks, and such. The book does not tell you right away, but in the show Jamie knows right off that it is Laoghaire that placed it there.

This episode very much starts to blend the lives of Jamie and Claire. The books are only written in Claire’s point of view. The show can expand the view and allow us to see Jamie’s side, which will make the show great but can also give the fans something they do not get from the books. For those who have read the books, we do know the major events to come. I’m excited to see how Jamie’s point of view will be shown. Je Suis Prete….. I am ready!! Tulach Ard!!!




RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR