"Come what may."
Hello everyone!
But I finally seem to have found a rhythm so let's hope that everything will now run like clockwork and there'll be no switching up for Saturday posts anymore.
... famous last words.
Anyway, we return for the second week in a row to the world of Diana Gabaldon's Outlander, if you haven't figured it out yet from the title or the poster image here on the side.
And boy, is it an episode!
There's a lot of things going on at once on Fraser's Ridge, and they'll probably keep on adding on to it in the next six weeks while this short season lasts.
But without further ado, let's jump right into Allegiance, shall we?
You'll be able to find links to previous episode recaps at the bottom of the page every week.
Allegiance pretty much picks up right where Echoes left off, which is Jamie and Ian heading out to the Cherokee on behalf of the British overlords, and this plotline won't have a satisfying conclusion just yet, despite the fact that it'll be fraught with tension throughout the episode. See, the Cherokee want guns - something Jamie is hesitant to promise them even without consulting his future-knowing wife.
He's dancing right down the middle of trying to please both parties, much to his nephew's dismay, especially as Bree explains to Ian just what will happen to the Native Americans in the future. And in the end, persuaded by Ian's plight regarding the Natives (and learning that the boy had a child with his Mohawk wife), Jamie does in fact write to the Governor about the weapons.
Come what may, indeed!
This episode unpacks a whole lot more than just his trials and tribulations with outside forces, however, because Tom Christie remains a nuisance because his jealous is getting the better of him. He's building a church before he builds a cabin for his family, though he seems to have some sense in his head in that he asks Roger to preach until a more permanent minister arrives, something Jamie supports since, in his own words, the church in Christie's hands can become a weapon of war, which he's keen to avoid.
And he does, neatly binding his new tenant with a reminder that he is also a Freemason, and the church should be free for all, regardless of their faith, and a safe meeting spot.
This doesn't make the odious man any friendlier and we actually see he probably regularly abuses both his children, verbally and physically, except his poorly right hand won't hold on to the belt which he wants to use on his daughter Malva, so she smirks at him as he hurries off to agree to Claire performing surgery so he can "write".
Honestly, dude is repulsive, and his son is about as backwater as he is, though bets are in the air whether he was the one who called Claire a witch after the magnificently hilarious and morbid funeral during which the person they were burying actually woke up before dying properly (you have to see it to believe it, it's a cardiac event and Claire and Roger are both trying to look appropriately non-freaked out).
If you think Jamie rectifies the situation by a not-so-subtle threat regarding his wife? You'd be correct.
Besides, Claire is still dabbling with that ether thing, but she's also focusing all her attention on Marsali this episode, as Marsali is big with child again, though the pregnancy seems to be harder on her than the previous ones have been. With Malva eagerly (almost too eagerly) assisting Claire, our heroine relocates her daughter-in-law to the Big House so she can keep an eye on her.
Good thing, too, because she suspects there's something more going on between Fergus and her (aka domestic abuse), though Marsali explains she was the one who attacked her husband first, tired of his constant absence and drinking; this sort of culminates when she goes into labour and Claire's worried about her and baby both, which prompts Jamie to do the best thing he can under the circumstances since he can't leave: send Roger to find Fergus.
Roger does the job magnificently, metaphorically grabbing his brother-in-law by the scruff and shaking him like a pup, a tongue-lashing the likes of which we haven't heard from him yet raining down around the other man.
It works, too, as Fergus and Marsali make up, make love (you read that right) and she finally goes into labour proper ... and unfortunately delivers a child afflicted with dwarfism, probably a result of the brutal manhandling she suffered at the end of season 5. This prompts Fergus to take off YET AGAIN, but at least the rest of the family's rallying around the little boy, so, silver linings.
And hopefully Roger delivers an ACTUAL ass-kicking in the future!
But with most of the pieces now set on the board for the season, the episode leaves us sort of hanging in the balance as the storm clouds continue to gather over the colonies as the old wars with the new. At l east the Browns were absent, however! AND Bree invents matches, which is something to praise, especially since she laments that her only worthwhile achievement in this time period is apparently to get pregnant again (and oh, yes, the couple ARE trying for another baby).
Honorary mention has to go to Jamie waking up in the Cherokee camp during the night to find two women in his bed attempting to ... mmph. Ian can hardly keep from laughing while his uncle scrambles to protect his dignity (and his manhood, knowing Claire would probably geld him on the spot), eventually telling the women that Jamie can't lie with ANY woman until he delivers guns to the Chief, which does seem to satisfy them.
And given Jamie HAS ordered guns for the Chief ... this will be hilarious if they continue it. Mind your privates, James Fraser!
Overall, this was a solid episode that I actually liked a bit more than the premiere (no guesses as to why, absent Browns being the case), and enjoyed the humour of a lot of situations, especially Jamie's, who ends up in hot water more often than not (and not even his own doing) and literally mows down anyone and anything standing in his way to get to his wife when he really, REALLY wants her.
It was a mix of light and dark this week, but I do approve of the balance between them, and while I'm not a fan of the Christie storyline, I AM looking forward to next episode to see just what's in store now.
Tune in next week!
xx
*images and video not mine
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